01. STATEMENT OF THE CASE

THE UNCONTROLLED OUTBREAK

In the Prince George’s County jail where hundreds are held presumed innocent awaiting trial, there is an uncontrolled outbreak fueled by the jail’s actions, a 23 hours-a-day lockdown, and sustained by the inaction of district judges and Aisha Braveboy, the state’s attorney.

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Introduction

READ STATEMENT OF THE CASE ➔​

The Factual Allegations

READ FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS ➔​

The Plaintiffs

READ THE PLAINTIFFS ➔​

02. SWORN STATEMENTS

THE EXPERIENCES INSIDE

The People jailed in Prince George's County refuse to be silenced. They are fighting back. These are their sworn statements, amplified.

​​READ BY JESSE WILLIAMS / ACTOR
​"We've been on lockdown for months."

READ SWORN STATEMENT ➔​

​​READ BY QIANA JOHNSON / FOUNDER, LIFE AFTER RELEASE
"Are we about to die?"

READ SWORN STATEMENT ➔​

​​READ BY ALEC BALDWIN / ACTOR
"I could barely breathe."

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​​READ BY JOSIE DUFFY RICE / PRESIDENT, THE APPEAL
"I couldn't call my family."

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​​READ BY BRITNEY COLEMAN / ACTOR
"It's like we're lab rats."

READ SWORN STATEMENT ➔​

​​READ BY DWAYNE BETTS / POET, MEMOIRIST, & TEACHER​
"The C.O.s refused to help me."

READ SWORN STATEMENT ➔​

​​READ BY BARATUNDE THURSTON / WRITER & COMEDIAN
"I did not get fresh clothes for 13 days."

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​​READ BY CIARA RENEE / ACTOR​
"It made me feel like the scum of the earth."

READ SWORN STATEMENT ➔​

​​READ BY JAMES FORMAN / LEGAL SCHOLAR & AUTHOR
"I begged to go to medical, but I was ignored."

READ SWORN STATEMENT ➔​

​​READ BY JONATHAN BURKE / ACTOR​
"I can't breathe."

READ SWORN STATEMENT ➔​

​​READ BY FIONA APPLE / SINGER-SONGWRITER
"I've lost my spirit."

READ SWORN STATEMENT ➔​

​​READ BY ANGELA WILLIG / DEAN, BOSTON U. LAW SCHOOL
"I thought I was about to die."

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​​READ BY CHRISTOPHER GURR / ACTOR
"Something is wrong with my lungs."

READ SWORN STATEMENT ➔​

​​READ BY RABIA CHAUDRY / ATTORNEY & AUTHOR
"It's like I am not even human."

READ SWORN STATEMENT ➔​

​​​READ BY GARRY JENKINS / DEAN, U. OF MINNESOTA LAW SCHOOL
"It's just a matter of time."

READ SWORN STATEMENT ➔​

​​READ BY JESSIE HOOKER-BAILEY / ACTOR
"Social distancing was not happening."

READ SWORN STATEMENT ➔​

​​READ BY ANTUAN RAIMONE / ACTOR​
"We are still human, not animals."

READ SWORN STATEMENT ➔​

​​READ BY MEENA HARRIS / LAWYER & AUTHOR
"The C.O.s have been more hostile to us."

READ SWORN STATEMENT ➔​

​​READ BY MOLLY CRABAPPLE / ARTIST & WRITER
"It is so hot, it feels like my heart is being stuck with needles."

​READ SWORN STATEMENT ➔​

​​READ BY KIMBERLY MARABLE / ACTOR​
"I was unable to call my family."

READ SWORN STATEMENT ➔​

​​READ BY JONATHAN RAPPING / FOUNDER & PRESIDENT, GIDEON'S PROMISE
"It's a scary situation."

READ SWORN STATEMENT ➔​

EXPLORE MORE

03. JUSTICE DENIED

JUDGES ISSUE FORM DENIALS

​​READ BY DWAYNE BETTS / POET, MEMOIRIST, & TEACHER​

Public defenders continue fighting every day to release the people they represent to protect them from infection and death, but judges continue to ignore humanity.

​Even worse, to save time, judges have now begun simply to issue form denials without a hearing. This is cruel indifference. 

READ ROUTINE DENIAL

TAKE ACTION

An urgent movement across the country is underway. We are reckoning with police violence and abuse perpetrated against BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) lives. Yet we cannot disconnect this visible violence from the violence inflicted on Black and Brown lives trapped inside inhumane jails, presumed innocent while awaiting trial, and without adequate medical treatment as the COVID-19 pandemic spreads.

DEMAND ACTION

VOLUNTEER TO COURT WATCH

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SOCIAL MEDIA TOOLKIT

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Make these stories heard. Join the growing chorus of voices amplifying these declarations. Click the button below. Choose one to read. Record yourself. Post to social with the hashtag “#GaspingForJustice” alongside our calls to action.

FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS

​​READ BY KRISTIN FULTON / ACTOR

READ SWORN STATEMENT ➔​

​​READ BY ALEX BRIGHTMAN / ACTOR

READ SWORN STATEMENT ➔​

​​READ BY ILHAM ASKIA  / EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, GIDEON'S PROMISE 

READ SWORN STATEMENT ➔​

​​READ BY JOSHUA ROBINSON / ACTOR​

READ SWORN STATEMENT ➔​

​​READ BY NATHAN RILEY / ACTOR

READ SWORN STATEMENT ➔​

​​READ BY WHITNEY ANDREWS / ACTOR

READ SWORN STATEMENT ➔​

​​READ BY JOEY STONE / ACTOR

READ SWORN STATEMENT  ➔​

​​READ BY FRANCIS JUE / ACTOR​

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​​READ BY JASMIN WALKER / ACTOR & DIRECTOR

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​​READ BY ISABELLE MCCALLA / ACTOR

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​​READ BY ASHLEY SELDON / ACTOR

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​​READ BY LAUREN PATTEN / ACTOR 

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​​READ BY DANYEL FULTON / ACTOR

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​​READ BY LIA-SHEA TILLETT / CHOREOGRAPHER

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​​READ BY ANDREW BARTH FELDMAN / ACTOR

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​​READ BY SHAINA TAUB / SONGWRITER

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​​READ BY MARIA DIZZIA / ACTOR

READ SWORN STATEMENT ➔​

​​READ BY BREANA OGALDEZ / ACTOR

READ SWORN STATEMENT ➔​

R​​READ BY BRITTANY LAURELLE / ACTOR

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​​READ BY AFRA HINES / ACTOR & DANCER

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​​READ BY SOPHIE SAGAN-GUTHERZ​ / ACTOR

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​​READ BY ESTHER MIRA / ACTOR

READ SWORN STATEMENT ➔​

​​READ BY SEAN ALLAN KRILL / ACTOR

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​​READ BY SHERYL KALLER / DIRECTOR

READ SWORN STATEMENT ➔​

​​READ BY LENNE KLINGAMAN / ACTOR & SINGER

READ SWORN STATEMENT ➔​

​​READ BY TIFFANY RENEE THOMPSON / ACTOR

READ SWORN STATEMENT ➔​

​​READ BY RICHARD HICKS / CASTING DIRECTOR

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​​READ BY SAMMI CANNOLD / DIRECTOR

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​​READ BY SARAH BOCKEL / ACTOR

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​​READ BY KIRSTEN SCOTT / ACTOR

READ SWORN STATEMENT ➔​

​​READ BY BARRY KOHN / FOUNDER, PHYSICIAN VOLUNTEERS FOR THE ARTS​

READ SWORN STATEMENT ➔​

​​READ BY GINA M. JACKSON / PROFESSOR & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

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​​READ BY JESSICA ALMASY / ACTOR

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​​READ BY ANDREA GRODY /  MUSIC DIRECTOR

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​​READ BY BOBBY CRONIN / COMPOSER

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​​READ BY BIANCA BARRAGAN / ACTOR

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​​READ BY RACHEL SUSSMAN / PRODUCER

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​​READ BY GIDEON GLICK / ACTOR

READ SWORN STATEMENT ➔​

​​READ BY BETSY HOGG / ACTOR

READ SWORN STATEMENT ➔​

​​READ BY JONALYN SAXER / ACTOR

READ SWORN STATEMENT ➔​

• 01. STATEMENT OF THE CASE
• 02. SWORN STATEMENTS
• 03. JUSTICE DENIED
• 04. TAKE ACTION