April 30, 2020: New York, New York
Today, the Release Aging People in Prison Campaign, Parole Preparation
Project, #HALTsolitary Campaign, VOCAL-NY, Worth Rises, and Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club released the following statement in response to news of the first COVID19 death of an incarcerated woman and Governor Cuomo’s plans to release some pregnant woman from prison:
“The Governor’s refusal to grant any clemencies led to the first COVID death of an incarcerated woman in New York State prisons. Darlene “Lulu” Benson-Seay was effectively sentenced to death because the Governor didn’t care enough about her to protect her from this virus by releasing her.’