Belinda Morales's fiancé Marcos was serving a life sentence at a Chino, California prison when the pandemic hit.
Like so many in prison, Marcos lived with chronic illnesses, including diabetes. Belinda was worried when the prison reported its first COVID-19 cases.
THREAD 👇
Like so many in prison, Marcos lived with chronic illnesses, including diabetes. Belinda was worried when the prison reported its first COVID-19 cases.
THREAD 👇
"I would tell him, are the guards wearing gloves or anything like that? And he said, mija, that’s not going to happen here. He says, they don’t care about us," Belinda told Fault Lines.
"I used to tell him: make a mask out of your socks, because it's killing people."
"I used to tell him: make a mask out of your socks, because it's killing people."
The Chino prison — called the California Institution for Men — was at nearly 120% capacity at the pandemic's start.
That's more than 3,500 men, many housed in tight dorms (as shown in this photo) and sharing toilets, showers, and sinks.
An ideal breeding ground for COVID-19.
That's more than 3,500 men, many housed in tight dorms (as shown in this photo) and sharing toilets, showers, and sinks.
An ideal breeding ground for COVID-19.
Marcos caught COVID in May. By then the prison had
reported more than 500 cases.
In early June, Belinda got word that Marcos was dead. He was 57, and one of 25 people who have lost their lives to coronavirus at the California Institution for Men.
reported more than 500 cases.
In early June, Belinda got word that Marcos was dead. He was 57, and one of 25 people who have lost their lives to coronavirus at the California Institution for Men.
Pressure to reduce overcrowding at the Chino prison was mounting. In late May officials loaded 121 men onto buses and transferred them to San Quentin prison.
Despite their coming from a known coronavirus hot spot, some of the transferred men had not been tested for a month.
Despite their coming from a known coronavirus hot spot, some of the transferred men had not been tested for a month.
Transferred men were placed in housing units with uninfected men from the existing San Quentin population.
"Could you imagine a big warehouse with no air, people coughing. It’s just there. There’s nowhere to go," said Chanthon Bun, who was released from San Quentin in July.
"Could you imagine a big warehouse with no air, people coughing. It’s just there. There’s nowhere to go," said Chanthon Bun, who was released from San Quentin in July.
The botched prison transfer led to one of the worst outbreaks in the United States.
Today more than 70% of San Quentin’s incarcerated population has had coronavirus. 28 men have died.
One of them was Eric Warner, who died of COVID-19 in July.
Today more than 70% of San Quentin’s incarcerated population has had coronavirus. 28 men have died.
One of them was Eric Warner, who died of COVID-19 in July.
Eric Warner's brother Hank spoke with @Dena about their final conversation.
"I've been with my brother through this journey. There was never a moment we gave up on his freedom," Hank said.
"I wanted him to fight to the end for his life and for his freedom."
"I've been with my brother through this journey. There was never a moment we gave up on his freedom," Hank said.
"I wanted him to fight to the end for his life and for his freedom."
Fault Lines spoke with incarcerated men, prison nurses, family members on the outside, and others to investigate why coronavirus ravaged San Quentin prison.
Watch "Pandemic in Prison: The San Quentin Outbreak" here: aje.io/SanQuentin
Watch "Pandemic in Prison: The San Quentin Outbreak" here: aje.io/SanQuentin
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