2020-05-08 11:53:29

How America’s Incarcerated Are More Vulnerable Than Ever



Sonali Kolhatkar speaks with Alice Speri.

As Americans struggle with the coronavirus pandemic, the government appears to be ignoring the fate of a significant portion of the US population – the incarcerated. Millions of people are held behind bars in local county jails and state and federal prisons. Considering the lack of an organized federal plan to tackle the spread of the virus overall, it is no surprise that prisons are being left to their own devices.

Given the close quarters that prisoners are held in, Covid-19 has spread like wildfire inside prison facilities. Many states are only now scrambling to test inmates and finding serious waves of infections that could hurt prisoners, prison guards and others. According to my guest the Trump administration has failed to account for the uniquely American risk factor of our mass incarceration. The data is grim and Alice Speri writing in The Intercept shares that, “In the handful of facilities with higher test rates, most people were found to be positive. Eight of the 10 largest outbreaks in the country are in prisons and jails.”

Read Alice Speri’s article ‘Mass Incarceration Poses a Unique American Risk in the Coronavirus Pandemic,’ HERE.

Alice Speri, reporter for The Intercept specializing in justice, immigration, and civil rights.

Rising Up with Sonali is a radio and television show that brings progressive news coverage rooted in gender and racial justice to a wide audience. 

Rising Up With Sonali was built on the foundation of Sonali Kolhatkar's earlier show, Uprising, which became the longest-running drive-time radio show on KPFK in Los Angeles hosted by a woman. 

RUS airs on Free Speech TV every weekday.

Missed an episode?  Check out Rising Up on FSTV VOD anytime or visit the show page for the latest clips.

#FreeSpeechTV is one of the last standing national, independent news networks committed to advancing progressive social change. 

#FSTV is available on Dish, DirectTV, AppleTV, Roku, Sling and online at freespeech.org.

 

Alice Speri Coronavirus COVID-19 Federal Prison Free Speech TV Human Rights Incarcerated Rising Up with Sonali Sonali Kolhatkar United States Unnited States

Human Rights and Equality

This Week In White Supremacy- Presented by 1HoodMedia

This Week In White Supremacy | Black and Brown Women: The Ignored Voices in Abortion Rights

This Week In White Supremacy | Black and Brown Women: The Ignored Voices in Abortion Rights

Rising Up With Sonali

Rising Up With Sonali | Rethinking Reproductive Justice: Beyond Abortion Bans

Rising Up With Sonali | Rethinking Reproductive Justice: Beyond Abortion Bans

Democracy Now!

Democracy Now! | The Killings of Climate Activists Worldwide

Democracy Now! | The Killings of Climate Activists Worldwide

Democracy Now!

Democracy Now! | Nashville Mayor Addresses Nashville's 'Nazi Problem'

Democracy Now! | Nashville Mayor Addresses Nashville's 'Nazi Problem'

Related

The Thom Hartmann Program

The Thom Hartmann Program | American Society Used to Benefit from the Wealthy

The Thom Hartmann Program | American Society Used to Benefit from the Wealthy

The Rick Smith Show

The Rick Smith Show | The Fallout of the Washington Post's (lack of) Endorsement

The Rick Smith Show | The Fallout of the Washington Post's (lack of) Endorsement

Rising Up With Sonali

Rising Up With Sonali | Rethinking Reproductive Justice: Beyond Abortion Bans

Rising Up With Sonali | Rethinking Reproductive Justice: Beyond Abortion Bans

Rising Up With Sonali

Rising Up With Sonali | Defending Our Right to Read: Amanda Jones vs. Censorship

Rising Up With Sonali | Defending Our Right to Read: Amanda Jones vs. Censorship

Proud Partners