More than 200 people from across America met inside San Quentin State Prison for a (Restoring Our Original True Selves) ROOTS symposium exploring the best ways to stop mass incarceration and immigration injustices.
Proposed solutions included allowing rehabilitated men, who are first time offenders or committed their crimes while under 23 years old, have a chance to be released. Speakers also advocated against the school-to-prison-to-deportation pipeline.
The solutions were recommended by prisoners in the ROOTS program, who also spoke about cultural trauma passed from parents to children.
ROOTS is mainly a group of Asian and Pacific Islands inmates.
Delegates came from about 60 organizations including California state policy makers, community, labor and grant-funding organizations.
“I think we share a future together with the currently and formally incarcerated in California,” said Assemblyman Robert Bonta, D-Oakland.
“So we need to take the steps for a better future together. So how are we going to move forward together? I hope to have a hand in charting that path with other like-minded folks.”
San Francisco Supervisor Jane Kim said she is looking for a better solution than building more jail space. “I’m glad to come to San Quentin and hear from the men to see what I can do as a policy-maker,” said Kim.
Jim Oddie, an Alameda City Council member, also attended.
ROOTS members recommended Senate Bill 261 and the Second Chance Initiative for stemming mass incarceration.
“What SB 261 does is take into consideration a person’s age when committing a crime,” said ROOTS member Juan Meza. “Zero tolerance in the judicial system puts people away forever, no matter what age.”
“Our mentality changes (in prison) because we grow up. Juveniles try things adults won’t do. SB 261 will give an adult a chance to make the case that he can contribute to society,” said Meza.
Similarly, the Second Chance Initiative would give rehabilitated first-time offenders with lengthy sentences a chance to petition the court for release. (For more information about the Second Chance Initiative, go to: www.change.org/petitions/support-2nd-chance-initiative).
Assemblyman Bonta noted, “Our recidivism rates are way too high. If we do the same thing and the data is the same, then we are the ones as policy-makers who are making the mistake by not changing and adjusting.”
Inside organizer Phoeun You said, “I’m Cambodian-born and escaped during genocide (war),” said You. “My war-traumatized parents … were impacted by being displaced but didn’t show it… Look into the immigration laws; change them.”
Eddy Zheng, an organizer, opened the conference with these words: “When I see you, I see me, because you are a reflection of me.”
Prisoner John Wang said, “I read in the Chinese World Journal about how Eddy made positive changes to get out of prison and how he kept his word to help the community. He’s my role model now.”
Keynote speaker Uch spoke against deporting immigrants. He spent four years in a Washington state prison, then faced life in an immigration jail and potential deportation.
“You made poor choices, but you don’t deserve to be deported. You should have the choice to stay with your family,” Uch said.
Also speaking were ROOTS members Wilson Chen, Eusebio Gonzalez, Nick Lopez, Charlie Thao, Anouthinh Pangthong, Son Nguyen, Kamsan Soun, David Lee, Zitsue Lee and Syyen Hong.
“My culture helped shine light on a non-violent path in prison,” Chung Kao said while performing Tai Chi movements. “I was lost swimming in an ocean of inner conflict. Only focus, tenacity and faith have returned me to center, time and again.”
After hearing the men’s stories, Supervisor Kim said, “The level of blunt honesty is extraordinary.”
You commented, “Understanding the next person tears down the walls of racism. That’s why it’s important ROOTS be put in other institutions and schools. We’re not as different as we look. It’s important to understand what happened to our parents.”
Assemblyman Bonta stated, “I’m seeing the ROOTS program work up close and personal. Seeing the impact on some of the men puts them on a road to transformation and change and taking new and different steps. How can we reproduce this program? We need to take advantage of California Recidivism Reduction funds. Funds need to be spent on programs that work and that spur transformation, not on those that don’t.”
ROOTS member Philip Melendez closed with these words:
“Accountability is a driving force to make the changes in our lives. Once an offender truly realizes the harm that he caused, it is unlikely he will ever harm anyone again.
“What would have helped us to not to have committed our crimes – many of us agree: mentorship.
“We weren’t born armed and dangerous. Are we criminals, monsters or great people? I say we are human beings who made mistakes. The more lifers that go home, the more the crime will go down.
“If you have more rehabilitation, then you release better people back into society. All this can be done without compromising public safety.
“SB 261 and Second Chance are waiting in the wings to help chip at the problem.”
ROOTS sponsors Zheng, Ben Wang and Kasi Chakravartula helped organize the conference that continued the next day with a fundraising event and workshop.
“This was a collective effort of six API, Asian Pacific Islanders organization communities that are acknowledging there is a crisis in our community around incarceration and deportation,” said Chakravartula.
The other organizing groups were: Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, Asian Prisoner Support Committee, National Education Association and Southeast Asia Resource Action Center.
Delegates came to the June 26 event from Raleigh, NC, New Orleans, Philadelphia, New York City, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
“If you want policy to change, talk to your family members, educate people. Get them to vote. Things change from the ground up. I am going to talk to people about it because of what you educated me today,” said delegate Duc Ta.
Professor Roger Chung, a ROOTS sponsor, said of the workshop: “People who attended learned that we can transform the world, and this work cannot be done without including the folks inside.”
