Katal Connecticut Update- July 28, 2022

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COVID-19 Behind Bars

Katal member Claudia Cupe speaks at our #FreeThemNowCT rally at the capitol.

On Monday, CT Insider published a story about the unsafe and unacceptable conditions inside Connecticut’s prisons. The article details a lawsuit that incarcerated people have brought against Governor Ned Lamont and the state Department of Correction (DOC), highlighting the inhumane conditions in its facilities. The article features our member Claudia Cupe, who discussed the need for Connecticut to decarcerate and to protect her loved ones who are behind bars. Two and a half years into the pandemic, Governor Lamont has failed to develop a comprehensive and transparent COVID-19 plan for the DOC, exacerbating the crisis within the state’s jails and prisons. 

Claudia described the situation in the DOC: “I have two loved ones who are in two different facilities and they both are complaining about the same things. Mixing people who tested positive with people who are negative is unsafe and unacceptable.”

Read the full article.

Yesterday, our apprentice community organizer Maribel flyered in New Haven.

This week we continued speaking with community members across the state about the need for the DOC to have a comprehensive and transparent COVID-19 plan. In New Haven we spoke with formerly incarcerated people, family members of incarcerated people, and others about the dangerous situation in state jails and prisons, both pre-pandemic and now. Governor Lamont’s inaction is leading to more people testing positive, community members suffering, and continued lockdowns like the one this past weekend at Cheshire Correctional Institution. 

If you would like to get involved in our organizing and summer outreach, please get in touch with Kenyatta Muzzanni at kenyatta@katalcenter.org


Katal Member Spotlight: Tiffany’s Story

Check out this new member video featuring Tiffany Minakhom. She discusses what brought her to Katal, how her work influences her involvement in the movement, and why she continues to organize with us. For two years, Tiffany has been a leader in our #FreeThemNowCT and #CutShutInvestCT campaigns. Watch Tiffany’s member video and join us in the fight to end mass criminalization and mass incarceration in Connecticut. 

In the coming weeks we’ll be spotlighting more members in videos. Stay connected with us on socials @katalcenter.


ICYMI: Katal Corner in the Northend Agent’s

For the July edition of our Katal Corner in the Northend Agent’s, we focused on reproductive justice and the overturn of Roe v. Wade. Kenyatta Muzzani, our director of organizing, discussed the impact this decision will have on Black and queer communities and the need to organize. Here’s an excerpt: 

“The overturning of Roe v. Wade presents an opportunity to organize heavily and broadly. More than an opportunity, it’s a necessity. Roe may have created a constitutional right for abortions, but it wasn’t perfect or accessible for everyone. It’s time not only to imagine a new future, but to create it. In the words of Fredrick Douglass, ‘Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.’ We have to make an organized demand and build collective power for current and future generations.”

Read the full piece.


 Katal Quotes of the Week

These are some of the quotes we’re thinking about this week. 

“Nobody can do everything, but everybody can do something.”—Gil Scott-Heron

“Trying one thing after another and trying to learn from everything that I try—that’s the only way. The illusion that there’s a quick answer leads to burnout.”—Grace Lee Boggs

“The fight is never about grapes or lettuce. It is always about people.”—César Chávez


Please support our work

We can’t do this work without you. Please support our work to build leadership and organizing capacity of people to self-advocate and take action together for systemic change.


Be safe as possible out there and get vaccinated as soon as you can.
If you want to get involved, learn more about our work, or just connect,
please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Katal works to strengthen the people, policies, institutions, and movements that advance equity, health, and justice for everyone.
Join us: web, Twitter, Facebook!
Email: info@katalcenter.org • Phone: 646.875.8822

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