EBC Continues to Expand RJA Access
The monumental California Racial Justice Act (RJA) allows people charged or convicted of a crime to challenge racial bias in their case Since helping pass the bill, EBC has continuously fought for its fair and thorough implementation by expanding access to legal resources to those on the inside. This year, EBC has provided RJA trainings for incarcerated persons at Pelican Bay and San Quentin, and in a first for EBC this May, we designed and presented the first RJA training at San Quentin in Spanish.
“The expansion of our organizing in this way feels very powerful,” says Simelia Rogers, program coordinator at the EBC “To walk into a room with almost 200 Spanish speakers where every seat in the room is taken and people are lined up against the wall – it's more powerful than I could have ever imagined. ”
For people on the inside, necessary legal information and services are typically only available in English, excluding monolingual non-English speakers and undermining the RJA’s intended impact This year, EBC has begun addressing this crucial gap in access by designing resources for native Spanish speakers. The success of the San Quentin presentation is a testament to the widespread demand for these services.
“It's pivotal to me that EBC models the kind of inclusion in our work that we would like to see from the legal system and our partners,” Rogers says By modeling this inclusion, EBC leads the way in fighting for top-to-bottom implementation of legislative successes
Photo by Aristeo Sampablo, SQNews
EBC Re-launches Membership Program
Thank you to all who joined this quarterly meeting! It was extremely moving to see folks come together to get involved and share their visions for community safety. For more information on how you can join us for updates, call-to-action reports, guest speakers, and group discussions, contact Tatiana at tatiana@ellabakercenter org
This May, EBC launched our revitalized membership program and welcomed our community into Restore Oakland to celebrate with us! Our refreshed program will offer more ways for members to engage with EBC programs and organizing opportunities.
Making History Fighting the Death Penalty
This April, alongside a coalition of renowned civil rights organizations, EBC filed as a petitioner in historic litigation before the Supreme Court of California – challenging the state’s death penalty statute as racially discriminatory. The petition highlights that Black and Brown Californians are more likely to be sentenced to death and how California’s capital punishment system has a history of being weaponized to harm people of color.
This is the first petition of this nature filed with the Supreme Court of California and it is EBC’s first time acting as a petitioner. “California’s racially biased death penalty continues to destroy Black and Brown communities,” says EBC Prison Advocacy Coordinator Morgan Zamora. “Even after Governor Newsom’s 2019 moratorium on executions, seventeen people 80% of whom are Black or Latiné have been sentenced to death Black and Brown Californians deserve for our state to live up to its values and take the necessary steps to finally end the death penalty.”
We are proud to stand up against the death penalty in solidarity with our co-petitioners and all who have been directly affected by this extreme sentence We will continue to fight for an end to capital punishment and for communities where everyone is free to thrive.
Working to End LWOP - SB 94 (Cortese)
Our team is working tirelessly to pass SB 94 (Cortese), a bill that would allow incarcerated people sentenced to life without parole (LWOP) before June 1990 to petition for a judicial review of their sentence – a critical step for advancing the ongoing efforts to dismantle extreme sentencing Taking the lead on EBC’s advocacy for SB 94 are 2024 Outside Policy Fellow Barbara Chavez, 2023 Inside Policy Fellow Alum Macio Lindsey, and 2022 Inside Policy Fellow Alum Dortell Williams.
“Having been sentenced to LWOP and serving over 20 years, I understand firsthand the profound impact of unjust sentencing practices,” Chavez says. “Passing SB 94 isn't just about reform; it's about restoring hope, dignity, and second chances to individuals who deserve a fair chance at redemption and rehabilitation."
For Chavez, one of the most meaningful aspects of her work on SB 94 are collaborations with Lindsey and Williams that have allowed the Fellows to bring their unique perspectives and experiences to their organizing work. SB 94 is currently waiting to be heard on the Assembly floor for a final vote.
Fight That bill! Report from Sacramento
This year, EBC’s Programs team has been hard at work in the California State Legislature promoting racial justice by lobbying for bills that promote racial equity
while fighting dangerous, tough-on-crime policies that further criminalize low-income communities of color. As we near the end of the legislative session, here is a recap of what our team has accomplished:
(61/92) of bills opposed by EBC failed
Our Priorities: Stop Prop 47 rollback Fight CA 3 strikes law Reduce criminalization of drug possession/sale
Upcoming Events!
Join us for Mail Night!
Join us Thursday, August 8th at 5:30pm for our Quarterly Virtual Mail Night! Help us reply to letters we receive from people inside prisons and jails. Save the date for our next Quarterly Virtual Mail Night on November 14th!
For questions or to RSVP, please email policy@ellabakercenter.org.
Freedom Fashion Faire
Join us on Saturday, September 28th from 2 to 4pm at Restore Oakland for EBC’s Freedom Fashion Faire clothing swap and
community closet event! Bring in gently used clothing others can enjoy and exchange them for new-to-you pieces!
For questions or to RSVP, please email barbara@ellabakercenter.org.
Celebrate Restore Oakland's 5th Anniversary!
We’re lifting up all our communities and supporters in thanks for five years at our home, the Restore Oakland building. Join us on Tuesday, October 1st from 5 to 7pm! We'll have free food, drinks, building tours, music, and a whole lot of celebration.
RVSP with the QR code. For more questions, please email matthew@ellabakercenter org