Rep. Bass, CBC Members Host COVID-19 Incarceration Town Hall

April 24, 2020

Press Release

LOS ANGELES - Today, Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA), Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, hosted a town hall with family members of incarcerated individuals to hear stories about COVID-19's impact on those in prison. You can watch the full event below.

"We hosted this event to hear the voices and the suggestions of those being impacted firsthand by this disease on the inside," said Rep. Bass. "When this pandemic hit, we knew immidiately that folks on the inside would be at the most risk. I thank everyone that participated in this call today and look forward to using what we heard today to inform our legislative decisions going forward."

Participants included:

Andrea James - Executive Director, National Council of Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls

Mikayla Cartwright – Ms. Cartwright’s mother is in custody and she is responsible for her 9-year-old niece. Ms. Cartwright discussed her fears around her mother being in custody during the COVID-19 pandemic.

David Patton - Executive Director and Attorney-in-Chief Federal Public and Community Defenders

Alice Gonzalez - Ms. Gonzalez is a nurse with three loved ones at FCI Elkton, Ohio, where 6 individuals have died of COVID-19.

Ebony Underwood - Founder, We Got Us Now – Ms. Underwood discussed her incarcerated father and highlighted the minimal risks posed by releasing people over 60.