From top to bottom:
Prison cell with two men: Six feet apart in 9 ½ x 4 ½ cell is mathematically impossible
Men facing the covid-19 virus: California has the highest growing population of elderly inmates
in the country. {Due to excessive sentences, racial inequalities and the draconian three strikes
law.}
Emile DeWeaver and Gov. Gavin Newsom standing together: In March, a reporter asked
Governor Gavin Newsom about reducing California’s incarcerated population due to
coronavirus pandemic…what came next was a shocking response. The Governor made a very
intentional point to say, “I have no interest in releasing violent criminals.” Professor Emile
DeWeaver, a formerly incarcerated returned citizen, who happened to have been my “cellie”
for over 3 years, took an emotional and intellectual offense. Professor DeWeaver responded on
social media, “…what you said about ‘violent criminals’ was deeply hurtful to tens of thousands
of families in California.” Prof. DeWeaver was on point, the “violent criminal” phrase can be
traced back to slavery days and its ideologies of Black people being 3/5 th human. That target
phrase, “violent criminal,” gives permission to see one group of humans as inhuman.

In Box pointing toward the portraits: Note: Co-founder of Prison Renaissance Emile DeWeaver
with Gov. Gavin Newsom in San Quentin Prison. Photo was taken by Eddie Herena of S.Q. News.
They met at the Governor’s wife’s screening documentary, The Mask you Live In, here at San
Quentin Prison.
Man sitting on toilet, pants down, toilet paper in hand: Before I bring this grueling report to an
end…for now, I would like to point out, if prison was 87% white people, we wouldn’t be having
this conversation.
Jail cell door: Before the quarantine…on any given day here at San Quentin State Prison
mainline, where free-staff, visitors, and tours walk about unescorted without guards, in my 8
years, being here at this college-like atmosphere with all its self-help programs, never has there
been one act of violence upon any free person, teacher, nurse, doctor, yoga instructors, art
supervisor, pro basketball players (Golden State Warriors), thespian or Kim Kardashian, whom I
had the pleasure of meeting…Anyway, why not give the incarcerated human here furloughs?
Seriously, why not?