Category: Updates

Thursday, Dec 10: our town hall with community leaders to discuss the need for releases now!

The COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in prisons is a human rights issue, but Gov. Newsom, CDCR Secretary and the AG are treating this as a political debate. Thousands of lives in jeopardy! We invite you to a town hall where community advocates will answer all your questions about the topic and how to put pressure on elected officials to take immediate action.

Lives depend on it!

Panelists – Leading our Community:

Geri Silva
Families United to End Life Without Parole

James King
State Campaigner, Ella Baker Center

Amity Foundation
The Amity Foundation serves individuals, families, and children affected by recidivism, crime, homelessness, and addiction.

Reverend Dr. Larry Foy
Faith Organizer, IM4HI

Moderated by:
Curtis Yarbarough
IM4HI Faith Ambassador

Dear Faith and Community Leaders and Members,

Please join us in urging Governor Newsom and CDCR Secretary Allison to protect all Californians, to comply with judicial orders and take immediate action to release the thousands of men and women under the CDCR’s control and who are susceptible and vulnerable to contracting COVID-19 due to the crowded and unsafe conditions of our state prisons and detention centers.

Today, we call upon Governor Newsom and Kathleen Allison, the incoming Secretary of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, to choose the side of love, compassion and redemption. And we ask you to release those within our prisons who are most susceptible to COVID-19.

This is a letter initiated by members of the faith community. We invite faith leaders, people of faith, concerned family and community members to please add your name to this letter.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact: lfoy@im4humanintegrity.org. Please share and forward to your colleagues!

This letter is co-sponsored by Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity and the Ella Baker Center.

There are over 70 border walls across the globe. In 2017 Mexican and Palestinian activists called for a Global Movement for World Without Walls, uniting people worldwide to resist all walls of exclusion, expulsion and exploitation. The Bay Area World Without Walls Coalition formed in 2018, to expand the work of uniting organizations working for justice and liberation, and against walls of all types. Together we are building a world of freedom, respect and dignity for all. 

Coalition members include: Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity, Friends of Sabeel North America, Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church, Jewish Voice for Peace, Arab Resource and Organizing Center, Middle East Children’s Alliance, and East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy / Faith Alliance for a Moral Economy. 

On November 9, 2020, the 31st anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, we are asking you to join the 4th Global Day Of InterAction For A World Without Walls by participating in the following:

1. Host a Watch Party of our Webinar “Abolition and Liberation: A conversation with Angela Davis and Jamal Juma’” using our study guides:
   • For a 1-hour discussion, click here. 
   • For a 2-hour discussion, click here.

2. Join an international webinar on November 9-26 led by the 4th Global Day Of InterAction For A World Without Walls 

3. For church communities, participate in Keep Awake: A Call to Preach Palestine on Nov. 29th, International Day of solidarity with the Palestinian people and the first Sunday of advent.  Check out the incredible collection of liturgies, sermons, prayers, children’s stories and more. Take action toward a free Palestine by sharing this Palestinian Letter to Congress calling for an end to U.S. military aid to Israel.  

4. Liberate people from incarceration! Sign on to a faith letter calling on Governor Gavin Newsom to release more people from incarceration during the pandemic: bit.ly/GovMoralCall