John, 

In just one week, the number of COVID-19 cases in prison and jails across
the country has skyrocketed. And public health experts have repeatedly
warned that incarcerated people are most at risk for continued exposure to
the virus despite public health guidance and social distancing practices
because it's impossible for people trapped in a cage to keep themselves
safe.
 
We must act now to free Black mothers being held pre-trial -- the longer
we wait, the more people are needlessly exposed to this deadly virus. In
hotspot states like New York and Michigan, incarcerated people have a
higher rate of contraction than people in the general public.^1 The number
of new COVID-19 cases in prisons across the country has jumped from 1,643
to 9,437 and that's without extensive testing.^2 John, you have
a chance to help us ensure no Black mother is at risk of contracting
COVID-19 because she's trapped inside a cage.
 
In past years, nearly 15,000 people donated to this effort helping us free
hundreds of Black moms. We've already raised over $39,000 but so many
mothers are still trapped in cages. Will you help us meet our $50,000
goal? 

[ [link removed] ]Chip-in to get Black moms free.

Until justice is real, 

--Clarise and the rest of the Color Of Change team

P.S. check out our original message below. 

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Ensure no Black mother is separated from her child during the COVID-19
outbreak.

[ [link removed] ][IMG]

Chip-in $3 to help us free Black mamas

[ [link removed] ]Free Black Moms

Dear John, 

Incarcerated Black mothers may never get to see their families again
because of COVID-19. And many of these people are locked up simply because
they can't afford to pay bail. The longer they sit behind bars the longer
their lives are unnecessarily being put at risk. Jails are Petri dishes
for deadly viruses like coronavirus. People locked in these jails are
subject to overcrowding, poor sanitation, no access to sinks to wash their
hands or hand sanitizer, and social-distancing is impossible. No Black
mother should lose her life to COVID-19 because she can't afford to pay
bail. Public health officials have repeatedly warned that the only way to
flatten the curve and to save countless lives is to do everything we can
to decrease jail population sizes immediately. It is critical not only for
the safety of those individuals, but for their families, their
communities, and the staff at the jails who also face the increased and
unnecessary risk of exposure to COVID-19. 

That's why the National Bail Out Collective is bailing out Black mamas and
caregivers from cages.^3 We must act with urgency to get as many Black
moms free before it's too late.

[ [link removed] ]John, we need your help to get our people free. Donate
$3 to pay a Black mama's bail. 

National Mama’s Bail Out Day is a coordinated effort by community
organizations and advocates alike to reunite Black mothers with their
families on Mother's Day. But this year we’re shifting our strategy to
meet the needs of people during the COVID-19 crises. Every donation will
go to ensuring we can bail out as many Black moms and caregivers from
cages as possible while offering safe housing options, weeks' worth of
groceries, and holistic supportive services to every person we help
free. Black mamas' lives are at risk as they sit behind bars. And they are
more likely than any other group to be fighting COVID-19 from within a
cage because of pre-trial detention. Black women are more likely to be
separated from their families pre-trial because they cannot afford the
cost of bail. Of the 231,000 women incarcerated in this country, most are
women of color, and 80% are mothers or primary caretakers of their
children.^4 

And Black women are particularly vulnerable. The COVID-19 outbreak is
exacerbating a pre-existing healthcare crisis in this country that has
always carelessly or intentionally excluded Black women. Health conditions
such as heart disease, hypertension, high blood pressure, or cancer, which
we know affect Black women at disproportionate rates. And trans, pregnant,
and drug users are at a heightened risk for either getting COVID-19 or
experiencing greater complications if they contract the virus.^5,6 But in
the midst of a global crisis, society's response is to continue
criminalizing and punishing our people under the guise of public health. 

[ [link removed] ]Chip-in $3 to help us fight for Black moms today.

When a Black mom is free our communities thrive. Because then she is free
to rejoin her friends, family, and community, she is free from the
detrimental impact incarceration. She can be physically present to protect
her children, provide on a daily basis, and be a source of comfort during
this time of uncertainty. Now more than ever should be the time we push
towards a future where all of our people are free. We're fighting to make
sure no Black mother is separated from her family during this
unprecedented health crisis. We deserve to be treated with dignity and to
have access to the care we need during this unprecedented public health
crisis.

[ [link removed] ]Now’s your chance to donate to get Black moms free during the COVID-19
crisis.

Until justice is real, 

--Clarise, Rashad, Arisha, Scott, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Madison,
Leonard, and the rest of the Color of Change team

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References:

1. [ [link removed] ]Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Prison Policy Initiative.

2. "Tracking the Spread of Coronavirus in Prisons." The Marshall
Project. [ [link removed] ][link removed]

3. The National Bail Out collective is a Black-led and Black-centered
collective of abolitionist organizers, lawyers, and activists building a
community-based movement to support our folks and end mass incarceration.
Learn more, join their mailing list, and get involved at
[ [link removed] ]nationalbailout.org

4. "Women's Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie 2018." Prison Policy
Initiative. [ [link removed] ][link removed]

5. The Coronavirus Guide. "National Center for Transgender
Equality." [ [link removed] ][link removed]

6. "Pregnant and worried about the new coronavirus?" Harvard Health
Publishing. [ [link removed] ][link removed]


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[ [link removed] ]Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black
folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. [ [link removed] ]Help
keep our movement strong.

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