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Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., Founder & President
Tricia “CK” Hoffler, Chairman
www.rainbowpush.org

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Public Policy/ International/
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March 18, 2020
President Donald J. Trump
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President,
As you are increasingly making clear to the American people, the coronavirus is very
serious and spreading quickly around the world and across our country. As this
pandemic spreads, you are giving us the proper cooperative and voluntary protocols:
stay home, wash your hands often and practice social distancing.
Not everyone can do this. Specifically, I want to raise a concern with you about those
who are incarcerated and cannot practice social distancing—i.e., the prison population.
In prison there are too many people in proximity to each other who do not have the
option of social distancing and there are literally millions of persons incarcerated who
were arrested, but not convicted, who are languishing in prison awaiting trial. My
concern is specifically with those arrested for non-violent crimes.
If one visitor has already transmitted the virus to an inmate, that inmate may have
transmitted it to another inmate and that pattern could put many, if not the entire prison
population in jeopardy because “social distancing” is not an option for prisoners. Jail
could become an incubator and death sentence for those incarcerated.
I am urging you to consider immediately testing the 2.2 million persons currently
incarcerated. They are a captive audience and should not be devoured by the virus
should someone in prison have it and spread it. And please consider releasing those
arrested for non-violent offenses who are still incarcerated, but not convicted, after they
have been tested for the virus so that they do not endanger the health of other inmates
or the general public if they are released. We cannot leave those without healthcare to
threaten the healthcare of all. Non-violent offenders should be released, monitored and
no put the public’s health in jeopardy. We need government action in this regard and I’m
counting on you to take it.
Feel free to contact me via my Chief of Staff John Mitchell at (773) 383-9589 if you have
any questions.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr.
Founder and President
Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., Founder & President
Tricia “CK” Hoffler, Chairman
www.rainbowpush.org