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The work of building a just and equitable society requires us to advocate for issues outside of our realm of personal experiences. Fighting to end hunger and homelessness is a movement made up mostly of those who have never been hungry or unhoused, and yet people have come together to end food and housing security. This is the heart of Who Speaks For Me? We take action for those who are impacted, but ignored. We create a space where we center the voices of those with lived experiences and raise awareness to bring about change as a community made up of people impacted by oppression and those with privilege.
The first time I was detained at the DC Department Of Correction's Central Cell Block (CCB), I felt as though I had entered a nightmare complete with roaches crawling all over me. The roaches crawled into the cup of water that was handed to me through bars. There were no mattresses on the metal bunks and I had to ask a guard for toilet paper each time I needed to use the toilet. I spent the night killing roaches and asking for something to eat other than a bologna sandwich (I was a vegetarian at the time).
When I asked about getting medication, I was told I could be transported to the hospital, but I would not be able to attend court the next day and would have to spend another night at CCB. I opted to skip my medication. The last time I was detained at CCB in July of 2021, I was ‘no papered’–meaning I was released from court with no charges. However, the conditions and treatment I experienced years before remained the same. The only difference is that the guard refused to leave after he gave me toilet paper. He stood there and watched me use the toilet. Of course I complained to him and he responded with, “What you gonna do about it? Who you gonna tell?”
Just as it takes a community to eradicate hunger and homelessness, it also takes a community to eradicate inhumane treatment in carceral spaces. The majority of people locally and nationally will never encounter the inhumane conditions and treatment of CCB. Advocating for changes to carceral spaces might seem outside of your purview. However, as a community–a society–it is our responsibility to fight for change. Perhaps you say to yourself, “Well I would never be arrested and taken to CCB.” This may be true, nevertheless, if you are in the business of protesting for civil rights in the Nation’s Capitol, this could be you or someone you love.
The last time I walked free from CCB, I vowed to shut it down! However, I cannot do this alone, but with your help we can mount a national campaign to Close CCB. Please take time and read through the sign-on letter included in this newsletter, and add your name or the name of your organization and let’s tell the DC Department of Corrections–Enough is Enough!
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