Drew Wilson
After weeks of hunkering down, the curve has started to flatten and people across the state are eagerly awaiting a return to normal. Or at least a step in that direction.
The situation is different in prisons, however.
A new video produced by the REFORM Alliance begins with the seemingly everyday people reciting what they’re most looking forward to post-coronavirus.
“I look forward to getting dressed, going to work,” one says.
“I look forward to watching my son shoot basketball,” says another.
“I look forward to starting a garden with my five sugar babies, my grandchildren,” says a third.
The video takes a turn midway through when it’s revealed that the speakers are all inmates in federal prisons, and to realize their dreams, they first need to survive the pandemic behind bars.
“There’s a lot of sick people in here and nobody cares anymore,” the inmates say. “ … we are human, we’ve made mistakes, but that doesn’t mean that our lives are any less valuable than the next person’s.”
The video turns silent in the closing seconds, with title cards reading “COVID-19 is ripping through the U.S. prison system. Don’t let their prison sentence become a death sentence.”
The 75-second video is part of REFORM’s #AnswerTheirCall campaign, which is designed to amplify the voices of people who are incarcerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. REFORM added that 8 of the Top 10 hot spots in the U.S. are linked to prisons and jails.
Despite the better-than-expected results outside of prisons, Florida correctional facilities have struggled to contain the virus. Earlier this month, the Florida Department of Corrections revealed about six out of 10 inmates tested were positive for COVID-19 at Sumter Correctional Institution and Tomoka Correctional Institution.
“Right now, hardly any government officials have a plan to address this crisis. REFORM does. We have worked with experts and advocates from across the political aisle to develop a set of common-sense recommendations that would make us all SAFER,” the group said.
Viewers are encouraged to add their names to a petition calling on states to adopt the SAFER plan. The video is below.
4 comments
SlowDown
May 11, 2020 at 1:56 pm
We seem to be more concerned with prisoners, than with nursing homes. This virus has not hit jails any more than they have hit outside of jails. So, spending all our time concerned with people in jail is folly.
There must be guidelines for jails, just like for everything else. But, letting prisoners out of jail is not the best guideline for the safety of those not in jail.
Anna
May 11, 2020 at 2:35 pm
So sad we need to listen to ignorance!
Concerned for ALL
May 11, 2020 at 3:17 pm
Are you kidding? No one is or has been concerned about the incarcerated in Florida prisons. Governor Desantis has failed to mention any prison or address any of his concerns regarding the prisons at any time during any of his conferences. I will agree that nursing homes need to be a priority but so does the prison population as there is way less opportunity for any kind of social distancing and/or sufficient cleaning guidelines and most recently they only got face masks. So how can you say that anyone is concerned about prisons? Many people in prison got sentenced for crimes they committed yes.. But they are human beings and do not deserve the possible fate of a death sentence due to the COVID outbreak. And they don’t even test the incarcerated like they should have been doing until recently and the exposure numbers testing positive has skyrocketed in just days and continues to do so daily….the state is basically only testing in the prisons for reimbursement purposes having to do with COVID…not because they really want to. It is all about money. Florida warehouses human beings for profit and many sit not guilty for years and years….there is no way for the incarcerated to avoid contact with the virus unless decarceration happens…nursing homes are issued proper PPE and testing…prisons are not. So in order to flatten the curve action does need to be taken so reinfection does not continue…it isn’t just the incarcerated to be concerned about…it is also those employed by the Florida Dept of Corrections who keep coming in and out on a daily and are risk to re-expose the virus to the general population. So why don’t people like yourself think about all human beings and not point fingers to say ONLY prisoners are who everyone is worried about….we should all worry about each other whether it be the widely in nursing homes….the elderly in prison…the young and the old. Grow a conscious and care for all humanity not just one area of the population. Ignorance is bliss….let us not be ignorant as a society….I will pray for you.
martin
May 13, 2020 at 12:15 pm
let them suffer. But protect the corrections staff at all costs. This will help eliminate the over-populated prisons and jails. problem solved. Not another tax payer dollar spent on protecting criminals.
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