THREAD
The #coronavirus crisis is not over. As cases and hospitalizations continue to rise across the country, people in the criminal justice system are especially at risk. Incarcerated people can’t social distance in crowded, unhygienic facilities. fwd.us/criminal-justi…
America’s system of mass incarceration makes us all less safe, especially during a pandemic. People impacted by the criminal justice system are fighting to stay #FreeAndSafe.
The number of incarcerated people who tested positive continues to increase as the deadly virus spreads behind bars.
More than 68,000 incarcerated people have tested positive and over 500 have died from the #coronavirus.
See the faces and read the stories of people who have #COVID19 behind bars, have passed away, are still fighting to go home, and are navigating the criminal justice system in the community during this pandemic. #FreeAndSafe fwd.us/criminal-justi… --->
Anthony always maintained his innocence, even when admitting guilt would have allowed him a chance to walk free in 2012. When he was first incarcerated, Anthony suffered from untreated mental health issues and became blind after self-harm incidents. baltimoresun.com/coronavirus/bs…
Anthony’s request for medical parole was repeatedly denied by the Parole Commission, even when “he was so physically incapacitated as to not present a danger to society.” Anthony died from #COVID19 after 40 years in prison.
Arland, Anthony’s younger sibling, described him as “a loving brother.” Anthony’s sister, Inez, recalled their last video chat when he was hospitalized and she told him, “Fight this virus so you can come home.”
Kentoree is quadriplegic and is currently behind bars. Given his medical condition, Kentoree’s sister, Kimyatta, is concerned about his vulnerability during the #COVID19 pandemic — she believes Kentoree is struggling to take care of himself. ky3.com/content/news/F…
Kimyatta said, "You got a lot of people who can still move around and they can help protect themselves, but he's not one of those lucky ones."
Kentoree’s family hopes he will receive compassionate release from prison. Kenotree should be #FreeAndSafe with his sister and family, who would all take care of him if he is released.
Both Anthony and James lived together while incarcerated — Anthony described the two of them as “a big odd couple to be best friends.” In March, they both contracted #COVID19. James passed away a month later. Anthony survived. chicagoreporter.com/forgotten-stat…
Anthony and other incarcerated individuals wrote about how the facility conditions such as the lack of PPE, poor healthcare, and inadequate cleaning supplies allowed the rapid spread of #COVID19.
Anthony, expressing the guilt he felt for unintentionally spreading #COVID19 to James, wrote, “How do you deal with it knowing that [James] didn’t have to die if these people had just done the bare minimum and moved him?” #FreeAndSafe
This tool aggregates stories of individuals impacted by the criminal justice system during #coronavirus. People should be #FreeAndSafe.
Read their stories: FWD.us/FreeAndSafe
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