1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:02,840 Speaker 1: Dear Governor is a production of I Heeart Media and 2 00:00:02,920 --> 00:00:10,960 Speaker 1: three Months Media Jarvis Masters. It is the judgment and 3 00:00:11,080 --> 00:00:15,960 Speaker 1: sentence of this Court that the charged information was true. 4 00:00:17,160 --> 00:00:20,000 Speaker 1: There are innocent people on death row. It is the 5 00:00:20,160 --> 00:00:24,320 Speaker 1: order of this court that you suffered death innocent people. 6 00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:27,480 Speaker 1: Change his minds. It has in every state. You will 7 00:00:27,520 --> 00:00:29,760 Speaker 1: probably see that change. The death penalty is because they 8 00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:33,360 Speaker 1: found too many innocent people of death row said penalty 9 00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:37,560 Speaker 1: to be inflicted within the walls of sam Quentin. They 10 00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:40,320 Speaker 1: said that I sharpened the weapon and sent it down 11 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:44,680 Speaker 1: to the guy who then made it into a toll 12 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:49,479 Speaker 1: and spirit to guard, at which point you shall be 13 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:52,520 Speaker 1: put to death. The reason why I end up in 14 00:00:52,560 --> 00:00:56,840 Speaker 1: death row is because I didn't try to defend myself. 15 00:00:57,600 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 1: You are remanded to the custody of the Warden of 16 00:01:00,040 --> 00:01:03,680 Speaker 1: sam Quentin. Beyond the racial part. Who gets death and 17 00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:07,720 Speaker 1: who doesn't is, as was called by the Supreme Court 18 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:11,240 Speaker 1: back in the Samities, a strike of lightning. I thought 19 00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:14,160 Speaker 1: that these guys are in trouble, not me. There was 20 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:17,119 Speaker 1: so much evidence that was kept from us that if 21 00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:19,600 Speaker 1: he were tried now you know, they'd get an acquipbal. 22 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:23,600 Speaker 1: I wish they would have found that weapon, because that 23 00:01:23,880 --> 00:01:28,280 Speaker 1: weapon would have been my way out of here. I 24 00:01:28,360 --> 00:01:30,720 Speaker 1: really believe that they found that weapon, I would have 25 00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:32,880 Speaker 1: not been charged from her. He should not be on 26 00:01:32,959 --> 00:01:35,679 Speaker 1: death row. He shouldn't be in prison actually for this crime. 27 00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:38,880 Speaker 1: It's really a tragedy. It's really unfair. No one knows 28 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:42,720 Speaker 1: how long the day is. I've fucking with someone that 29 00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:46,520 Speaker 1: doesn't know what a day feels like. Innocent on death row. 30 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:50,400 Speaker 1: They have no idea. May God have mercy on your soul. 31 00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:54,600 Speaker 1: God have mercy on your soul. Imagine, through a series 32 00:01:54,640 --> 00:01:58,480 Speaker 1: of random coincidences and professional ties, you're introduced to a 33 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:02,560 Speaker 1: renowned author who's as respected as he is beloved. His 34 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:06,200 Speaker 1: award winning essays have garnered international acclaim as a speak 35 00:02:06,280 --> 00:02:09,120 Speaker 1: to the heart of the human condition, love and devotion. 36 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:12,760 Speaker 1: His books are recommended reading in many high schools across 37 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:15,160 Speaker 1: the country, the students of which consider him to be 38 00:02:15,240 --> 00:02:18,400 Speaker 1: their mentor. This is a man of deep faith and 39 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:21,400 Speaker 1: conviction who, decades ago, took the Buddhist vow to do 40 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:25,440 Speaker 1: no harm one step further, he vowed to do everything 41 00:02:25,520 --> 00:02:28,840 Speaker 1: in his power to alleviate the suffering of others. All 42 00:02:28,880 --> 00:02:31,040 Speaker 1: of this despite the fact that he was a victim 43 00:02:31,080 --> 00:02:35,079 Speaker 1: of deeply flawed foster care system growing up in Long Beach, 44 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:37,960 Speaker 1: California ghettos in the sixties and seventies. The abuse he 45 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:41,040 Speaker 1: endured at the hands of multiple foster parents is all 46 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:44,880 Speaker 1: but unspeakable. Born to a heroin addicted mother and a 47 00:02:44,919 --> 00:02:48,400 Speaker 1: brutally violent father, It's difficult to fathom how any human 48 00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:51,799 Speaker 1: would have the strength to overcome the kind of generational 49 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:56,720 Speaker 1: abuse that destroys lives, families, and entire communities. Others have 50 00:02:56,800 --> 00:02:59,400 Speaker 1: been broken by a fraction of the horrors perpetrated on 51 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:03,440 Speaker 1: this man, but he has somehow managed to find joy, hope, 52 00:03:03,520 --> 00:03:08,200 Speaker 1: and even optimism through it all. Now imagine this paragon 53 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:11,960 Speaker 1: of compassion who has been lauded by luminaries from Archbishop 54 00:03:12,040 --> 00:03:15,800 Speaker 1: Desmond Tutu to Buddhist teacher Pema children and for whom 55 00:03:15,880 --> 00:03:19,239 Speaker 1: theater troops have written stage plays, and realized that he 56 00:03:19,280 --> 00:03:22,280 Speaker 1: has been languishing on San Quentin's death row for over 57 00:03:22,400 --> 00:03:26,800 Speaker 1: thirty years. His name is Jarvis J. Masters and it 58 00:03:26,919 --> 00:03:30,079 Speaker 1: was by way of professional happenstance that our paths crossed. 59 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:34,000 Speaker 1: My name is Cornicole. I'm a television and radio producer 60 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:37,040 Speaker 1: by lottery of birth. I grew up not twenty miles 61 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:40,080 Speaker 1: from Jarvis, in a tony all white Republican enclave that 62 00:03:40,240 --> 00:03:43,520 Speaker 1: is North Tuston. My parents picked this town because the 63 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:46,040 Speaker 1: neighborhood was safe in the public schools were some of 64 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:50,000 Speaker 1: the best in the state. Prior to meeting Jarvis, I 65 00:03:50,040 --> 00:03:52,800 Speaker 1: hadn't had much occasion to think about the death penalty. 66 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:56,040 Speaker 1: Why would I. I never knew anyone who was in prison, 67 00:03:56,200 --> 00:03:59,520 Speaker 1: much less a condemned prisoner. I, like my father and 68 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:03,160 Speaker 1: his father before him, believe the death penalty was fair, effective, 69 00:04:03,240 --> 00:04:06,680 Speaker 1: cost efficient way to rid society of the dredges of humanity, 70 00:04:06,920 --> 00:04:09,960 Speaker 1: and never examined this conviction. I never had reason to. 71 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:14,960 Speaker 1: In getting to know Jarvis, reading his extensive body of work, 72 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:17,800 Speaker 1: talking for endless hours on the phone, I have been 73 00:04:17,839 --> 00:04:20,240 Speaker 1: forced to look within and question what I held to 74 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:24,520 Speaker 1: be true for so long. On this podcast, myself, along 75 00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:27,600 Speaker 1: with the community of his supporters, want to introduce you 76 00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:30,200 Speaker 1: and the Governor of California to the man who is 77 00:04:30,279 --> 00:04:33,159 Speaker 1: Jarvis Masters. For one, we believe you will be a 78 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:36,200 Speaker 1: better person for knowing him, And for two, as we 79 00:04:36,279 --> 00:04:40,360 Speaker 1: close in on the presidential elections, hopefully his story can 80 00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:43,000 Speaker 1: be an impetus for some to explore their own surface 81 00:04:43,080 --> 00:04:46,560 Speaker 1: level convictions and did deeper to understand why they believe 82 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:49,320 Speaker 1: what they believe and in turn make their vote all 83 00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:52,400 Speaker 1: that much more vital. While everyone seems to agree that 84 00:04:52,440 --> 00:04:55,479 Speaker 1: the criminal justice system is in dire need of reform, 85 00:04:55,720 --> 00:05:00,359 Speaker 1: capital punishment is the ultimate wedge issue, controversial and polar rising. 86 00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:03,400 Speaker 1: It's about politics, it's about morality, and it splits our 87 00:05:03,400 --> 00:05:06,920 Speaker 1: electorate almost down the middle. Despite the fact that US 88 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:10,040 Speaker 1: opposition to the death penalty is at its highest in decades, 89 00:05:10,320 --> 00:05:13,560 Speaker 1: President Trump doubled down on his pro death penalty advocacy 90 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:17,960 Speaker 1: by expanding the practice. A g Bill Bar now announcing 91 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:20,960 Speaker 1: the federal government will resume capital punishment first time since 92 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:24,280 Speaker 1: two thousand three, bar directing prison officials to schedule the 93 00:05:24,279 --> 00:05:27,240 Speaker 1: executions of five death row inmates. There will be a 94 00:05:27,279 --> 00:05:32,320 Speaker 1: strict timetable for judicial proceedings that will allow the imposition 95 00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:35,680 Speaker 1: of the death sentence without undue to lay. In response 96 00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:38,279 Speaker 1: to this edict, a group of a hundred and seventy 97 00:05:38,279 --> 00:05:41,000 Speaker 1: five family members of people murdered wrote a letter to 98 00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:44,440 Speaker 1: a g Bar imploring him to change his mind. They 99 00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:48,240 Speaker 1: wrote that the death penalty exacerbates the trauma of losing 100 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:51,919 Speaker 1: a loved one and creates yet another grieving family. It 101 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:54,920 Speaker 1: also wastes many millions of dollars that could be better 102 00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:58,520 Speaker 1: invested in programs that actually reduce crime and violence and 103 00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:02,360 Speaker 1: that address the needs of families like ours. Also in 104 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:05,960 Speaker 1: response to Bar's pronouncement, Joe Biden, a longtime supporter of 105 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:09,120 Speaker 1: the death penalty, tweeted, because we can't ensure that we 106 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:12,599 Speaker 1: get these cases right every time, we must eliminate the 107 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:16,080 Speaker 1: death penalty. President Trump's d o J has not only 108 00:06:16,120 --> 00:06:19,040 Speaker 1: reinstated the death penalty, but if he has his way, 109 00:06:19,240 --> 00:06:22,360 Speaker 1: drug dealers will be put to death right alongside murderers. 110 00:06:22,640 --> 00:06:26,120 Speaker 1: And China they have a very, very tough penalty for drugs. 111 00:06:26,120 --> 00:06:29,479 Speaker 1: It's called the death penalty. And I said to President Sheets, 112 00:06:29,480 --> 00:06:32,160 Speaker 1: so you have one point four billion people and you 113 00:06:32,200 --> 00:06:34,919 Speaker 1: don't have a drug problem. I said, what do you 114 00:06:34,960 --> 00:06:40,120 Speaker 1: attribute that to death penalty? Quick trial? Following this zealous 115 00:06:40,160 --> 00:06:45,720 Speaker 1: defensive capital punishment, Massachusetts Congresswoman Ayana Pressley unveiled House Resolution 116 00:06:45,960 --> 00:06:50,480 Speaker 1: four zero five to, also known as the People's Justice Guarantee. 117 00:06:50,839 --> 00:06:54,320 Speaker 1: It would quote prohibit the imposition of the death penalty 118 00:06:54,400 --> 00:06:57,680 Speaker 1: for any violation of federal law and for other purposes. 119 00:06:58,080 --> 00:07:02,480 Speaker 1: Of the approximately thirty cosponts or Michigan Representative Justin Amash 120 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:05,640 Speaker 1: is the only non Democrat who signed on. From an 121 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:09,120 Speaker 1: ABC News interview, sister Helen pru John, author of dead 122 00:07:09,160 --> 00:07:12,200 Speaker 1: Man Walking In an outspoken opponent of the death penalty. 123 00:07:12,520 --> 00:07:17,600 Speaker 1: This is the first presidential campaign where you have well most, 124 00:07:17,680 --> 00:07:20,520 Speaker 1: if not all, of the Democratic candidates calling for an 125 00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:22,760 Speaker 1: end to the death penalty. We've never had as a 126 00:07:22,880 --> 00:07:26,760 Speaker 1: venture candidate before, even Obama. There's a huge shift happening 127 00:07:26,760 --> 00:07:29,320 Speaker 1: in the country about the death penalty. It was only 128 00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:32,360 Speaker 1: his reason It's sixteen that the Democrats formally opposed the 129 00:07:32,400 --> 00:07:36,040 Speaker 1: death penalty in its party platform. But if politics isn't 130 00:07:36,080 --> 00:07:38,280 Speaker 1: the arbiter of what's important at this moment in time, 131 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:42,320 Speaker 1: look no further than Hollywood and popular culture. Kim Kardashian 132 00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:45,640 Speaker 1: has become an outspoken advocate for the condemned after realizing 133 00:07:45,720 --> 00:07:49,240 Speaker 1: just how broken the system is, and earlier this year, 134 00:07:49,280 --> 00:07:52,360 Speaker 1: the film Just Mercy, starring Michael B. Jordan and Jamie 135 00:07:52,360 --> 00:07:55,560 Speaker 1: Fox was released. It follows the true story of attorney 136 00:07:55,560 --> 00:07:58,600 Speaker 1: Brian Stevenson, who made it his life's mission to fight 137 00:07:58,680 --> 00:08:02,880 Speaker 1: for the wrongfully condemned. You only know what you enter 138 00:08:02,920 --> 00:08:07,640 Speaker 1: down here in Alabama from the moment you're ball. Earlier 139 00:08:07,640 --> 00:08:11,200 Speaker 1: in the year, movie director Edwards Wick released Trial by Fire, 140 00:08:11,320 --> 00:08:14,760 Speaker 1: starring Laura Dern. It tells the true story of Cameron 141 00:08:14,800 --> 00:08:18,560 Speaker 1: Todd Willingham, who was executed in Texas for allegedly killing 142 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:22,720 Speaker 1: his three daughters after scientific evidence and expert testimony that 143 00:08:22,840 --> 00:08:26,920 Speaker 1: bolstered his claims of innocence were suppressed. You are guilty 144 00:08:27,080 --> 00:08:30,400 Speaker 1: of capital murder by order of the State of Texas. 145 00:08:30,720 --> 00:08:34,439 Speaker 1: You are sentenced to death. Oprah Winfrey's recent book club 146 00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:38,520 Speaker 1: pick was Anthony ray Hinton's memoir The Sun Does Shine. 147 00:08:38,760 --> 00:08:42,160 Speaker 1: How I found life and freedom on death Row after 148 00:08:42,200 --> 00:08:50,840 Speaker 1: a case of mistaken identity sent him there. On March 149 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:53,960 Speaker 1: thirteenth of this year, Governor Gavin Newsom held a press 150 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:56,960 Speaker 1: conference in which he announced that death penalty executions in 151 00:08:57,000 --> 00:09:00,360 Speaker 1: California would be halted under his administration and during his 152 00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:03,040 Speaker 1: time in office. It was a National Academy of Science 153 00:09:03,040 --> 00:09:05,320 Speaker 1: report that came out that estimates one out of every 154 00:09:05,320 --> 00:09:07,600 Speaker 1: twenty five people on death row is innocent. If that's 155 00:09:07,600 --> 00:09:12,200 Speaker 1: the case, that means if we move forward, executing seven 156 00:09:12,640 --> 00:09:15,920 Speaker 1: thirty seven people in California, we will have executed roughly 157 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:20,520 Speaker 1: thirty people that are innocent in that same pressure. Governor 158 00:09:20,600 --> 00:09:24,079 Speaker 1: Newsom made a call to our better angels because he said, 159 00:09:24,280 --> 00:09:26,840 Speaker 1: when you know better, you do better. There are innocent 160 00:09:26,880 --> 00:09:31,680 Speaker 1: people on death row. I cannot sign off on executing 161 00:09:32,400 --> 00:09:37,480 Speaker 1: hundreds and hundreds of human beings knowing knowing that among 162 00:09:37,600 --> 00:09:43,520 Speaker 1: them will be innocent human beings. My name is Jarvis Masters. 163 00:09:43,960 --> 00:09:47,400 Speaker 1: I have been an inmate at Quentin Institute for a 164 00:09:47,640 --> 00:09:54,680 Speaker 1: most thirty years. Forty years. Cool ships has a long time. 165 00:09:56,360 --> 00:09:58,880 Speaker 1: Sometimes you just want to let that self go right, 166 00:09:58,960 --> 00:10:01,440 Speaker 1: and you want to keep the low. You know, you 167 00:10:01,480 --> 00:10:04,559 Speaker 1: want to like you know, you don't want you know 168 00:10:04,600 --> 00:10:07,240 Speaker 1: what it is, you just say something different all the day. 169 00:10:07,920 --> 00:10:11,240 Speaker 1: I have been an inmate at San Quentin Prison for 170 00:10:11,440 --> 00:10:15,840 Speaker 1: almost fourteen years. I am certainly guilty of the crimes 171 00:10:15,880 --> 00:10:19,160 Speaker 1: that brought me here, and I owe the mistakes I made, 172 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:22,440 Speaker 1: and I've paid my dues, but I'm not guilty of 173 00:10:22,520 --> 00:10:25,520 Speaker 1: the crime that put me here on death row for 174 00:10:25,559 --> 00:10:28,920 Speaker 1: the last thirty years. I hope you take time to 175 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:31,920 Speaker 1: listen to my story, and I hope you have the 176 00:10:32,080 --> 00:10:37,280 Speaker 1: heart to recognize the unjust reality of capital punishment, so 177 00:10:37,440 --> 00:10:40,240 Speaker 1: many guilty mans have to be put to death to 178 00:10:40,440 --> 00:10:48,320 Speaker 1: justify the execution of one innocent man. Dear Governor Newsom, 179 00:10:48,480 --> 00:10:52,240 Speaker 1: do you, Mr Governor Newsom? This is an open letter 180 00:10:52,280 --> 00:10:57,480 Speaker 1: to Governor Gavin Newsom. Dear Governor Newsom, myself, along with 181 00:10:57,520 --> 00:11:00,360 Speaker 1: a group of your constituents, wants to introduce you to 182 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:03,520 Speaker 1: an exceptional human being, one of the seven hundred and 183 00:11:03,600 --> 00:11:08,640 Speaker 1: thirty seven souls currently on California's death rows lost my 184 00:11:08,720 --> 00:11:12,240 Speaker 1: dear mind. I know, I think I'm most provider something 185 00:11:12,320 --> 00:11:16,000 Speaker 1: or someone can survive so long, long long I think 186 00:11:16,120 --> 00:11:21,480 Speaker 1: that I am. I'm lucky. Our group spans the political spectrum. 187 00:11:21,520 --> 00:11:24,959 Speaker 1: Some are pro death penalty, while others are outspoken advocates 188 00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:28,320 Speaker 1: for the abolition of the death penalty the California State 189 00:11:28,400 --> 00:11:33,280 Speaker 1: programce san Quentin, California, Jo, You're lucky. You don't like 190 00:11:33,400 --> 00:11:35,520 Speaker 1: to say that, because I'm in a place where you know, 191 00:11:35,600 --> 00:11:37,880 Speaker 1: how How the hell can you be lucky on death 192 00:11:37,920 --> 00:11:40,880 Speaker 1: row liminar and nine right four so for forty years? 193 00:11:40,920 --> 00:11:43,600 Speaker 1: How how do you make sense out of that? You know, 194 00:11:44,679 --> 00:11:47,080 Speaker 1: this is the story of one man, but this is 195 00:11:47,080 --> 00:11:52,000 Speaker 1: not one man's story. I am so lucky that I 196 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:55,480 Speaker 1: have my spanity. I have people to motivate me, to 197 00:11:55,600 --> 00:11:59,600 Speaker 1: keep me going. That's that's that's how no that you know, 198 00:11:59,640 --> 00:12:02,719 Speaker 1: I'm in a good place. I mean inside internally, I'm 199 00:12:02,760 --> 00:12:05,920 Speaker 1: in a really really good place. A man who found 200 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:09,400 Speaker 1: grace in an unjust system, a system so broken that 201 00:12:09,520 --> 00:12:13,240 Speaker 1: justice is not color blind nor free from social bias. 202 00:12:13,240 --> 00:12:16,200 Speaker 1: So many things in my life I'm thankful for, you know, 203 00:12:16,240 --> 00:12:19,120 Speaker 1: and I think what happens to me accorded that when 204 00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:23,120 Speaker 1: you learn how to start thinking thanking people for for 205 00:12:23,240 --> 00:12:27,360 Speaker 1: the person you make yourself to be are, You're just 206 00:12:27,559 --> 00:12:30,240 Speaker 1: you're just full of you, humble yourself in front of 207 00:12:30,280 --> 00:12:33,280 Speaker 1: people who you know that's doing things for you in 208 00:12:33,360 --> 00:12:38,080 Speaker 1: ways where you can't help or feel thankful, you know, 209 00:12:38,160 --> 00:12:40,920 Speaker 1: because you come from a place where these things never happened, 210 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:43,920 Speaker 1: and to see them happening, it's like, you know, it's 211 00:12:43,960 --> 00:12:46,800 Speaker 1: one of those whiles, you know. So yeah, I think 212 00:12:46,840 --> 00:12:49,359 Speaker 1: about a lot of people who helped me along the way. 213 00:12:49,480 --> 00:12:52,360 Speaker 1: Soon after the pandemic brought our world to a screeching halt, 214 00:12:52,559 --> 00:12:55,200 Speaker 1: Jarvis reached out to me to share how dramatically things 215 00:12:55,240 --> 00:12:57,400 Speaker 1: have changed for him and his buddies on the East Block. 216 00:12:57,840 --> 00:13:00,760 Speaker 1: San Quentin thus far has remained relative of the infection 217 00:13:00,840 --> 00:13:03,040 Speaker 1: free when you compare it to other prisons from across 218 00:13:03,080 --> 00:13:06,679 Speaker 1: the country, because social distancing in jails and prisons is 219 00:13:06,720 --> 00:13:11,600 Speaker 1: all but impossible and sanitizers forbidden, infection rates are exponentially 220 00:13:11,679 --> 00:13:14,000 Speaker 1: higher than that of the general public. The New York 221 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:17,480 Speaker 1: Times aptly labeled jails is the petree dishes for the virus. 222 00:13:18,720 --> 00:13:21,120 Speaker 1: What's it like in there? Like, on the outside, it's 223 00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:24,840 Speaker 1: been crazy out here. It feels completely dystopian, all sorts 224 00:13:24,880 --> 00:13:28,880 Speaker 1: of shutdowns and nobody's going to work and everybody's staying 225 00:13:28,920 --> 00:13:31,200 Speaker 1: at home in the streets are empty. So what does 226 00:13:31,280 --> 00:13:34,920 Speaker 1: it feel like on the inside? From my fancis point, 227 00:13:35,080 --> 00:13:38,240 Speaker 1: is like all being done up there. I mean, it's 228 00:13:38,240 --> 00:13:41,880 Speaker 1: a real SII Fi movie. If you look out there, 229 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:46,360 Speaker 1: you see people and their reactions to this disease. It 230 00:13:46,559 --> 00:13:49,400 Speaker 1: is really really scary, you know, and we all think 231 00:13:49,440 --> 00:13:53,520 Speaker 1: about our families and for instance, loved ones, and just 232 00:13:53,679 --> 00:13:58,640 Speaker 1: like everyone else would. What is the biggest story is 233 00:13:58,720 --> 00:14:02,160 Speaker 1: that at any time so it's sick, instead of putting 234 00:14:02,160 --> 00:14:05,840 Speaker 1: them in the hospital, they put them in solitary confinement 235 00:14:06,600 --> 00:14:09,599 Speaker 1: the whole And for someone to say I got a 236 00:14:09,640 --> 00:14:12,800 Speaker 1: fever and I'm not filling. Will say they're gonna put 237 00:14:12,840 --> 00:14:15,560 Speaker 1: you there. I guess not to me. People canna raise 238 00:14:15,640 --> 00:14:18,080 Speaker 1: their head when they are honest sick, they're not going 239 00:14:18,120 --> 00:14:22,120 Speaker 1: to do it. So there is no real serious motive 240 00:14:22,200 --> 00:14:24,760 Speaker 1: to raise your hand when you're really, really sick. Are 241 00:14:24,760 --> 00:14:26,600 Speaker 1: you gonna do it? You know, say, okay, I'm sick. 242 00:14:26,720 --> 00:14:29,920 Speaker 1: Listen me to the whole where I could barely breathe 243 00:14:30,160 --> 00:14:33,040 Speaker 1: and no one ever see me. No, I'm not going 244 00:14:33,120 --> 00:14:36,000 Speaker 1: to be putting isolation from fine where I cannot use 245 00:14:36,080 --> 00:14:39,520 Speaker 1: the phone. Well, I can't inform my family how I'm 246 00:14:39,560 --> 00:14:42,800 Speaker 1: doing or find out what they're up to. That's a bad, 247 00:14:42,880 --> 00:14:46,320 Speaker 1: bad plan that quldn't half of this problem. Is there 248 00:14:46,360 --> 00:14:49,080 Speaker 1: any testing that's being done to them and they just 249 00:14:49,120 --> 00:14:51,440 Speaker 1: get sent down to the hole? No, there's no chest 250 00:14:51,560 --> 00:14:54,920 Speaker 1: kits here. You've got a temperature in that temperatures stayed 251 00:14:54,960 --> 00:14:56,840 Speaker 1: at the high level for a couple of days, and 252 00:14:56,840 --> 00:15:00,240 Speaker 1: they don't you and hope there's guy's coughing all around 253 00:15:00,360 --> 00:15:04,280 Speaker 1: because it's the flu season. You can't really determine put 254 00:15:04,320 --> 00:15:08,200 Speaker 1: that cost actually means. I know that yesterday a guy 255 00:15:08,280 --> 00:15:11,960 Speaker 1: went to the whole because he had a high fever. 256 00:15:12,440 --> 00:15:14,840 Speaker 1: So that's how that goes. But other than that, everyone's 257 00:15:14,840 --> 00:15:18,040 Speaker 1: watching TV, and everyone's watching the news, and everyone's listening 258 00:15:18,080 --> 00:15:22,320 Speaker 1: to the radio, and everyone doesn't understand what Trump does. 259 00:15:22,520 --> 00:15:25,320 Speaker 1: But this is the West Coast, this is California. But 260 00:15:25,880 --> 00:15:28,120 Speaker 1: I think a lot of people don't see him as 261 00:15:28,160 --> 00:15:31,720 Speaker 1: being in control of this. They see local government's being 262 00:15:31,720 --> 00:15:35,080 Speaker 1: more in control of it. For me, I follow the money. 263 00:15:35,400 --> 00:15:37,880 Speaker 1: The money would kill me. How seriously, everything he is 264 00:15:37,880 --> 00:15:41,280 Speaker 1: out there, stop mons crash. There's a serious problem. When 265 00:15:41,280 --> 00:15:44,280 Speaker 1: they lose in eight nine, ten trillion dollars. A think 266 00:15:44,480 --> 00:15:48,160 Speaker 1: that's a serious problem. Anything that generates money, if it's 267 00:15:48,160 --> 00:15:52,720 Speaker 1: shut down, it tells me it is a serious problem. 268 00:15:53,160 --> 00:15:55,800 Speaker 1: But one gives me more anything is when people say 269 00:15:55,800 --> 00:15:58,200 Speaker 1: to me Jovers, you know, I understand what it feels 270 00:15:58,200 --> 00:16:00,920 Speaker 1: like to be in prison now. And I say really, 271 00:16:01,320 --> 00:16:04,680 Speaker 1: I mean, all right, I get it. I get that. 272 00:16:05,960 --> 00:16:10,280 Speaker 1: I get that, I get that. Okay, I don't even 273 00:16:10,280 --> 00:16:12,800 Speaker 1: want to burst the bubble, you know, I just let 274 00:16:12,840 --> 00:16:15,600 Speaker 1: them feel that. You know, when I'm on the phone, 275 00:16:15,640 --> 00:16:18,720 Speaker 1: a lot of people are it's very sympathetic to me 276 00:16:18,880 --> 00:16:22,360 Speaker 1: being locked up, based on there are three weeks out 277 00:16:22,400 --> 00:16:26,640 Speaker 1: of work, and at home with their spouse that much 278 00:16:26,640 --> 00:16:30,280 Speaker 1: to be a lot. But if they're fineess in that 279 00:16:30,520 --> 00:16:36,600 Speaker 1: place of confinement. Really it is true that they feel 280 00:16:36,800 --> 00:16:39,960 Speaker 1: locked up. They can't go outside for their walks, and 281 00:16:40,080 --> 00:16:42,320 Speaker 1: when they can't do the things they normally would do, 282 00:16:42,680 --> 00:16:46,280 Speaker 1: to suddenly test that off is a real problem. I 283 00:16:46,400 --> 00:16:48,480 Speaker 1: can sort of get it in one way, you know, 284 00:16:48,520 --> 00:16:50,960 Speaker 1: I can get it, because you cut off from the 285 00:16:51,080 --> 00:16:55,560 Speaker 1: routine of life and you will feel crummy. You have 286 00:16:55,800 --> 00:16:58,920 Speaker 1: to even if you can pay for not working. You 287 00:16:59,120 --> 00:17:03,840 Speaker 1: to still see the National Guards homework down the street 288 00:17:03,920 --> 00:17:09,680 Speaker 1: passing me where you're going? That is really unusual. Guard 289 00:17:09,720 --> 00:17:12,320 Speaker 1: tells me all the time, where is you going? They 290 00:17:12,359 --> 00:17:14,639 Speaker 1: do not have a quicker response thank you? Do? You, 291 00:17:15,400 --> 00:17:17,840 Speaker 1: on the other hand, have a very hard time for 292 00:17:17,960 --> 00:17:21,520 Speaker 1: understanding it, you know, and you don't know where it's 293 00:17:21,560 --> 00:17:26,040 Speaker 1: coming from. Brif property, jobs, employment, the way the world 294 00:17:26,280 --> 00:17:29,679 Speaker 1: is is suddenly you can turn it upside down, and 295 00:17:30,080 --> 00:17:33,560 Speaker 1: I understand that up next. It's difficult enough for a 296 00:17:33,640 --> 00:17:36,639 Speaker 1: healthy adult mind to bear witness to this tragedy, but 297 00:17:36,760 --> 00:17:39,440 Speaker 1: imagine how much more terrifying it is for a death 298 00:17:39,520 --> 00:17:49,240 Speaker 1: row inmate who suffers from mental illness or schizophrenia. Another 299 00:17:49,280 --> 00:17:51,560 Speaker 1: thing I want to talk about was this is something 300 00:17:51,600 --> 00:17:54,840 Speaker 1: I'm starting to observe just because I look for things 301 00:17:54,840 --> 00:17:58,320 Speaker 1: to look at psychiatry. There's a lot of people for 302 00:17:58,800 --> 00:18:03,240 Speaker 1: death Roy. It isn't especially Thankwich who's taking psychmanty For 303 00:18:03,320 --> 00:18:08,520 Speaker 1: one reason, that is whether paranoia rather's anxiety. To have 304 00:18:08,760 --> 00:18:11,600 Speaker 1: this thing going on right here, if you're creating a 305 00:18:11,640 --> 00:18:15,879 Speaker 1: whole new different kind of fear, that fears be concentrated 306 00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:20,239 Speaker 1: five six gay times, it would be meeting you. So 307 00:18:20,320 --> 00:18:24,199 Speaker 1: you can take a guy who's chest anxiety problems, are 308 00:18:24,359 --> 00:18:28,320 Speaker 1: schizophrenic or whatever it is. You can really see the 309 00:18:28,440 --> 00:18:31,080 Speaker 1: difference at him. You really can't. I mean, this is 310 00:18:31,280 --> 00:18:35,200 Speaker 1: very clear, and it can only get worse. Because I'd 311 00:18:35,320 --> 00:18:38,159 Speaker 1: one guy, She's a good friend of mine. He says, 312 00:18:38,359 --> 00:18:40,280 Speaker 1: I don't think I could take three more weeks? Is 313 00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:44,720 Speaker 1: I cannot take three more weeks of this? And I'm 314 00:18:44,760 --> 00:18:49,720 Speaker 1: thinking one of the for the last fifteen years is 315 00:18:49,800 --> 00:18:52,359 Speaker 1: at the boiling point. Why did you tell him? I 316 00:18:52,480 --> 00:18:54,359 Speaker 1: just told him in either way, you don't know what 317 00:18:54,880 --> 00:18:58,000 Speaker 1: three weeks might feel like. You may become a chess player. 318 00:18:58,160 --> 00:19:00,600 Speaker 1: You don't know what some of you doing it three weeks. 319 00:19:01,240 --> 00:19:03,359 Speaker 1: I told him. Also but if you can't take it 320 00:19:03,400 --> 00:19:05,240 Speaker 1: to the point where I think you can't take it, 321 00:19:05,280 --> 00:19:08,440 Speaker 1: then you'll be going by your damn self, because I'm 322 00:19:08,480 --> 00:19:11,160 Speaker 1: not going with you. Man. He thought that was really 323 00:19:11,200 --> 00:19:14,879 Speaker 1: really funny and just trying it at him. Though. What 324 00:19:15,160 --> 00:19:18,600 Speaker 1: got me corny was this when he said, I don't 325 00:19:18,640 --> 00:19:21,680 Speaker 1: think I can take three more weeks of this had 326 00:19:21,800 --> 00:19:26,040 Speaker 1: told me a whole lot. It's almost like he's repeating 327 00:19:26,960 --> 00:19:30,800 Speaker 1: what he's watching. Yes, he takes it more serious than 328 00:19:30,880 --> 00:19:34,639 Speaker 1: the people he's looking at. Yeah, like he's feeling the 329 00:19:34,760 --> 00:19:40,240 Speaker 1: anxiety of the world through an exponential amount. Right. But 330 00:19:40,320 --> 00:19:43,040 Speaker 1: the problem is he's in the cell of death road 331 00:19:43,160 --> 00:19:46,600 Speaker 1: and there's already many readers to steel hopeless you can 332 00:19:46,720 --> 00:19:49,320 Speaker 1: cast some money and trying to figure out how can 333 00:19:49,359 --> 00:19:55,560 Speaker 1: you whole school your kids or whatever? His freed of doom. 334 00:19:55,720 --> 00:20:09,120 Speaker 1: They're just doomed, persisted by my arch is it broken? Sick? 335 00:20:09,320 --> 00:20:15,159 Speaker 1: I'm leaving silence, hartnesss plex me. I don't know me. 336 00:20:15,440 --> 00:20:22,000 Speaker 1: Can you help me, Dear Governor Newsome. My name is Samara. 337 00:20:23,240 --> 00:20:26,760 Speaker 1: I'm founder and artistic director of Truth Worker Theater Company, 338 00:20:27,160 --> 00:20:30,199 Speaker 1: where a social justice based hip hop theater company for 339 00:20:30,320 --> 00:20:34,679 Speaker 1: young people who are directly impacted by mass incarceration with 340 00:20:34,840 --> 00:20:38,359 Speaker 1: loved ones who are currently or formally incarcerated, and we 341 00:20:38,480 --> 00:20:48,720 Speaker 1: create original cutting edge theater can never tell me, incorporating 342 00:20:48,800 --> 00:20:53,560 Speaker 1: music and movement and dance and lyricism and testimony, creating 343 00:20:53,680 --> 00:20:58,359 Speaker 1: visions for change around the prison system and all of 344 00:20:58,359 --> 00:21:08,960 Speaker 1: its ricocheting impacts on our communities. Jervis, but there you are, Javis, 345 00:21:09,440 --> 00:21:13,800 Speaker 1: probably looking all over. I first met Jarvis over ten 346 00:21:13,880 --> 00:21:17,640 Speaker 1: years ago after I had survived a violent crime at 347 00:21:17,640 --> 00:21:20,439 Speaker 1: the hands of a young man who was now serving 348 00:21:20,520 --> 00:21:24,680 Speaker 1: multiple lifetimes in prison. This was not an easy thing 349 00:21:24,800 --> 00:21:30,399 Speaker 1: for me. Despite my survival and despite experiencing violence, I 350 00:21:30,480 --> 00:21:35,919 Speaker 1: still understand that hurt people hurt people, and prison is 351 00:21:35,960 --> 00:21:40,280 Speaker 1: not a solution to create healed communities that are accountable 352 00:21:40,320 --> 00:21:45,359 Speaker 1: to one another. Jarvis was family and dear friend and 353 00:21:45,440 --> 00:21:49,600 Speaker 1: mentor to one of my closest friends, and she put 354 00:21:49,680 --> 00:21:52,439 Speaker 1: us in contact with one another, knowing that I was 355 00:21:52,520 --> 00:21:58,439 Speaker 1: committed to really exploring healing and justice, and also that 356 00:21:58,480 --> 00:22:01,520 Speaker 1: I work in New York's at a public schools and 357 00:22:01,600 --> 00:22:07,679 Speaker 1: particularly in transfer schools that are specifically geared towards servicing 358 00:22:07,760 --> 00:22:12,680 Speaker 1: young people who are overaged and undercredited, which often means 359 00:22:12,720 --> 00:22:18,040 Speaker 1: gang affiliated, formally incarcerated, pregnant and parenting, or impacted by 360 00:22:18,080 --> 00:22:22,560 Speaker 1: foster care. Jarvis spending his boyhood in and out of 361 00:22:22,800 --> 00:22:26,399 Speaker 1: foster homes and being awarded the state from such a 362 00:22:26,480 --> 00:22:32,440 Speaker 1: young age, incarcerated while still a juvenile and unjustly sentenced 363 00:22:32,440 --> 00:22:37,440 Speaker 1: to death, then serving twenty three consecutive years in solidary confinement, 364 00:22:37,800 --> 00:22:41,520 Speaker 1: was committed to mentorship on his own path to liberation. 365 00:22:41,600 --> 00:22:45,840 Speaker 1: Despite confinement, Jarvis had made clear to my friend that 366 00:22:45,880 --> 00:22:49,920 Speaker 1: he wanted to be directly connected to other young people 367 00:22:50,000 --> 00:22:56,640 Speaker 1: who were navigating systems that perpetuated oppression, marginalization, and would 368 00:22:56,760 --> 00:23:02,159 Speaker 1: disproportionately targeting young black and brown people. God am I 369 00:23:02,240 --> 00:23:06,040 Speaker 1: forgiven for my sins. I'm gonna talk behind these walls 370 00:23:06,040 --> 00:23:09,800 Speaker 1: are night. I'm gonna be killed with something that I 371 00:23:09,800 --> 00:23:18,080 Speaker 1: didn't do. God have I forgiving foods usigerating? Do you 372 00:23:18,160 --> 00:23:20,680 Speaker 1: know how many people are on the outside faring for you? Love? 373 00:23:21,640 --> 00:23:25,800 Speaker 1: You may not be able to climb those walls. We're 374 00:23:25,960 --> 00:23:37,199 Speaker 1: gonna make it a disappear. Almost thirty years into his 375 00:23:37,280 --> 00:23:41,520 Speaker 1: death sentence, and Jarvis's habeas corpus oral arguments are finally 376 00:23:41,560 --> 00:23:44,360 Speaker 1: on the docket next week, as he anxiously awaits those 377 00:23:44,440 --> 00:23:47,960 Speaker 1: arguments before the California Supreme Court. Jarvis will share his 378 00:23:48,040 --> 00:23:51,840 Speaker 1: perspective on this untenable waiting game, and I'll report back 379 00:23:51,880 --> 00:23:55,159 Speaker 1: from the courthouse. This episode was written and produced by 380 00:23:55,200 --> 00:24:00,840 Speaker 1: Donna Fazzari and myself. Corny Cole Stu Sternbuck composed original music. 381 00:24:01,320 --> 00:24:05,280 Speaker 1: Nate Dufort did the sound design. Special thanks to Samara 382 00:24:05,320 --> 00:24:07,480 Speaker 1: Gayev and the cast and the crew at the Truth 383 00:24:07,520 --> 00:24:10,840 Speaker 1: Worker Theater Company, who provided us with clips and music 384 00:24:10,880 --> 00:24:14,240 Speaker 1: from their original hip hop musical Boxed In and Blacked 385 00:24:14,240 --> 00:24:17,760 Speaker 1: Out in America. Visit free Jarvis dot org to find 386 00:24:17,760 --> 00:24:20,280 Speaker 1: out more about Jarvis's case and to sign your name 387 00:24:20,320 --> 00:24:22,919 Speaker 1: to our dear Governor Newsom petition. And if you have 388 00:24:23,040 --> 00:24:26,119 Speaker 1: questions for Jarvis, please leave a message on our hotline 389 00:24:26,160 --> 00:24:30,520 Speaker 1: at two zero one nine zero three thirty five seventy five. 390 00:24:30,760 --> 00:24:34,840 Speaker 1: That's to zero one nine zero three thirty five seventy five. 391 00:24:35,440 --> 00:24:38,560 Speaker 1: For more podcasts from My Heart Radio, visit the I 392 00:24:38,760 --> 00:24:42,679 Speaker 1: Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to 393 00:24:42,760 --> 00:24:43,679 Speaker 1: your favorite shows.