shadowproof--2020-02-26--Assange Extradition Hearing: Chelsea Manning’s Grand Jury Resistance A Major Hurdle For Prosecutors

Shadowproof editor Kevin Gosztola is in London for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange ’ s week-long extradition hearing .
Stay tuned to Shadowproof , as well as his Twitter , for coverage .
And if you support our work and are able to help fund Kevin ’ s reporting , go here to donate .
Months before trial in 2013 , United States Army whistleblower Chelsea Manning read a statement in military court , where she outlined her role in disclosing over a half million documents to WikiLeaks .
She described her motivations for releasing each set of information and meticulously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , prepared , and electronically made the disclosures .
The defense for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange heavily relied on this statement during the second day of a week-long extradition hearing in London .
What unfolded showed how crucial her grand jury resistance is to the ability of Assange to defend himself in court .
A contrived theory forms the basis of the U.S. government ’ s entire case against Assange .
Prosecutors maintain Manning worked for Assange as some kind of insider or spy that WikiLeaks turned against the U.S. government and recruited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sharply conflicts with the timeline in Manning ’ s statement .
It is one of the main reasons why the government has abused the grand jury process .
Prosecutors hoped they could break her and force her to provide testimony that could be used to impeach herself or show the statement she made was unreliable .
James Lewis is the lead prosecutor pursuing the extradition of Assange from the United Kingdom on the U.S. government ’ s behalf .
He said Manning ’ s statement to the military court was a “ self-serving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rely on a self-serving statement without any qualification whatsoever , ” Lewis declared .
“ It ’ s the self serving statement of a co-conspirator.
” He insisted the statement was indicative of someone , who has consistently tried to help out Assange .
The expressed frustration was a reaction to a thorough argument that included what the defense said are examples of “ Zakrzewski abuse.
” Essentially , if prosecutors rely upon factually incorrect descriptions of alleged offenses to make their case , that constitutes an abuse of process and may be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extradition .
Mark Sommers , who is part of Assange ’ s legal team , asserted , “ The case has lies , lies , and more lies , ” and spent multiple hours outlining key details in Manning ’ s statement for Judge Vanessa Baraitser .
At one point , Sommers described Manning ’ s statement as the “ best place to look for a chronology.
” WikiLeaks promoted a collaborative list in 2009 that was a kind of wish list compiled by journalists , human rights groups , lawyers , historians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Most Wanted Leaks.
” This is the centerpiece for the U.S. government ’ s claims that Assange “ solicited ” Manning .
The superseding indictment [ PDF ] against Assange specifically alleges , “ Between in or around January 2010 and May 2010 , consistent with WikiLeaks ’ s ‘ Most Wanted Leaks ’ solicitation of bulk databases and military and intelligence categories .
Manning downloaded four nearly complete databases from departments and agencies of the United States.
” “ These databases contained approximately 90,000 Afghanistan war-related significant activity reports , 400,000 Iraq @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bay detainee assessment briefs , and 250,000 U.S. Department of State cables.
” It further states , “ The United States had classified many of these records up to the SECRET level pursuant to Executive Order No .
13526 or its predecessor orders .
Manning nevertheless provided the documents to WikiLeaks , so that WikiLeaks could publicly disclose them on its website.
” As Sommers showed , the notion that Manning saw the list and then uploaded diplomatic cables from the State Department ’ s Net-Centric Diplomacy database is “ absolute fantasy.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requested “ bulk databases , ” but this was not one of them on the list .
The statement to the military court shows Manning knew about the detainee assessment briefs and had access to the files .
In early March 2010 , Manning , who was deployed in Baghdad , became concerned that the federal police might turn over opponents of Iraqi Nouri al-Maliki to the U.S. government for transfer to Joint Task Force Guantanamo .
This is when she took an interest in the Guantanamo files .
Notably , the “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of engagement for Iraq from 2007 , and Manning disclosed this file , along with the rules of engagement for Iraq from 2006 .
But she only provided this document because it was important context for “ Collateral Murder , ” the video of a 2007 Apache helicopter attack in Baghdad that WikiLeaks published .
As Sommers told the court , the “ Most Wanted Leaks ” list asked for the rules of engagement for Iraq in 2007 , 2008 , and 2009 .
She did not send WikiLeaks the files for 2008 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a file for 2006 that was not on the list .
Manning also did not provide rules of engagement files from Afghanistan , although she had access to them .
The “ Most Wanted Leaks List ” did not include the databases of military incident reports from Iraq and Afghanistan .
Yet , she disclosed these databases to WikiLeaks .
Sommers contended there is no evidence Manning ever saw the “ Most Wanted Leaks ” list .
During Manning ’ s trial , David Coombs , her defense attorney , disputed whether Manning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Most Wanted Leaks ” list .
Manning never mentioned the list in her statement to the court .
“ Pfc .
Manning had access to a lot of information , ” Coombs contended .
“ And had [ she ] wanted to , and this was [ her ] list , you would see a lot of searches on Intelink that match up verbatim or very closely to the items requested on the list.
” [ Intelink is a U.S. intelligence network of top secret , secret , and unclassified databases .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Manning ever saw the list , Sommers plainly stated .
Astonishingly , Lewis responded to this argument from the defense by suggesting the details in the indictment about the “ Most Wanted Leaks ” list are merely a “ general allegation.
” It is not supposed to link up with any databases or disclosures .
The prosecution links it to the “ different disclosures .
That ’ s not how it ’ s put in the request , ” Lewis declared .
All because these specific allegations about Manning ’ s disclosures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allegations ” part of the indictment , the prosecution would have everyone believe they aren ’ t tying specific disclosures to the list .
It is preposterous and renders the word “ general ” entirely meaningless .
Lewis ’ rebuttal grew even more absurd as he told the judge the “ solicitation ” for cables was on the WikiLeaks website .
In fact , the judge should focus on the actual WikiLeaks website , he said .
But the superseding indictment contains absolutely nothing to suggest the prosecution of Assange rests upon Manning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ None of the allegations related to “ solicitation ” that involve the WikiLeaks website have anything to do with other pages .
Everything relies on a “ Most Wanted Leaks ” list conspiracy theory that is easy to disprove .

Editor’s Note Shadowproof editor Kevin Gosztola is in London for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s week-long extradition hearing. Stay tuned to Shadowproof, as well as his Twitter, for coverage. And if you support our work and are able to help fund Kevin’s reporting, go here to donate.
Months before trial in 2013, United States Army whistleblower Chelsea Manning read a statement in military court, where she outlined her role in disclosing over a half million documents to WikiLeaks. She described her motivations for releasing each set of information and meticulously informed the court about how she downloaded, prepared, and electronically made the disclosures.
The defense for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange heavily relied on this statement during the second day of a week-long extradition hearing in London. What unfolded showed how crucial her grand jury resistance is to the ability of Assange to defend himself in court.
A contrived theory forms the basis of the U.S. government’s entire case against Assange. Prosecutors maintain Manning worked for Assange as some kind of insider or spy that WikiLeaks turned against the U.S. government and recruited to steal documents. But that theory sharply conflicts with the timeline in Manning’s statement.
It is one of the main reasons why the government has abused the grand jury process. Prosecutors hoped they could break her and force her to provide testimony that could be used to impeach herself or show the statement she made was unreliable.
James Lewis is the lead prosecutor pursuing the extradition of Assange from the United Kingdom on the U.S. government’s behalf. He said Manning’s statement to the military court was a “self-serving statement.”
“You can’t rely on a self-serving statement without any qualification whatsoever,” Lewis declared. “It’s the self serving statement of a co-conspirator.”
He insisted the statement was indicative of someone, who has consistently tried to help out Assange.
The expressed frustration was a reaction to a thorough argument that included what the defense said are examples of “Zakrzewski abuse.”
Essentially, if prosecutors rely upon factually incorrect descriptions of alleged offenses to make their case, that constitutes an abuse of process and may be reason to stay the request for an extradition.
Mark Summers, who is part of Assange’s legal team, asserted, “The case has lies, lies, and more lies,” and spent multiple hours outlining key details in Manning’s statement for Judge Vanessa Baraitser.
At one point, Summers described Manning’s statement as the “best place to look for a chronology.”
WikiLeaks promoted a collaborative list in 2009 that was a kind of wish list compiled by journalists, human rights groups, lawyers, historians, and activists, called the “Most Wanted Leaks.” This is the centerpiece for the U.S. government’s claims that Assange “solicited” Manning.
The superseding indictment [PDF] against Assange specifically alleges, “Between in or around January 2010 and May 2010, consistent with WikiLeaks’s ‘Most Wanted Leaks’ solicitation of bulk databases and military and intelligence categories. Manning downloaded four nearly complete databases from departments and agencies of the United States.”
“These databases contained approximately 90,000 Afghanistan war-related significant activity reports, 400,000 Iraq war-related significant activities reports, 800 Guantanamo Bay detainee assessment briefs, and 250,000 U.S. Department of State cables.”
It further states, “The United States had classified many of these records up to the SECRET level pursuant to Executive Order No. 13526 or its predecessor orders. Manning nevertheless provided the documents to WikiLeaks, so that WikiLeaks could publicly disclose them on its website.”
As Summers showed, the notion that Manning saw the list and then uploaded diplomatic cables from the State Department’s Net-Centric Diplomacy database is “absolute fantasy.” The “Most Wanted Leaks” list requested “bulk databases,” but this was not one of them on the list.
The statement to the military court shows Manning knew about the detainee assessment briefs and had access to the files. In early March 2010, Manning, who was deployed in Baghdad, became concerned that the federal police might turn over opponents of Iraqi Nouri al-Maliki to the U.S. government for transfer to Joint Task Force Guantanamo. This is when she took an interest in the Guantanamo files.
Notably, the “Most Wanted Leaks” list requested rules of engagement for Iraq from 2007, and Manning disclosed this file, along with the rules of engagement for Iraq from 2006. But she only provided this document because it was important context for “Collateral Murder,” the video of a 2007 Apache helicopter attack in Baghdad that WikiLeaks published.
As Summers told the court, the “Most Wanted Leaks” list asked for the rules of engagement for Iraq in 2007, 2008, and 2009. She did not send WikiLeaks the files for 2008 and 2009, but she did send a file for 2006 that was not on the list.
Manning also did not provide rules of engagement files from Afghanistan, although she had access to them.
The “Most Wanted Leaks List” did not include the databases of military incident reports from Iraq and Afghanistan. Yet, she disclosed these databases to WikiLeaks.
Summers contended there is no evidence Manning ever saw the “Most Wanted Leaks” list.
During Manning’s trial, David Coombs, her defense attorney, disputed whether Manning had ever seen a draft of the “Most Wanted Leaks” list. Manning never mentioned the list in her statement to the court.
“Pfc. Manning had access to a lot of information,” Coombs contended. “And had [she] wanted to, and this was [her] list, you would see a lot of searches on Intelink that match up verbatim or very closely to the items requested on the list.” [Intelink is a U.S. intelligence network of top secret, secret, and unclassified databases.]
There was no evidence at all that Manning ever saw the list, Summers plainly stated.
Astonishingly, Lewis responded to this argument from the defense by suggesting the details in the indictment about the “Most Wanted Leaks” list are merely a “general allegation.” It is not supposed to link up with any databases or disclosures.
The prosecution links it to the “different disclosures. That’s not how it’s put in the request,” Lewis declared.
All because these specific allegations about Manning’s disclosures to WikiLeaks appear in the “general allegations” part of the indictment, the prosecution would have everyone believe they aren’t tying specific disclosures to the list. It is preposterous and renders the word “general” entirely meaningless.
Lewis’ rebuttal grew even more absurd as he told the judge the “solicitation” for cables was on the WikiLeaks website. In fact, the judge should focus on the actual WikiLeaks website, he said.
But the superseding indictment contains absolutely nothing to suggest the prosecution of Assange rests upon Manning’s browsing the WikiLeaks website. None of the allegations related to “solicitation” that involve the WikiLeaks website have anything to do with other pages. Everything relies on a “Most Wanted Leaks” list conspiracy theory that is easy to disprove.


shadowproof--2020-03-05--Protest Song Of The Week: ‘Means To An End’ By Sepultura

For over three decades the pioneering Brazilian heavy metal band has never been afraid to address political issues .
One of Sepultura ’ s more political albums , “ Chaos A.D. ” ( 1993 ) , features “ Refuse/Resist , ” a hard hitting anti-police anthem , and “ Territory , ” which references the conflict between Israel and Palestine .
Sepultura recently released their fifteenth studio album “ Quadra , ” an ambitious concept album broken into four parts .
Several tunes address a variety of social issues , such as climate change , political corruption , and corporate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s highlights is “ Means To An End.
” The band sings , “ A fear of a foreign invader .
Delusions that are killing the truth .
A desperate way to gain the faith .
Emotions controlling the will .
It will make no difference .
It ’ s the era we live .
Each side bear witness to lies.
” The lyrics speak to how the government and media use fear and propaganda to preserve the status quo .
And a companion video complements the song ’ s powerful message .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ The song ] is a very powerful and complex theme that inspired director Otavio Juliano and Luciana Ferraz to make an amazing visual interpretation of the song .
It shows the human greed with no limits , the arrogance , and the ignorance of ourselves .
We think we can do it all without knowledge , without respect.
” “ Judas and his treason , defying death in a chess game , saving money for who ’ s knows what and how much is enough ?
” The song holds out hope @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s on the way .
The terror will come to an end .
”

For over three decades the pioneering Brazilian heavy metal band has never been afraid to address
political issues.
One of Sepultura’s more political albums, “Chaos A.D.” (1993), features “Refuse/Resist,” a hard hitting anti-police anthem, and “Territory,” which references the conflict between Israel and Palestine.
Sepultura recently released their fifteenth studio album “Quadra,” an ambitious concept album
broken into four parts. Several tunes address a variety of social issues, such as climate change,
political corruption, and corporate greed.
One of the album’s highlights is “Means To An End.” The band sings, “A fear of a foreign invader.
Delusions that are killing the truth. A desperate way to gain the faith. Emotions controlling the
will. It will make no difference. It’s the era we live. Each side bear witness to lies.”
The lyrics speak to how the government and media use fear and propaganda to preserve the status quo. And a companion video complements the song’s powerful message.
According to guitarist Andreas Kisser, “[The song] is a very powerful and complex theme that inspired director Otavio Juliano and Luciana Ferraz to make an amazing visual interpretation of the song. It shows the human greed with no limits, the arrogance, and the ignorance of ourselves. We think we can do it all without knowledge, without respect.”
“Judas and his treason, defying death in a chess game, saving money for who’s knows what and how much is enough?”
The song holds out hope. “A day will come, it’s on the way. The terror will come to an end.”
“Means To An End” – Sepultura


shadowproof--2020-03-06--Espionage Act Reform Bill Would Protect Journalists Like Julian Assange

Under legislation proposed in Congress , the United States government would not be able to prosecute journalists like WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange who publish classified information .
Democratic Senator Ron Wyden and Representative Ro Khanna introduced the Espionage Act Reform Act to reaffirm “ First Amendment protections for journalists ” and ensure “ whistleblowers can effectively report waste , fraud , and abuse to Congress.
” Wyden declared in a press statement , “ The Espionage Act currently provides sweeping powers for a rogue attorney general like Bill Barr or unscrupulous president like Donald Trump to target journalists and whistleblowers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep secret .
This bill ensures only personnel with security clearances can be prosecuted for improperly revealing classified information.
” It would protect the rights of members of the press that “ solicit , obtain , or publish government secrets ” from prosecution .
The legislation would also protect disclosures of classified information related to signals intelligence to any member of Congress .
Whistleblower protections would be able to provide classified information to the Federal Communications Commission ( FCC ) , Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ) , Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ generals to help them investigate privacy abuses .
The government would not be able to invoke secrecy laws to shut down reviews of their conduct .
Additionally , a summary [ PDF ] indicates it would shield “ cybersecurity experts from prosecution when they publish research showing discoveries of government backdoors in encryption algorithms.
” In 2014 , H.D .
Moore , the creator of Metasploit , which is an “ ethical hacking tool , told the Guardian that U.S. law enforcement warned him he may be vulnerable to prosecution because he operated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ initiative sought to find widespread vulnerabilities using automated computer programs to uncover the weaknesses across the entire internet.
” Law enforcement pressure was so significant that Moore took a break from his work in the internet security industry .
NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden ’ s disclosures saw an increased focus in expanding government protections against privacy abuses , but the bill ’ s summary does not attribute this amendment to Snowden ’ s impact .
It relies on a much older example of government abuse of secrecy laws .
“ After the NSA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the press in 1976 , the FCC opened an investigation , as the disclosure to the NSA by the phone companies of customer communications violated federal communications law.
” FCC Chairman Richard Wiley told Congresswoman Bella Abzug during a hearing that carriers “ refused to answer the FCC ’ s questions ” because of secrecy rules in 18 U.S.C .
798 , which is a part of the Espionage Act that applies to “ communications intelligence.
” The FCC had to shut down their investigation into the SHAMROCK program , which was an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1945 to May 1975 .
At the time , it was “ probably the largest governmental inspection program affecting Americans ever undertaken.
” President Barack Obama ’ s administration , which included Vice President Joe Biden , prosecuted more leakers or whistleblowers under the Espionage Act than all previous presidential administrations combined .
The Obama Justice Department ’ s use of the 1917 law enabled the government to institute “ insider threat programs ” to effectively intimidate and discourage whistleblowers from revealing corruption .
The administration intercepted the communications of journalists in Espionage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ co-conspirators in leak cases .
President Donald Trump has intensified Obama ’ s war on leaks to silence whistleblowers , who bring scrutiny to his administration , and the impact on journalists is largely unknown .
Since Trump was elected , the Trump Justice Department has prosecuted Daniel Hale , alleged drone whistleblower , Joshua Schulte , alleged “ Vault 7 ” materials leaker , Terry Albury , an FBI whistleblower , who pled guilty and was sentenced to prison , and Reality Winner , an NSA whistleblower who pled guilty and was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also crossed a line the Obama administration would not and charged Assange with 18 offenses—17 of which are Espionage Act violations .
The indictment specifically criminalized Assange and WikiLeaks for seeking , obtaining , and disseminating classified information from the U.S. government .
The bill may reflect an interest in narrowing who can be prosecuted under the Espionage Act to those who pass information to “ foreign agents , ” however , the bill summary declares , “ Every single person convicted to date under the Espionage Act would still have been convicted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time they were prosecuted.
” Khanna told The Intercept “ prosecutors and judges should have discretion to weigh the consequences ” of leaks “ against the motives of the source.
” But simply the language of the legislation is silent on the matter of rights defendants should have to defend themselves under the Espionage Act .
Both Wyden and Khanna say Assange could still be prosecuted for allegedly helping Chelsea Manning hack passwords , though defense attorneys might have a reasonable challenge .
The computer crime offense was written with language from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was improperly charged to show prosecutors were skirting protections for journalists .
Alex Abdo , litigation director at the Knight First Amendment Institute of Columbia University , concluded , “ This is a crucial effort to ensure that it isn ’ t a crime for national security journalists to do their jobs .
The bill would make clear that the everyday work of journalists isn ’ t an act of espionage.
” “ These protections for journalists are vital .
It is also vital that Congress enact additional protections for national security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ professional sanction to expose government malfeasance and corruption .
”

Under legislation proposed in Congress, the United States government would not be able to prosecute journalists like WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange who publish classified information.
Democratic Senator Ron Wyden and Representative Ro Khanna introduced the Espionage Act Reform Act to reaffirm “First Amendment protections for journalists” and ensure “whistleblowers can effectively report waste, fraud, and abuse to Congress.”
Wyden declared in a press statement, “The Espionage Act currently provides sweeping powers for a rogue attorney general like Bill Barr or unscrupulous president like Donald Trump to target journalists and whistleblowers who reveal information they’d rather keep secret. This bill ensures only personnel with security clearances can be prosecuted for improperly revealing classified information.”
It would protect the rights of members of the press that “solicit, obtain, or publish government secrets” from prosecution.
The legislation would also protect disclosures of classified information related to signals intelligence to any member of Congress.
Whistleblower protections would be able to provide classified information to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB), and inspector generals to help them investigate privacy abuses. The government would not be able to invoke secrecy laws to shut down reviews of their conduct.
Additionally, a summary [PDF] indicates it would shield “cybersecurity experts from prosecution when they publish research showing discoveries of government backdoors in encryption algorithms.”
In 2014, H.D. Moore, the creator of Metasploit, which is an “ethical hacking tool, told the Guardian that U.S. law enforcement warned him he may be vulnerable to prosecution because he operated a project called Critical.IO. “The initiative sought to find widespread vulnerabilities using automated computer programs to uncover the weaknesses across the entire internet.”
Law enforcement pressure was so significant that Moore took a break from his work in the internet security industry.
NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden’s disclosures saw an increased focus in expanding government protections against privacy abuses, but the bill’s summary does not attribute this amendment to Snowden’s impact. It relies on a much older example of government abuse of secrecy laws.
“After the NSA’s SHAMROCK program was revealed by the press in 1976, the FCC opened an investigation, as the disclosure to the NSA by the phone companies of customer communications violated federal communications law.” FCC Chairman Richard Wiley told Congresswoman Bella Abzug during a hearing that carriers “refused to answer the FCC’s questions” because of secrecy rules in 18 U.S.C. 798, which is a part of the Espionage Act that applies to “communications intelligence.”
The FCC had to shut down their investigation into the SHAMROCK program, which was an international telegram-spying program that existed from August 1945 to May 1975. At the time, it was “probably the largest governmental inspection program affecting Americans ever undertaken.”
President Barack Obama’s administration, which included Vice President Joe Biden, prosecuted more leakers or whistleblowers under the Espionage Act than all previous presidential administrations combined.
The Obama Justice Department’s use of the 1917 law enabled the government to institute “insider threat programs” to effectively intimidate and discourage whistleblowers from revealing corruption. The administration intercepted the communications of journalists in Espionage Act prosecutions and even treated journalists as co-conspirators in leak cases.
President Donald Trump has intensified Obama’s war on leaks to silence whistleblowers, who bring scrutiny to his administration, and the impact on journalists is largely unknown.
Since Trump was elected, the Trump Justice Department has prosecuted Daniel Hale, alleged drone whistleblower, Joshua Schulte, alleged “Vault 7” materials leaker, Terry Albury, an FBI whistleblower, who pled guilty and was sentenced to prison, and Reality Winner, an NSA whistleblower who pled guilty and was sentenced to prison.
The Trump administration also crossed a line the Obama administration would not and charged Assange with 18 offenses—17 of which are Espionage Act violations. The indictment specifically criminalized Assange and WikiLeaks for seeking, obtaining, and disseminating classified information from the U.S. government.
The bill may reflect an interest in narrowing who can be prosecuted under the Espionage Act to those who pass information to “foreign agents,” however, the bill summary declares, “Every single person convicted to date under the Espionage Act would still have been convicted had this bill been law at the time they were prosecuted.”
Khanna told The Intercept “prosecutors and judges should have discretion to weigh the consequences” of leaks “against the motives of the source.” But simply the language of the legislation is silent on the matter of rights defendants should have to defend themselves under the Espionage Act.
Both Wyden and Khanna say Assange could still be prosecuted for allegedly helping Chelsea Manning hack passwords, though defense attorneys might have a reasonable challenge. The computer crime offense was written with language from the Espionage Act, and they could argue it was improperly charged to show prosecutors were skirting protections for journalists.
Alex Abdo, litigation director at the Knight First Amendment Institute of Columbia University, concluded, “This is a crucial effort to ensure that it isn’t a crime for national security journalists to do their jobs. The bill would make clear that the everyday work of journalists isn’t an act of espionage.”
“These protections for journalists are vital. It is also vital that Congress enact additional protections for national security whistleblowers, who must risk personal and professional sanction to expose government malfeasance and corruption.”


shadowproof--2020-03-06--Dissenter Weekly: Espionage Act Reform Unveiled To Protect Journalists, Whistleblower Disclosures

On this edition of the “ Dissenter Weekly , ” we break down reform legislation that would help ensure the Espionage Act is no longer used against journalists .
It would also expand protections for whistleblower disclosures .
The rights of members of the press that “ solicit , obtain , or publish government secrets ” would be protected from prosecution , if the bill was passed .
Later in the episode , Gosztola highlights an effort to challenge President Donald Trump ’ s apparent “ enemies purge ” of federal government employees .
Gosztola will be in London in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extradition hearing for Assange .
The case the United States has brought against him threatens global press freedom .
Help us fund his trip by making a donation or becoming a Shadowproof member .
“ Dissenter Weekly ” airs every Thursday at 4pm ET on YouTube and Facebook , and covers whistleblower and press freedom news from that week .
Letter From The Council Of Bar And Law Societies Of Europe Chelsea Manning has been in jail for 359 days .
She owes $ 250,000 in fines .
Julian Assange has been in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was expelled from the Ecuador embassy in London .
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,” we break down reform legislation that would help ensure the Espionage Act is no longer used against journalists. It would also expand protections for whistleblower disclosures.
The rights of members of the press that “solicit, obtain, or publish government secrets” would be protected from prosecution, if the bill was passed.
Later in the episode, Gosztola highlights an effort to challenge President Donald Trump’s apparent “enemies purge” of federal government employees.
Gosztola will be in London in May and June to cover a three-week extradition hearing for Assange. The case the United States has brought against him threatens global press freedom.
Help us fund his trip by making a donation or becoming a Shadowproof member.
“Dissenter Weekly” airs every Thursday at 4pm ET on YouTube and Facebook, and covers whistleblower and press freedom news from that week.
This week’s stories:
Espionage Act Reform Would Protect Journalists Like Julian Assange
Trump’s New Enemies Purge Violates Civil Service Laws
Assange Exclusive: OPCW Whistleblowers Confront Leadership’s Attacks, Cover-Up Of Douma Deception
Letter From The Council Of Bar And Law Societies Of Europe
***
Chelsea Manning has been in jail for 359 days. She owes $250,000 in fines.
Julian Assange has been in jail for 331 days, since he was expelled from the Ecuador embassy in London.
Send tips and feedback to editor@shadowproof.com
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


shadowproof--2020-03-10--Beyond Prisons: Amani Sawari On Right2Vote Campaign For Justice-Involved People

Beyond Prisons podcast host Kim Wilson sits down with Amani Sawari of the Right2Vote campaign to talk about her work on a nationwide effort that grew out of the 2018 prison strike demand to extend voting rights for all justice-involved people .
Amani and Kim talk about what it was like for her to teach poetry inside a youth prison and she shares a couple of poems written by her former students .
Amani Sawari is a writer , founder of the site sawarimi.org , coordinator for the Right2Vote Campaign and a 2019 Civil Rights Fellow with the Roddenberry Foundation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington in 2016 with a Bachelor ’ s degree in Media Communication Studies and Law , and Economics & Public Policy .
Her visionary publications aid in distributing messages and building community among participants in the prison resistance movement on both sides of the wall .
In the aftermath of the Lee County Massacre that occurred in South Carolina ’ s Department of Corrections , Sawari was selected by Jailhouse Lawyers Speak to be their spokesperson for their 2018 National Prison Strike .
Her coordination of over 400 endorsing businesses , groups and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incarcerated activists in 17 states and 3 regions abroad including , Palestinians held captive in Israeli Prisons , Leipzig Prison in Greece and at Burnside Prison in Nova Scotia , Canada .
In addition to coordinating Right2Vote , Amani is organizing the Statewide campaign to end Truth-in-Sentencing laws and bring back Good Time in Michigan .
Today Sawari ’ s monthly Right2Vote Report is mailed to hundreds of prisoners in 27 states across the country .
Support our show and join us on Patreon .
Please listen , subscribe , and rate/review our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Google Play Join our mailing list for updates on new episodes , events , and more Kim Wilson is available for speaking engagements and to facilitate workshops .
Please contact beyondprisonspodcast @ gmail.com for more information Amani read the following poems by her former students on the episode : No New Year ’ s resolution for me No crying decree No promises , just average changes Less time screwing around More time helping my parents in need Less time skipping school More time going to school Not so many fake friends A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regrets A few more successes Less running away from reality More facing reality Less dreaming More accomplishments Change after all…is good Change after all Is all I know I go to bed every night I see a couple bright lights I hear a couple sounds And they sound like gun shots I smell hot Cheetos Eating them in my bed Sleeping in a king size bed Like rolling hills underneath me Touching my heart with fear Thinking that somebody ’ s gon na come for me Kick down my door Come in my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him back And had no fear .
Just a young child Living life wild Rarely had a father figure So I just started busting triggers I was a good boy Back in elementary Who woulda thought I ’ d get to see the penitentiary Squares at my school never really liked me I felt misplaced I just wanted to be happy I told my mother Let ’ s go back to Mexico She said “ sorry mi ’ jo ” You just got to let it go I said “ Fuck it ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was different I started acting like a fool Met some crazy vatos back in 7th grade That was when my life really freaking changed I started kicking it with all the fucking “ criminales ” We would be posted like a herd of “ animales ” I started sportin ’ that blue I started reppin ’ the “ sur ” I use to think it was about hanging and smoking dope Then I realized that this gang life ain ’ t no joke Got beat up a couple times Sniffed a couple lines @ @ @ @

Beyond Prisons podcast host Kim Wilson sits down with Amani Sawari of the Right2Vote campaign to talk about her work on a nationwide effort that grew out of the 2018 prison strike demand to extend voting rights for all justice-involved people.
Amani and Kim talk about what it was like for her to teach poetry inside a youth prison and she shares a couple of poems written by her former students.
Amani Sawari is a writer, founder of the site sawarimi.org, coordinator for the Right2Vote Campaign and a 2019 Civil Rights Fellow with the Roddenberry Foundation. She graduated from the University of Washington in 2016 with a Bachelor’s degree in Media Communication Studies and Law, and Economics & Public Policy. Her visionary publications aid in distributing messages and building community among participants in the prison resistance movement on both sides of the wall.
In the aftermath of the Lee County Massacre that occurred in South Carolina’s Department of Corrections, Sawari was selected by Jailhouse Lawyers Speak to be their spokesperson for their 2018 National Prison Strike. Her coordination of over 400 endorsing businesses, groups and organizations led to the successful participation of incarcerated activists in 17 states and 3 regions abroad including, Palestinians held captive in Israeli Prisons, Leipzig Prison in Greece and at Burnside Prison in Nova Scotia, Canada.
In addition to coordinating Right2Vote, Amani is organizing the Statewide campaign to end Truth-in-Sentencing laws and bring back Good Time in Michigan. Today Sawari’s monthly Right2Vote Report is mailed to hundreds of prisoners in 27 states across the country.
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Hosts: Kim Wilson and Brian Sonenstein
Music: Jared Ware
Amani read the following poems by her former students on the episode:
CHANGING WAYS
No New Year’s resolution for me
No crying decree
No promises, just average changes
Less time screwing around
More time helping my parents in need
Less time skipping school
More time going to school
Not so many fake friends
A few more real friends
Not so many regrets
A few more successes
Less running away from reality
More facing reality
Less dreaming
More accomplishments
Change after all…is good
Change after all
Is all I know
Dedicated to my mom
DAILY THINGS
I go to bed every night
I see a couple bright lights
I hear a couple sounds
And they sound like gun shots
I smell hot Cheetos
Eating them in my bed
Sleeping in a king size bed
Like rolling hills underneath me
Touching my heart with fear
Thinking that somebody’s gonna come for me
Kick down my door
Come in my house
And hit me
But I hit him back
And had no fear.
LIFE OF A YOUNG MEXICAN
Just a young child
Living life wild
Rarely had a father figure
So I just started busting triggers
I was a good boy
Back in elementary
Who woulda thought I’d get to see the penitentiary
Squares at my school never really liked me
I felt misplaced
I just wanted to be happy
I told my mother
Let’s go back to Mexico
She said “sorry mi’jo”
You just got to let it go
I said “Fuck it”
And went to Denny middle school
Everything was different
I started acting like a fool
Met some crazy vatos
back in 7th grade
That was when my life really freaking changed
I started kicking it with all the fucking “criminales”
We would be posted like a herd of “animales”
I started sportin’ that blue
I started reppin’ the “sur”
I use to think it was about hanging and smoking dope
Then I realized that this gang life ain’t no joke
Got beat up a couple times
Sniffed a couple lines
Sold a couple dimes


shadowproof--2020-03-10--Joe Biden Tells MSNBC Viewers He Would Veto Medicare For All

Still image of 2020 Democratic candidate for president Joe Biden on The Last Word With Lawrence O'Donnell on MSNBC .
Former Vice President Joe Biden , a Democratic presidential candidate , told MSNBC viewers that he would veto Medicare For All if he was elected to the White House .
In every state primary or caucus , around fifty percent or more have indicated they support replacing private health insurance with a single-payer universal health care system .
The night before another round of primaries , including a major primary in Michigan , Biden finally agreed to do a television @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donnell after declining to appear on Rachel Maddow ’ s program the previous week .
Caption : On MSNBC , Joe Biden Says He Would Veto Medicare For All .
( Video is from MSNBC and covered under fair use as this clip is necessary for news and commentary . )
“ Let ’ s flash forward .
You ’ re President .
Bernie Sanders is still active in the Senate .
He manages to get Medicare For All through the Senate in some compromise version , the Elizabeth Warren version , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pelosi gets a version of it through the House of Representatives .
It comes to you .
Do you veto it ?
” “ I would veto anything that delays providing the security and the certainty of health care being available now , ” Biden answered .
“ If they get that through , and by some miracle there was an epiphany that occurred , and some miracle occurred that said , okay , it ’ s passed , then you ’ ve got to look at the costs.
” “ I want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 35 trillion .
What is that doing ?
Is it going to significantly raise taxes on the middle class ?
Which it will .
What ’ s going to happen ?
” Biden continued , “ Look , my opposition is not to the principle that they should have Medicare .
Everybody—health care should be a right in America .
My opposition relates to whether or not ( a ) it ’ s doable , two , what the cost is and what the consequences for the rest of the budget are.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ find $ 35 trillion over the next ten years without having some profound impacts on everything from taxes for the middle class and working class people as well as the impact on the rest of the budget ?
” The estimated cost over ten years is actually slightly lower— $ 32 trillion .
It may be “ kind of a bargain , ” according to Vox ’ s Dylan Scott , because the “ federal government is going to spend a lot more money on health care , but the country is going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be more services and more people covered for the same price , more or less .
Los Angeles Times business columnist David Lazarus also described the price tag as a bargain .
The cost over the next ten years would be lower than currently projected health care costs .
“ What Democrats have done a terrible job communicating is that we ’ re currently spending $ 3.6 trillion a year on healthcare , ” Lazarus wrote .
“ That translates to $ 36 trillion over the next decade.
” “ But the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that .
The federal government estimates that national healthcare spending will total about $ 48 trillion over the next 10 years , as costs keep going up , ” Lazarus additionally noted .
A study by economists published in February found Medicare For All would be considerably less expensive .
“ The current system is particularly burdensome for middle-income working households who receive relatively little support through Medicaid or other public programs but are responsible for health insurance premiums either paid directly or by their employer as non-wage compensation , ” the study @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A system that cuts costs and shifts financing to income and wealth taxes will dramatically lower this burden , producing significant savings for workers and businesses.
” Biden was a bit unclear in his remark , but the supposed concern about delays and “ certainty of health care being available ” is a health insurance industry talking point that he has repeated .
On July 15 , during a forum hosted by AARP , he suggested Sanders ’ plan for a multi-stage process to phase-in an expanded Medicare system that covered all Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which would cause people with cancer to die .
“ How many of you have lost a husband , wife , son , daughter to cancer ?
Raise your hand , ” Biden said .
“ How many ( inaudible ) have terminal diseases , raise your hand , that lost them ?
Well , you know , the thing I ’ ve learned is every second counts .
It ’ s not about a year .
It ’ s about the day , the week , the month , the next six @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And if you have these hiatuses , it may , it may , this may go as smooth , as my grandpappy said , smooth as silk .
But the truth of the matter is it ’ s likely to be a bumpy ride getting to where we ’ re going.
” CNN fact-checked Biden ’ s misinformation and concluded a “ single-payer Medicare For All plan would not result in people having a ‘ hiatus , ’ or gap , in their insurance coverage.
” O ’ Donnell also asked Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the coronavirus demonstrates why Medicare For All is needed .
“ You don ’ t have to do Medicare For All for that .
The Biden proposal , you ’ d be covered for all of this , ” Biden replied .
“ Everyone would be covered under taking Obamacare , restoring the cuts that have been made , and putting in a public option , a Medicare-like option.
” “ Let ’ s assume everybody had Medicare covering everything now .
Do you think people would be any less concerned ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ But they ’ d know how they were going to get their service , ” O ’ Donnell said .
Not to mention , as former health insurance communications director Wendell Potter previously outlined on MSNBC , there are more than 50 million who are underinsured .
Patients face high deductible plans , “ which was a scheme by the health insurance industry to boost profits.
” The present system that Biden champions limits access to doctors and hospitals , and like Potter emphasized , it makes “ doctors beg for approval @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Potter contends the widespread support for Medicare For All in exit polls in primaries is a “ watershed moment in America.
” “ We ’ re talking conservative southern states , like my native Tennessee , where Democrats want to replace for-profit insurance with single-payer , and northeastern states , like Vermont and Maine , where over seven in 10 Democrats are ready to end the current system bankrupting and killing millions.
” “ It ’ s time to say it : Medicare For All is now the mainstream , popular , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2020 .
Voters are sick and tired of awful deductibles , surprise bills , stifling networks , and begging strangers for help with medical bills on GoFundMe , ” Potter declared .
Yet , the Democratic Party establishment has fought against the Sanders campaign , the one campaign that has backed Medicare For All with total clarity since early 2019 .
After Biden ’ s decisive victories on Super Tuesday , health insurance corporations , like Anthem , Cigna , and UnitedHealth Group , saw their stocks surge higher .
It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insurance and health care industries will be big winners .

Former Vice President Joe Biden, a Democratic presidential candidate, told MSNBC viewers that he would veto Medicare For All if he was elected to the White House.
In every state primary or caucus, around fifty percent or more have indicated they support replacing private health insurance with a single-payer universal health care system.
The night before another round of primaries, including a major primary in Michigan, Biden finally agreed to do a television interview with MSNBC host Lawrence O’Donnell after declining to appear on Rachel Maddow’s program the previous week.
Caption: On MSNBC, Joe Biden Says He Would Veto Medicare For All.
(Video is from MSNBC and covered under fair use as this clip is necessary for news and commentary.)
“Let’s flash forward. You’re President. Bernie Sanders is still active in the Senate. He manages to get Medicare For All through the Senate in some compromise version, the Elizabeth Warren version,” O’Donnell said. “Nancy Pelosi gets a version of it through the House of Representatives. It comes to you. Do you veto it?”
“I would veto anything that delays providing the security and the certainty of health care being available now,” Biden answered. “If they get that through, and by some miracle there was an epiphany that occurred, and some miracle occurred that said, okay, it’s passed, then you’ve got to look at the costs.”
“I want to know how did they find the $35 trillion. What is that doing? Is it going to significantly raise taxes on the middle class? Which it will. What’s going to happen?”
Biden continued, “Look, my opposition is not to the principle that they should have Medicare. Everybody—health care should be a right in America. My opposition relates to whether or not (a) it’s doable, two, what the cost is and what the consequences for the rest of the budget are.”
“How are you going to find $35 trillion over the next ten years without having some profound impacts on everything from taxes for the middle class and working class people as well as the impact on the rest of the budget?”
Bien was referring to a study that showed over ten years cost would be $32 trillion. And according to Vox’s Dylan Scott, it may be “kind of a bargain,” because the “federal government is going to spend a lot more money on health care, but the country is going to spend about the same.” There would be more services and more people covered for the same price, more or less.
Los Angeles Times business columnist David Lazarus also described the price tag as a bargain. The cost over the next ten years would be lower than currently projected health care costs.
“What Democrats have done a terrible job communicating is that we’re currently spending $3.6 trillion a year on healthcare,” Lazarus wrote. “That translates to $36 trillion over the next decade.”
“But the status quo is actually way worse than that. The federal government estimates that national healthcare spending will total about $48 trillion over the next 10 years, as costs keep going up,” Lazarus additionally noted.
A different study that was produced by economists and published in February found Medicare For All would be considerably less expensive.
“The current system is particularly burdensome for middle-income working households who receive relatively little support through Medicaid or other public programs but are responsible for health insurance premiums either paid directly or by their employer as non-wage compensation,” the study from the Hopbrook Institute found. “A system that cuts costs and shifts financing to income and wealth taxes will dramatically lower this burden, producing significant savings for workers and businesses.”
Biden was a bit unclear in his remark, but the supposed concern about delays and “certainty of health care being available” is a health insurance industry talking point that he has repeated.
On July 15, during a forum hosted by AARP, he suggested Sanders’ plan for a multi-stage process to phase-in an expanded Medicare system that covered all Americans would result in “hiatuses,” which would cause people with cancer to die.
“How many of you have lost a husband, wife, son, daughter to cancer? Raise your hand,” Biden said. “How many (inaudible) have terminal diseases, raise your hand, that lost them? Well, you know, the thing I’ve learned is every second counts. It’s not about a year. It’s about the day, the week, the month, the next six months. It’s about hope. And if you have these hiatuses, it may, it may, this may go as smooth, as my grandpappy said, smooth as silk. But the truth of the matter is it’s likely to be a bumpy ride getting to where we’re going.”
CNN fact-checked Biden’s misinformation and concluded a “single-payer Medicare For All plan would not result in people having a ‘hiatus,’ or gap, in their insurance coverage.”
O’Donnell also asked Biden about Sanders’ argument that the threat of the coronavirus demonstrates why Medicare For All is needed.
“You don’t have to do Medicare For All for that. The Biden proposal, you’d be covered for all of this,” Biden replied. “Everyone would be covered under taking Obamacare, restoring the cuts that have been made, and putting in a public option, a Medicare-like option.”
“Let’s assume everybody had Medicare covering everything now. Do you think people would be any less concerned? I don’t think so.”
“But they’d know how they were going to get their service,” O’Donnell said.
Not to mention, as former health insurance communications director Wendell Potter previously outlined on MSNBC, there are more than 50 million who are underinsured.
The present system that Biden champions limits access to doctors and hospitals, and like Potter emphasized, it makes “doctors beg for approval to get coverage” to treat patients.
A day after the interview, Potter responded on Twitter, “Joe Biden expressed concern over the potential cost of Medicare For All and the security of people’s health plans. I recognize these arguments because I helped craft them when I ran PR as an insurance executive. As I result, I feel obligated to set the record straight.”
He contended that Biden’s claim that Medicare would cost an “extra $35 trillion” is wrong because a peer-reviewed Yale study showed it would save taxpayers $450 billion annually by “eliminating waste and industry greed.”
According to Potter, Biden wants to keep the current system and add a public option, which would likely cost far more than Medicare For All because his plan would cap premiums at 8.5 percent of a person’s income. Medicare For All would charge only four percent.
“Despite my old industry’s spin, folks with corporate insurance plans have no security or choice. Unlike with Medicare For All, you can lose your health plan if switch jobs, turn 26, lose a job, or if your boss decides to change plans,” Potter added. “Having insurance doesn’t make you secure if you get sick. You still have to deal with deductibles, surprise bills, and claim denials.”
Potter contends the widespread support for Medicare For All in exit polls in primaries is a “watershed moment in America.”
“We’re talking conservative southern states, like my native Tennessee, where Democrats want to replace for-profit insurance with single-payer, and northeastern states, like Vermont and Maine, where over seven in 10 Democrats are ready to end the current system bankrupting and killing millions.”
“It’s time to say it: Medicare For All is now the mainstream, popular, nationwide consensus position for the Democratic Party in 2020. Voters are sick and tired of awful deductibles, surprise bills, stifling networks, and begging strangers for help with medical bills on GoFundMe,” Potter declared.
Yet, the Democratic Party establishment has fought against the Sanders campaign, the one campaign that has backed Medicare For All with total clarity since early 2019.
After Biden’s decisive victories on Super Tuesday, health insurance corporations, like Anthem, Cigna, and UnitedHealth Group, saw their stocks surge higher.
It is clear if Democrats nominate Biden the health insurance and health care industries will be big winners.


shadowproof--2020-03-12--Federal Judge Orders Chelsea Manning’s Release From Jail

Federal judge Anthony Trenga ordered a jail in Alexandria , Virginia , to release United States Army whistleblower Chelsea Manning .
The order came after the grand jury investigating WikiLeaks was dismissed .
Manning was confined for 365 days or one year after being held in civil contempt because she refused to testify before a grand jury empaneled to investigate WikiLeaks .
She attempted to commit suicide on March 11 .
During her time in jail , Manning accumulated $ 256,000 in fines .
She faced a fine of $ 500 per day for 30 days .
That increased to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ released .
Trenga refused to waive these fines .
She will still owe over a quarter of a million dollars .
In August , Trenga ruled , “ Manning has the ability to comply with the court ’ s financial sanctions or will have the ability after her release from confinement .
Therefore , the imposed fines of $ 500 per day after 30 days and $ 1,000 per day after 60 days is not so excessive as to relieve her of those sanctions or to constitute punishment rather than a coercive measure.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the court .
“ She has no personal savings , an uncertain speaking career that has been abruptly halted by her incarceration , and is moving her few belongings into storage , as she can no longer afford to pay her rent.
” Furthermore , according to her legal team , Manning attempted to share her financial records with the federal court in an effort to show that she has debt and a “ compromised earning capacity , ” which has “ left her balance sheets near zero.
” But the court apparently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ability to pay fines .
While Manning was in jail , United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture Nils Melzer condemned [ PDF ] the U.S. government ’ s “ coercive measures ” against Manning .
Melzer suggested authorities intentionally inflicted “ progressively severe mental and emotional suffering for the purposes of coercion and intimidation at the order of judicial authorities , ” and it compounded Manning ’ s post-traumatic symptoms and other mental and physical health problems , which she still experiences as a result of prior abuse she endured when she was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I conclude that such deprivation of liberty does not constitute a circumscribed sanction for a specific offense but an open-ended , progressively severe measure of coercion fulfilling all the constitutive elements of torture or other cruel , inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment , ” Melzer declared .
It was the second time in the past ten years that a U.N. official condemned the U.S. government ’ s “ cruel , inhuman , or degrading treatment ” against Manning .
More updates as this story further develops .

Federal judge Anthony Trenga ordered a jail in Alexandria, Virginia, to release United States Army whistleblower Chelsea Manning. The order came after the grand jury investigating WikiLeaks was dismissed.
Manning was confined for 365 days or one year after being held in civil contempt because she refused to testify before a grand jury empaneled to investigate WikiLeaks. She attempted to commit suicide on March 11.
During her time in jail, Manning accumulated $256,000 in fines. She faced a fine of $500 per day for 30 days. That increased to $1,000 per day until she was released.
Trenga refused to waive these fines. She will still owe over a quarter of a million dollars.
In August, Trenga ruled, “Manning has the ability to comply with the court’s financial sanctions or will have the ability after her release from confinement. Therefore, the imposed fines of $500 per day after 30 days and $1,000 per day after 60 days is not so excessive as to relieve her of those sanctions or to constitute punishment rather than a coercive measure.”
Manning’s legal team challenged the court. “She has no personal savings, an uncertain speaking career that has been abruptly halted by her incarceration, and is moving her few belongings into storage, as she can no longer afford to pay her rent.”
Furthermore, according to her legal team, Manning attempted to share her financial records with the federal court in an effort to show that she has debt and a “compromised earning capacity,” which has “left her balance sheets near zero.” But the court apparently never completed a financial assessment of her ability to pay fines.
While Manning was in jail, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture Nils Melzer condemned [PDF] the U.S. government’s “coercive measures” against Manning.
Melzer suggested authorities intentionally inflicted “progressively severe mental and emotional suffering for the purposes of coercion and intimidation at the order of judicial authorities,” and it compounded Manning’s post-traumatic symptoms and other mental and physical health problems, which she still experiences as a result of prior abuse she endured when she was imprisoned for releasing documents to WikiLeaks.
“I conclude that such deprivation of liberty does not constitute a circumscribed sanction for a specific offense but an open-ended, progressively severe measure of coercion fulfilling all the constitutive elements of torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment,” Melzer declared.
It was the second time in the past ten years that a U.N. official condemned the U.S. government’s “cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment” against Manning.
More updates as this story further develops.


shadowproof--2020-03-13--Dismissing Heightened Coronavirus Risks, State Officials Plan To Hold March 17 Primaries

In response to the coronavirus pandemic , Louisiana became the first state to delay their primary , which was scheduled for April 4 .
The Wyoming Democratic Party also canceled the “ in-person portion of their upcoming vote ” on the same date .
Yet , despite health risks , state officials in four states intend to proceed with their primaries on March 17 .
Arizona , Florida , Illinois , and Ohio are in states of emergencies .
The potential of contracting the virus is heightened if voters stand in lines at polling places .
Polling place workers may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Voter turnout may be significantly lower as a result of fears .
Nevertheless , Secretary of State Kathy Hobbs of Arizona , Secretary of State Laurel Lee of Florida , Elections Board Chairman Charles Scholz ( IL ) , and Secretary of State Frank LaRose Of Ohio put out a statement insisting Americans have “ participated in elections during challenging times in the past , ” and they would be able to do so on Tuesday .
“ Unlike concerts , sporting events , or other mass gatherings , where large groups of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a confined space for an extended period of time , polling locations see people from a nearby community coming into and out of the building for a short duration , ” the political representatives declared .
The officials added , “ Guidance from voting machine manufacturers on how best to sanitize machines , guidance from CDC on best practices for hand washing , and guidance from our respective state health officials is being provided to every polling location.
” “ Our priority is ensuring that people are healthy and safe , ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public events right now would put that in jeopardy so this is the responsible course of action.
” ( Wyoming holds a caucus . )
Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin delayed the primary until June 20 .
“ Safe and secure elections also mean safety to the people of Louisiana , ” Ardoin contended .
Stunningly , a Democratic National Committee spokesperson expressed concern to POLITICO about how this violates a DNC rule on timing , “ which provides that all states hold their contests by June 9 .
“ Any violation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ penalty that would include a state losing at least half of its delegates .
This change will be reviewed by the Rules and Bylaws Committee , ” the spokesperson added .
It would fly in the face of all the steps businesses , groups , organizations , and governments are taking out of an abundance and over-abundance of caution to prevent the spread of the coronavirus if the DNC penalized Louisiana for postponing their primary .
Voters stood in long lines on Super Tuesday for two hours or longer .
Texas experienced “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a polling station in the state waited for nearly 7 hours to vote .
Journalist Ari Berman reported , There were similar reports of long lines in heavily Democratic cities across the state , including Austin , Dallas , and San Antonio .
While voters in California also faced delays due to a shortage of polling locations and problems with new voting technology , the longest waits took place in Texas , particularly in Houston ’ s Harris County , where the population is 43 % Latino and 19 % black.
” Texas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state , since 2012 , and so the question must be asked : to what extent will the country see voter suppression in Arizona , Illinois , Ohio , and Florida , and how will those long lines put voters ’ health at risk and how many will choose not to vote if they are afraid to stand in line ?
The four states have relocated polling places away from “ senior living facilities.
” Postcards were mailed to at least thousands of residents in Arizona , notifying them of a polling place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supposedly be accommodated in Arizona , yet will the state have enough resources to assist all the people who may be in need ?
In 2016 , USA Today reported “ long lines were the norm in Maricopa County.
” The county felt the strain of “ serving thousands of voters in 60 polling sites , a reduction of nearly three-quarters from four years ago.
” Ohio election officials indicated “ about 75 voting locations around the state would need to move to alternative locations to prevent the spread of the virus to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But that swelled to 128 on Tuesday.
” While seeking to protect the elderly , state officials are seemingly discounting the health risk to elderly voters , who are turning out in substantial numbers in the 2020 primary .
If elderly people are discouraged from going to shop at a grocery store , where they may brush up against someone who has the virus , why isn ’ t there as much concern about elderly people going to polling places on March 17 ?
Older adults are most vulnerable to the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than half of the workers who staff polling places .
In 2016 , “ 56 percent of poll workers in the country were 61 years old or older , according to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission , and Florida officials say workers are dropping out in huge numbers.
” Florida is scrambling for “ last-minute volunteers , ” according to the Tampa Bay Times .
“ Since the state announced the first coronavirus case in Pasco County late Tuesday , that county has been “ hemorrhaging ” poll workers , said Brian Corley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Tampa Bay Times additionally reported , “ Pasco ’ s 30 coronavirus-related dropouts coupled with other poll workers dropping out means his office has largely burned through its reserves of election workers , Corley said .
His office has reached out to the Pasco County Sheriff ’ s Office to ask if it had employees to fill the void.
” For Illinois , the state must relocate 94 Election Day polling places in Chicago .
“ More than 32 ” places in the populous Cook County suburbs need to be changed as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It is entirely unprecedented in the history of Chicago elections , going back to 1837 , ” said Jim Allen , a spokesman for the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners .
The number of Election Day switches has steadily ticked upward .
Chicago precincts without polling places rose from 24 Thursday morning to 94 by evening .
“ We are working with the city ’ s Office of Emergency Management in an attempt to resolve those issues so that we may deliver supplies to new locations by Sunday and Monday , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avoided by moving the primary to May or June .
Risks to the health of polling place workers would not be a concern .
However , rather than help doctors , nurses , hospitals , and medical professionals by postponing in-person voting , Ohio has attempted to rally polling place workers to “ defend democracy , ” as if freedom dies if residents let the coronavirus keep them from voting on March 17 .
Throughout all four states , officials maintain “ sanitizer , disinfectants , disinfecting or antibacterial wipes , disposable gloves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other sanitizing materials ” is adequate to control the risk .
But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) points out , “ Based on what is currently known about this virus and similar coronaviruses , spread from person-to-person happens most frequently among close contacts ( within about 6 feet ) .
This type of transmission occurs via respiratory droplets.
” Do states have the resources to provide masks to every person entering a polling place or standing in line to go inside a polling place ?
Because the risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seems more significant .
Senator Bernie Sanders , a Democratic presidential candidate , was asked during a press conference about whether states should delay their primaries .
“ That ’ s a tough question , and I ’ ll tell you why , ” Sanders replied .
“ Elections are the bedrock of our democracy , and we don ’ t want to be delaying elections on a willy nilly basis .
On the other hand , if my memory is correct , in states like Ohio , and in many other states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The NBA has ceased the season .
Broadway is now shut down .
So there is obviously now a growing concern about bringing people together and spreading the virus.
” “ I think the answer to your good question is this is an issue , where the doctors and the scientists and the public health officials are going to have to be weighing the risk .
I don ’ t think there ’ s anybody out there , no matter what your political view , who wants to see people become infected because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Another reporter asked Sanders a follow-up question related to what the impact on voter turnout may be if the primaries are held during the outbreak .
“ We are told right now that we should stay away from other people .
That we don ’ t want to see the virus being spread .
And in state after state , schools are being shut down .
Large functions are being shut down .
But your point is an additional point , which I think is right , ” Sanders answered .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down , and they are , if schools are being shut down , and they are , what are parents supposed to do ?
What do they do ?
Well , they ’ re going to have to stay home and take care of their kids .
Can you go out and vote when you ’ re staying home and taking care of your little kids ?
The answer is you can ’ t. ” Sanders concluded , “ Elections scheduled for Tuesday have to balance things .
Rescheduling elections is not something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lightly .
On the other hand , at this particular moment , it is absolutely appropriate that public officials , governors , etc , listen to public health officials , and your point is also important to make sure that everybody who wants to vote has the right to vote and that may not be the case today.
” *** To avoid the risk of fueling the coronavirus outbreak , which could result in severe illness or deaths , several medical professionals signed on to an open letter to secretaries of state and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hold the primaries next week and to extend mail-in voting until later dates in May or June .
Sign on to the letter here .

In response to the coronavirus pandemic, Louisiana became the first state to delay their primary, which was scheduled for April 4. The Wyoming Democratic Party also canceled the “in-person portion of their upcoming vote” on the same date. Yet, despite health risks, state officials in four states intend to proceed with their primaries on March 17.
Arizona, Florida, Illinois, and Ohio are in states of emergencies. The potential of contracting the virus is heightened if voters stand in lines at polling places. Polling place workers may potentially be exposed to the virus. Voter turnout may be significantly lower as a result of fears.
Nevertheless, Secretary of State Kathy Hobbs of Arizona, Secretary of State Laurel Lee of Florida, Elections Board Chairman Charles Scholz (IL), and Secretary of State Frank LaRose Of Ohio put out a statement insisting Americans have “participated in elections during challenging times in the past,” and they would be able to do so on Tuesday.
“Unlike concerts, sporting events, or other mass gatherings, where large groups of people travel long distances to congregate in a confined space for an extended period of time, polling locations see people from a nearby community coming into and out of the building for a short duration,” the political representatives declared.
The officials added, “Guidance from voting machine manufacturers on how best to sanitize machines, guidance from CDC on best practices for hand washing, and guidance from our respective state health officials is being provided to every polling location.”
“Our priority is ensuring that people are healthy and safe,” the Wyoming Democratic Party stated. “Holding public events right now would put that in jeopardy so this is the responsible course of action.” (Wyoming holds a caucus.)
Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin delayed the primary until June 20. “Safe and secure elections also mean safety to the people of Louisiana,” Ardoin contended.
Stunningly, a Democratic National Committee spokesperson expressed concern to POLITICO about how this violates a DNC rule on timing, “which provides that all states hold their contests by June 9.
“Any violation of our rules could result in a penalty that would include a state losing at least half of its delegates. This change will be reviewed by the Rules and Bylaws Committee,” the spokesperson added.
It would fly in the face of all the steps businesses, groups, organizations, and governments are taking out of an abundance and over-abundance of caution to prevent the spread of the coronavirus if the DNC penalized Louisiana for postponing their primary.
Voters stood in long lines on Super Tuesday for two hours or longer. Texas experienced “multi-hour wait times.” One voter at a polling station in the state waited for nearly 7 hours to vote.
Journalist Ari Berman reported on “long lines in heavily Democratic cities across the state, including Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio. While voters in California also faced delays due to a shortage of polling locations and problems with new voting technology, the longest waits took place in Texas, particularly in Houston’s Harris County, where the population is 43% Latino and 19% black.”
Texas had closed 750 polling sites in the state, since 2012, and so the question must be asked: to what extent will the country see voter suppression in Arizona, Illinois, Ohio, and Florida, and how will those long lines put voters’ health at risk and how many will choose not to vote if they are afraid to stand in line?
The four states have relocated polling places away from “senior living facilities.” Postcards were mailed to at least thousands of residents in Arizona, notifying them of a polling place change. Residents with limited mobility will supposedly be accommodated in Arizona, yet will the state have enough resources to assist all the people who may be in need?
In 2016, USA Today reported “long lines were the norm in Maricopa County.” The county felt the strain of “serving thousands of voters in 60 polling sites, a reduction of nearly three-quarters from four years ago.”
Ohio election officials indicated “about 75 voting locations around the state would need to move to alternative locations to prevent the spread of the virus to residents who live in senior living facilities. But that swelled to 128 on Tuesday.”
While seeking to protect the elderly, state officials are seemingly discounting the health risk to elderly voters, who are turning out in substantial numbers in the 2020 primary.
If elderly people are discouraged from going to shop at a grocery store, where they may brush up against someone who has the virus, why isn’t there as much concern about elderly people going to polling places on March 17?
Older adults are most vulnerable to the coronavirus, and they typically make up more than half of the workers who staff polling places. In 2016, “56 percent of poll workers in the country were 61 years old or older, according to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, and Florida officials say workers are dropping out in huge numbers.”
Florida is scrambling for “last-minute volunteers,” according to the Tampa Bay Times. “Since the state announced the first coronavirus case in Pasco County late Tuesday, that county has been “hemorrhaging” poll workers, said Brian Corley, Pasco’s supervisor of elections.”
Tampa Bay Times additionally reported, “Pasco’s 30 coronavirus-related dropouts coupled with other poll workers dropping out means his office has largely burned through its reserves of election workers, Corley said. His office has reached out to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office to ask if it had employees to fill the void.”
For Illinois, the state must relocate 94 Election Day polling places in Chicago. “More than 32” places in the populous Cook County suburbs need to be changed as well.
The Chicago Sun-Times reported:
“It is entirely unprecedented in the history of Chicago elections, going back to 1837,” said Jim Allen, a spokesman for the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners. The number of Election Day switches has steadily ticked upward. Chicago precincts without polling places rose from 24 Thursday morning to 94 by evening. “We are working with the city’s Office of Emergency Management in an attempt to resolve those issues so that we may deliver supplies to new locations by Sunday and Monday,” Allen said.
The crisis could be avoided by moving the primary to May or June. Risks to the health of polling place workers would not be a concern. However, rather than help doctors, nurses, hospitals, and medical professionals by postponing in-person voting, Ohio has attempted to rally polling place workers to “defend democracy,” as if freedom dies if residents let the coronavirus keep them from voting on March 17.
“A lot of poll workers are older, so we’re having a lot of them call in, telling us that they can’t work Tuesday,” Aaron Sellers, the spokesman for Ohio’s Franklin County Board of Elections, told The Hill. “So for every new person that we’re getting, we’re having three saying that they can’t work. So we’re scrambling around to fill spots.”
Throughout all four states, officials maintain “sanitizer, disinfectants, disinfecting or antibacterial wipes, disposable gloves, rubbing alcohol, or isopropyl and other sanitizing materials” is adequate to control the risk. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) points out, “Based on what is currently known about this virus and similar coronaviruses, spread from person-to-person happens most frequently among close contacts (within about 6 feet). This type of transmission occurs via respiratory droplets.”
Do states have the resources to provide masks to every person entering a polling place or standing in line to go inside a polling place? Because the risk of someone coughing and spreading the virus seems more significant.
Senator Bernie Sanders, a Democratic presidential candidate, was asked during a press conference about whether states should delay their primaries.
“That’s a tough question, and I’ll tell you why,” Sanders replied. “Elections are the bedrock of our democracy, and we don’t want to be delaying elections on a willy nilly basis. On the other hand, if my memory is correct, in states like Ohio, and in many other states, schools are being closed down. The NBA has ceased the season. Broadway is now shut down. So there is obviously now a growing concern about bringing people together and spreading the virus.”
“I think the answer to your good question is this is an issue, where the doctors and the scientists and the public health officials are going to have to be weighing the risk. I don’t think there’s anybody out there, no matter what your political view, who wants to see people become infected because they are voting,” Sanders added.
Another reporter asked Sanders a follow-up question related to what the impact on voter turnout may be if the primaries are held during the outbreak.
“We are told right now that we should stay away from other people. That we don’t want to see the virus being spread. And in state after state, schools are being shut down. Large functions are being shut down. But your point is an additional point, which I think is right,” Sanders answered.
“If child care centers are being shut down, and they are, if schools are being shut down, and they are, what are parents supposed to do? What do they do? Well, they’re going to have to stay home and take care of their kids. Can you go out and vote when you’re staying home and taking care of your little kids? The answer is you can’t.”
Sanders concluded, “Elections scheduled for Tuesday have to balance things. Rescheduling elections is not something that we do lightly or should do lightly. On the other hand, at this particular moment, it is absolutely appropriate that public officials, governors, etc, listen to public health officials, and your point is also important to make sure that everybody who wants to vote has the right to vote and that may not be the case today.”
***
To avoid the risk of fueling the coronavirus outbreak, which could result in severe illness or deaths, several medical professionals signed on to an open letter to secretaries of state and the DNC to reconsider their plan to hold the primaries next week and to extend mail-in voting until later dates in May or June.
Sign on to the letter here.


shadowproof--2020-03-13--Release People From Jail To Prevent A Coronavirus Catastrophe Behind Bars

COVID-19 , the novel coronavirus spreading across the globe , exposes the dangers of the U.S. ’ s eroded and underfunded safety net .
Inadequate public health infrastructure and a lack of access to health care , paid sick leave , and basic material needs leave us woefully unprepared to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and care for people who get sick in our communities .
But the threat to people incarcerated in jails , prisons , and detention centers across the United States is even greater .
The coronavirus crisis compounds the health crisis that incarcerated people across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for years and decades .
This is especially true for elderly incarcerated men and women , who face heightened risk of death and injury from the virus .
For example , over 675 elderly incarcerated people have died in New York State prisons alone since 2011 .
The vast majority are people of color and the average age at death is 58 years old .
This is a human crisis hidden behind prison walls .
People who are hyper-policed and disproportionately incarcerated—Black and brown working-class people , people who use drugs , homeless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , people with disabilities , and people with mental illness—come from communities most impacted by chronic illness and lack of access to medical care prior to being incarcerated .
Health services in jails may be a person ’ s first contact with medical personnel and where they first receive diagnoses .
Once incarcerated , jails , prisons , and detention centers expose people to incarceration-specific health risks , exacerbating existing health conditions and provoking new ones .
While infectious diseases—from legionnaires disease to chickenpox , tuberculosis to scabies—circulate rapidly and regularly through correctional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maintaining order than ensuring health .
Prison staff minimize serious illness , deter incarcerated people from raising health concerns , neglect to take them to medical appointments , berate and punish them for being sick , and retaliate against them by withholding care .
Health care co-pays make accessing healthcare nearly impossible , especially at the average wage for prison labor of 14 cents an hour .
In Florida , incarcerated people say when an infectious disease has been detected , physicians become agents of punishment , stripping incarcerated people of their clothes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cells with other sick people .
Under non-pandemic conditions , incarceration makes already-sick people sicker and makes healthy people less healthy .
Jails , prisons , and detention centers are notoriously deadly in their lack of medical care .
Medical services are set up not to provide care but to guard against “ costly ” utilization and lawsuits .
Fundamentally , the physical facts of confinement—restricted movement , overcrowding , lack of access to sunlight and healthy food , and the severing of family and community ties—increase incarcerated people ’ s vulnerability to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infection .
COVID-19 and other recent crises bring these failures into dramatic and devastating relief .
In 2019 , for example , as Justice Department lawyers argued in front of the Supreme Court that access to soap wasn ’ t mandated by law , mumps rocketed through immigration detention centers across Texas .
And incarcerated people are routinely left at the mercy of hurricanes and other dangerous weather conditions , even as they fill sandbags and fight fires to protect communities outside the prison walls .
So it should come as no surprise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are woefully unprepared to protect incarcerated people from the unique threats posed by coronavirus .
There is currently no soap in the Metropolitan Detention Center , the federal jail in Sunset Park , Brooklyn that just last year was without heat , hot water , electricity , and medical care during the coldest days of winter .
Hand sanitizer is contraband for incarcerated people in many jurisdictions ( even as prison labor is being deployed to produce it ) because it contains alcohol .
In Florida , cleaning supplies like bleach are contraband @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possession .
Instead of prioritizing expanding access to coronavirus testing and comprehensive and humane medical care , jails , prisons , and detention centers are likely to rely on restricting family visits , putting potentially-infected people in “ medical keeplock , ” solitary confinement , and facility-wide lockdowns to ostensibly prevent the disease ’ s spread .
This is not healthcare , it is punishment , and it will increase incarcerated people ’ s vulnerability to illness , mental health distress , and suicide .
COVID-19 ’ s impact on the elderly , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chronic ailments , will be devastating .
And people who are already housed separately ( and inadequately ) for serious health issues will be further marginalized , treated as second-class people in a third-class world , even as they will likely be the first to feel the effects of the coronavirus .
Prison clinics have demonstrated time and again that they will fail to provide adequate care to growing numbers of sick people as privatized health care services cut costs on regular medical needs .
Fortunately , the public health evidence is clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individual and community health and increases health disparities of race , class , ability , gender , and national origin , keeping people out of jail , prison , and immigration detention and releasing people who are currently confined is good for our health and safety .
In response to the threat to incarcerated people posed by coronavirus , local , state , and federal jurisdictions must use their powers , including pardon and clemency , to release people now , beginning with elderly , ill , immunocompromised , and pregnant people .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ reduce “ jail churn ” —the rate at which people cycle through local jails exacerbating the spread of illness—by reducing arrests , declining prosecution , decriminalizing conduct , eliminating pretrial detention , and releasing people to fight their cases from home .
Providing life ’ s necessities instead of criminalizing survival strategies will help , too .
By pursuing a strategy of radical decarceration we can divest from the jails and prisons that are making our communities sick and sicker , and invest in community-based , humane , and dignified healthcare for all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beyond .
Jose Saldana is the Director of Release Aging People in Prison Campaign .
*Komrade Z is an incarcerated organizer , abolitionist , and freedom fighter writing under a pseudonym to avoid retaliation .
Nadja Guyot is a graduate student and organizer in NYC .

Written by Jose Saldana, Komrade Z*, and Nadja Guyot
COVID-19, the novel coronavirus spreading across the globe, exposes the dangers of the U.S.’s eroded and underfunded safety net.
Inadequate public health infrastructure and a lack of access to health care, paid sick leave, and basic material needs leave us woefully unprepared to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and care for people who get sick in our communities.
But the threat to people incarcerated in jails, prisons, and detention centers across the United States is even greater.
The coronavirus crisis compounds the health crisis that incarcerated people across the country face every day, some for years and decades. This is especially true for elderly incarcerated men and women, who face heightened risk of death and injury from the virus.
For example, over 675 elderly incarcerated people have died in New York State prisons alone since 2011. The vast majority are people of color and the average age at death is 58 years old. This is a human crisis hidden behind prison walls.
People who are hyper-policed and disproportionately incarcerated—Black and brown working-class people, people who use drugs, homeless people, trans and gender nonconforming people, people with disabilities, and people with mental illness—come from communities most impacted by chronic illness and lack of access to medical care prior to being incarcerated.
Health services in jails may be a person’s first contact with medical personnel and where they first receive diagnoses. Once incarcerated, jails, prisons, and detention centers expose people to incarceration-specific health risks, exacerbating existing health conditions and provoking new ones.
While infectious diseases—from legionnaires disease to chickenpox, tuberculosis to scabies—circulate rapidly and regularly through correctional institutions, prisons are more concerned with maintaining order than ensuring health.
Prison staff minimize serious illness, deter incarcerated people from raising health concerns, neglect to take them to medical appointments, berate and punish them for being sick, and retaliate against them by withholding care. Health care co-pays make accessing healthcare nearly impossible, especially at the average wage for prison labor of 14 cents an hour.
In Florida, incarcerated people say when an infectious disease has been detected, physicians become agents of punishment, stripping incarcerated people of their clothes and belongings and quarantining them in crowded cells with other sick people.
Under non-pandemic conditions, incarceration makes already-sick people sicker and makes healthy people less healthy. Jails, prisons, and detention centers are notoriously deadly in their lack of medical care. Medical services are set up not to provide care but to guard against “costly” utilization and lawsuits.
Fundamentally, the physical facts of confinement—restricted movement, overcrowding, lack of access to sunlight and healthy food, and the severing of family and community ties—increase incarcerated people’s vulnerability to illness and reduce their capacity to fight infection.
COVID-19 and other recent crises bring these failures into dramatic and devastating relief. In 2019, for example, as Justice Department lawyers argued in front of the Supreme Court that access to soap wasn’t mandated by law, mumps rocketed through immigration detention centers across Texas. And incarcerated people are routinely left at the mercy of hurricanes and other dangerous weather conditions, even as they fill sandbags and fight fires to protect communities outside the prison walls.
So it should come as no surprise that jails and prisons across the country are woefully unprepared to protect incarcerated people from the unique threats posed by coronavirus.
There is currently no soap in the Metropolitan Detention Center, the federal jail in Sunset Park, Brooklyn that just last year was without heat, hot water, electricity, and medical care during the coldest days of winter. Hand sanitizer is contraband for incarcerated people in many jurisdictions (even as prison labor is being deployed to produce it) because it contains alcohol. In Florida, cleaning supplies like bleach are contraband and incarcerated people can be punished for possession.
Instead of prioritizing expanding access to coronavirus testing and comprehensive and humane medical care, jails, prisons, and detention centers are likely to rely on restricting family visits, putting potentially-infected people in “medical keeplock,” solitary confinement, and facility-wide lockdowns to ostensibly prevent the disease’s spread.
This is not healthcare, it is punishment, and it will increase incarcerated people’s vulnerability to illness, mental health distress, and suicide.
COVID-19’s impact on the elderly, who are already suffering from serious age-related chronic ailments, will be devastating. And people who are already housed separately (and inadequately) for serious health issues will be further marginalized, treated as second-class people in a third-class world, even as they will likely be the first to feel the effects of the coronavirus.
Prison clinics have demonstrated time and again that they will fail to provide adequate care to growing numbers of sick people as privatized health care services cut costs on regular medical needs.
Fortunately, the public health evidence is clear. If incarcerating people is bad for individual and community health and increases health disparities of race, class, ability, gender, and national origin, keeping people out of jail, prison, and immigration detention and releasing people who are currently confined is good for our health and safety.
In response to the threat to incarcerated people posed by coronavirus, local, state, and federal jurisdictions must use their powers, including pardon and clemency, to release people now, beginning with elderly, ill, immunocompromised, and pregnant people.
Jurisdictions also must seize this moment to reduce “jail churn”—the rate at which people cycle through local jails exacerbating the spread of illness—by reducing arrests, declining prosecution, decriminalizing conduct, eliminating pretrial detention, and releasing people to fight their cases from home. Providing life’s necessities instead of criminalizing survival strategies will help, too.
By pursuing a strategy of radical decarceration we can divest from the jails and prisons that are making our communities sick and sicker, and invest in community-based, humane, and dignified healthcare for all, in the face of COVID-19 and beyond.
Jose Saldana is the Director of Release Aging People in Prison Campaign.
*Komrade Z is an incarcerated organizer, abolitionist, and freedom fighter writing under a pseudonym to avoid retaliation.
Nadja Guyot is a graduate student and organizer in NYC.