John,
The coronavirus pandemic has revealed just how fragile and inequitable our systems are, from our healthcare system to the economy, and even our sworn elected leaders. Now more than ever, people are recognizing the critical need for strong communities and staying in touch with their loved ones.
But unfortunately, not everyone has the ability to even pick up the phone to call or text to check-in on their parents or grandparents during this trying time. And for incarcerated people, the barriers to remaining connected are even worse. Most prisons and jails have suspended in-person visits, and are forcing families to pay exorbitant rates for phone and video calls to ensure their incarcerated loved ones are safe.
Prison telecom corporations charge families as much as $25 for a 15-minute phone call. That’s out of reach for many families under normal circumstances, but nearly impossible during today’s public health crisis, especially for Black families who’ve been particularly hit hard. Black people are disproportionately affected by the mass layoffs and because of systemic health inequities, are at a higher risk of contracting and dying from the virus. Our communities should not have the added stress of trying to make ends meet to afford to connect with a loved one behind bars.
The $1.2 billion prison telecom industry exploits vulnerable populations who are simply trying to connect with their loved ones. At a time when families need it the most, corporations like Securus, have done little if anything to keep families connected. And our elected leaders are failing to step in. In some jails and prisons, they have granted access to just one or two free phone calls per week. But this is nowhere near enough.
COVID-19 is deadly and is changing by the minute and for incarcerated people, many who are immuno-compromised and high risk, a missed call can mean that they’ll never speak to their loved ones again.
Families and children of incarcerated people have taken to social media over the past few days to demand access to free prison and jail communication. And the public response has been overwhelmingly positive. We need to keep up the pressure on our elected leaders to guarantee our incarcerated loved ones remain connected.
Your action today can stop the cruel separation of families and instead connect them. Everyone deserves to know their loved ones are safe.
Until justice is real,
Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Clarise, Erika, Malachi, Leonard, Marybeth, Madison, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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