132 Calls
A three-part story of love, institutional indifference, and death in a Chicago jail.
In Collaboration with The Coalition To End Money Bond, Make Yourself Useful, The Confined Arts (TCA), and Zealous
Part One: Morning Didn’t Come
Part Two: No Avail
Part Three: Honor
“I need to put light on what happened to my husband, so it will not happen to another family.”
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
After the death of her husband in Cook County Jail, Cassandra Greer-Lee became an activist leading the effort to call for divesting from jails and investing in communities and health in partnership with Chicago’s Coalition to End Money Bond. Cassandra teamed up with a range of local artists, including Definition, to create 132 Calls, a powerfully animated three-part short film series that features Cassandra’s first hand account of her efforts to save her husband, his humanity and the humanity of others inside, and her fight for justice.
WITNESS: What's happened to Cassandra in Chicago is the story of the indifference of jails throughout U.S. Back in April she called 132x to save her husband from COVID in jail. Ignored. He died. Demanding change since. Ignored. More caged now than when he died. This is her voice: pic.twitter.com/MMrh2HKN6R
— Scott Hechinger (@ScottHech) December 8, 2020
The Number of people incarcerated in Cook County Jail has returned to pre-pandemic levels. As of today, 5,528 people are incarcerated in the jail in unsanitary conditions and unable to socially distance. The number of people incarcerated in the jail who are currently confirmed positive for COVID-19 has more than tripled, from 75 on November 9th to 255 on December 1st. On November 16th, 85 year-old Harold Graszer became the 8th person to die of COVID-19 while in the custody of Cook County Jail.
Cassandra teamed w/ local artists to create https://t.co/je7OWNc6Xg, a 3-part series featuring her voice & account of efforts to save her husband. This is part 2. Comes at a time when the numbers incarcerated are back to pre-pandemic levels. They're still ignoring her. Act here:
— Scott Hechinger (@ScottHech) December 8, 2020