Dear Friends, During the holidays this year, I am reminded of the many people still suffering in prison because of the COVID pandemic. In my latest opinion piece for USA TODAY, I share these realities through the lens of two unique perspectives: - Pamela Winn, founder of RestoreHer, a Georgia-based advocacy reentry organization led by and for justice-involved women of color, who is leading the fight to end solitary there, and
- Jack Morris, writer, artist, and peer mentor, who was incarcerated as a child and spent the length of my entire lifetime (40 years!) in prison, with twenty-five of those years in solitary confinement.
They both eloquently share the experience of being incarcerated during the holidays. As hard as it may be to read, it is much harder to live through. I invite you to read and share their stories. As 2020 draws to a close, we can celebrate our resilience in making it to the end of a year unlike any other. As we celebrate the hardships we have survived during this pandemic, I want to ask you to keep those who are incarcerated, especially those held in isolation, in your hearts. Being incarcerated is especially challenging during the holidays, and even more so when you add sickness and torture to the experience. Please take a moment to read this piece and share it. In 2021, NRCAT will continue to amplify and build the capacity of these leaders and many more across the U.S. who have experienced torture firsthand, as we mobilize the faith community to hold our legislators accountable. If you would like to do so, you can support our 2021 work through a donation to our Ending Torture, Building Hope matching campaign. Peace be unto you all, Johnny Perez
Director of U.S. Prisons Program
National Religious Campaign Against Torture | |
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