shadowproof--2020-04-17--Beyond Prisons: COVID-19 Dispatch From Pennsylvania Prison

In this special Beyond Prisons dispatch , Haverford College student and activist Ellis Maxwell shares a conversation they had with their friend Charles Boyd , who is incarcerated at SCI-Phoenix in Pennsylvania .
Maxwell is the co-head of Rethink Incarceration , a group that advocates for the immediate abolition of all prisons .
They work toward abolition in Pennsylvania in solidarity with incarcerated people and other organizations .
Maxwell and Boyd met through Rethink Incarceration .
Boyd is incarcerated on a death-by-incarceration sentence and has been in prison for over thirty years .
During that time , Boyd has worked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Project , Right to Redemption , and Let ’ s Circle Up .
Let ’ s Circle Up was founded by men incarcerated at Graterford – which is now Phoenix – in 2007 , and “ seeks to build relationships , community , and leaders through experiential , participatory , and collaborative restorative justice education.
” Maxwell and Boyd ’ s conversation was recorded on March 31 , 2020 .
Since then , the prison has been locked down following the first positive test inside .
The administration did not inform prisoners until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early April , a prisoner died from symptoms of COVID-19 , which was not announced on the news until Monday , April 13 .
The administration didn ’ t – and still to this point has not – announced this death to other prisoners .
They only found out through outside news broadcasts .
As of this recording , one unit at SCI-Phoenix is completely quarantined with no present access to phones .
The majority of confirmed cases have come from this one unit , so the entire prison is locked down with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prisoners to be outside of their cells .
In the conversation , Boyd emphasizes the inconsistency and total lack of transparency from the Department of Corrections .
He says that “ in this crisis who you are , what you do , and how well you deny involvement or outright lie , determines who gets a pass and who doesn ’ t. ” “ What alarms me is that I feel more cut off from society today than I have since I ’ ve been incarcerated , ” Boyd said .
If you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you can email them at ellis.maxwell @ gmail.com .
For more information on Let ’ s Circle Up , visit letscircleup.org .

In this special Beyond Prisons dispatch, Haverford College student and activist Ellis Maxwell shares a conversation they had with their friend Charles Boyd, who is incarcerated at SCI-Phoenix in Pennsylvania.
Maxwell is the co-head of Rethink Incarceration, a group that advocates for the immediate abolition of all prisons. They work toward abolition in Pennsylvania in solidarity with incarcerated people and other organizations.
Maxwell and Boyd met through Rethink Incarceration. Boyd is incarcerated on a death-by-incarceration sentence and has been in prison for over thirty years. During that time, Boyd has worked on projects including the Alternatives to Violence Project, Right to Redemption, and Let’s Circle Up.
Let’s Circle Up was founded by men incarcerated at Graterford – which is now Phoenix – in 2007, and “seeks to build relationships, community, and leaders through experiential, participatory, and collaborative restorative justice education.”
Maxwell and Boyd’s conversation was recorded on March 31, 2020. Since then, the prison has been locked down following the first positive test inside. The administration did not inform prisoners until day fifteen of the quarantine. In early April, a prisoner died from symptoms of COVID-19, which was not announced on the news until Monday, April 13. The administration didn’t – and still to this point has not – announced this death to other prisoners. They only found out through outside news broadcasts.
As of this recording, one unit at SCI-Phoenix is completely quarantined with no present access to phones. The majority of confirmed cases have come from this one unit, so the entire prison is locked down with less than an hour of time for prisoners to be outside of their cells.
In the conversation, Boyd emphasizes the inconsistency and total lack of transparency from the Department of Corrections. He says that “in this crisis who you are, what you do, and how well you deny involvement or outright lie, determines who gets a pass and who doesn’t.”
“What alarms me is that I feel more cut off from society today than I have since I’ve been incarcerated,” Boyd said.
If you want to get in touch with Maxwell, you can email them at ellis.maxwell@gmail.com. For more information on Let’s Circle Up, visit letscircleup.org.


shadowproof--2020-04-21--Beyond Prisons: COVID-19 Dispatch From California Prison

Brian Sonenstein interviews a woman who we ’ re calling “ Alice ” to protect her and her husband from retaliation by California prison officials .
Alice organizes with other family members as part of a group known as Unite Against CDCR .
Her husband is incarcerated in Soledad , California at the Correctional Training Facility ( CTF ) —one of the prisons where Gladiator Fights have taken place over the last few years .
She shared some of what she has heard and experienced herself regarding the prison ’ s response to the pandemic .
We compare and contrast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing in response to the crisis with what Alice has heard is happening at CTF .
We also discuss how the prison is reacting to efforts by her husband and other prisoners to protect themselves .
Petition : Tell CDCR TO Allow All Inmates Access To Tablets & Email Support our show and join us on Patreon .
Check out our other donation options as well .
Please listen , subscribe , and rate/review our podcast on iTunes , Spotify , and on Google Play Join our mailing list for updates on new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wilson is available for speaking engagements and to facilitate workshops .
Please contact beyondprisonspodcast @ gmail.com for more information

Brian Sonenstein interviews a woman who we’re calling “Alice” to protect her and her husband from retaliation by California prison officials.
Alice organizes with other family members as part of a group known as Unite Against CDCR. Her husband is incarcerated in Soledad, California at the Correctional Training Facility (CTF)—one of the prisons where Gladiator Fights have taken place over the last few years.
She shared some of what she has heard and experienced herself regarding the prison’s response to the pandemic. We compare and contrast what California prison officials say they are doing in response to the crisis with what Alice has heard is happening at CTF. We also discuss how the prison is reacting to efforts by her husband and other prisoners to protect themselves.
Episode Resources
Unite Against CDCR
Petition: Tell CDCR TO Allow All Inmates Access To Tablets & Email
Reporting on Gladiator Fights
Contact Unite Against CDCR at UNITEAGAINSTCDCRCORRUPTION@ GMAIL.COM
Support our show and join us on Patreon. Check out our other donation options as well.
Please listen, subscribe, and rate/review our podcast on iTunes, Spotify, and on Google Play
Visit our website at beyond-prisons.com
Join our mailing list for updates on new episodes, events, and more
Send tips, comments, and questions to beyondprisonspodcast@gmail.com
Kim Wilson is available for speaking engagements and to facilitate workshops. Please contact beyondprisonspodcast@gmail.com for more information
Twitter: @Beyond_Prison
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beyondprisonspodcast/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyondprisons/
Hosts: Kim Wilson and Brian Sonenstein
Music: Jared Ware


shadowproof--2020-04-21--Despite COVID-19 Risks, Justice Department Opposes Compassionate Release For Reality Winner

The Justice Department opposes the release of NSA whistleblower Reality Winner from Federal Medical Center Carswell in Fort Worth , Texas .
She requested compassionate release from prison on April 10 .
U.S. Attorney Bobby Christine argues [ PDF ] Winner has not alleged a medical condition that qualifies her for compassionate release .
“ Winner ’ s bulimia and depression were the basis of [ the federal court ’ s ] recommendation , which BOP accepted , to commit her to Carswell FMC .
They are not , though , among the physical or mental conditions so serious that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She has not provided any documentation demonstrating that her specific medical conditions , medications , and conditions of confinement at Carswell FMC are inclined to uniquely and adversely affect her to the point of justifying early release , ” Christine added .
The Justice Department further maintains Winner has not presented evidence that Carswell is unable to adequately care for her .
“ As a federal medical center , Carswell is particularly well situated to treat Winner , should she become exposed.
” Billie Winner-Davis , the mother of NSA whistleblower Reality Winner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is accurately reporting what is going on at the facility , where her daughter is imprisoned .
“ I wonder how many staff and inmates have even been tested , ” Billie Winner-Davis said .
“ I just can not understand why my daughter can not be released at this time to save her from possible sickness and death.
” When Winner urged a federal court in Georgia to protect her from the spread of the coronavirus , she asked that the court release her to home confinement with family .
She also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision on the request , but the court declined to speed up the process .
Her mother reacted , “ The court ’ s ruling that this is not a situation that warrants an expedited response is cruel in this pandemic situation , and [ it ] is also careless .
I pray that nothing happens to my daughter while she is trapped inside , but if it does , I know who I will blame.
” Winner has served more than 34 months of a 63-month sentence at Federal Medical Center Carswell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 , she pled guilty to one count of violating the Espionage Act when she disclosed an NSA report to The Intercept .
She believed the analyst report contained evidence of Russian hackers targeting United States voter registration systems during the 2016 election .
Carswell holds around 1,600 prisoners .
The Bureau of Prisons ( BOP ) website says there are only two inmates confirmed to have the coronavirus , but that does not match up with what inmates within the facility have told reporters .
Shadowproof asked administrators at Carswell to confirm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only two inmates with the coronavirus at the facility , and none have died .
The inquiry for basic information was forwarded to the Bureau of Prisons , but days later , the BOP ’ s public information officer has not responded .
Winner ’ s attorneys maintain the First Step Act allows prisoners to petition courts for compassionate release “ removing the BOP ’ s exclusive ‘ gatekeeper ’ role.
” They invoke the 2018 law in their motion to the court [ PDF ] .
“ Reality asks this court to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that she may carry out the balance of her term under the care of her family , and avoid the fate of so many others currently incarcerated in federal prison facilities — including FMC Carswell — that have contracted this contagious and deadly virus , ” her attorneys wrote .
According to Winner ’ s legal team , the COVID-19 outbreak and “ her history of respiratory illnesses as well as eating disorders place her at high risk should she contract the disease.
” These circumstances present “ extraordinary and compelling reasons ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s routines allow her to cope and hold the things she is unable to control together , which is monumental to her survival in any environment where she controls nothing , like prison , ” her attorneys state .
“ The COVID-19 outbreak only adds another element to her life she can not control and threatens her overall health .
“ When paired with an unknown illness , Reality ’ s illness could spiral from a daily struggle that merely makes it difficult to get out of bed in the morning to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may never recover.
” The “ modified lockdown ” at Carswell , without exercise routines , imperils Winner ’ s health , according to her attorneys .
“ Reality ’ s depleted mental and physical states—with no way to exercise any coping mechanism for the stress of her own underlying conditions and now the added stress of battling a novel virus present in her facility—make her particularly susceptible to COVID-19.
” Winner-Davis told Shadowproof she has reached out to Carswell prison staff about her concerns .
“ They have been positively responsive , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I have seen a decline in her mental health .
She is scared all of the time , and the complete lockdown has exacerbated her anxiety to an unmanageable level .
She has asked for medication at this point but was denied as she will need to see the doctor , something that will take time.
” “ She is cleaning non-stop and has exhibited self-destructive behaviors that have me extremely worried about her mental health , ” Winner-Davis added .
Winner ’ s attorneys contend , “ The best chance Reality has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ released and be permitted to live with her family in rural Texas , where she can appropriately ‘ shelter in place ’ and avoid interacting with others.
” They believe Attorney General William Barr ’ s March 26 memo on prioritizing “ home confinement as appropriate in response to the COVID-19 pandemic ” directly applies to cases like Winner ’ s case .
Since Barr ’ s memo , the Bureau of Prisons says it has moved 566 inmates into home confinement .
Even if Winner was designated for home confinement , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 14-day quarantine ” before allowing her family to take her home .
Federal Judge Alison Nathan called [ PDF ] the BOP ’ s approach “ Kafkaesque ” and dangerous in a separate case involving Gerar Separta , who is incarcerated at Federal Correctional Institution Butner in North Carolina and was cleared for compassionate release .
“ The BOP has determined that Mr. Separta must remain in custody during the peak of the pandemic for what it labels a ’ 14-day quarantine , ’ but his current confinement is neither a quarantine nor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , following inquiries from this court , the government revealed that Mr. Separta is housed with many other people in conditions that will inevitably permit the virus to spread , ” Nathan declared .
“ As of April 14 , the BOP determined that Mr. Separta ’ s 14-day-clock must start over because one of the many people he is now housed with tested positive .
Under the BOP ’ s policy , if any one of the individuals in Mr. Separta ’ s unit , most of whom have also been approved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 14-day waiting period for all inmates in the unit starts anew [ emphasis in quote ] .
” The BOP refuses to allow Separta to “ self-quarantine in his residence for 14 days , ” but fortunately , in Separata ’ s case , Nathan ordered the BOP to release him from custody immediately .
KERA , a Dallas radio station , spoke with an inmate at Carswell named Mendy Forbes .
She was put into solitary confinement after speaking to the press .
She spoke to KERA because she was afraid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to halt the spread of the coronavirus .
Officers moved between a unit across the hall from her unit that was put “ under quarantine because of a suspected coronavirus case.
” Before she was moved , Forbes was housed in a unit with 250 women .
There are only 120 chairs .
“ They sleep four to a cell and less than three feet apart .
Everyone ’ s expected to wear the same disposable mask every day .
The phones are in pretty heavy use , but Forbes hasn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to KERA .
Forbes is a “ lawyer by training ” and was helping elderly women , pregnant women , and women with chronic health conditions , file motions for release .
They make up the bulk of the population at Carswell .
“ We have people who should ’ ve already been gone .
I have one lady who ’ s close to 70-years-old on a pacemaker where the case manager screwed up her paperwork months ago who should ’ ve been gone and she ’ s still sitting here , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team asserts releasing her to home confinement will not create any disparity in sentencing .
In fact , it may correct a disparity .
“ Reality has served the majority of her mandatory sentence and is approximately two years away from release .
Granting the motion would resolve the sentence disparities between her and similarly situated defendants because her prison term was more than many prior Espionage Act prosecutions , ” her attorneys conclude .

The Justice Department opposes the release of NSA whistleblower Reality Winner from Federal Medical Center Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas. She requested compassionate release from prison on April 10.
U.S. Attorney Bobby Christine argues [PDF] Winner has not alleged a medical condition that qualifies her for compassionate release.
“Winner’s bulimia and depression were the basis of [the federal court’s] recommendation, which BOP accepted, to commit her to Carswell FMC. They are not, though, among the physical or mental conditions so serious that they qualify for compassionate release.”
“She has not provided any documentation demonstrating that her specific medical conditions, medications, and conditions of confinement at Carswell FMC are inclined to uniquely and adversely affect her to the point of justifying early release,” Christine added.
The Justice Department further maintains Winner has not presented evidence that Carswell is unable to adequately care for her. “As a federal medical center, Carswell is particularly well situated to treat Winner, should she become exposed.”
Billie Winner-Davis, the mother of NSA whistleblower Reality Winner does not believe the Bureau of Prisons is accurately reporting what is going on at the facility, where her daughter is imprisoned.
“I wonder how many staff and inmates have even been tested,” Billie Winner-Davis said. “I just cannot understand why my daughter cannot be released at this time to save her from possible sickness and death.”
When Winner urged a federal court in Georgia to protect her from the spread of the coronavirus, she asked that the court release her to home confinement with family. She also asked the court to quickly make a decision on the request, but the court declined to speed up the process.
Her mother reacted, “The court’s ruling that this is not a situation that warrants an expedited response is cruel in this pandemic situation, and [it] is also careless. I pray that nothing happens to my daughter while she is trapped inside, but if it does, I know who I will blame.”
Winner has served more than 34 months of a 63-month sentence at Federal Medical Center Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas.
In 2018, she pled guilty to one count of violating the Espionage Act when she disclosed an NSA report to The Intercept. She believed the analyst report contained evidence of Russian hackers targeting United States voter registration systems during the 2016 election.
Carswell holds around 1,600 prisoners. The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) website says there are only two inmates confirmed to have the coronavirus, but that does not match up with what inmates within the facility have told reporters.
Shadowproof asked administrators at Carswell to confirm whether it is true that there are only two inmates with the coronavirus at the facility, and none have died. The inquiry for basic information was forwarded to the Bureau of Prisons, but days later, the BOP’s public information officer has not responded.
Winner’s attorneys maintain the First Step Act allows prisoners to petition courts for compassionate release “removing the BOP’s exclusive ‘gatekeeper’ role.” They invoke the 2018 law in their motion to the court [PDF].
“Reality asks this court to commute her sentence to home confinement so that she may carry out the balance of her term under the care of her family, and avoid the fate of so many others currently incarcerated in federal prison facilities — including FMC Carswell — that have contracted this contagious and deadly virus,” her attorneys wrote.
According to Winner’s legal team, the COVID-19 outbreak and “her history of respiratory illnesses as well as eating disorders place her at high risk should she contract the disease.” These circumstances present “extraordinary and compelling reasons” to reduce her sentence.
“Reality’s routines allow her to cope and hold the things she is unable to control together, which is monumental to her survival in any environment where she controls nothing, like prison,” her attorneys state. “The COVID-19 outbreak only adds another element to her life she cannot control and threatens her overall health.
“When paired with an unknown illness, Reality’s illness could spiral from a daily struggle that merely makes it difficult to get out of bed in the morning to a fully compromising situation from which she may never recover.”
The “modified lockdown” at Carswell, without exercise routines, imperils Winner’s health, according to her attorneys.
“Reality’s depleted mental and physical states—with no way to exercise any coping mechanism for the stress of her own underlying conditions and now the added stress of battling a novel virus present in her facility—make her particularly susceptible to COVID-19.”
Winner-Davis told Shadowproof she has reached out to Carswell prison staff about her concerns. “They have been positively responsive, which is a good thing.”
“I have seen a decline in her mental health. She is scared all of the time, and the complete lockdown has exacerbated her anxiety to an unmanageable level. She has asked for medication at this point but was denied as she will need to see the doctor, something that will take time.”
“She is cleaning non-stop and has exhibited self-destructive behaviors that have me extremely worried about her mental health,” Winner-Davis added.
Winner’s attorneys contend, “The best chance Reality has to weather this pandemic is to be released and be permitted to live with her family in rural Texas, where she can appropriately ‘shelter in place’ and avoid interacting with others.”
They believe Attorney General William Barr’s March 26 memo on prioritizing “home confinement as appropriate in response to the COVID-19 pandemic” directly applies to cases like Winner’s case.
Since Barr’s memo, the Bureau of Prisons says it has moved 566 inmates into home confinement.
Even if Winner was designated for home confinement, the BOP could keep her in a “14-day quarantine” before allowing her family to take her home.
Federal Judge Alison Nathan called [PDF] the BOP’s approach “Kafkaesque” and dangerous in a separate case involving Gerard Separta, who is incarcerated at Federal Correctional Institution Butner in North Carolina and was cleared for compassionate release.
“The BOP has determined that Mr. Separta must remain in custody during the peak of the pandemic for what it labels a ’14-day quarantine,’ but his current confinement is neither a quarantine nor limited to 14 days. In fact, following inquiries from this court, the government revealed that Mr. Separta is housed with many other people in conditions that will inevitably permit the virus to spread,” Nathan declared.
“As of April 14, the BOP determined that Mr. Separta’s 14-day-clock must start over because one of the many people he is now housed with tested positive. Under the BOP’s policy, if any one of the individuals in Mr. Separta’s unit, most of whom have also been approved for home confinement, tests positive, the 14-day waiting period for all inmates in the unit starts anew [emphasis in quote].”
The BOP refuses to allow Separta to “self-quarantine in his residence for 14 days,” but fortunately, in Separata’s case, Nathan ordered the BOP to release him from custody immediately.
KERA, a Dallas radio station, spoke with an inmate at Carswell named Mendy Forbes. She was put into solitary confinement after speaking to the press. She spoke to KERA because she was afraid the facility was not taking proper action to halt the spread of the coronavirus.
Officers moved between a unit across the hall from her unit that was put “under quarantine because of a suspected coronavirus case.”
Before she was moved, Forbes was housed in a unit with 250 women. There are only 120 chairs. “They sleep four to a cell and less than three feet apart. Everyone’s expected to wear the same disposable mask every day. The phones are in pretty heavy use, but Forbes hasn’t seen anyone sanitize them,” according to KERA.
Forbes is a “lawyer by training” and was helping elderly women, pregnant women, and women with chronic health conditions, file motions for release. They make up the bulk of the population at Carswell.
“We have people who should’ve already been gone. I have one lady who’s close to 70-years-old on a pacemaker where the case manager screwed up her paperwork months ago who should’ve been gone and she’s still sitting here,” Forbes shared.
Winner’s legal team asserts releasing her to home confinement will not create any disparity in sentencing. In fact, it may correct a disparity.
“Reality has served the majority of her mandatory sentence and is approximately two years away from release. Granting the motion would resolve the sentence disparities between her and similarly situated defendants because her prison term was more than many prior Espionage Act prosecutions,” her attorneys conclude.


shadowproof--2020-04-22--Protest Song Of The Week: ‘No Más’ By Irreversible Entanglements

Protest Song Of The Week : ‘ No Más ’ By Irreversible Entanglements Irreversible Entanglements are a politically-minded avant-garde jazz ensemble formed in early 2015 by saxophonist Keir Neuringer , poet Camae Ayewa ( a.k.a .
Moor Mother ) and bassist Luke Stewart , who joined forces to perform at a Musicians Against Police Brutality event organized after New York police murdered Akai Gurley .
Shortly after their performance , they recruited two new members—trumpeter Aquiles Navarro and drummer Tcheser Holmes— their self-titled debut album , which was released in 2017 .
The album dealt with black trauma and provided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
( It made Shadowproof ’ s list of top ten protest albums in 2017 . )
The ensemble recently released their follow-up , “ Who Sent You ?
” It includes this week ’ s featured track , “ No Más.
” Musically , the follow-up ’ s arrangements are still experimental , but the approach is less intense and noisy than its predecessor .
Even though there is a degree of confrontation with the music and lyrics , it is more balanced with more warmth and comfort thematically .
A video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Shot in Johannesburg , South Africa by Imani Nikyah Dennison , the stunning video is built around the concept of Africans leaving planet earth to flee oppression .
The visuals complement the free jazz musical arrangements and Ayewa ’ s powerful poetry .
“ No mas .
No more .
No longer will we allow them to divide and conquer , divide and oppress , define our humanity , ” the ensemble proclaims .

Irreversible Entanglements are a politically-minded avant-garde jazz ensemble formed in early 2015 by saxophonist Keir Neuringer, poet Camae Ayewa (a.k.a. Moor Mother) and bassist Luke Stewart, who joined forces to perform at a Musicians Against Police Brutality event organized after New York police murdered Akai Gurley.
Shortly after their performance, they recruited two new members—trumpeter Aquiles Navarro and drummer Tcheser Holmes— their self-titled debut album, which was released in 2017. The album dealt with black trauma and provided listeners with an empowering message of liberation. (It made Shadowproof’s list of top ten protest albums in 2017.)
The ensemble recently released their follow-up, “Who Sent You?” It includes this week’s featured track, “No Más.”
Musically, the follow-up’s arrangements are still experimental, but the approach is less intense and noisy than its predecessor. Even though there is a degree of confrontation with the music and lyrics, it is more balanced with more warmth and comfort thematically.
A video was released to accompany “No Más.” Shot in Johannesburg, South Africa by Imani Nikyah Dennison, the stunning video is built around the concept of Africans leaving planet earth to flee oppression. The visuals complement the free jazz musical arrangements and Ayewa’s powerful poetry.
“No mas. No more. No longer will we allow them to divide and conquer, divide and oppress, define our humanity,” the ensemble proclaims.
*Listen to ‘No Más’ by Irreversible Entanglements:


shadowproof--2020-04-23--Journalists Are Essential Workers, Help Us Support Them During COVID-19 Pandemic

Journalists Are Essential Workers , Help Us Support Them During COVID-19 Pandemic Many journalists are without work as publications shut down and freelance budgets are frozen due to COVID-19 .
Journalism is critical to our collective health and safety right now .
Reporters play a vital role in holding powerful people accountable during such precarious times .
Shadowproof needs your help raising money for freelancers covering the pandemic ’ s impact on health care , labor , prisons , and more .
We ’ re matching donations up to $ 5,000 to maximize the benefit we can provide to people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were dealing with a terrible media economy before the pandemic , and it ’ s become far worse .
The New York Times estimates 33,000 “ workers at news companies have been laid off , been furloughed or had their pay reduced.
” That number probably does not reflect how many freelance journalists no longer have their pitches accepted outlets that used to be fairly reliable sources of income .
Your donations will be matched—up to $ 5,000—thanks to the generosity of our founder Kevin Gosztola .
He is committing some of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died .
Our hope is to facilitate mutual aid with reporters , providing them an opportunity for income they need while publishing investigations and analyses crucial to communities .
We ’ re already fielding pitches from reporters , and we ’ re eager to support their work .
Help us by making a donation of $ 25 today .

Many journalists are without work as publications shut down and freelance budgets are frozen due to COVID-19.
Journalism is critical to our collective health and safety right now. Reporters play a vital role in holding powerful people accountable during such precarious times.
Shadowproof needs your help raising money for freelancers covering the pandemic’s impact on health care, labor, prisons, and more. We’re matching donations up to $5,000 to maximize the benefit we can provide to people we believe are essential workers.
Journalists were dealing with a terrible media economy before the pandemic, and it’s become far worse.
The New York Times estimates 33,000 “workers at news companies have been laid off, been furloughed or had their pay reduced.” That number probably does not reflect how many freelance journalists no longer have their pitches accepted outlets that used to be fairly reliable sources of income.
Your donations will be matched—up to $5,000—thanks to the generosity of our founder Kevin Gosztola. He is committing some of the funds left to him after his father died.
Our hope is to facilitate mutual aid with reporters, providing them an opportunity for income they need while publishing investigations and analyses crucial to communities.
We’re already fielding pitches from reporters, and we’re eager to support their work. Help us by making a donation of $25 today.


shadowproof--2020-04-24--Judge Rejects Reality Winner’s Request For Release As COVID-19 Spreads At Women’s Prison

Judge Rejects Reality Winner ’ s Request For Release As COVID-19 Spreads At Women ’ s Prison Federal Judge Randal Hall rejected NSA whistleblower Reality Winner ’ s request for release from a federal prison .
Hall contended Winner is in a “ medical prison , which is presumably better equipped than most to deal with any onset of COVID-19 in its inmates.
” “ Winner has not carried the burden of demonstrating that her specific medical conditions under the particular conditions of confinement at [ Federal Medical Center ] Carswell place her at a risk substantial enough to justify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PDF ] .
Repeating an argument put forward by the Justice Department , which opposed her request , Hall added , “ The court would be remiss not to point out Winner ’ s incongruous complaint that she is at greater risk because of the preventative measures undertaken by the prison in response to COVID-19.
” Billie Winner-Davis , who is Reality ’ s mother , reacted , “ I am extremely disappointed .
I am overwhelmed with fear and sadness .
I pray that nothing happens to her.
” On April 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Georgia to protect her from the spread of the coronavirus .
She asked the court to release her to home confinement with family because she has a history of bulimia , depression , and respiratory illnesses that make her vulnerable .
Winner pled guilty in 2018 to one count of violating the Espionage Act when she disclosed an NSA report to The Intercept .
She believed the report contained evidence that Russian hackers targeted United States voter registration systems during the 2016 election .
She has served more than 34 months of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Worth , Texas .
Carswell holds around 1,600 women , who are elderly , pregnant , or have chronic health conditions .
The Bureau of Prisons claims only two inmates at the facility have tested positive for the coronavirus , but that does not match up with what women within the facility have told reporters .
On April 20 , the Fort Worth Star-Telegram spoke to Marie Neba , who described in early April how phones are sanitized .
When she spoke to the newspaper , “ no more than two feet away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emails .
They were not wearing masks.
” The lockdown means inmates like Neba spend “ 22 hours a day in a nine-person cell .
The beds are three feet apart .
One of the women in her cell , ” according to Neba , “ had a fever but was not tested for coronavirus.
” Neba has stage four breast cancer and diabetes and is “ full of anxiety.
” Her story is one story that undermines the assertion by the Justice Department and the judge that Carswell is uniquely capable of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facility is a “ medical hospital.
” The local newspaper further reported , “ Inmates at Carswell say the prison has not conducted mass testing .
In a letter sent to Warden Michael Carr by several inmates , they asked him to release all elderly and sick nonviolent offenders to home confinement and said a single case of coronavirus could have the effect of lighting a match on a book of matches .
‘ If there was ever a time to show mercy and compassion , this is it , ’ they wrote.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Carswell , which in 2005 was labeled by the ACLU of Texas as a “ hospital of horrors ” for women prisoners .
The facility enabled sexual abuse and was responsible for systematic medical neglect .
Carswell did not go on lockdown until March 31 .
By then , Texas averaged 300 new cases per day and 38 deaths .
In fact , the first cases of coronavirus in the state were documented in the first week of March .
There was a flu outbreak at Carswell in February .
Winner-Davis visited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not providing prisoners with “ enough soap , ” and they showered in freezing water because the hot water was turned off .
The Appeal published a report on Carswell on April 21 .
Nancy Ferneau was at Carswell for 16 years and recalled how a woman had her breast removed “ because she was misdiagnosed with cancer.
” Another prisoner “ died in the laundry room after complaints about her pacemaker were ignored by staff.
” “ Doctors do not want to see you , ” Ferneau asserted .
“ You only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a year .
To see a physician ’ s assistant or a nurse , a lot of times they use a number system and by the time you get your turn you get over what ’ s wrong with you.
” The Justice Department maintained as it outlined their opposition to Winner ’ s request that the Bureau of Prisons is taking a “ careful evidence-based approach that not only provides an overall strategy but also allows BOP to respond to the specific challenges faced by particular facilities and inmates.
” It described @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” implemented by officials , but this obscures the reality of what is unfolding at facilities like Carswell .
One prisoner , Maria , told The Appeal , “ We live in rooms with four other women , where if one of us is standing up the others have to be on their bed or definitely out of the room .
The room is maybe 8 feet by 10 feet with four beds and four lockers stacked one on top of the other.
” Nicole , another prisoner , shared , “ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a little room so it is inevitable that we are around each other.
” And masks were given to prisoners for the first time in April , yet they reused the same mask for two week .
Winner-Davis said Winner was issued a cloth mask that was supposed to last her seven days .
She does not have access to a washing machine .
The most she can do to make it last for a week is wash the mask with soap in a sink .
Amy Povah runs a nonprofit organization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Appeal , she said , “ If priority were given to any one federal facility in this country , it should be the Carswell medical facility , where women are medically compromised and extremely vulnerable to the coronavirus.
” “ As someone who served nine years in federal prison , it was rare for anyone to escape the flu during flu season .
It takes off like a fire in a dry barn due to our close proximity to one another and inability to practice social distancing or have access to medications @ @ @ @ @ @ @ citrus or vegetables , etc , ” Povah added .
Moreover , the “ services ” provided at Carswell do not make the facility a safe place for vulnerable people like Winner .
Prisons often fail to provide adequate health care , which during a pandemic may result in deadly consequences for prisoners .
But the Justice Department , as well as Judge Hall , would have the public incorrectly believe Carswell can protect prisoners because it is a “ medical hospital.
” To this idea that Winner is contradicting herself by arguing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to preventative measures , both the judge and Justice Department are perpetuating ignorance .
They are fully capable of assessing the lockdown measures put in place .
Any assessment would conclude that the restrictions on recreation and increased time spent in cells would amount to cruel or unusual treatment under most scenarios .
If Hall and the Justice Department truly cared about the well-being of prisoners during the pandemic , they would be doing more to release prisoners like Winner .
Instead , they are clinging to the same callousness that defined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she accepted a plea agreement .
In November 2017 , Hall criminalized Winner ’ s experience in the Air Force and treated Winner like she was a terrorist sympathizer and suggested she was interested in “ matters of the Taliban ” and “ researched airline flights to Kurdistan and Erbil and work visas in Afghanistan , ” like she wanted to join the militant group .
Hall insisted Winner ’ s skills as a linguist , who knows Farsi , Dari , and Pashto , “ would enable her to live and sustain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” U.S. Attorney Bobby Christine , who signed off on the filing that opposed Winner ’ s request , celebrated her 63-month sentence to prison as the “ longest received by a defendant for an unauthorized disclosure of national defense information to the media.
” Both Hall and the Justice Department are deeply prejudiced against Winner for leaking classified information , and as a result of their hostility , the court ’ s rejection of her request may have transformed her severe sentence into a death sentence if she contracts the coronavirus at @ @

Federal Judge Randal Hall rejected NSA whistleblower Reality Winner’s request for release from a federal prison. Hall contended Winner is in a “medical prison, which is presumably better equipped than most to deal with any onset of COVID-19 in its inmates.”
“Winner has not carried the burden of demonstrating that her specific medical conditions under the particular conditions of confinement at [Federal Medical Center] Carswell place her at a risk substantial enough to justify early release,” Hall declared [PDF].
Repeating an argument put forward by the Justice Department, which opposed her request, Hall added, “The court would be remiss not to point out Winner’s incongruous complaint that she is at greater risk because of the preventative measures undertaken by the prison in response to COVID-19.”
Billie Winner-Davis, who is Reality’s mother, reacted, “I am extremely disappointed. I am overwhelmed with fear and sadness. I pray that nothing happens to her.”
On April 10, Winner urged a federal court in Georgia to protect her from the spread of the coronavirus. She asked the court to release her to home confinement with family because she has a history of bulimia, depression, and respiratory illnesses that make her vulnerable.
Winner pled guilty in 2018 to one count of violating the Espionage Act when she disclosed an NSA report to The Intercept. She believed the report contained evidence that Russian hackers targeted United States voter registration systems during the 2016 election.
She has served more than 34 months of a 63-month sentence at FMC Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas.
Carswell holds around 1,600 women, who are elderly, pregnant, or have chronic health conditions. The Bureau of Prisons claims only two inmates at the facility have tested positive for the coronavirus, but that does not match up with what women within the facility have told reporters.
On April 20, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram spoke to Marie Neba, who described in early April how phones are sanitized. When she spoke to the newspaper, “no more than two feet away, other inmates were talking and sending emails. They were not wearing masks.”
The lockdown means inmates like Neba spend “22 hours a day in a nine-person cell. The beds are three feet apart. One of the women in her cell,” according to Neba, “had a fever but was not tested for coronavirus.”
Neba has stage four breast cancer and diabetes and is “full of anxiety.” Her story is one story that undermines the assertion by the Justice Department and the judge that Carswell is uniquely capable of protecting prisoners from the coronavirus because the facility is a “medical hospital.”
The local newspaper further reported, “Inmates at Carswell say the prison has not conducted mass testing. In a letter sent to Warden Michael Carr by several inmates, they asked him to release all elderly and sick nonviolent offenders to home confinement and said a single case of coronavirus could have the effect of lighting a match on a book of matches. ‘If there was ever a time to show mercy and compassion, this is it,’ they wrote.”
Hall failed to consider the history of Carswell, which in 2005 was labeled by the ACLU of Texas as a “hospital of horrors” for women prisoners. The facility enabled sexual abuse and was responsible for systematic medical neglect.
Carswell did not go on lockdown until March 31. By then, Texas averaged 300 new cases per day and 38 deaths. In fact, the first cases of coronavirus in the state were documented in the first week of March.
There was a flu outbreak at Carswell in February. Winner-Davis visited her daughter and learned the facility was not providing prisoners with “enough soap,” and they showered in freezing water because the hot water was turned off.
The Appeal published a report on Carswell on April 21. Nancy Ferneau was at Carswell for 16 years and recalled how a woman had her breast removed “because she was misdiagnosed with cancer.” Another prisoner “died in the laundry room after complaints about her pacemaker were ignored by staff.”
“Doctors do not want to see you,” Ferneau asserted. “You only get to see the actual doctor once a year. To see a physician’s assistant or a nurse, a lot of times they use a number system and by the time you get your turn you get over what’s wrong with you.”
The Justice Department maintained as it outlined their opposition to Winner’s request that the Bureau of Prisons is taking a “careful evidence-based approach that not only provides an overall strategy but also allows BOP to respond to the specific challenges faced by particular facilities and inmates.” It described five phases of an “action plan” implemented by officials, but this obscures the reality of what is unfolding at facilities like Carswell.
One prisoner, Maria, told The Appeal, “We live in rooms with four other women, where if one of us is standing up the others have to be on their bed or definitely out of the room. The room is maybe 8 feet by 10 feet with four beds and four lockers stacked one on top of the other.”
Nicole, another prisoner, shared, “We are 300 in one unit and four to a little room so it is inevitable that we are around each other.” And masks were given to prisoners for the first time in April, yet they reused the same mask for two week.
Winner-Davis said Winner was issued a cloth mask that was supposed to last her seven days. She does not have access to a washing machine. The most she can do to make it last for a week is wash the mask with soap in a sink.
Amy Povah runs a nonprofit organization called CAN-DO. In an interview for The Appeal, she said, “If priority were given to any one federal facility in this country, it should be the Carswell medical facility, where women are medically compromised and extremely vulnerable to the coronavirus.”
“As someone who served nine years in federal prison, it was rare for anyone to escape the flu during flu season. It takes off like a fire in a dry barn due to our close proximity to one another and inability to practice social distancing or have access to medications and vitamins such as zinc, fresh citrus or vegetables, etc,” Povah added.
Moreover, the “services” provided at Carswell do not make the facility a safe place for vulnerable people like Winner. Prisons often fail to provide adequate health care, which during a pandemic may result in deadly consequences for prisoners. But the Justice Department, as well as Judge Hall, would have the public incorrectly believe Carswell can protect prisoners because it is a “medical hospital.”
To this idea that Winner is contradicting herself by arguing she is at “greater risk” due to preventative measures, both the judge and Justice Department are perpetuating ignorance. They are fully capable of assessing the lockdown measures put in place. Any assessment would conclude that the restrictions on recreation and increased time spent in cells would amount to cruel or unusual treatment under most scenarios.
If Hall and the Justice Department truly cared about the well-being of prisoners during the pandemic, they would be doing more to release prisoners like Winner. Instead, they are clinging to the same callousness that defined their opposition to granting her bail before she accepted a plea agreement.
In November 2017, Hall criminalized Winner’s experience in the Air Force and treated Winner like she was a terrorist sympathizer and suggested she was interested in “matters of the Taliban” and “researched airline flights to Kurdistan and Erbil and work visas in Afghanistan,” like she wanted to join the militant group.
Hall insisted Winner’s skills as a linguist, who knows Farsi, Dari, and Pashto, “would enable her to live and sustain herself in many Middle Eastern countries,”
U.S. Attorney Bobby Christine, who signed off on the filing that opposed Winner’s request, celebrated her 63-month sentence to prison as the “longest received by a defendant for an unauthorized disclosure of national defense information to the media.”
Both Hall and the Justice Department are deeply prejudiced against Winner for leaking classified information, and as a result of their hostility, the court’s rejection of her request may have transformed her severe sentence into a death sentence if she contracts the coronavirus at Carswell.


shadowproof--2020-04-24--Beyond Prisons: COVID-19 Hoax Against Mumia Abu-Jamal Supporters feat. Johanna Fernández

Author , educator , and activist Johanna Fernández joins the Beyond Prisons podcast to discuss a recent incident in which a Pennsylvania corrections officer perpetrated a hoax on supporters of Mumia Abu-Jamal by claiming he had been hospitalized for COVID-19 .
The conversation extends beyond this incident to discuss American attitudes about violence and safety , the weaponization of health and concern against prisoners , and more .
Johanna Fernández is the author of The Young Lords : A Radical History ( UNC Press , February 2020 ) , a history of the Puerto Rican counterpart of the Black Panther @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history and the history of social movements in the Department of History at Baruch College ( CUNY ) .
Dr. Fernández ’ s recent research and litigation have unearthed an arsenal of primary documents now available to scholars and members of the public .
Her Freedom of Information Law ( FOIL ) lawsuit against the NYPD , led to the recovery of the “ lost ” Handschu files , the largest repository of police surveillance records in the country , namely over one million surveillance files of New Yorkers compiled by the NYPD @ @ @ @ @ @ @ X .
She is the editor of Writing on the Wall : Selected Prison Writings of Mumia Abu-Jamal ( City Lights , 2015 ) .
With Mumia Abu-Jamal she co-edited a special issue of the journal Socialism and Democracy , titled The Roots of Mass Incarceration in the US : Locking Up Black Dissidents and Punishing the Poor ( Routledge , 2014 ) .
Among others , her awards include the Fulbright Scholars grant to the Middle East and North Africa , which took her to Jordan , and a National Endowment for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture of the New York Public Library .
Professor Fernández is the writer and producer of the film , Justice on Trial : the Case of Mumia Abu-Jamal ( BigNoise Films , 2010 ) .
She directed and co-curated , ¡Presente !
The Young Lords in New York an exhibition in three NYC museums cited by the New York Times as one of the year ’ s Top 10 , Best In Art .
Her mainstream writings have been published internationally , from Al Jazeera @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appeared in a diverse range of print , radio , online and televised media including NPR , The New York Times , the Wall Street Journal , and Democracy Now !
.
Fernández is the recipient of a B.A .
in Literature and American Civilization from Brown University and a Ph.D. in U.S. History from Columbia University .
Teach In : US Empire v. Political Prisoners ( April 24 , 2020 from 6-9pm East )

Author, educator, and activist Johanna Fernández joins the Beyond Prisons podcast to discuss a recent incident in which a Pennsylvania corrections officer perpetrated a hoax on supporters of Mumia Abu-Jamal by claiming he had been hospitalized for COVID-19.
The conversation extends beyond this incident to discuss American attitudes about violence and safety, the weaponization of health and concern against prisoners, and more.
Johanna Fernández is the author of The Young Lords: A Radical History (UNC Press, February 2020), a history of the Puerto Rican counterpart of the Black Panther Party. She teaches 20th Century US history and the history of social movements in the Department of History at Baruch College (CUNY).
Dr. Fernández’s recent research and litigation have unearthed an arsenal of primary documents now available to scholars and members of the public. Her Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) lawsuit against the NYPD, led to the recovery of the “lost” Handschu files, the largest repository of police surveillance records in the country, namely over one million surveillance files of New Yorkers compiled by the NYPD between 1954-1972, including those of Malcolm X. She is the editor of Writing on the Wall: Selected Prison Writings of Mumia Abu-Jamal (City Lights, 2015). With Mumia Abu-Jamal she co-edited a special issue of the journal Socialism and Democracy, titled The Roots of Mass Incarceration in the US: Locking Up Black Dissidents and Punishing the Poor (Routledge, 2014).
Among others, her awards include the Fulbright Scholars grant to the Middle East and North Africa, which took her to Jordan, and a National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship of the Scholars-in-Residence program at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture of the New York Public Library.
Professor Fernández is the writer and producer of the film, Justice on Trial: the Case of Mumia Abu-Jamal (BigNoise Films, 2010). She directed and co-curated, ¡Presente! The Young Lords in New York an exhibition in three NYC museums cited by the New York Times as one of the year’s Top 10, Best In Art. Her mainstream writings have been published internationally, from Al Jazeera to the Huffington Post. She has appeared in a diverse range of print, radio, online and televised media including NPR, The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and Democracy Now!.
Fernández is the recipient of a B.A. in Literature and American Civilization from Brown University and a Ph.D. in U.S. History from Columbia University.
Episode Resources
Teach In: US Empire v. Political Prisoners (April 24, 2020 from 6-9pm East)
Buy Dr. Fernández’s book, “The Young Lords: A Radical History”


shadowproof--2020-04-28--Federal Court Orders Social Distancing Measures At Cook County Jail, Site Of One Of Largest Coronavi

Federal Court Orders Social Distancing Measures At Cook County Jail, Site Of One Of Largest Coronavirus Clusters

Federal Court Orders Social Distancing Measures At Cook County Jail , Site Of One Of Largest Coronavirus Clusters A federal court ruled that the Cook County Sheriff ’ s Office has failed to protect detainees at Cook County Jail from the spread of the coronavirus and issued an injunction , however , the court declined to order the convening of a three-judge court for the release of detainees .
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois ordered [ PDF ] Sheriff Thomas Dart to develop a policy to avoid “ group housing ” or “ double-celling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cell .
Dart also instructed to expand COVID-19 testing in the facility in Chicago , increase enforcement of social distancing , and provide greater access to face masks and “ sanitation supplies.
” “ The ruling put into place measures Dart has previously refused to implement , including expanding mandatory testing and barring dangerous congregate-style dormitory housing and double cells , ” declared Locke Bowman , the executive director of the MacArthur Justice Center .
Bowman added , “ While the Sheriff has maintained this lawsuit is a waste of time , today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was absolutely necessary to ensure the protection of detainees ’ health.
” In early April , a class action lawsuit was filed for emergency relief for detainees because the Sheriff ’ s Office “ failed in its constitutional responsibility ” to “ provide reasonable protection ” from the virus .
There are more than 4,000 detainees confined at the Cook County Jail .
Weeks ago , the outbreak at the facility was deemed one of the largest coronavirus case clusters in the United States .
According to the Cook County Department of Corrections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 26 , six detainees have died from COVID-19 and 461 detainees have tested positive for the coronavirus .
The facility says 232 detainees are “ no longer positive and are being monitored at a recovery facility at the jail.
” Plus , 409 detainees have tested negative for COVID-19 , which means despite the outbreak less than 20 percent have been tested .
As far as staff , more than 158 correctional officers have tested positive for COVID-19 and one correctional officer died .
That means , in total , over 800 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Judge Matthew Kennelly determined it was “ objectively unreasonable ” to continue the practice of “ group housing ” or “ double-celling , ” given the “ immediate and significant risk ” to detainees ’ lives .
However , Kennelly granted multiple exemptions for persons in tiers or dormitories who are under “ quarantine following a positive test ” ; persons who tested positive for the coronavirus and are under “ medical observation ” ; persons who tested positive for the coronavirus and are “ recovering ” ; persons with documentation from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poses a risk of suicide or self-harm ” ; persons in a dormitory unit that is “ at less than fifty percent capacity ” ; and detainees “ committed ” to a “ group housing unit that is equipped for medical or medical or mental health treatment , but only if there is not available housing or medical units that permit full social distancing.
” It is unclear to what extent the Sheriff ’ s Office may be able to exploit these exemptions to avoid moving detainees .
The judge instructed Dart to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any detainees who “ exhibit symptoms ” of “ consistent ” with the coronavirus , ” and “ at medically appropriate times , ” detainees “ exposed to others who have exhibited those symptoms or have tested positive for coronavirus.
” According to detainees , many were held at intake in “ bullpens , ” where “ numerous detainees were held together for extended periods in a crowded cell.
” The judge ordered the Sheriff ’ s Office to keep avoiding the use of bullpens or multiple-person cells for new detainees “ awaiting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to provide soap or hand sanitizer to “ all detainees in quantities sufficient to permit them to frequently clean their hands , ” as well as “ sanitation supplies sufficient and adequate to enable all staff and detainees to regularly sanitize surfaces and objects on which the virus could be present , including in all areas occupied or frequented by more than one person ( such as two-person cells , as well as bathrooms , showers , and other surfaces in common areas ) .
” Face masks must also be provided to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who may have shown symptoms consistent with COVID-19 .
Kennelly was very clear in outlining why the court could not wait for the Sheriff ’ s Office to take further action , even though they had adopted some social distancing measures .
…Without additional measures to expand and enforce social distancing and the continuation of measures aimed at enhancing sanitation of surfaces within the Jail and otherwise curbing the spread of coronavirus among detained persons , some of the class members will contract the virus .
If they contract coronavirus , class members— @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or with certain preexisting health conditions—risk severe health consequences , including death .
These grave risks to health are not an insignificant possibility for the class members , all of whom are live in the Jail ’ s congregate environment , where the coronavirus has been spreading for weeks and where detained persons—even those who sleep their own cells—share spaces like common areas and showers… On March 27 , the Chicago Department of Public Health recommended screening and the classification of detainees based on the level of risk associated with the coronavirus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ mass release of inmates to decompress the jail for urgent public health reasons.
” Between April 9 and April 17 , more than 300 detainees were placed on “ electronic home monitoring.
” Yet , according to the Sheriff ’ s Office , the program was “ extended to its outside limits , or nearly so , in light of the apparent exhaustion of the program vendor ’ s supply of monitoring equipment.
” Sharlyn Grace , the executive director of the Chicago Community Bond Fund , said they will continue to demand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cook County Jail in the name of public health.
” “ The narrative being put forward by Sheriff Dart is not based in reality and continues to put people at risk of further harm , ” Grace concluded .
“ The only way to prevent more deaths is through decarceration .
”

A federal court ruled that the Cook County Sheriff’s Office has failed to protect detainees at Cook County Jail from the spread of the coronavirus and issued an injunction, however, the court declined to order the convening of a three-judge court for the release of detainees.
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois ordered [PDF] Sheriff Thomas Dart to develop a policy to avoid “group housing” or “double-celling,” holding two detainees in one cell.
Dart also instructed to expand COVID-19 testing in the facility in Chicago, increase enforcement of social distancing, and provide greater access to face masks and “sanitation supplies.”
“The ruling put into place measures Dart has previously refused to implement, including expanding mandatory testing and barring dangerous congregate-style dormitory housing and double cells,” declared Locke Bowman, the executive director of the MacArthur Justice Center.
Bowman added, “While the Sheriff has maintained this lawsuit is a waste of time, today’s ruling proves that judicial injunction was absolutely necessary to ensure the protection of detainees’ health.”
In early April, a class action lawsuit was filed for emergency relief for detainees because the Sheriff’s Office “failed in its constitutional responsibility” to “provide reasonable protection” from the virus.
There are more than 4,000 detainees confined at the Cook County Jail. Weeks ago, the outbreak at the facility was deemed one of the largest coronavirus case clusters in the United States.
According to the Cook County Department of Corrections (CCDOC), as of April 26, six detainees have died from COVID-19 and 461 detainees have tested positive for the coronavirus.
The facility says 232 detainees are “no longer positive and are being monitored at a recovery facility at the jail.” Plus, 409 detainees have tested negative for COVID-19, which means despite the outbreak less than 20 percent have been tested.
As far as staff, more than 158 correctional officers have tested positive for COVID-19 and one correctional officer died. That means, in total, over 800 people associated with the facility have tested positive.
Judge Matthew Kennelly determined it was “objectively unreasonable” to continue the practice of “group housing” or “double-celling,” given the “immediate and significant risk” to detainees’ lives.
However, Kennelly granted multiple exemptions for persons in tiers or dormitories who are under “quarantine following a positive test”; persons who tested positive for the coronavirus and are under “medical observation”; persons who tested positive for the coronavirus and are “recovering”; persons with documentation from a medical professional to show “single-celling poses a risk of suicide or self-harm”; persons in a dormitory unit that is “at less than fifty percent capacity”; and detainees “committed” to a “group housing unit that is equipped for medical or medical or mental health treatment, but only if there is not available housing or medical units that permit full social distancing.”
It is unclear to what extent the Sheriff’s Office may be able to exploit these exemptions to avoid moving detainees.
The judge instructed Dart to require “prompt coronavirus testing” of any detainees who “exhibit symptoms” of “consistent” with the coronavirus,” and “at medically appropriate times,” detainees “exposed to others who have exhibited those symptoms or have tested positive for coronavirus.”
According to detainees, many were held at intake in “bullpens,” where “numerous detainees were held together for extended periods in a crowded cell.”
The judge ordered the Sheriff’s Office to keep avoiding the use of bullpens or multiple-person cells for new detainees “awaiting intake.”
Furthermore, Dart was instructed to provide soap or hand sanitizer to “all detainees in quantities sufficient to permit them to frequently clean their hands,” as well as “sanitation supplies sufficient and adequate to enable all staff and detainees to regularly sanitize surfaces and objects on which the virus could be present, including in all areas occupied or frequented by more than one person (such as two-person cells, as well as bathrooms, showers, and other surfaces in common areas).”
Face masks must also be provided to all detainees in quarantine, including anyone who may have shown symptoms consistent with COVID-19.
Kennelly was very clear in outlining why the court could not wait for the Sheriff’s Office to take further action, even though they had adopted some social distancing measures.
…Without additional measures to expand and enforce social distancing and the continuation of measures aimed at enhancing sanitation of surfaces within the Jail and otherwise curbing the spread of coronavirus among detained persons, some of the class members will contract the virus. If they contract coronavirus, class members— particularly those over the age of sixty-five or with certain preexisting health conditions—risk severe health consequences, including death. These grave risks to health are not an insignificant possibility for the class members, all of whom are live in the Jail’s congregate environment, where the coronavirus has been spreading for weeks and where detained persons—even those who sleep their own cells—share spaces like common areas and showers…
On March 27, the Chicago Department of Public Health recommended screening and the classification of detainees based on the level of risk associated with the coronavirus. They also suggested officials consider the “mass release of inmates to decompress the jail for urgent public health reasons.”
Between April 9 and April 17, more than 300 detainees were placed on “electronic home monitoring.” Yet, according to the Sheriff’s Office, the program was “extended to its outside limits, or nearly so, in light of the apparent exhaustion of the program vendor’s supply of monitoring equipment.”
Sharlyn Grace, the executive director of the Chicago Community Bond Fund, said they will continue to demand the “mass release of people from Cook County Jail in the name of public health.”
“The narrative being put forward by Sheriff Dart is not based in reality and continues to put people at risk of further harm,” Grace concluded. “The only way to prevent more deaths is through decarceration.”


shadowproof--2020-04-28--Interview With Brad Schreiber On ‘Music Is Power’: Part 3—Black Sabbath, Gil Scott-Heron, Public Ene

Interview With Brad Schreiber On ‘Music Is Power’: Part 3—Black Sabbath, Gil Scott-Heron, Public Enemy

Interview With Brad Schreiber On ‘ Music Is Power ’ : Part 3—Black Sabbath , Gil Scott-Heron , Public Enemy Covering around a century , Music Is Power is a book by Brad Schreiber that takes readers on a tour of music that challenged social injustice and spoke to the masses during uncertain times .
Schreiber is an award-winning author , journalist , and screenwriter , whose past books include Death In Paradise , Becoming Jimi Hendrix , and Revolution ’ s End .
Music Is Power was released in 2019 , and it is a finalist for a 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explores the impact of a number of musicians , including Joe Hill , Lesley Gore , Janis Ian , Curtis Mayfield , Gil Scott-Heron , and Pete Seeger .
In the third part of a conversation , Shadowproof managing editor Kevin Gosztola , who curates Shadowproof ’ s Protest Music Project , talks with Schreiber about Music Is Power .
Schreiber discusses how Black Sabbath came to record “ War Pigs , ” one of the most important metal protest songs .
He highlights the mark Gil Scott-Heron left on protest music , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Enemy released “ By The Time I Get To Phoenix.
” You can listen to the conclusion of this series by clicking on the player at the top of the post .
The book can be purchased from Rutgers University Press here .
GOSZTOLA : While we ’ re talking about war , let ’ s get into the part of your book that looks at hard rock or the rise of heavy metal ; that Black Sabbath , this iconic band was responsible for , and the way in which these stories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sabbath to record one of the best songs against the military industrial-complex ever recorded— ” War Pigs.
” SCHREIBER : That ’ s a really almost comical story .
War is tragic , obviously , but the way they stumbled on to writing “ War Pigs ” —They had played a gig in Switzerland , and they were interacting with a lot of American military who were based there , and they were telling pretty harrowing stories of what was going on there in Vietnam .
So , all of a sudden a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the occult and dark imagery is starting to gain a political consciousness .
The actual lyrics and name for “ War Pigs ” came out of something that might have been in the mockumentary “ Spinal Tap ” because they wanted to call the song “ Walpurgis , ” which is this pagan holiday .
Of course , their label said we ’ re not going to have any suggestion of the occult or Satanism or paganism or anything like that .
We ’ re not calling it “ Walpurgis.
” And I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guitarist , who said , why don ’ t we just call it “ War Pigs ” ?
It sounds like “ Walpurgis.
” “ War Pigs , ” yeah , yeah .
Let ’ s do that .
So then the song ensued .
All that aside , Black Sabbath did something that hadn ’ t been done before and surprisingly wasn ’ t done very often after and that was taking a musical genre that is perfect for protest , heavy metal , the basic sound of the songs , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heavy metal , and connected it to war .
What could be more natural ?
And yet , a lot of heavy metal musicians and composers , they would come up with anything other than political consciousness .
They would come up with cannibalism and Satanism and being burned alive and what have you .
Because “ War Pigs ” was really the first metal song that was political , it set an important standard , and I know a lot of people have called it the most important heavy metal song ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move on to Gil Scott-Heron .
Talk about your inclusion of him in your examples of music .
I think he ’ s one of the more under-rated musicians when you look at the way music has such a power .
The way he could express social and political ideas was always clear .
He really cut right to the heart of what needed to be said .
A song that really stuck out to me .
Again , I ’ m listening to a lot of this music .
Everybody who considers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and how they protest .
They have their context in which they were recorded .
Gil ’ s responding to Nixon .
Gil ’ s responding to Reagan .
But I couldn ’ t help it .
When [ Donald ] Trump was inaugurated , I connected all the themes and everything he talked about in “ B Movie , ” having this actor elected to run the United States .
It ’ s a little worse in this era .
We have a C-list or D-list actor , who is running the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are all appropriate for our moment , but then his other songs—it ’ s very rare for a musician to sing so clearly and pointedly about the threat of nuclear war , as well as environmental destruction .
You don ’ t have a lot of those songs out there from artists .
SCHREIBER : Yeah , and “ Johannesburg ” was one of the most powerful indictments of apartheid in South Africa .
Of course , most people remember , if they know Gil Scott-Heron ’ s work , they think of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” And you make a really good point , that even though he ’ s talking about the ’ 70s and his cultural and political references are from that period , you can take Nixon and Spiro Agnew , as he mispronounced him , and John Mitchell and just plug in Trump and Giuliani and Lev Parnas and Devin Nunes , and the list of horrific people goes on and on .
It ’ s a time capsule , but it also suggests there ’ s a continuum of corruption that we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s also funny .
It ’ s outrageously funny .
Bullwinkle the Moose and Julia , which was Diahann Carroll as the first black female running character on network television .
He also showed that you could do really beautiful soulful music .
He did a piece called “ Pieces of a Man , ” which is a stunning R & B number , very soft and very mournful and the character who is speaking the lyrics is remembering his father coming apart after he loses his job .
The song @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speaking the lyrics , hearing a siren wailing and knowing it ’ s something his father has done that is illegal in order to support his family .
It ’ s very elegiac and a very stunning piece , and it summarizes what happens when you have institutional poverty of any color of people in any society .
You force them into crime because they have no other options .
Gil not only could write the overtly political .
He could write in other ways that were more subtle and more lasting .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of jazz , soul , or blues .
And part of his lasting legacy was he inspired all musical artists but especially black artists to use poetry .
I wish it was obviously used more in hip hop , but we got to a point where we had poetry slams .
You go to a poetry slam , and you see young people carrying the mantle of what Gil Scott-Heron did with his words back in the ’ 70s .
GOSZTOLA : The first album Gil recorded that became popular was entirely spoken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ background , right ?
SCHREIBER : Yeah , percussion .
That ’ s right .
It ’ s not that he was the very first person to do this .
There were guys in Harlem .
There were guys here in Watts in Los Angeles , who experimented with that form and really in your face street language and simple musical accompaniment .
That was the beginning of it , and Gil used it and he raised it to a political artform .
GOSZTOLA : Like the Last Poets , for an example @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Watt Prophets , that ’ s the name of the group out here in Los Angeles .
Sadly , Gil came to an end because he was addicted to crack-cocaine , and there ’ s an amazing New Yorker profile of him , where the guy interviewing him could not get him out of the house .
He would spend all day in the house in his apartment in Harlem , and the guy writing the profile of him said , hey , let ’ s go get some lunch .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Scott-Heron said , oh , I don ’ t know man .
I hear sunshine isn ’ t good for you .
Even to the end , he had this amazing perspective .
Especially for people who want to write songs that can be subtle or overtly political , I think they should look to his work .
GOSZTOLA : Gil did get an opportunity to make some music in the final years of his life .
The 2010s , I think one of the top albums of the 2010s was the album @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York Is Killing Me ” and “ Me and the Devil.
” Those were really rich songs .
He also got back out and did some performances .
That was the only time I had a chance to see him perform , being as young as I am .
I was pleased to be able to catch a later performance .
He ’ d talk about his work to make Martin Luther King Jr. a holiday .
He [ worked ] with Stevie Wonder to make that happen .
SCHREIBER : That ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ starts with James Brown .
James Brown is at the peak of his renown with , “ Say It Loud , I ’ m Black And I ’ m Proud.
” He ’ s created an anthem for his people , and he wants to create a national holiday for Martin Luther King .
He goes to Richard Nixon and meets with him .
Nixon only meets with him because he thinks if he ’ s photographed with James Brown he ’ s going to siphon off some of the black vote .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ James Brown .
Then you had Stevie Wonder creating a tour , and Gil Scott-Heron was on it , and it marshals enough momentum to create a Martin Luther King Jr. holiday .
I love stories like that because a lot of time I bump into people who say it ’ s important to create socially conscious music , but in the end it just makes you feel good .
It doesn ’ t change anything .
That ’ s absolutely dead wrong .
It ’ s dead wrong in the case of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ King Jr. ’ s holiday .
It ’ s wrong in the case of P.F .
Sloan , who wrote “ Eve of Destruction ” and had lyrics like , “ You ’ re old enough to kill but not for voting , ” that led to an amendment of the Constitution so that 18 year-olds could vote .
Peter Gabriel changed history when he wrote “ Biko ” about Steven Biko , the anti-apartheid leader who was murdered in his cell in Port Elizabeth , South Africa .
And then “ Biko @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Not Democrats , not organizations , but college students started going to the administration of their individual colleges and said we know you ’ ve invested money in South Africa .
We want you to divest , or we ’ re going to protest every single day .
And most people have forgotten about this , the divestment movement that started with Peter Gabriel ’ s “ Biko ” in 1980 .
By the end of the decade , billions of dollars had been pulled out of South Africa by the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by protests from college students .
So the next time someone says a song can ’ t change anything , you say , oh , you don ’ t know what you ’ re talking about .
GOSZTOLA : The last example I want to highlight is Public Enemy ’ s “ By The Time I Get To Arizona.
” As you write in your book , you talk about the state of Arizona voted by a margin of 17,000 votes in 1990 not to make Martin Luther King Jr ’ s birthday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
So then Public Enemy recorded this song with lyrics that were directed at Governor Evan Mecham , who after his election in 1986 canceled the mandated celebration .
He said , “ I guess King did a lot for the colored people , but I don ’ t think he deserves a national holiday.
” Talk about Public Enemy ’ s foray into this and also how the video was banned by MTV .
SCHREIBER : Evan Mecham was not only years behind the time in recognizing , along with the other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out ) that an MLK Jr. holiday was overdue , he was also using the term “ colored people.
” Chuck D and the gang at Public Enemy created a video where they show Evan Mecham getting into a limo , and it blows up .
They were under fire for “ advocating ” violence against an elected official .
But my favorite response was on “ The Arsenio Hall Show , ” where Chuck D was asked , what would Martin Luther King think about your advocating violence against Governor Mecham ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ think he ’ d be very happy about it .
To start with , he wouldn ’ t be very happy about being shot .
And the audience erupted into applause .
There ’ s more confrontational quality in hip hop music today , which again I wish we saw more in all forms of music and especially in metal as I mentioned .
GOSZTOLA : I would like to also have you talk about the example of “ 911 Is A Joke , ” which you cover in your chapter on Public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who is the author of Keep On Pushing : Black Power Music From Blues to Hip-Hop .
What makes this a great protest song is it is one of the first songs to articulate how police don ’ t respond to the emergencies of people of color .
SCHREIBER : It came from Flavor Flav being on the street , and there was a disagreement .
A friend of his was stabbed , and they called 911 .
Instead of being there within minutes , they were there 25 minutes later , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a direct living response that connects to the reason for writing that song .
John Oliver on HBO has a very amusing and very important show .
Just a few years ago , like four years ago I believe , he had a segment about dialing 911 .
He said there are hundreds of thousands of accidental calls that are made that the infrastructure does not exist to respond to all true emergency calls .
Even today , we still haven ’ t found a way to do that .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Domino ’ s can figure out how to deliver a horrible pizza to you , and we still can ’ t do 911 right .
Part 1 explored Dixie Chicks and Marvin Gaye .
Part 2 explored Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd .

Covering around a century, Music Is Power is a book by Brad Schreiber that takes readers on a tour of music that challenged social injustice and spoke to the masses during uncertain times.
Schreiber is an award-winning author, journalist, and screenwriter, whose past books include Death In Paradise, Becoming Jimi Hendrix, and Revolution’s End.
Music Is Power was released in 2019, and it is a finalist for a 2020 Foreword Indies Book Award. The book explores the impact of a number of musicians, including Joe Hill, Lesley Gore, Janis Ian, Curtis Mayfield, Gil Scott-Heron, and Pete Seeger.
In the third part of a conversation, Shadowproof managing editor Kevin Gosztola, who curates Shadowproof’s Protest Music Project, talks with Schreiber about Music Is Power.
Schreiber discusses how Black Sabbath came to record “War Pigs,” one of the most important metal protest songs. He highlights the mark Gil Scott-Heron left on protest music, and he recalls what happened when Public Enemy released “By The Time I Get To Phoenix.”
You can listen to the conclusion of this series by clicking on the player at the top of the post. The book can be purchased from Rutgers University Press here.
***
GOSZTOLA: While we’re talking about war, let’s get into the part of your book that looks at hard rock or the rise of heavy metal; that Black Sabbath, this iconic band was responsible for, and the way in which these stories about Americans fighting in Vietnam inspired Black Sabbath to record one of the best songs against the military industrial-complex ever recorded—”War Pigs.”
SCHREIBER: That’s a really almost comical story. War is tragic, obviously, but the way they stumbled on to writing “War Pigs”—They had played a gig in Switzerland, and they were interacting with a lot of American military who were based there, and they were telling pretty harrowing stories of what was going on there in Vietnam. So, all of a sudden a heavy metal band that is obsessed with the occult and dark imagery is starting to gain a political consciousness.
The actual lyrics and name for “War Pigs” came out of something that might have been in the mockumentary “Spinal Tap” because they wanted to call the song “Walpurgis,” which is this pagan holiday. Of course, their label said we’re not going to have any suggestion of the occult or Satanism or paganism or anything like that. We’re not calling it “Walpurgis.” And I believe it was Tony Iommi, the guitarist, who said, why don’t we just call it “War Pigs”? It sounds like “Walpurgis.” “War Pigs,” yeah, yeah. Let’s do that. So then the song ensued.
All that aside, Black Sabbath did something that hadn’t been done before and surprisingly wasn’t done very often after and that was taking a musical genre that is perfect for protest, heavy metal, the basic sound of the songs, the anger, the sometimes horrifying imagery in heavy metal, and connected it to war. What could be more natural? And yet, a lot of heavy metal musicians and composers, they would come up with anything other than political consciousness. They would come up with cannibalism and Satanism and being burned alive and what have you.
Because “War Pigs” was really the first metal song that was political, it set an important standard, and I know a lot of people have called it the most important heavy metal song ever recorded.
GOSZTOLA: Let’s move on to Gil Scott-Heron. Talk about your inclusion of him in your examples of music. I think he’s one of the more under-rated musicians when you look at the way music has such a power. The way he could express social and political ideas was always clear. He really cut right to the heart of what needed to be said.
A song that really stuck out to me. Again, I’m listening to a lot of this music. Everybody who considers these artists now and what they mean and how they protest. They have their context in which they were recorded. Gil’s responding to Nixon. Gil’s responding to Reagan. But I couldn’t help it. When [Donald] Trump was inaugurated, I connected all the themes and everything he talked about in “B Movie,” having this actor elected to run the United States. It’s a little worse in this era. We have a C-list or D-list actor, who is running the country.
The lyrics for that song are all appropriate for our moment, but then his other songs—it’s very rare for a musician to sing so clearly and pointedly about the threat of nuclear war, as well as environmental destruction. You don’t have a lot of those songs out there from artists.
SCHREIBER: Yeah, and “Johannesburg” was one of the most powerful indictments of apartheid in South Africa. Of course, most people remember, if they know Gil Scott-Heron’s work, they think of the “Revolution Will Not Be Televised.”
And you make a really good point, that even though he’s talking about the ’70s and his cultural and political references are from that period, you can take Nixon and Spiro Agnew, as he mispronounced him, and John Mitchell and just plug in Trump and Giuliani and Lev Parnas and Devin Nunes, and the list of horrific people goes on and on.
It’s a time capsule, but it also suggests there’s a continuum of corruption that we have to be responsible for battling. And it’s also funny. It’s outrageously funny. Bullwinkle the Moose and Julia, which was Diahann Carroll as the first black female running character on network television.
He also showed that you could do really beautiful soulful music. He did a piece called “Pieces of a Man,” which is a stunning R&B number, very soft and very mournful and the character who is speaking the lyrics is remembering his father coming apart after he loses his job.
The song ends with the character, who is speaking the lyrics, hearing a siren wailing and knowing it’s something his father has done that is illegal in order to support his family. It’s very elegiac and a very stunning piece, and it summarizes what happens when you have institutional poverty of any color of people in any society. You force them into crime because they have no other options.
Gil not only could write the overtly political. He could write in other ways that were more subtle and more lasting. He used Brian Jackson to create backgrounds of jazz, soul, or blues. And part of his lasting legacy was he inspired all musical artists but especially black artists to use poetry.
I wish it was obviously used more in hip hop, but we got to a point where we had poetry slams. You go to a poetry slam, and you see young people carrying the mantle of what Gil Scott-Heron did with his words back in the ’70s.
GOSZTOLA: The first album Gil recorded that became popular was entirely spoken word album that had bongos in the background, right?
SCHREIBER: Yeah, percussion. That’s right. It’s not that he was the very first person to do this. There were guys in Harlem. There were guys here in Watts in Los Angeles, who experimented with that form and really in your face street language and simple musical accompaniment. That was the beginning of it, and Gil used it and he raised it to a political artform.
GOSZTOLA: Like the Last Poets, for an example.
SCHREIBER: The Last Poets and the Watt Prophets, that’s the name of the group out here in Los Angeles.
Sadly, Gil came to an end because he was addicted to crack-cocaine, and there’s an amazing New Yorker profile of him, where the guy interviewing him could not get him out of the house. He would spend all day in the house in his apartment in Harlem, and the guy writing the profile of him said, hey, let’s go get some lunch. And in his typically sly way, Gil Scott-Heron said, oh, I don’t know man. I hear sunshine isn’t good for you.
Even to the end, he had this amazing perspective. Especially for people who want to write songs that can be subtle or overtly political, I think they should look to his work.
GOSZTOLA: Gil did get an opportunity to make some music in the final years of his life. The 2010s, I think one of the top albums of the 2010s was the album he recorded, which has “New York Is Killing Me” and “Me and the Devil.” Those were really rich songs. He also got back out and did some performances.
That was the only time I had a chance to see him perform, being as young as I am. I was pleased to be able to catch a later performance. He’d talk about his work to make Martin Luther King Jr. a holiday. He [worked] with Stevie Wonder to make that happen.
SCHREIBER: That’s an amazing timeline because it actually starts with James Brown.
James Brown is at the peak of his renown with, “Say It Loud, I’m Black And I’m Proud.” He’s created an anthem for his people, and he wants to create a national holiday for Martin Luther King. He goes to Richard Nixon and meets with him. Nixon only meets with him because he thinks if he’s photographed with James Brown he’s going to siphon off some of the black vote. He had absolutely no intention and played James Brown.
Then you had Stevie Wonder creating a tour, and Gil Scott-Heron was on it, and it marshals enough momentum to create a Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
I love stories like that because a lot of time I bump into people who say it’s important to create socially conscious music, but in the end it just makes you feel good. It doesn’t change anything. That’s absolutely dead wrong. It’s dead wrong in the case of Stevie Wonder helping to create Martin Luther King Jr.’s holiday.
It’s wrong in the case of P.F. Sloan, who wrote “Eve of Destruction” and had lyrics like, “You’re old enough to kill but not for voting,” that led to an amendment of the Constitution so that 18 year-olds could vote.
Peter Gabriel changed history when he wrote “Biko” about Steven Biko, the anti-apartheid leader who was murdered in his cell in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. And then “Biko” started a movement where college students.
Not Democrats, not organizations, but college students started going to the administration of their individual colleges and said we know you’ve invested money in South Africa. We want you to divest, or we’re going to protest every single day. And most people have forgotten about this, the divestment movement that started with Peter Gabriel’s “Biko” in 1980.
By the end of the decade, billions of dollars had been pulled out of South Africa by the U.S. government, and it was all generated by protests from college students. So the next time someone says a song can’t change anything, you say, oh, you don’t know what you’re talking about.
GOSZTOLA: The last example I want to highlight is Public Enemy’s “By The Time I Get To Arizona.” As you write in your book, you talk about the state of Arizona voted by a margin of 17,000 votes in 1990 not to make Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday a holiday as stipulated by federal law.
So then Public Enemy recorded this song with lyrics that were directed at Governor Evan Mecham, who after his election in 1986 canceled the mandated celebration. He said, “I guess King did a lot for the colored people, but I don’t think he deserves a national holiday.”
Talk about Public Enemy’s foray into this and also how the video was banned by MTV.
SCHREIBER: Evan Mecham was not only years behind the time in recognizing, along with the other 48 states (New Hampshire was holding out) that an MLK Jr. holiday was overdue, he was also using the term “colored people.”
Chuck D and the gang at Public Enemy created a video where they show Evan Mecham getting into a limo, and it blows up. They were under fire for “advocating” violence against an elected official. But my favorite response was on “The Arsenio Hall Show,” where Chuck D was asked, what would Martin Luther King think about your advocating violence against Governor Mecham?
Chuck D said I don’t think he’d be very happy about it. To start with, he wouldn’t be very happy about being shot. And the audience erupted into applause.
There’s more confrontational quality in hip hop music today, which again I wish we saw more in all forms of music and especially in metal as I mentioned.
GOSZTOLA: I would like to also have you talk about the example of “911 Is A Joke,” which you cover in your chapter on Public Enemy. You quote Denise Sullivan, who is the author of Keep On Pushing: Black Power Music From Blues to Hip-Hop.
What makes this a great protest song is it is one of the first songs to articulate how police don’t respond to the emergencies of people of color.
SCHREIBER: It came from Flavor Flav being on the street, and there was a disagreement. A friend of his was stabbed, and they called 911. Instead of being there within minutes, they were there 25 minutes later, and his friend was dead. So there’s a direct living response that connects to the reason for writing that song.
John Oliver on HBO has a very amusing and very important show. Just a few years ago, like four years ago I believe, he had a segment about dialing 911. He said there are hundreds of thousands of accidental calls that are made that the infrastructure does not exist to respond to all true emergency calls. Even today, we still haven’t found a way to do that. I think he made some crack that even Domino’s can figure out how to deliver a horrible pizza to you, and we still can’t do 911 right.
Part 1 explored Dixie Chicks and Marvin Gaye. Part 2 explored Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd.


shadowproof--2020-04-30--Dissenter Weekly: Whistleblowing Employees Say Bureau Of Prisons Misled Public On COVID-19 Response

Dissenter Weekly : Whistleblowing Employees Say Bureau Of Prisons Misled Public On COVID-19 Response On this edition of the “ Dissenter Weekly , ” host and Shadowproof editor Kevin Gosztola highlights a whistleblower complaint submitted by Regina Warren , the president of AFGE Local 1006 , on behalf of 400 correctional officers in Texas .
The officers allege the Bureau of Prisons knowingly misled the public on the agency ’ s response to the coronavirus .
In particular , the complaint from Warren claims correctional officers at Federal Medical Center Carswell in Fort Worth , Texas , which is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not protected .
The facility did not initially go on complete lockdown .
It also reveals details related to the case of Andrea Circle Bear , who was the first woman prisoner to die in a federal facility .
Later in the show , Gosztola highlights a whistleblower lawsuit filed by Azanean Petty , a 23 year-old black mother who lives in Detroit .
She was a specialist at the Wayne County Detention Facility until she resigned on April 6 because management of the facility would not let her wear a mask .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to the lawsuit , “ the director of the Medical Division told plaintiff that she was protected by God and that she had to have faith that she would be protected .
The director of the Medical Division told plaintiff that her mother had already lived her life , and plaintiff only needed to worry about financially taking care of her son .
plaintiff ’ s mother is only 49 years old.
” Gosztola also provides updates on NSA whistleblower Reality Winner , the firing of an Amazon whistleblower , and WikiLeaks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This show is brought to you by Shadowproof.com , a 100 % reader-funded press organization .
If you enjoy our work , you can support us with a donation or by subscribing for $ 5/month or more : https : //shadowproof.com/donate

On this edition of the “Dissenter Weekly,” host and Shadowproof editor Kevin Gosztola highlights a whistleblower complaint submitted by Regina Warren, the president of AFGE Local 1006, on behalf of 400 correctional officers in Texas. The officers allege the Bureau of Prisons knowingly misled the public on the agency’s response to the coronavirus.
In particular, the complaint from Warren claims correctional officers at Federal Medical Center Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas, which is a women’s prison hospital, were not protected. The facility did not initially go on complete lockdown. It also reveals details related to the case of Andrea Circle Bear, who was the first woman prisoner to die in a federal facility.
Later in the show, Gosztola highlights a whistleblower lawsuit filed by Azanean Petty, a 23 year-old black mother who lives in Detroit. She was a specialist at the Wayne County Detention Facility until she resigned on April 6 because management of the facility would not let her wear a mask.
“In denying her request,” according to the lawsuit, “the director of the Medical Division told plaintiff that she was protected by God and that she had to have faith that she would be protected. The director of the Medical Division told plaintiff that her mother had already lived her life, and plaintiff only needed to worry about financially taking care of her son. plaintiff’s mother is only 49 years old.”
Gosztola also provides updates on NSA whistleblower Reality Winner, the firing of an Amazon whistleblower, and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s extradition case.
This week’s stories:
New York Attorney General Suggests Amazon Violated Labor Law In Firing Whistleblower
Judge Postpones Julian Assange’s Extradition Hearing
***
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This show is brought to you by Shadowproof.com, a 100% reader-funded press organization. If you enjoy our work, you can support us with a donation or by subscribing for $5/month or more: https://shadowproof.com/donate