Our Response to COVID-19
CDCR UPDATES
We want to keep our Members and followers as informed as possible. As of May 26, 2020, there are 928 Incarcerated people who have tested positive for COVID-19, inside California state prisons. There are also 262 CDCR/CCHCS Employees who have tested positive, most of which have returned back to work. In addition, we are sad to learn that there have now been 9 people who have passed away from what appear to be from complications related to COVID-19. We hold these people in our hearts and honor their lives through our work.
We have been tracking changes within CDCR policy very closely and are sharing updates and resources as we receive them. We were happy to see that very quickly CDCR created a page dedicated to COVID-19 and their responses to it.
To stay updated with the most current changes to their policies and procedures, please reference the following page: https://www.cdcr.ca.gov/covid19/
Fighting COVID-19
We have teamed up with Re:Store Justice to provide PPE gear to those who need it most!
So far, we have been able to deliver masks and gloves to facilities in close proximity to LA County. However, with the help of our organizers and the Re:Store Justice team, we are continuing to expand our efforts throughout the state.
Help us continue to fight COVID-19 in CA jails and prisons!
Donate today at: https://restorecal.org/donate-for-covid-19/
#LetThemGo
In response to COVID-19, we have been participating in the #LetThemGo social media campaign. This is a virtual strategy where we are demanding Governor Gavin Newsom release the most vulnerable incarcerated people in CA in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This campaign has grown tremendously in just a few weeks, having produced coast-to-coast actions like Twitter storms, email and call flooding, and a car rally in Downtown Los Angeles.
To join the virtual campaign,
- Take a photo of yourself with a sign that says “Governor Newsom #LetThemGo”
- Post the photo with the demands to your Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter account
- Tag Governor Newsom in all of your posts: @GavinNewsom. Feel free to tag @InitiateJustice and we will share through our social media pages
Our Demands
Initiate Justice has signed onto many demand letters sent to Governor Newsom, as well as other leaders’ offices in California. The demands that we are in support of include:
* Immediately and freely distributing non-diluted cleaning and disinfecting supplies.
* Reducing the prison population by prioritizing the immediate release of ALL elderly (50+) and medically vulnerable people.
* Reducing the prison population by agreeing to the early release of anyone within 18 months of their release date.
To see a full list of all demand letters we have signed onto:
Weeks of Wellness
Due to the “Stay at Home” order by the state, all of our organizing capacity has been moved to the confinements of each of our homes. This has taken some readjustment for our team, but we are working diligently to continue bringing content and information to our community, via our email and social media platforms.
We launched our Weeks of Wellness series, where we will be providing wellness tips for staying grounded throughout quarantine measures, and weekly webinars to give guidance around navigating our political system at this current moment. Make sure to follow our pages on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (@InitiateJustice) to keep up with our work and sign up to receive our emails. You can also view our Events page to see all upcoming events.