This is Gloria Williams. Incarcerated since 1971. 50 years. For botched robbery w/ a toy gun. Hospitalized w/ COVID. Just sent back to prison on oxygen. Parole recommended her release 10 months ago. Gov. @JohnBelforLA is sitting on her clemency application.theappeal.org/louisianas-lon…
“Williams complained to family members about a dry, persistent cough she couldnt shake. By April, she had developed bilateral pneumonia. Hospitalized. Diagnosed with COVID-19 & placed in the ICU. Bc she was classified a ‘prisoner,’ family was unable to call and speak with her.”
“Family had difficulty obtaining information from medical staff. They did learn that on May 6, Williams was transferred from the ICU to another hospital unit; three days later, on May 9, she was returned to prison. On supplemental oxygen.”
“In July 2019, Louisiana Board of Pardons & Parole unanimously recommended that Gov. John Bel Edwards commute her life w/o parole sentence to make her immediately eligible for parole. But that recommendation has sat on the governor’s desk for the past 10 months without action.”
“According to the Department of Corrections, 165 of LCIW-Hunt’s women have tested positive for COVID-19. (As of December 26, LCIW-Hunt incarcerated 213 women).” That’s 77% of the population!
The Appeal (@theappeal), who reported this, tried getting the most basic information from the prison. No response. About current population or “medical care for COVID-19 patients in custody or efforts to ensure the women who tested negative do not contract it.” Silence.
The Governor’s response: “Williams’ clemency application is still pending & hasnt yet been considered. We don’t know whether he will grant or deny the recommendations until he has had time to thoughtfully consider them. He has been focused on the COVID-19 response in Louisiana.”
“He’s been focused on the COVID response.” That’s the Governor’s excuse for sitting for 10 months on a clemency application, unanimously approved by parole, for an elderly woman, w/ COVID, who’s served 50 years already, in a prison where 77% of the women have COVID. What is this?
“This is a mother who’s done 50 long years for being in a situation with a toy gun.” In those 50 years, her sister has changed & is now a grandmother & great-grandmother to an extended family that wants her home.
@JohnBelforLA: RELEASE GLORIA WILLIAMS!
@JohnBelforLA: RELEASE GLORIA WILLIAMS!
This: 10 years in solitary confinement. This great grandmother has been punished and tortured enough!
