The title of this piece is “Universal healthcare in California.” This Kenjuan Congo, Jr. calling from a prison camp behind enemy lines.
The California Nurses Association plans to work with assemblymember Ash Kalra to introduce Assembly Bill 1690, also known as AB1690. The entire text of AB1690 is one sentence, and I quote, “It is the intent of the legislator to guarantee accessible, affordable, equitable and high-quality health care for all Californians to a comprehensive universal single-payer health care program that benefits every resident of this state,” end quote.
And of course, there’s opposition. Most legislators take campaign contributions from opponents of universal health care who don’t want to jeopardize their billions of dollars in profit. The average amount spent on health care per person in comparable countries is less than what the United States spends. Even though these countries pay much less per person, people are healthier. They live longer lives than those in the United States. Public polls show strong support for this bill.
Our challenge is overcoming the power of campaign contributions from our opponents who influence legislators. To support universal healthcare in California, support the San Francisco Green Party. Our solidarity stretches across state borders.
This is Kenjuan Congo, Jr. calling from a prison camp behind enemy lines. Thank you. All power to the people.
These commentaries are recorded by Prison Radio.
![Prison Radio is sharing an abbreviated version of a press release covering recent racist incidents at SCI Rockview in PA and the organizing to demand accountability. We are reaching out to people incarcerated at Rockview as well as recently transferred folks, inviting them to call, in hopes of hearing commentaries from them.
Benner Township, PA.-
On November 24th, 2023, imprisoned people at SCI Rockview found two nooses hanging in the CO’s office, displayed visibly for many prisoners to see. When the prisoners asked the staff why the nooses were hung, they were told it was a joke.
By December 4th, prisoners filed a grievance to document what they saw, noting that the hanging of the nooses was “unethical, racially motivated, hateful, [a] deliberate debasement of black inmates" and “unsafe for inmates, staff, [and] the whole prison in general.” In the grievance, they demanded that Sgt. Mosser and CO Richard be fired and investigated for a hate crime, and for CO Kirchner to get therapy. Captain Andrews, the head of security, denied the grievance.
The sergeant and COs are still working in the prison to this day, with no repercussions...
As of March 10th, prisoners have reached out to Pennsylvania officials at the Dept. of Corrections in a letter campaign, sending 100 copies of the grievance. Copies of the letter also were mailed to Governor Shapiro, Senator Fetterman, Senator Street, and various advocacy groups. The demands for relief in the original grievance have now become the platform of demands for this campaign. About 20 of the 100 letters were withheld by the prison.
Activists on the outside are joining forces with prisoners to elevate their demands, flooding the phone lines of DOC offices, assisting with outreach to media, and circulating the stories of prisoners who have found unity in opposition to the facility's virulent institutional racism.
In any other workplace, hanging a noose would be grounds for immediate termination. However, Nicki Paul, the superintendent's assistant and "grievance coordinator" informed the public that they self-investigated their staff and found they did nothing wrong.
Read the full article at i
https://conta.cc/4ayDxlB](https://www.prisonradio.org/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)