Another COVID Outbreak hits San Quentin, Despite High Vaccination Rates Among Incarcerated People
JOE KUKURA A somewhat low vaccination rate among prison guards has produced a predictable result, as San Quentin State Prison, and all California state prisons, are in full lockdown. The Marin County correctional facility San Quentin State Prison was severely affected by COVID-19 outbreaks in the early summer of 2020, when nearly a third of inmates caught the virus, […]
Long Time Editor of San Quentin Newspaper Savors Freedom After 23 Years
Richard “Bonaru” Richardson stood in the front yard of an Oakland house, pondering the row of bars that wrapped around the property — knowing that for the first time in more than two decades he could step beyond these bars anytime he wanted. Just a few weeks before, Richardson was ensconced in the bars and […]
Interfaith Movement for Human Rights Vigil
On May 30th 2020, Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity (IM4HI) hosted a vigil to commemorate the one-year anniversary since the transfer from CIM to San Quentin that led to the horrific COVID-19 outbreak. Loved ones, formerly incarcerated community members, and faith leaders to call for releases and to remember the over 200 incarcerated people across […]
California Prison Transfer Led to Dozens of Deaths and Endangered Thousands – State Watchdog
February 2, 2021 Abene Clayton Covid crisis report from office of the inspector general finds concerns of healthcare staff over May transfer were ignored. A hastily executed transfer of nearly 200 people in California’s prison system set off a public health disaster that endangered the lives of thousands of prisoners and staff and led to […]
California Prison Officials Goofed and Dozens of Incarcerated People Died
February 9, 2021 Mercury News A big mistake by California prison officials spread COVID-19 and resulted in dozens of deaths, both inmates and one staff member. Gov. Gavin Newsom has unilaterally decided to eliminate California’s death penalty for capital crimes even though it remains in the law. Newsom declared a moratorium on executing any of the […]
“They Want to Do Me In”: The Incarcerated Person Who Fought COVID Overcrowding
February 8, 2021Kevin Sawyer, Filter Magazine In May, as COVID-19 loomed over incarcerated people across the country, Ivan Von Staich filed an administrative grievance to transfer out of the notoriously overcrowded 168-year-old San Quentin State Prison. In October, as a result, an appeals court ordered San Quentin to reduce its prison population by 50 percent. […]