In the  midst of the worst pandemic in U.S. history, governors around the country  continue to show ruthless disregard for the lives of incarcerated people.  They refuse to grant clemency, they reject requests to release elders and  medically vulnerable prisoners, and they discount the urgent calls for decarceration by public health experts. The spread of COVID-19 inside  prisons, where social distancing and other prevention measures are virtually  impossible, has infected more than 150,000 incarcerated people and many have  suffered preventable deaths.

The racist violence of the prison industrial complex is a continuation of  police violence in the streets. To mark the anniversary of the Attica  uprising against the brutality of imprisonment, we call for actions across  the country that highlight the following broad demands:
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Clemency Now! – Governors should use their executive power to release  incarcerated people;

Mass Decarceration through All Possible Means – Enact new policies and  utilize existing authorities to increase opportunities for parole, elder  parole, medical parole, re-sentencing, sentence reductions, no new prison  admissions, no incarceration for technical violations, and release people who  are past their release dates;

Abolish Extreme Sentencing – End life imprisonment including life without  parole and virtual life sentences of 50 years or longer; and

Safety For All People In Prisons and Jails – Implement safe non-punitive  COVID quarantine conditions, health and mental health services, enforcement  of safety mandates for correctional staff and maintain visits with loved  ones.
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Help us make our impact stronger by hosting an #AtticaUprising49  decarceration event!
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The Sentencing Project can provide direction and messaging support for  organizations across the country to mark the 49th year since the Attica  Prison Uprising to demand decarceration and challenge life  imprisonment.

   Examples of actions:

   Host public dialogues (i.e. a virtual forum or panel discussions)
   Develop social media posts (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram)
   Engage traditional media (LTE, op-ed, press release)
   Organize advocacy activities (letter writing, virtual rally, car protests  to honk and wave)