Outbreak spurs call for prisoner release
Outside the black main gates of San Quentin State Prison, a crowd of more than 50 gathered Thursday to call on Gov. Gavin Newsom to immediately reduce the prison’s population to save lives amid an explosive and deadly coronavirus outbreak inside the North Bay facility.
James King, a 54yearold former prisoner who was released in December and now works for the Oaklandbased Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, was joined by family members of prisoners, elected officials, medical experts and a group of young prison reform advocates, as he read a letter he recently received from Thang Tran, a man currently being held at San Quentin.
“This is the most scared I’ve ever been in my life,” King said, reading the letter. “I’m begging for you to hear us and please, Governor Newsom, save our lives. We’re dying in here.”
The coordinated demonstration, organized by the the #StopSanQuentinOutbreak coalition, which includes Re:Store Justice, the Ella Baker Center and other advocacy groups, occurred as the prison is now dealing with 1,315 active cases. At least seven prisoners have died.
Public figures such as state Sen.
Scott Wiener, DSan Francisco, and four Assembly members spoke alongside Bay Area public defenders and medical experts, but the coalition’s youngest members
San Francisco Mayor London Breed tested negative for the coronavirus, according to results she received Thursday. The mayor was tested Wednesday after being exposed to an infected person at a recent public event.
Despite the negative result, Breed intends to make no public appearances for the next 10 days as a precautionary measure advised by city health officials. Breed will be tested again next week, “since we know it can take a while between being exposed and testing positive,” she tweeted Thursday.
“I’m lucky to have a job that allows me the flexibility to work from home when needed. Not everyone is so lucky,” she added, urging anyone who’s tested positive for the coronavirus and needs support to visit oewd.org/ employeesimpactedcovid19 or call 311 to be connected to services.
City officials are withholding most details of the nature of her exposure, citing privacy concerns. But both Breed and Supervisor Shamann Walton recently attended a public event where a few dozen people called for justice on behalf of 6yearold Jace Young, who was shot and killed during July Fourth celebrations in the Bayview. The person who exposed Breed and Walton knew they were infected, according to health officials.
Walton also said he tested negative Thursday.
“Obviously, going to events when you know you’re COVIDpositive is reckless,” Breed said. “But if you’re going to a party, or putting yourself in situations where you can easily catch the virus, you’re also putting others at risk. You can have the virus and not know it.”
Breed is not required to isolate at home, according to public health guidelines for anyone exposed to a moderate risk of infection. Breed never came within 6 feet of the positive person for 10 minutes, the definition of “close contact.”
“Don’t be selfish. No one is immune from COVID19,” Breed said. “I cannot stress this enough: follow public health guidance and make smart decisions.”