Activism

Opinion – A Dire Situation Getting Even Worse at San Quentin

Published

4 years ago

August 19, 2020

Richard Johnson

Yes, prisoners are in prison, right or wrong, but that does not mean they should be allowed to die from something that possibly could have been prevented by taking proper measures that would aid in the prevention of the needless loss of lives here at San Quentin State Prison.

I contracted the virus myself and I am still dealing with its residue while on the road to possible recovery.

I would be remiss not to speak the truth to those in power: I do believe that many more of the state’s prisoners will perish if proper measures are not taken to reduce the overall prison population to minimize the influx and spread of COVID-19.

Prisons are not equipped or designed to handle an epidemic, especially one of this proportion. Imagine living with another person in a crawl space the size of a small closet and coming out to shower surrounded by people exposed to COVID-19 every single day. It’s no great wonder so many men are dying, almost daily.

Coping with the COVID-19 pandemic has been quite an ordeal for the prisoners here. It has also been hard for those in charge, as they try to get a grip on how to handle this pandemic.

It’s apparent to us that they are up against seemingly impossible odds that are increasing daily because as they are dealing with the spread and management of this relentless coronavirus. Men are falling ill daily while some are able to beat back their illnesses and rise above it. But, far too many are dying as a result of the virus.

I am here on the front lines in San Quentin where ‘too little and too late’ is the best that can happen as we are trapped in a deadly situation behind the lines of imprisonment.

We have heard rumors that the state is preparing to release some prisoners who are at a greater risk of succumbing to this deadly virus. Unfortunately, the truth be told, no one is safe, young or old, especially those with underlying health issues. I’ve witnessed at least five individuals that I knew personally die, a couple only several cell doors down the tier from me.

The state’s plan to release thousands of prisoners appears to be a ploy because the vast majority of those to be released have only a few months left on their sentences anyway.

To pretend that these early releases will directly impact the bigger picture of the pandemic is a farce, a political stunt.

There are “lifers,” both violent and nonviolent, who have completed the majority of their sentences as they pay their debt to society, and they qualify to be released as well, or else they face the real possibility of dying in prison from the virus.

The fears that some people have that by releasing certain individuals who may pose unreasonable risks to society is quite understandable, however, the keyword is ‘may.’

The indisputable reality is that men and women are dying based on fears and conjecture, not self-evident truth. In or out, we’re all in this battle together and only together will we be able to battle this virus and create a space for victory for everyone.

Prisoners are no different from any other human being: Yes, we broke the law in some form or fashion, some petty, while others may be more serious in nature, nonetheless consideration for release should be afforded as a preventable death sentence.

Richard Johnson K-53293

3-W-2

San Quentin, CA.

94974

Michelle Snider

Associate Editor for The Post News Group. Writer, Photographer, Videographer, Copy Editor, and website editor documenting local events in the Oakland-Bay Area California area.

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Activism

Oakland Post: Week of April 17 – 23, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 17 – 23, 2024

Published

5 days ago

April 19, 2024

Oakland Post

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Oakland Schools Honor Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties

Every Jan. 30, OUSD commemorates the legacy of Fred Korematsu, an Oakland native, a Castlemont High School graduate, and a national symbol of resistance, resilience, and justice. His defiant stand against racial injustice and his unwavering commitment to civil rights continue to inspire the local community and the nation. Tuesday was “Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution” in the state of California and a growing number of states across the country.

Published

5 days ago

April 19, 2024

Oakland Post

Fred Korematsu. Courtesy of OUSD.

By Post Staff

Every Jan. 30, OUSD commemorates the legacy of Fred Korematsu, an Oakland native, a Castlemont High School graduate, and a national symbol of resistance, resilience, and justice.

His defiant stand against racial injustice and his unwavering commitment to civil rights continue to inspire the local community and the nation. Tuesday was “Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution” in the state of California and a growing number of states across the country.
One OUSD school is named in his honor: Fred T. Korematsu Discovery Academy (KDA) elementary in East Oakland.

Several years ago, founding KDA Principal Charles Wilson, in a video interview with anti-hate organization “Not In Our Town,” said, “We chose the name Fred Korematsu because we really felt like the attributes that he showed in his work are things that the children need to learn … that common people can stand up and make differences in a large number of people’s lives.”

Fred Korematsu was born in Oakland on Jan. 30, 1919. His parents ran a floral nursery business, and his upbringing in Oakland shaped his worldview. His belief in the importance of standing up for your rights and the rights of others, regardless of race or background, was the foundation for his activism against racial prejudice and for the rights of Japanese Americans during World War II.

At the start of the war, Korematsu was turned away from enlisting in the National Guard and the Coast Guard because of his race. He trained as a welder, working at the docks in Oakland, but was fired after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. Fear and prejudice led to federal Executive Order 9066, which forced more than 120,000 Japanese Americans out of their homes and neighborhoods and into remote internment camps.

The 23-year-old Korematsu resisted the order. He underwent cosmetic surgery and assumed a false identity, choosing freedom over unjust imprisonment. His later arrest and conviction sparked a legal battle that would challenge the foundation of civil liberties in America.

Korematsu’s fight culminated in the Supreme Court’s initial ruling against him in 1944. He spent years in a Utah internment camp with his family, followed by time living in Salt Lake City where he was dogged by racism.

In 1976, President Gerald Ford overturned Executive Order 9066. Seven years later, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco vacated Korematsu’s conviction. He said in court, “I would like to see the government admit that they were wrong and do something about it so this will never happen again to any American citizen of any race, creed, or color.”

Korematsu’s dedication and determination established him as a national icon of civil rights and social justice. He advocated for justice with Rosa Parks. In 1998, President Bill Clinton gave him the Presidential Medal of Freedom saying, “In the long history of our country’s constant search for justice, some names of ordinary citizens stand for millions of souls … To that distinguished list, today we add the name of Fred Korematsu.”

After Sept. 11, 2001, Korematsu spoke out against hatred and discrimination, saying what happened to Japanese Americans should not happen to people of Middle Eastern descent.
Korematsu’s roots in Oakland and his education in OUSD are a source of great pride for the city, according to the school district. His most famous quote, which is on the Korematsu elementary school mural, is as relevant now as ever, “If you have the feeling that something is wrong, don’t be afraid to speak up.”

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WOMEN IMPACTING THE CHURCH AND COMMUNITY

Published

6 days ago

April 17, 2024

Oakland Post

Juanita Matthews

Sister Juanita Matthews

55 Years with Oakland Public School District

The Teacher, Mother, Community Outreach Champion, And Child of God

Juanita Matthews, better known as “Sister Teacher,” is a walking Bible scholar. She moved to California from the great state of Arkansas in 1971. Sister Teacher has a passion for teaching. She has been a member of Bible Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church since 1971. She followed her passion for teaching, and in 1977 became the lead teacher for Adult Class #6. Her motto still today is “Once My Student, Always My Student”.

Beyond her remarkable love for the Lord, Sister Teacher has showcased her love for teaching by working for the Oakland Unified School District for 55 years, all but four of those years spent at Emerson Elementary and Child Development School. She truly cares about her students, making sure they have the tools/supplies needed to learn either at OUSD or Bible Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church.

She’s also had a “Clothes Closet Ministry” for 51 years, making sure her students have sufficient clothing for school. The Clothes Closet Ministry extends past her students, she has been clothing the community for over 50 years as well. She loves the Lord and is a servant on a mission. She is a loving mother to two beautiful children, Sandra and Andre. This is the impact this woman of God has on her church and the community.