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Dear friend,
As we fight to bring attention to COVID-19 in prisons, this
Mother's Day we're not thinking about flowers or pretty cards.
This Mother's Day, we're outraged. That's because of Andrea,
Elyciah, Guadalupe, and Beya Natalia.
Andrea Circle Bear of the Cheyenne River Sioux was eight and half
months pregnant when she was sentenced to two years on a drug charge.
She was sent to a crowded federal prison in Texas, and while there,
she contracted coronavirus. She went on a ventilator and had an
emergency C-section.
Three weeks later, Andrea died. She had just turned 30, and she leaves
behind a distraught husband and a total of five children. The new
baby's name is Elyciah.
Guadalupe Velazquez was 19, attending Arizona State University and
dating a man whose family, unbeknownst to her, was involved in a
marijuana conspiracy and money laundering. She finally shook herself
free from that life, but her association with the family caught up
with her, and she was sentenced to more than 10 years in federal
prison. She served three years and won an appeal. She started a
successful flooring company and got engaged. Her life was stable and
full of hope, especially since the couple are expecting their first
child, a baby girl.
But then the appeal was overturned. In December 2019, Guadalupe was
sent back to prison. She is now seven months pregnant. Her baby, due
in June, will be named Beya Natalia.
What are pregnant woman doing in prison in the middle of a pandemic?
This Mother's Day, we're turning our outrage into action, and we need
your help. Tell your families, neighbors, church, lawmakers, and local
media about Andrea and Guadalupe. Tell them that vulnerable
populations - like pregnant women, and elderly and very ill
people - should be sent immediately to home confinement. Demand
that the BOP take action so there will be no more babies like Elyciah,
who will grow up without a mother. What better way to honor motherhood
in the context of criminal justice reform than remembering Andrea and
fighting for Guadalupe and her baby?
And to all the mothers and children out there, we honor you. Happy
Mother's Day, and stay safe and well.
Sincerely,
Kevin Ring
President, FAMM
P.S. Learn more about how you can help FAMM take action on our COVID
page: famm.org/CovidResponse
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