** UPDATE: Rather than Home Confinement, the Taylor Center is choosing repression and threats of Return to Custody as an outbreak spreads. See below for a copy of a document provided to Malik from facility leadership. Malik's phone has been confiscated and the facility is on lockdown. They are threatening Malik with Return to Custody for his exposure of the outbreak and mishandling of the COVID-19 outbreak by staff.
The GEO Group is doing everything possible to thwart efforts of rehabilitation, safety, and re-entry into society for our dear Comrade Malik. He recently highlighted that“Instead of promoting the successful transition into the community, GEO Group seeks to destroy and sabotage those bonds and focuses on sending people back to prison or to the grave with COVID-19.”
Malik has recently been promoted from Assistant Editor to Chief Editor at the San Francisco Bay View National Black Newspaper and since he is covering the news in District 10, which includes the neighborhood of Bayview Hunters Point. Mary Ratcliff of the SF Bay View is asking that Malik be granted permission to stay within an eight-block radius of the office and to be granted home confinement at his Fiancè Nube Brown's apartment for his safety and so that he may work effectively and in a healing environment. Malik and his Fiancè Nube, the Managing Editor of the SF Bay View, need to be close to Mary and Willie Ratcliff who are in their 80s and at a high risk of experiencing complications if they contract COVID-19. Due to the ongoing health conditions that Marie and Willie Ratcliff already have, Malik must be nearby to assist with any medical emergencies that may come up. Malik and Nube uplift the community through Mutual Aid and food distribution at Mother Brown's and are tireless freedom fighters.
The recent denial of Malik's request to be released to Home Confinement is an obvious act of retaliation for the speech he gave at the No More Cages Rally. He is facing further retaliation with his phone being confiscated. These acts of retaliation are placing Malik at risk and causing unnecessary risk to the elder owners of the San Francisco Bay View National Black Newspaper. Michael Carvajal, the BOP director made a statement to the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security U.S. House of Representatives on December 2, 2020, and highlighted the importance of his implementation of Home Confinement to protect incarcerated citizens and the greater community.
Step 1: Email Geo Group Facility Director Maria Richard with the following Script:
Maria Richard's email address: mnrichard@geogroup.com
Phone Number: (415) 346-9769 ext 77421
SCRIPT:
"Hello,
I have been reliably informed that after Keith Washington, who is housed at the Taylor Street Center, informed the press of a Covid outbreak at the center, GEO Group staff confiscated his phone. I demand that you cease all retaliation against Mr. Washington immediately. If you continue with this course of action, I will do everything in my power to bring this situation to the attention of the media and my elected representatives.
Home Confinement is the only way to ensure the safety and rehabilitation of Keith and all residents of the Taylor Center. Community members nationwide consider the denial of Keith's Home Confinement request as an act of retaliation for his speech at the No More Cages Rally. Furthermore, Keith has been outspoken about the COVID-19 outbreak at the Taylor Center and he is being retaliated against for alerting the community of how unsafe this congregate setting is.
Keith is a lifeline at the San Francisco Bay View National Black Newspaper and his contribution spans well beyond his position as the editor. It is crucial that he remain near his place of work so that he may respond to any emergencies that octogenarian owners Mary and Willie Ratcliff may have. Mary has cancer and Willie is suffering from Dementia and they are within a high-risk class for complications if they contract COVID-19. Keith's place is with his Fiance Nube Brown in their apartment, which is minutes away from their shared workplace at the SF Bay View. When they are not working on the newspaper, they are heavily involved in serving the unsheltered and low-income community through mutual aid and food distribution at Mother Brown's.in San Francisco's Bayview- Hunter's Point.
Your inaction is being observed by the national community of human rights advocates from a number of organizations who are watching to see how you act in the coming days. Locking Malik down and silencing his first amendment protections by confiscating his phone and not allowing him to leave is a blatant disregard for his safety that the ACA and the Federal BOP Director Michael Carvajal will be made aware of immediately. This is a form of harm to the community that Malik selflessly serves every single day. Please do the right thing.
Step 2: Email Monica Hook with the following Script.
Email Address: mhook@geocareinc.com
Phone number of the Taylor Street Center: (415) 346-9789
"Hello,
I have been reliably informed that after Keith Washington, who is housed at the Taylor Street Centre, informed the press of a Covid outbreak at the center, GEO Group staff confiscated his phone. I demand that you cease all retaliation against Mr. Washington immediately. If you continue with this course of action, I will do everything in my power to bring this situation to the attention of the media and my elected representatives.
Home Confinement is the only way to ensure the safety and rehabilitation of Keith and all residents of the Taylor Center. Community members nationwide consider the denial of Keith's Home Confinement request as an act of retaliation for his speech at the No More Cages Rally. Furthermore, Keith has been outspoken about the COVID-19 outbreak at the Taylor Center and he is being retaliated against for alerting the community of how unsafe this congregate setting is.
Keith is a lifeline at the San Francisco Bay View National Black Newspaper and his contribution spans well beyond his position as the editor. It is crucial that he remain near his place of work so that he may respond to any emergencies that octogenarian owners Mary and Willie Ratcliff may have.
Your inaction is being observed by the national community of human rights advocates from a number of organizations who are watching to see how you act in the coming days. Locking Malik down and silencing his first amendment protections by confiscating his phone and not allowing him to leave is a blatant disregard for his safety that the ACA and the Federal BOP Director Michael Carvajal will be made aware of immediately. This is a form of harm to the community that Malik selflessly serves every single day. Please do the right thing.
Step 3: Email the BOP Director Michael Carvajal and use the script below :
Michael Carvajal, BOP Director- mcarvajal@bop.gov
Phone:(202) 307-3198 Ext 2, then Ext 1, then Ext 2: Leave a message with Ms. Rhone
SCRIPT:
Hi, My name is_________and I live in _________(your state, city) and I demand that the GEO group run Taylor Center release as many people on Home Confinement as possible to both curb the spread of COVID-19 and aid in their rehabilitation. Keith 'Malik' Washington (USMS# 34481-037) and all of those housed at the Geo Group run Taylor Center face unfit living conditions and a COVID-19 outbreak. The Taylor Street Center is located in the Tenderloin which is notoriously known for its drug activity. As of October, 7th 2020, Keith celebrated the milestone of 13 years of sobriety. His request to be placed on home confinement and to transfer to the Northern District of California was denied recently. Home Confinement is the only way to ensure the safety and rehabilitation of Keith and all residents of the Taylor Center. Community members nationwide consider the denial of Keith's Home Confinement request as an act of retaliation for his speech at the No More Cages Rally. Keith is a lifeline at the San Francisco Bay View National Black Newspaper and his contribution spans well beyond his position as the editor. It is crucial that he remain near his place of work so that he may respond to any emergencies that octogenarian owners Mary and Willie Ratcliff may have. Mary has cancer and Willie is suffering from Dementia and they are within a high-risk class for complications if they contract COVID-19. Keith's place is with his Fiance Nube Brown in their apartment, which is minutes away from their shared workplace at the SF Bay View. When they are not working on the newspaper, they are heavily involved in serving the unsheltered and low-income community through mutual aid and food distribution at Mother Brown's.in San Francisco's Bayview- Hunter's Point.
I have been reliably informed that after Keith informed the press of a Covid outbreak at the center, GEO Group staff confiscated his phone. I demand that the Taylor Center administration cease all retaliation against Mr. Washington immediately. If this course of action continues, I will do everything in my power to bring this situation to the attention of the media and my elected representatives.
In a statement to the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security U.S. House of Representatives on December 2, 2020, you touted reducing recidivism and battling the COVID-19 by stating “I am pleased to report that since March 26, 2020, BOP has transferred 18,112 inmates to Home Confinement, and there are an additional 175 who are scheduled to transfer to Home Confinement in the coming weeks. These assessments remain ongoing and will continue for the duration of the pandemic.” We would like to see action in this direction at the Taylor Center. Action is detrimental when human lives are at risk.
Step 4: Fill out this survey prepared by Malik's Fiance Nube:
https://www.change.org/p/michael-carvajal-director-of-bop-help-me-get-my...
THANK YOU!!!
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