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CCWP History | ||
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Charisse Shumate: Fighting for Our Lives Charisse Shumate – Fighting for Our Lives A Video Production This 37-minute video was created in collaboration with the Freedom Archives and focuses on the life of Charisse Shumate and women in California State prisons. It includes amazing prison interviews as well as materials from State Senate hearings on conditions for women in the California State Prison System and historical video footage of Charisse and her family. Charisse Shumate, a role model for so many women, inside the walls as well as outside, died on August 4, 2001. Charisse was a founding member of the California Coalition for Women Prisoners (CCWP) and wrote regularly for The Fire Inside, the CCWP newsletter. Charisse had sickle cell anemia and hepatitis C as well as cancer. But even during the last year of her life, she struggled for the rights of all prisoners for decent medical care. She testified at Senator Polanco's committee hearings on conditions of confinement for women prisoners that were held at Valley State Prison for Women and California Institution for Women in October 2000. At those hearings, Charisse spoke eloquently about the realities of life for so many women prisoners - the agony of separation from children and family members, the fear of sexual assault by prison employees, and the pain of seeing other women dying from medical neglect. She talked about the importance of solidarity among prisoners and about the loneliness of knowing that she would probably die in prison without ever seeing her son. Charisse was the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit named after her – Shumate v. Wilson – which stated that the medical care for women prisoners in California was so bad that it amounted to cruel and unusual punishment and, therefore, was unconstitutional. She was the best possible lead plaintiff because she was fearless in speaking out for all women, regardless of why they were in prison or who they may have been before their incarceration. She was able to gain the respect of virtually every prisoner and even many staff members because she consistently spoke the truth and always spoke from her heart. Charisse had something to say to everyone. She was a tireless fighter for the human rights of women in prison. To the prison system, she was a nemesis, a constant reminder that she held them accountable for the suffering they were causing through medical neglect, callousness or outright brutality. To other prisoners, she was and continues to be an inspiration, encouraging everyone to look in themselves to find their own humanity and strength in their relationships with each other. To many activists outside she was the center-point for support for women prisoners.The world is a sadder place without her, but her legacy to us is to ensure that the fire will continue in all of us for a new humanity. For more information about the video or to order, visit the Freedom Archives website at http://www.freedomarchives.org/Charisse.html To watch the video click the following link: http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/videodir/asx2/d8457.asx (best for Windows PC users).  | |
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