Dear John,

Thank you to everyone who has donated to support our work with communities around the globe during this time of coronavirus! We appreciate your support.

Thanks also to all who took action to tell your governor and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to protect people in prisons, jails and detention centers from COVID-19! [link removed] New Jersey has announced plans to release as many as 1,000 people from prisons to curb the spread, and we hope to see more states follow.

Here are this week’s resources to help you stay informed and support your activism.

Prisons and jails must change policies to address coronavirus threat behind bars: [link removed] "Across the U.S. we have built a system of punishment that is traumatic, and this is only increased with the coronavirus," says AFSC’s Rebecca Fealk. (NPR)

Why have ventilators when you can have war planes?: [link removed] Even during a pandemic, Congress continues to prioritize weapons of war over public health, writes AFSC’s Tori Bateman and Arnie Alpert.

How to create a mutual aid network: [link removed] AFSC’s Mary Zerkel offers tips on how to support your community in meaningful ways while maintaining physical distance.

Israel's caging of Gaza is a recipe for coronavirus disaster: [link removed] Humanitarian aid is not enough—Palestinians need freedom, writes AFSC’s Jehad Abusalim (+972). Take action to end the blockade on Gaza! [link removed]

Are governments violating human rights and civil liberties in coronavirus response?: [link removed] Historically crises have been exploited to introduce dangerous policies—right now may be one of these moments, writes AFSC’s Sahar Vardi.

Sign the petition: Demand federal and state lawmakers drop private prison contracts with GEO Group and CoreCivic: [link removed] Two of the largest private prison profiteers are making money by fueling mass incarceration, and our government is using our tax dollars to bankroll them. (Daily Kos)

What we can learn from the Afghanistan peace deal: [link removed] While the agreement is far from perfect, it is a necessary first step to end the longest war in U.S. history—a step that would be not be possible without diplomacy and dialogue, writes AFSC's Saurav Upadhyay.

Honoring Archbishop Oscar Romero: [link removed] The archbishop—a peacebuilder and human rights defender—was killed just over 40 years ago, on March 24, 1980. He was canonized in 2018.

Be well and take care.

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