FREE Film showing of Charisse Shumate: Fighting for Our Lives

Charisse Shumate was sentenced to life in prison following her resistance to domestic violence that culminated in her abusive partner’s death. Like many incarcerated women, Charisse lived with several chronic care diseases— sickle cell anemia, Hepatitis C and cancer.

Charisse recognized the medical neglect she and thousands of other women prisoners were suffering from was a form of human rights abuse and took a courageous stand. She became the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit against the state of California and the CDC (Shumate v. Wilson) challenging the medical neglect of women prisoners. This lawsuit marked the first time that women prisoners banded together across the state of California to call for an end to the abuse they suffered. It also led Charisse along with community members and formerly incarcerated women and their families to found the California Coalition for Women Prisoners.

Charisse’s story is not just about one exceptional woman. Charisse’s story is the story of hundreds of other women prisoners throughout the U.S. who are building a movement to stop the violence they face at the hands of the criminal justice system.

The California Coalition for Women Prisoners invite you to this free community screening with discussion panel to follow with the hope of raising community awareness and engaging in a critical discussion on the current crisis of a burgeoning prison industrial complex.

Light snacks will be served.