#ClemencyCoast2Coast Toolkit

The #ClemencyCoast2Coast Campaign is a collective effort from Release Aging People in Prison (RAPP) Campaign, California Coalition for Women Prisoners (CCWP), Californians United for a Responsible Budget (CURB), and the Parole Preparation Project to call on both Governor Cuomo and Governor Newsom to grant clemencies and other releases IMMEDIATELY to elders and others in prison who are vulnerable to COVID-19.

This toolkit provides action items to participate in the campaign, whether you live in New York, California or somewhere else. See below for sample tweets and images for the NY and CA specific campaign, and how to replicate this campaign in your state.

New York and California Specific Sample Actions, Images, and Tweets

Twitter Selfie Campaign

Final #ClemencyCoast2Coast Sample Tweet.png

(Upload your own selfie with the sample tweet, not the above image. The above image is just for reference of what the final tweet will look like. However, feel free to tweet out the above image to walk others through how to participate.)

Sample tweet: TAKE ACTION: I am joining the movement to call on @NYGovCuomo and @GavinNewsom to grant #ClemencyNow and other releases to elders and others vulnerable to #COVID19. This is a public health crisis and it is beyond time to #LetThemGo! #ClemencyCoast2Coast

Tracking Clemencies

Sample tweet: Since the outbreak of #COVID19, @GavinNewsom has granted only 21 clemencies and @NYGovCuomo has granted ZERO. 21 combined clemencies for two states with 166K people in prison isn’t enough. We need bold, sweeping action NOW to prevent more COVID-19 deaths. #ClemencyCoast2Coast

COVID-19 and Racism

Sample tweet: Just like the prison systems in California and New York, #COVID19 disproportionately harms and kills Black, Brown, Indigenous, Native, and People of Color. To take a stand against racism and #StopTheSpread, we need @GovCuomo & @GavinNewsom to grant emergency #ClemencyCoast2Coast.

Call-in Campaign

Sample tweet: URGENT: Call @NYGovCuomo & @GavinNewsom on behalf of thousands of incarcerated NYers and Californians who are vulnerable to #COVID19. Prisons, jails & detention centers are no place to quarantine or protect people from this pandemic. Tell them to #LetThemGo! #ClemencyCoast2Coast

No Exclusions

Sample tweet: Outside of clemencies @NYGovCuomo & @GavinNewsom have used their power to only release people convicted of non-violent, low-level offenses & others for parole violations. These releases are good but not enough. #ClemencyCoast2Coast must include everyone vulnerable to #COVID19.

How to Replicate This Campaign in Your State

If you would like to do your own version of this campaign, calling on the governor in your state to grant releases, find tools below to support organizing efforts in your state. Please feel free to use the #ClemencyCoast2Coast hashtag and tag any of the organizations involved in the creation of this campaign so we can help amplify your efforts.

1. Build your own #ClemencyCoast2Coast Twitter selfie campaign:

Encourage your networks to take selfies holding signs that say “Governor [Insert Governor’s name] #LetThemGo #ClemencyCoast2Coast.” To support people in doing this, create a tweet with a photo of someone holding the sign and a sample tweet to go along with it. Feel free to use the text in the “Take Action” tweet we use and change the info for your governor/state. Once you upload the photo and type out the tweet with all the hashtags and people tagged, take a screenshot of the tweet so you can show others how the tweet will look.

You can create a sample tweet to share with your networks based on our template by using the editable image below. Important steps when using this editable image:

Click on the link to open this image in Canva. If you do not have an account, create a free account.
Once the image is pulled up, go to “File” and then select “Make A Copy”. Edit the copied image, not the original image. This is important because if
you edit the original image, it will make permanent edits. So you want to first make a copy for your own use and edit that image. Once you make a copy, exit out of the original image associated with the link provided.
Swap out any elements of the image to make it relevant to your work and state, etc.

Find editable image template here. MAKE SURE TO MAKE A COPY OF IT AND EDIT THE COPIED VERSION, NOT THE ORIGINAL.

2. Provide a script and phone number to encourage and support people to call your governor:

Use the editable image below to create a graphic with your governor’s phone number and a script for people to call them and ask for clemency. Follow the important steps in step 1 to use this editable image.