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