1 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:07,000 Downloaded from YTS.MX 2 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:13,000 Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX 3 00:00:22,147 --> 00:00:25,400 Hello, this is a free call from 4 00:00:26,651 --> 00:00:28,235 an inmate at 5 00:00:28,319 --> 00:00:30,154 Denver Sheriff's Department County Jail. 6 00:00:30,238 --> 00:00:32,239 This call is subject to recording and monitoring. 7 00:00:32,323 --> 00:00:35,201 To accept this free call, press one. 8 00:00:35,285 --> 00:00:37,161 To refuse this free call-- 9 00:00:37,245 --> 00:00:40,665 - Hello? - Hi, this is Colorado Freedom Fund. How can I help you? 10 00:00:54,929 --> 00:00:56,973 Uh, Mr. McGee, I'm sorry to hear all that. 11 00:00:57,057 --> 00:00:58,516 How much is your bond? 12 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:04,272 Do you have a caseworker there at the jail 13 00:01:04,356 --> 00:01:06,107 who's helping you or a social worker? 14 00:01:38,515 --> 00:01:40,183 Hey, good morning. 15 00:01:41,059 --> 00:01:43,644 You said you might have someone from the Jefferson County Jail? 16 00:01:50,819 --> 00:01:52,112 Okay. 17 00:01:54,739 --> 00:01:58,159 Okay, so that's gonna be four for Denver, 18 00:01:58,243 --> 00:02:02,163 one for El Paso with a-- with possibly one more? 19 00:02:02,247 --> 00:02:04,457 - Yeah. - One for Arapahoe, 20 00:02:04,541 --> 00:02:06,667 and one for Jefferson County? Okay. 21 00:02:10,714 --> 00:02:13,090 I literally have two letters from her 22 00:02:13,174 --> 00:02:16,260 sitting in my hand right now from the Denver jail. 23 00:02:16,344 --> 00:02:18,638 Alright, love. Talk to ya. Bye. 24 00:02:21,641 --> 00:02:25,854 Whoever this is calling from the Arapahoe jail at 8:42-- 25 00:02:27,022 --> 00:02:30,275 Somebody called at 7:01, but I missed it. 26 00:02:31,818 --> 00:02:34,738 Man, I hope they call right back because they are 27 00:02:36,281 --> 00:02:38,324 often not able to get out 28 00:02:38,408 --> 00:02:43,162 and get another call through right away. 29 00:02:43,246 --> 00:02:44,622 I'm gonna wait before hopping in the shower 30 00:02:44,706 --> 00:02:47,750 because they usually call right back. 31 00:02:52,172 --> 00:02:56,176 There are more people in jails who are pretrial in America 32 00:02:56,468 --> 00:02:59,596 than there were 40 years ago who were serving sentences. 33 00:03:00,305 --> 00:03:01,973 We found new things to criminalize, 34 00:03:02,057 --> 00:03:03,891 new offenses to make illegal, 35 00:03:03,975 --> 00:03:05,559 new ways to put poor people 36 00:03:05,643 --> 00:03:08,438 and immigrants and children in cages. 37 00:03:17,322 --> 00:03:20,324 I've been arrested. Um, I've spent time in jail, 38 00:03:20,408 --> 00:03:22,911 both pretrial and post conviction. 39 00:03:23,953 --> 00:03:25,246 Went to law school. 40 00:03:25,330 --> 00:03:27,791 I wanted to, like, have those tools and use them. 41 00:03:29,542 --> 00:03:31,586 I saw folks who cannot pay their bail, 42 00:03:31,670 --> 00:03:33,796 who are pleading guilty when they are innocent 43 00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:35,673 just to get out of jail. 44 00:03:35,757 --> 00:03:38,009 And the culmination of those things, 45 00:03:38,093 --> 00:03:39,385 it almost seems like-- 46 00:03:39,469 --> 00:03:41,846 While it wasn't planned, if I'd know to think ahead, 47 00:03:41,930 --> 00:03:42,638 I would've known that, 48 00:03:42,722 --> 00:03:44,098 of course, in this year of my life, 49 00:03:44,182 --> 00:03:47,643 I would be working and directing a bail fund. 50 00:03:52,607 --> 00:03:54,775 Denver Sheriff's Department County Jail. 51 00:03:54,859 --> 00:03:57,695 This call is subject to recording and monitoring. 52 00:03:57,779 --> 00:04:00,489 To accept this free call, press one. 53 00:04:00,573 --> 00:04:02,742 Good morning. Colorado Freedom Fund. 54 00:04:11,876 --> 00:04:13,794 Yeah, Mr. Chavez, if you could get it lowered 55 00:04:13,878 --> 00:04:15,379 to 500, we'll pay it. 56 00:04:16,589 --> 00:04:17,798 An inmate at 57 00:04:17,882 --> 00:04:20,384 Denver Sheriff's Department County Jail. 58 00:04:25,265 --> 00:04:27,099 How much is your bond? 59 00:04:29,853 --> 00:04:32,480 This call is subject to recording and monitoring. 60 00:04:34,774 --> 00:04:37,026 Did they raise the bond? 61 00:04:37,110 --> 00:04:38,986 We're gonna try, but I just-- 62 00:04:39,070 --> 00:04:41,948 $3,000 is more than we can usually pay in a case like this. 63 00:04:42,032 --> 00:04:44,617 But, if you call back Monday, I'll let you know, okay? 64 00:04:45,368 --> 00:04:48,747 You hang in there this weekend, okay? 65 00:04:49,414 --> 00:04:50,623 An inmate at 66 00:04:50,707 --> 00:04:53,000 Denver Sheriff's Department County Jail. 67 00:04:56,963 --> 00:04:59,924 Cash bail, in theory, what it should be, 68 00:05:00,008 --> 00:05:01,801 someone is accused of a crime, 69 00:05:01,885 --> 00:05:04,220 the court can set an amount of money 70 00:05:04,304 --> 00:05:07,265 that ensures the person comes back to court. 71 00:05:07,349 --> 00:05:08,808 You come to court, you resolve your case, 72 00:05:08,892 --> 00:05:09,976 you get your money back. 73 00:05:11,144 --> 00:05:13,271 The result is that poor people 74 00:05:13,355 --> 00:05:16,232 either sit in jail forever and ever, 75 00:05:16,316 --> 00:05:19,026 or they plead guilty, just to be done with it. 76 00:05:19,110 --> 00:05:20,278 That has nothing to do justice. 77 00:05:20,362 --> 00:05:23,030 Has nothing to do with guilt or innocence. 78 00:05:23,114 --> 00:05:26,993 All but one of these are letters from people in cages. 79 00:05:29,579 --> 00:05:32,749 Everyone who we post bond for is legally innocent. 80 00:05:33,291 --> 00:05:35,001 The only reason they're still in a cage 81 00:05:35,085 --> 00:05:38,462 is because they can't afford to pay their bond. 82 00:05:38,546 --> 00:05:41,466 This person wrote, "Freedom ain't free, but it's worth it." 83 00:05:44,678 --> 00:05:46,721 This person, we're getting outta Jeff-Co. 84 00:05:46,805 --> 00:05:50,099 This person, we're getting outta Denver. 85 00:05:50,183 --> 00:05:51,559 We take in money from donations, 86 00:05:51,643 --> 00:05:53,978 we use the money to pay for people's freedom. 87 00:05:54,062 --> 00:05:57,773 When their case is resolved, we get the money back. 88 00:05:57,857 --> 00:06:00,777 This is from Ms. Payne, who we are gonna get today. 89 00:06:04,447 --> 00:06:06,574 Date, her name, her birth date. 90 00:06:06,658 --> 00:06:08,993 She's 25. She's young. 91 00:06:09,077 --> 00:06:12,079 Address is Motel 6. 92 00:06:13,415 --> 00:06:14,749 "Dear Colorado Freedom Funds. 93 00:06:14,833 --> 00:06:16,709 "Hello, this is Kiana Marie Payne writing. 94 00:06:16,793 --> 00:06:19,086 "I wanted to thank you for all the help and support 95 00:06:19,170 --> 00:06:21,047 "you have given out to us inmates. 96 00:06:21,131 --> 00:06:22,381 "Here's my logistics. 97 00:06:22,465 --> 00:06:24,091 "Three bonds preventing me from release. 98 00:06:24,175 --> 00:06:26,093 "5,000, 5,000, and 1,000, 99 00:06:26,177 --> 00:06:28,513 total $11,000." 100 00:06:33,059 --> 00:06:35,603 Kiana Payne is smart, and she is resourceful, 101 00:06:35,687 --> 00:06:39,023 um, and has also had a difficult couple of years. 102 00:06:39,107 --> 00:06:41,025 And she reached out, and she needed help 103 00:06:41,109 --> 00:06:42,819 with having her bond posted. 104 00:06:45,113 --> 00:06:46,447 I remember one of the letters, 105 00:06:46,531 --> 00:06:48,783 she'd gotten access to colored pencils 106 00:06:48,867 --> 00:06:51,118 because she'd written the name, Colorado Freedom Fund 107 00:06:51,202 --> 00:06:52,828 like in a sort of rainbow way. 108 00:06:52,912 --> 00:06:55,623 And I don't know if she intended it to stand out, 109 00:06:55,707 --> 00:06:57,875 but it did stand out in the pile of mail. 110 00:06:57,959 --> 00:06:58,834 Once she got out, 111 00:06:58,918 --> 00:07:00,419 she experienced some other challenges, 112 00:07:00,503 --> 00:07:01,629 and she missed her court date. 113 00:07:01,713 --> 00:07:03,214 And she was rearrested for missing court. 114 00:07:03,298 --> 00:07:05,383 Um, didn't have new charges, 115 00:07:05,467 --> 00:07:07,176 but what is unfortunately all too common 116 00:07:07,260 --> 00:07:10,596 is the court reset her bond at a much higher amount. 117 00:07:16,102 --> 00:07:18,271 - How've you been? - I've been good, how about you? 118 00:07:18,355 --> 00:07:21,983 Good. Okay, so not too many today. 119 00:07:22,067 --> 00:07:23,442 Let's start with Ms. Payne. 120 00:07:23,526 --> 00:07:26,571 Alright. Alright. 121 00:07:27,155 --> 00:07:29,198 ♪ This jail's a joke ♪ 122 00:07:29,282 --> 00:07:30,950 ♪ I swear, it's a joke ♪ 123 00:07:31,951 --> 00:07:34,204 Don't think he enjoyed his stay. 124 00:07:35,914 --> 00:07:37,290 I can't even remember what county it was, 125 00:07:37,374 --> 00:07:39,750 but I was looking up directions. You know, so I googled the-- 126 00:07:39,834 --> 00:07:41,335 And, like, the first thing that comes up 127 00:07:41,419 --> 00:07:42,837 was, like, Yelp reviews. 128 00:07:42,921 --> 00:07:45,047 It was like, "I did not enjoy my time 129 00:07:45,131 --> 00:07:46,924 at the Broomfield--" 130 00:07:47,008 --> 00:07:49,635 Like, if you have this sense of humor after that, 131 00:07:49,719 --> 00:07:52,513 to go online to Yelp and review the jail, 132 00:07:52,597 --> 00:07:55,349 they clearly didn't break your spirit. 133 00:07:55,433 --> 00:07:58,519 - Well, I will give those back to you. Thank you. - Thank you very much. 134 00:08:03,942 --> 00:08:06,235 - Thank you. - You're welcome! Have a good day! 135 00:08:06,319 --> 00:08:07,529 You, too. 136 00:08:11,032 --> 00:08:14,535 Cash bail has disproportionately put 137 00:08:14,619 --> 00:08:16,996 people of color and poor people 138 00:08:17,455 --> 00:08:20,416 in situations that have 139 00:08:20,500 --> 00:08:21,834 gotten them deeper and deeper 140 00:08:21,918 --> 00:08:23,378 into the criminal justice system. 141 00:08:23,795 --> 00:08:27,506 When you come to jail, it's only gonna take about 72 hours 142 00:08:27,590 --> 00:08:30,092 before your life really begins to change. 143 00:08:30,176 --> 00:08:32,303 You stop showing up to work. 144 00:08:32,387 --> 00:08:35,514 Your company or your boss 145 00:08:35,598 --> 00:08:38,976 is not going to hold your job likely for a while. 146 00:08:39,060 --> 00:08:42,438 So then, you get outta jail, and you don't have a job. 147 00:08:42,522 --> 00:08:44,857 Right? So then, you have to figure out a way 148 00:08:44,941 --> 00:08:47,818 to feed yourself, feed your family. 149 00:08:47,902 --> 00:08:50,571 The hard part about that is you have folks 150 00:08:50,655 --> 00:08:53,407 who have entered the criminal justice system 151 00:08:53,491 --> 00:08:56,661 with very small or minor infractions, 152 00:08:56,745 --> 00:09:01,082 who then get into that circle. 153 00:09:04,669 --> 00:09:07,713 When folks are out of custody while they're pretrial, 154 00:09:07,797 --> 00:09:10,508 it means that they don't have to plead guilty 155 00:09:10,592 --> 00:09:12,218 just to get out of jail. 156 00:09:12,302 --> 00:09:14,595 They can retain housing. They can keep jobs. 157 00:09:14,679 --> 00:09:16,722 Their family relationships aren't fractured, 158 00:09:16,806 --> 00:09:20,268 to even pets and plants, things that people can't care for 159 00:09:20,352 --> 00:09:21,936 while they're in cages. 160 00:09:22,896 --> 00:09:25,606 Ms. Payne? 161 00:09:25,690 --> 00:09:28,359 - Yes. - I have your letters. 162 00:09:28,443 --> 00:09:30,069 Oh, my God. 163 00:09:30,153 --> 00:09:33,114 That is so amazing. Thank you. 164 00:09:33,198 --> 00:09:34,991 Two of them, I actually just got 165 00:09:35,075 --> 00:09:37,410 when I went to my office this morning. So, I'ma keep 'em, 166 00:09:37,494 --> 00:09:38,953 but I did want you to know we got 'em. 167 00:09:39,037 --> 00:09:41,789 - Okay. - Um, what do you need first? 168 00:09:41,873 --> 00:09:43,875 - Um, my stuff is outside. - Okay. 169 00:09:48,505 --> 00:09:50,673 Thank you, sirs! Have a good night. 170 00:09:50,757 --> 00:09:53,384 Let's get you some food and put that sweater on you. 171 00:09:53,468 --> 00:09:54,927 Okay. 172 00:09:55,011 --> 00:09:57,179 This wind just comes in here outta nowhere. 173 00:09:57,263 --> 00:10:00,725 It definitely feels a lot better than the air inside. 174 00:10:00,809 --> 00:10:02,935 Ah. Thanks for putting it in perspective. 175 00:10:03,019 --> 00:10:04,729 Well, you know in there, they tell us, 176 00:10:04,813 --> 00:10:07,064 "If you were ever homeless, this is much better than that." 177 00:10:07,148 --> 00:10:09,150 - And they try to-- - Do they-- Someone has said that? 178 00:10:09,234 --> 00:10:11,235 Oh, most of them do. 179 00:10:11,319 --> 00:10:13,446 "Three meals a day, a shower. 180 00:10:13,530 --> 00:10:15,281 Must be good in here." That's what they say. 181 00:10:15,365 --> 00:10:17,825 I'll just bite my tongue on that one. 182 00:10:17,909 --> 00:10:20,078 - Let's feed you. Okay. - Okay. 183 00:10:26,084 --> 00:10:28,419 Getting out, it's almost unreal. 184 00:10:28,503 --> 00:10:29,963 So, how long were you in? 185 00:10:30,422 --> 00:10:33,841 I've been in-- Let's see. Since September 10. 186 00:10:33,925 --> 00:10:36,177 So, nine weeks. 187 00:10:40,181 --> 00:10:42,767 - Hello? - Hello, Mom. 188 00:10:42,851 --> 00:10:45,269 Hey, Kiana. What's going on? 189 00:10:45,353 --> 00:10:48,064 The Colorado Freedom Fund gave me grace 190 00:10:48,148 --> 00:10:50,608 and helped me get out of jail today. 191 00:10:50,692 --> 00:10:52,068 Alright, good. 192 00:10:52,152 --> 00:10:54,487 I'm on pretrial release. And so right now, 193 00:10:54,571 --> 00:10:56,864 we're on our way to get a little bit of food 194 00:10:56,948 --> 00:11:00,243 and then Motel 6. That's where I'll be staying. 195 00:11:00,744 --> 00:11:02,787 Okay, you stay in the hotel. 196 00:11:02,871 --> 00:11:05,081 - Don't go out. Just stay there. - I will. 197 00:11:05,165 --> 00:11:07,083 - Alright. Okay, bye-bye. - Bye. 198 00:11:08,960 --> 00:11:11,212 - Thank you very much. - You're welcome. 199 00:11:12,672 --> 00:11:14,548 Hearing the news that I was getting out 200 00:11:14,632 --> 00:11:16,593 was all I needed to hear. 201 00:11:17,010 --> 00:11:18,886 And the fact that I was sexually assaulted... 202 00:11:18,970 --> 00:11:21,431 - Oh, my God, babe. - ...at the county jail. 203 00:11:21,681 --> 00:11:24,308 I'm sorry that I didn't get there sooner. 204 00:11:24,392 --> 00:11:27,895 It's okay. You know, one of the girls 205 00:11:27,979 --> 00:11:30,564 asked me, uh, to do some drugs. 206 00:11:30,648 --> 00:11:32,566 I said no, but I told her, "Hey, look, 207 00:11:32,650 --> 00:11:34,777 "I'm not really looking to tell on you guys. 208 00:11:34,861 --> 00:11:37,196 You know, I'm doing my time, okay? I'm just sitting here." 209 00:11:37,280 --> 00:11:40,032 - Right. - So-- But, they started singling me out. 210 00:11:40,116 --> 00:11:43,828 So, they decided to take me out and put me 211 00:11:43,912 --> 00:11:46,038 by myself in medical. 212 00:11:46,122 --> 00:11:47,873 That's when the sexual assault happened... 213 00:11:47,957 --> 00:11:49,083 Oh, my God, I'm so sorry. 214 00:11:49,167 --> 00:11:50,876 ...a few nights later. 215 00:11:53,880 --> 00:11:55,256 Sorry about the wait tonight. 216 00:11:55,340 --> 00:11:58,092 Um, can I get a number one, please? 217 00:11:58,176 --> 00:12:00,803 - Okay, you got it. And for you? - Can I get a shake? 218 00:12:00,887 --> 00:12:02,263 A strawberry shake? 219 00:12:02,347 --> 00:12:04,724 - A strawberry shake. - Small or large? 220 00:12:04,808 --> 00:12:07,226 Large. With whipped cream, please. 221 00:12:07,310 --> 00:12:08,769 - With, with what? - Whipped cream. 222 00:12:08,853 --> 00:12:10,188 Of course! 223 00:12:11,356 --> 00:12:14,025 Alright. Thank you. 224 00:12:15,276 --> 00:12:16,819 I'm gonna get you checked in. And then, 225 00:12:16,903 --> 00:12:19,322 - why don't we pick a time tomorrow that-- - Yeah. 226 00:12:19,406 --> 00:12:22,158 - We can meet? - Um, yeah, we can probably-- Let me see. 227 00:12:22,242 --> 00:12:23,784 I can come to you guys, if you need. 228 00:12:23,868 --> 00:12:26,830 - Didn't you just tell her you not leaving?! - Oh, yeah. 229 00:12:27,122 --> 00:12:29,373 'Cause you-- On like-- Jokes aside, 230 00:12:29,457 --> 00:12:32,418 - you-- Like, seriously. All seriousness, you realize... - Yeah. 231 00:12:32,502 --> 00:12:35,087 ...if you get picked up, they're gonna set your bond so high 232 00:12:35,171 --> 00:12:36,631 - that we can't pay it. - Okay. 233 00:12:36,715 --> 00:12:38,925 So let's just not even give them that option, okay? 234 00:12:39,009 --> 00:12:41,636 - Yes. - So, we're gonna get you checked in, 235 00:12:41,720 --> 00:12:43,429 um, make sure you have my number, 236 00:12:43,513 --> 00:12:45,765 and we'll set a time that we'll catch up tomorrow, okay? 237 00:12:45,849 --> 00:12:47,350 - Okay. - Okay. 238 00:12:49,894 --> 00:12:51,771 Ooh, this wind! 239 00:13:16,212 --> 00:13:20,007 I spend a lot of time thinking about this work 240 00:13:20,091 --> 00:13:23,261 and thinking about what I'm not doing enough of. 241 00:13:26,598 --> 00:13:29,100 When I'm looking at a jail roster, 242 00:13:29,184 --> 00:13:31,227 and I'm seeing how many people we got out, 243 00:13:31,311 --> 00:13:34,313 all I can really see is how many people are still in. 244 00:13:41,654 --> 00:13:44,407 How many letters we get that I-I can't help the person, 245 00:13:44,491 --> 00:13:47,785 their bond is too high, or they're serving a sentence, 246 00:13:47,869 --> 00:13:50,788 or for some other reason. 247 00:13:50,872 --> 00:13:51,914 And the letters often, 248 00:13:51,998 --> 00:13:53,207 you know, they come addressed to me, 249 00:13:53,291 --> 00:13:56,294 and they all say, "Dear Ms. Elisabeth," you know. 250 00:13:58,254 --> 00:14:01,883 And the letters are often full of really difficult stories. 251 00:14:03,802 --> 00:14:06,053 We're coming into a holiday season, 252 00:14:06,137 --> 00:14:07,930 and I get really overwhelmed thinking about 253 00:14:08,014 --> 00:14:09,473 who's not gonna be home for Thanksgiving 254 00:14:09,557 --> 00:14:11,225 and who's not gonna be home for Christmas 255 00:14:11,309 --> 00:14:13,144 because of the existence of cash bail 256 00:14:13,228 --> 00:14:15,146 and the existence of these cages. 257 00:14:20,026 --> 00:14:21,861 I'm working really hard to translate that 258 00:14:21,945 --> 00:14:23,821 into motivation to keep going, 259 00:14:23,905 --> 00:14:26,407 and think about how we're gonna get to the place 260 00:14:26,491 --> 00:14:28,952 where we're ending cash bail in Colorado. 261 00:15:04,320 --> 00:15:08,074 I can't remember the first interaction I had 262 00:15:08,158 --> 00:15:11,118 with a police officer or with policing, 263 00:15:11,202 --> 00:15:12,870 but I certainly remember interactions 264 00:15:12,954 --> 00:15:14,121 from a very young age. 265 00:15:14,205 --> 00:15:17,708 They were gonna be taking a parent to a cage 266 00:15:17,792 --> 00:15:20,127 or to prison. And I wasn't in trouble, 267 00:15:20,211 --> 00:15:23,256 but they were discussing where would I go. 268 00:15:23,340 --> 00:15:26,008 They've been painful interactions all the way up 269 00:15:26,092 --> 00:15:27,677 and until recently. 270 00:15:27,761 --> 00:15:29,136 - Okay if I touch you? - Yep. 271 00:15:29,220 --> 00:15:31,639 Okay, so where are you-- where can I take you? 272 00:15:31,723 --> 00:15:33,057 September 2015. 273 00:15:33,141 --> 00:15:34,392 This was Beyonce's birthday weekend, 274 00:15:34,476 --> 00:15:37,770 and that's a holiday in my household. 275 00:15:37,854 --> 00:15:40,606 Also known as Labor Day, but, uh, 276 00:15:40,690 --> 00:15:43,150 celebrated Beyonce's birthday weekend with my girlfriend, 277 00:15:43,234 --> 00:15:45,945 and we were at a pool party. 278 00:15:46,029 --> 00:15:48,155 And there was a young man across the pool 279 00:15:48,239 --> 00:15:51,659 who was having some serious trouble. 280 00:15:51,743 --> 00:15:53,995 He was visibly very distressed. 281 00:15:54,079 --> 00:15:57,207 There's a man who's clearly having a mental incident. 282 00:15:57,582 --> 00:16:00,710 I said to my girlfriend let's at least check on the kid. 283 00:16:00,794 --> 00:16:01,919 I'm getting my keys. 284 00:16:02,003 --> 00:16:05,548 Everything was okay and improving. 285 00:16:05,632 --> 00:16:07,883 And then, the police came. 286 00:16:07,967 --> 00:16:09,343 No one needed them. 287 00:16:09,427 --> 00:16:12,179 Stay still. So look at me, Cody. She's gonna give me my keys. 288 00:16:12,263 --> 00:16:13,389 We'll drive you back over there, 289 00:16:13,473 --> 00:16:14,974 see if you can get into the house-- 290 00:16:15,058 --> 00:16:17,310 officer 1: We're actually stopping right here. We're not doing-- 291 00:16:17,394 --> 00:16:18,853 We're not gonna continue walking around here. 292 00:16:18,937 --> 00:16:21,188 officer 2: Are you using this pool without somebody's permission? 293 00:16:21,272 --> 00:16:23,316 Are you really, like, are you really-- you-- 294 00:16:23,400 --> 00:16:25,943 There's no crime in Aurora for you to go deal with? 295 00:16:26,027 --> 00:16:28,321 officer 2: There's plenty of crime, but this is what I'm here for. 296 00:16:28,405 --> 00:16:30,323 - officer 3: This is your last chance. - Sir-- To do what? 297 00:16:30,407 --> 00:16:31,908 officer 3: To leave the property. 298 00:16:32,033 --> 00:16:33,534 And you're-- I'm invited here! 299 00:16:33,618 --> 00:16:35,536 officer 3: Leave the property. I'm an invited guest! 300 00:16:35,620 --> 00:16:36,787 The next thing I know, 301 00:16:36,871 --> 00:16:39,248 I'm being pushed up against a fence. 302 00:16:39,332 --> 00:16:43,085 Take your hands off of me! Take your hands off of me! 303 00:16:43,169 --> 00:16:45,171 - officer 1: Look-- - Let me get my things! 304 00:16:45,255 --> 00:16:48,382 I do not want to be here! I wanted to check on that man! 305 00:16:48,466 --> 00:16:50,259 I get handcuffed, 306 00:16:50,343 --> 00:16:54,221 and charged with interfering with an investigation, 307 00:16:54,305 --> 00:16:57,475 obstruction, trespass. Of course, resisting arrest. 308 00:16:57,559 --> 00:16:58,893 They always add that in. 309 00:17:06,067 --> 00:17:09,236 I was sentenced to 30 to 90 days. 310 00:17:09,320 --> 00:17:11,197 I did get credit for good behavior, 311 00:17:11,281 --> 00:17:13,240 as they call it. And so, I was able to get out 312 00:17:13,324 --> 00:17:15,160 after a couple weeks. 313 00:17:15,952 --> 00:17:17,411 And it was still hell. It was still hell 314 00:17:17,495 --> 00:17:19,497 even though there was an end in sight for me. 315 00:17:19,581 --> 00:17:23,417 And, um, I got to know the women who were in my unit, 316 00:17:23,501 --> 00:17:27,255 and I was aware of what they were accused of. 317 00:17:27,339 --> 00:17:29,090 None of them needed to be there. 318 00:17:29,174 --> 00:17:31,133 None of them, the behavior that they were dealing with 319 00:17:31,217 --> 00:17:33,844 that landed them there was fixed by jail. 320 00:17:33,928 --> 00:17:35,429 While I was an abolitionist already, 321 00:17:35,513 --> 00:17:37,765 certainly that experience in that jail 322 00:17:37,849 --> 00:17:39,684 deepened my commitment to it. 323 00:17:39,768 --> 00:17:41,936 I'm here at the Arapaho cage. 324 00:17:42,020 --> 00:17:43,354 You can see it behind me. 325 00:17:43,438 --> 00:17:46,190 That's actually the entrance to where I was caged. 326 00:17:46,274 --> 00:17:49,735 I'm just leaving the jail. 327 00:17:49,819 --> 00:17:52,780 Um, the bonding office where we 328 00:17:52,864 --> 00:17:55,783 spent $1,020 to buy freedom 329 00:17:55,867 --> 00:17:57,159 for two of our neighbors. 330 00:17:57,243 --> 00:17:58,995 I'm just feeling really heavy 331 00:17:59,079 --> 00:18:01,330 because all the women in my pod, 2B, 332 00:18:01,414 --> 00:18:04,292 which is where I was caged until earlier this month, 333 00:18:04,376 --> 00:18:05,918 um, they're all still there. 334 00:18:06,002 --> 00:18:09,338 So, it is 9:30 p.m. 335 00:18:09,422 --> 00:18:12,466 in lovely greater Denver, Colorado, 336 00:18:12,550 --> 00:18:15,094 I am outside the jail. 337 00:18:15,178 --> 00:18:17,555 It's raining sleet, snowing, 338 00:18:17,639 --> 00:18:19,682 and I'm headed back into the jail 339 00:18:19,766 --> 00:18:23,144 to pay $510 and $210 340 00:18:23,228 --> 00:18:24,979 for two neighbors' freedom. 341 00:18:25,063 --> 00:18:28,024 So, the bonds this morning are four for 500, 342 00:18:28,108 --> 00:18:30,109 100, and two $50 tickets 343 00:18:30,193 --> 00:18:31,485 It's Christmas night. 344 00:18:31,569 --> 00:18:34,155 We have colleagues who are posting tonight in Jeff-Co. 345 00:18:34,239 --> 00:18:36,407 I'm headed to Arapahoe and for one out of Inglewood. 346 00:18:36,491 --> 00:18:38,868 I am here at the Arapahoe County cage. 347 00:18:38,952 --> 00:18:40,202 So, we're leaving the Denver jail. 348 00:18:40,286 --> 00:18:42,496 We have paid the bond at the Aurora jail. 349 00:18:42,580 --> 00:18:45,207 What we do is buy people's freedom, 350 00:18:45,291 --> 00:18:47,168 including people who have been over-policed 351 00:18:47,252 --> 00:18:49,170 and harassed by local cops. 352 00:18:49,254 --> 00:18:51,672 What you not gonna do is try and tell me 353 00:18:51,756 --> 00:18:54,592 I'm misrepresenting what I'm fucking living. 354 00:18:54,676 --> 00:18:57,303 It's really cold, and I really have no time 355 00:18:57,387 --> 00:18:58,930 for mansplaining in this bitch. 356 00:19:12,152 --> 00:19:13,569 I remember when they first began, 357 00:19:13,653 --> 00:19:15,279 they only had a couple thousand dollars 358 00:19:15,363 --> 00:19:17,615 in the Colorado Freedom Fund. 359 00:19:18,658 --> 00:19:20,159 That began to grow 360 00:19:20,243 --> 00:19:23,705 incrementally, small growth. 361 00:19:24,539 --> 00:19:27,292 But, when George Floyd happened, 362 00:19:28,501 --> 00:19:31,545 the way that it grew was phenomenal. 363 00:19:31,629 --> 00:19:33,714 They raised, I believe it was over 364 00:19:33,798 --> 00:19:36,009 $1.2 million. 365 00:19:36,259 --> 00:19:38,386 It is our duty to fight for our freedom! 366 00:19:38,470 --> 00:19:40,388 It is our duty to fight for our freedom! 367 00:19:40,472 --> 00:19:42,223 It is our duty to win! 368 00:19:42,307 --> 00:19:43,683 It is our duty to win! 369 00:19:43,767 --> 00:19:46,477 - We must love each other! - We must love each other! 370 00:19:46,561 --> 00:19:48,813 - Support each other! - Support each other! 371 00:19:48,897 --> 00:19:50,523 We have nothing to lose but our chains! 372 00:19:50,607 --> 00:19:51,899 We have nothing to lose-- 373 00:19:51,983 --> 00:19:54,735 The world learned about Breonna Taylor 374 00:19:54,819 --> 00:19:56,195 and George Floyd, 375 00:19:56,279 --> 00:19:57,989 and there was this mass influx 376 00:19:58,073 --> 00:20:01,617 in cities around the country of protesters being arrested. 377 00:20:01,701 --> 00:20:03,202 We must love each other! 378 00:20:03,286 --> 00:20:06,831 Denver, Colorado, June 1st. 379 00:20:06,915 --> 00:20:08,833 Day four, round four. 380 00:20:15,006 --> 00:20:18,259 People saw what was happening and wanting to help, 381 00:20:18,343 --> 00:20:21,804 and also recognizing that these aren't just arrests 382 00:20:21,888 --> 00:20:25,057 were happening to people who were protesting 383 00:20:25,141 --> 00:20:27,310 another injustice. 384 00:20:29,688 --> 00:20:32,815 I recall seeing Elisabeth on TV, 385 00:20:32,899 --> 00:20:36,235 out in front of those protests and leading them. 386 00:20:36,319 --> 00:20:39,113 And then, it was like a day later, 387 00:20:39,197 --> 00:20:42,283 I was walking out into the lobby, 388 00:20:42,367 --> 00:20:44,285 and it was around maybe closer to midnight. 389 00:20:44,369 --> 00:20:47,747 And I saw Elisabeth in the lobby, 390 00:20:47,831 --> 00:20:50,750 and she's out there, 391 00:20:50,834 --> 00:20:52,543 paying someone's bond. 392 00:20:52,627 --> 00:20:55,880 In fact, there are, like, five bonds 393 00:20:55,964 --> 00:20:58,799 that she had that she was 394 00:20:58,883 --> 00:21:01,636 doing her Elisabeth magic, right? Just... 395 00:21:01,720 --> 00:21:04,597 She moves in-in a fast way. 396 00:21:04,681 --> 00:21:05,932 And so, she's saying, "Alright, 397 00:21:06,016 --> 00:21:08,476 this is the money for this one, this one, this one." 398 00:21:08,560 --> 00:21:10,269 And I go out there. I'm like, "Hey, how you doing?" 399 00:21:10,353 --> 00:21:11,604 She's like, "Oh, I'm fine." She said, 400 00:21:11,688 --> 00:21:13,773 "But lemme show you something." And so, 401 00:21:13,857 --> 00:21:16,442 she showed me where she had been shot 402 00:21:16,526 --> 00:21:19,362 with a rubber bullet. 403 00:21:19,446 --> 00:21:22,824 And I just recall thinking Elisabeth is out, 404 00:21:23,616 --> 00:21:26,119 leading these protests during the day. 405 00:21:26,578 --> 00:21:28,496 But then at night, she's in here, 406 00:21:28,580 --> 00:21:31,249 still getting people out of jail. 407 00:21:36,463 --> 00:21:39,924 - What's up, abolitionist? - What's up, Sheriff? 408 00:21:40,216 --> 00:21:41,384 I'm ready for you to be the first 409 00:21:41,468 --> 00:21:43,511 openly abolitionist sheriff in the country. 410 00:21:43,595 --> 00:21:46,764 Oh, yeah? 411 00:21:46,848 --> 00:21:49,684 I'd be happy to-to wear some of that. 412 00:21:49,768 --> 00:21:52,896 - We gotta figure this out. - Okay. 413 00:21:53,772 --> 00:21:56,190 Well, y'all still got people in that cage, sir. 414 00:21:56,274 --> 00:21:58,192 C'mon, now. I know, I know. 415 00:21:58,276 --> 00:21:59,860 I appreciate you saying that. I do. 416 00:21:59,944 --> 00:22:01,946 You know I think your job shouldn't exist. 417 00:22:02,030 --> 00:22:04,699 But, until-until, we get rid of it as a, as a position... 418 00:22:04,783 --> 00:22:07,827 I understand that. 419 00:22:07,911 --> 00:22:09,704 ...um, I don't mind you being the person in it 420 00:22:09,788 --> 00:22:12,290 while it does still exist. I appreciate you. 421 00:22:13,041 --> 00:22:15,876 As an abolitionist, I'm comfortable being upfront 422 00:22:15,960 --> 00:22:18,129 with the fact that, like, my goal, 423 00:22:18,213 --> 00:22:19,755 is for prisons to not exist. 424 00:22:19,839 --> 00:22:21,716 But, far more importantly, at its core, 425 00:22:21,800 --> 00:22:23,467 abolition is the work of building. 426 00:22:23,551 --> 00:22:25,386 It's the work of creation, right? 427 00:22:25,470 --> 00:22:28,306 So, we're working to create communities 428 00:22:28,390 --> 00:22:31,809 where people have clean air and clean water 429 00:22:31,893 --> 00:22:34,228 and safe schools that are free of policing, 430 00:22:34,312 --> 00:22:37,398 and places for rest and play and worship. 431 00:22:37,482 --> 00:22:39,567 And, you know, because we know 432 00:22:39,651 --> 00:22:41,944 that when communities have these things, 433 00:22:42,028 --> 00:22:43,195 they don't need cages. 434 00:22:43,279 --> 00:22:46,824 I do not believe in Defund The Police. 435 00:22:46,908 --> 00:22:50,578 I do not believe that we can exist without jails, 436 00:22:50,662 --> 00:22:54,624 uh, in America, or prisons, either. 437 00:22:54,708 --> 00:22:57,084 And so, I think those are places 438 00:22:57,168 --> 00:23:00,588 where Elisabeth and I probably have 439 00:23:00,672 --> 00:23:03,674 different ideas about the criminal justice system. 440 00:23:03,758 --> 00:23:06,510 Because it's bigger than just the criminal justice system. 441 00:23:06,594 --> 00:23:08,596 The Black community 442 00:23:08,680 --> 00:23:10,932 and other communities of color as well, 443 00:23:11,016 --> 00:23:12,850 we are in a state of crisis. 444 00:23:12,934 --> 00:23:14,226 Absolutely. 445 00:23:14,310 --> 00:23:16,646 And if we don't get it together, 446 00:23:16,730 --> 00:23:20,107 then our children, our grandchildren, 447 00:23:20,191 --> 00:23:21,817 and our grandchildren's children 448 00:23:21,901 --> 00:23:25,404 are gonna be in even, in an even worse place. 449 00:23:25,488 --> 00:23:28,616 So, we got to do the work. 450 00:23:28,700 --> 00:23:30,701 Well, you know I agree, and I appreciate you, sir. 451 00:23:30,785 --> 00:23:32,411 and I'm actually getting a call right now 452 00:23:32,495 --> 00:23:34,455 from inside that cage, so... 453 00:23:34,539 --> 00:23:36,707 - Alright. Go to work. See you later. - Okay. 454 00:23:36,791 --> 00:23:38,542 Appreciate you. Talk to you soon. Bye-bye. 455 00:23:38,626 --> 00:23:40,836 - Bye. - Hello? 456 00:23:40,920 --> 00:23:42,922 Hi, good afternoon. This is the Colorado Freedom Fund. 457 00:23:43,006 --> 00:23:44,006 How can I help you? 458 00:23:46,801 --> 00:23:50,304 Okay, so in the past, your bonds were $1... 459 00:23:50,388 --> 00:23:52,848 fi... $1, $100, $250. 460 00:23:52,932 --> 00:23:55,935 So, those were things that we could pretty easily pay. 461 00:23:56,019 --> 00:23:56,978 With this $10,000 bond, 462 00:23:57,062 --> 00:23:59,230 we're not gonna be able to post those right now. 463 00:24:05,570 --> 00:24:07,572 Okay, good luck, sir. Bye-bye. 464 00:24:10,867 --> 00:24:13,744 We can't save our folks one by one. 465 00:24:13,828 --> 00:24:16,414 We have to have deep systemic change, 466 00:24:16,498 --> 00:24:17,791 and policy change. 467 00:24:18,416 --> 00:24:21,294 And we know we've done our work 468 00:24:21,378 --> 00:24:22,920 when we're shutting our doors. 469 00:24:40,772 --> 00:24:44,567 Elisabeth, I know you never saw yourself 470 00:24:44,651 --> 00:24:46,319 running for political office. 471 00:24:46,403 --> 00:24:48,529 You've always fought from the outside. 472 00:24:48,613 --> 00:24:50,531 What drove you to say, "You know what? 473 00:24:50,615 --> 00:24:54,452 "I'm gonna get in, um, and be on the inside, 474 00:24:54,536 --> 00:24:57,455 "and all of the folks that I've spoke to, 475 00:24:57,539 --> 00:25:01,125 they're gonna be speaking to me?" 476 00:25:01,209 --> 00:25:04,670 Folks asked me to, and that's a humbling, honorable thing. 477 00:25:04,754 --> 00:25:06,213 When we as community, 478 00:25:06,297 --> 00:25:07,757 it's not just elect one of our own, 479 00:25:07,841 --> 00:25:09,634 but when we select one of our own, 480 00:25:09,718 --> 00:25:10,885 we know who we're getting. 481 00:25:10,969 --> 00:25:13,554 Um, folks asked, 482 00:25:13,638 --> 00:25:15,431 and they asked because it's time 483 00:25:15,515 --> 00:25:19,226 for truly principled progressive leadership. 484 00:25:19,310 --> 00:25:21,395 There are progressives at our capitol. 485 00:25:21,479 --> 00:25:23,606 We are running to join them, 486 00:25:23,690 --> 00:25:25,691 and we are asking you to help us cultivate and mentor 487 00:25:25,775 --> 00:25:28,153 the next class of people who's gonna help us. 488 00:25:28,820 --> 00:25:30,613 The issue that keeps me up at night, 489 00:25:30,697 --> 00:25:33,825 these new bags I got under my eyes is community safety. 490 00:25:34,117 --> 00:25:35,242 I'ma give you this. 491 00:25:35,326 --> 00:25:38,329 I know I gave her my card, but I know she works a lot. 492 00:25:41,499 --> 00:25:43,834 I know that we have to, and we can, 493 00:25:43,918 --> 00:25:45,836 invest in the things that actually keep victims safe, 494 00:25:45,920 --> 00:25:49,882 and not just reduction work after the fact. 495 00:25:51,718 --> 00:25:53,886 From the moment that I filed to run, 496 00:25:53,970 --> 00:25:56,264 the most common question I got 497 00:25:56,348 --> 00:25:58,391 from reporters and from other folks and communities, 498 00:25:58,475 --> 00:26:00,769 "Do you think Denver is ready for an abolitionist?" 499 00:26:02,354 --> 00:26:03,980 We'll see on Election Day. 500 00:26:17,327 --> 00:26:20,288 We won! We won! 501 00:26:20,372 --> 00:26:23,708 We won! We did it! We did it! 502 00:26:36,471 --> 00:26:39,265 So, how y'all doin'? 503 00:26:46,606 --> 00:26:49,817 We've extended a standing invitation to Elisabeth 504 00:26:49,901 --> 00:26:52,570 to speak to you as future legislator 505 00:26:52,654 --> 00:26:55,239 about her plans for the upcoming session. 506 00:26:59,953 --> 00:27:03,206 There are 100 legislative districts in Colorado. 507 00:27:04,290 --> 00:27:06,417 I live in one of the bluest, 508 00:27:06,501 --> 00:27:09,421 and our whole race was the primary. 509 00:27:10,046 --> 00:27:11,380 Whoever wins the primary wins. 510 00:27:11,464 --> 00:27:14,008 You can go ahead and start printing the business cards. 511 00:27:14,092 --> 00:27:16,803 I'm Representative Elisabeth Epps. 512 00:27:17,429 --> 00:27:18,471 One thing about me, 513 00:27:18,555 --> 00:27:20,014 I'ma be straight with you and be real 514 00:27:20,098 --> 00:27:21,515 because I'm gonna be your state rep 515 00:27:21,599 --> 00:27:22,767 for the next eight years. 516 00:27:22,851 --> 00:27:24,685 I care about a lot of things, 517 00:27:24,769 --> 00:27:26,354 but I'm not gonna hide the ball. 518 00:27:26,438 --> 00:27:28,314 I really, really care 519 00:27:28,398 --> 00:27:31,776 about ending wealth-based detention in Colorado, 520 00:27:31,860 --> 00:27:35,780 ending the criminalization of poverty. 521 00:27:35,864 --> 00:27:38,324 And for me, that has a particular attachment 522 00:27:38,408 --> 00:27:39,742 in cash bail. 523 00:27:39,826 --> 00:27:43,120 Everyone ready to end cash bail in 2027? 524 00:27:45,248 --> 00:27:48,125 Lets. We can do lots of good things in between, so... 525 00:27:54,758 --> 00:27:58,678 My ability to step into this natural progression 526 00:27:58,762 --> 00:28:02,223 of my own work, the natural evolution 527 00:28:02,307 --> 00:28:04,225 of my commitment to abolition, 528 00:28:04,309 --> 00:28:06,519 as now an abolitionist in the statehouse, 529 00:28:06,603 --> 00:28:08,479 with the resources of state government 530 00:28:08,563 --> 00:28:11,023 available to me to craft good policy, 531 00:28:11,107 --> 00:28:12,066 to run good bills, 532 00:28:12,150 --> 00:28:15,611 that is a gift that I had not anticipated. 533 00:28:26,873 --> 00:28:28,249 Your call has been forwarded 534 00:28:28,333 --> 00:28:30,835 to an automated voice message system. 535 00:28:32,170 --> 00:28:34,422 I think about Kiana Payne a lot. 536 00:28:36,341 --> 00:28:38,426 Kiana is back in a cage. 537 00:28:39,177 --> 00:28:41,262 I wish I could say that this is the last time 538 00:28:41,346 --> 00:28:43,097 she will be in a cage. I hope it is. 539 00:28:44,516 --> 00:28:47,727 But until and unless we change certain systemic things, 540 00:28:47,811 --> 00:28:49,312 and we are going to, 541 00:28:49,396 --> 00:28:51,564 then it's certain that she'll keep coming back, 542 00:28:51,648 --> 00:28:54,442 but she doesn't have to. She's not dangerous. 543 00:28:56,861 --> 00:28:58,446 When we are investing in things 544 00:28:58,530 --> 00:28:59,905 that keep people out of jails, 545 00:28:59,989 --> 00:29:01,866 we obviate the need for arrest, 546 00:29:02,283 --> 00:29:05,703 and it opens up the possibility of ending cash bail 547 00:29:05,787 --> 00:29:08,039 and doing the thing that's next. 548 00:29:09,624 --> 00:29:11,626 Because liberation is not a zero-sum game. 549 00:29:11,710 --> 00:29:13,169 I get more free, 550 00:29:13,253 --> 00:29:15,963 and my people get well, you get okay, too.