español
#FreeThemAll
About
What would you do if hundreds of people caught COVID-19 from one place?
That organization or business would be SHUT DOWN. The same principle applies to jails and prisons, which are hotbeds for disease outbreaks. With no ability to implement CDC recommended social distancing nor practice safe hygiene, it is not a matter of if but when a COVID-19 outbreak will reach our Jefferson County Jails. It’s time that the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department move to #FreeThemAll from jails in order to prevent an unstoppable outbreak amongst inmates and staff within their facilities. Lives are at stake. It’s time to #FreeThemAll.
Demands
- Release everyone detained in Jefferson County Jails in order to reduce the possibility of a massive, uncontrollable, and devastating outbreak among the approximately 800 people in custody.
- Immediately release everyone over the age of 50 and anyone with a pre-existing medical condition
- End all collaboration with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
- Stop new arrests and detentions.
- Immediately transfer anyone who tests positive or presents symptoms consistent with COVID-19
- The Jefferson County Sheriffs’ Office should exercise and maintain a high level of transparency during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The use of solitary confinement should be strictly prohibited as a means to quarantine or isolate anyone within the Jefferson County Jails.
- Ensure that containment measures do not result in the denial of due process, visitation and/or communication rights
- Regularly update the public on new or suspected COVID-19 cases within the Jefferson County Jails
- Ensure access to adequate hygiene for all people in custody
To see the full, detailed list of demands, click here.
Resources
Campaign Documents
Legal Advocacy
- Williams et al v. Horton et al: Amended Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus and Complaint for Injunctive and Declaratory Relief
- Williams et al v. Horton et al: Plaintiffs’ Memorandum of Law in Support of their Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO)
News Articles & Media
- Press Release: Medically Vulnerable Immigrants Seek Emergency Release From Ice Detention In Alabama (April 29, 2020)
- Press Release: Jefferson County Sheriff Refuses to Release COVID-19 Plan for Jails, Advocates Respond with #FreeThemAll Campaign (April 15, 2020)
- Amid COVID-19 pandemic, Mobile Metro Jail releases a third of inmates, AL.com (April 10, 2020)
- Crisis at Oakdale: Coronavirus cripples federal prison in Louisiana, CBS News (April 8, 2020)
- Inmate who tested positive for coronavirus released from SC jail, cops say, The State (April 6, 2020)
- Prisons Breed the Coronavirus. We Can Safely Free Thousands of Inmates, New York Times (April 3, 2020)
- ‘Jails Are Petri Dishes’: Inmates Freed as the Virus Spreads Behind Bars, New York Times (March 31, 2020)
- A coronavirus outbreak in jails or prisons could turn into a nightmare, Vox (March 17, 2020)
Other #FreeThemAll Campaigns
- New Sanctuary Coalition (New York) – Free Them All
- Refugee and Immigration Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES)(Texas) – #FreethemALL
- Detention Watch Network (National) – #FreeThemAll
- Shut Down Etowah (Alabama) – #FreeThemAll
- Etowah Freedom Fund (Alabama) – #FreeThemAll
- National Bail Fund Network – COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund
Share this: