Support "Wakiesha's Law": Family Notification of Death in Custody or Life-Threatening Emergency Act
Alongside the office of Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager, Black Lives Matter Grassroots is continuing the fight for "Wakiesha's Law", the Family Notification of Death in Custody or Life-Threatening Emergency Act.
This bill is a common-sense measure that requires basic human decency. If a person dies, is seriously injured or becomes seriously ill, in-custody (in prison/jail/police custody), someone from the facility must notify the family within 24 hours.
Wakiesha's Law is named after Wakiesha Wilson, a 37-year-old Black mama who died while in custody. She was arrested on a petty charge, since her family could not afford to bail her out, they decided to wait until her court date for her release. When her mother, Lisa Hines, went to meet her daughter at the courthouse, she was nowhere to be found. Ms. Hines waited around thinking they were just running behind. When the day was almost over, her concerns about her daughter increased. Ms. Hines then asked a deputy who told her that Wakiesha's name was not on their transport list. Growing ever concerned, she rushed home and called the jail, where they gave her no answers. After four days and multiple calls, someone who answered the phone at the jail gave her a number and told her to call it. When she called the number, the voice on the other end answered by saying, "Coroner's Office". This is how a loving mother learned about the death of her only daughter.
Ms. Hines summoned her strength to fight not only for her daughter, but for all of us and Wakiesha's Law was born. It is in the name of Wakiesha Wilson and alongside her mother that we ask you, as a representative of an organization, to join in this fight, so no other family has to experience what Wakiesha's family did and what countless other families have endured.
Let's demonstrate to Congress that organizations and community back this bill, to encourage them to co-sponsor and pass this vital piece of legislation.
