Relatives and allies of prison inmates demanded the release of special populations and further protection against COVID-19 at a candlelight vigil held in front of Gov. Tom Wolfâs local office Tuesday.
About 20 demonstrators gathered at the effort, organized by The Coalition to Abolish Death By Incarceration, holding candles and signs, including one that stated Wolf had âblood on his hands.â
âWe are going to continue to advocate for the governor to exercise his reprieve power for vulnerable populations which are seniors, people with autoimmune diseases, and specifically for him to release Russell Shoats, a 77-year-old who tested positive for COVID and is battling stage 4 cancer,â said Robert Saleem Holbrook, Executive Director of the Abolitionist Law Center. âHe is [preparing] for surgery. Heâs been in prison for 50 years. We are [demanding] Governor Wolf release this prisoner to go home and spend his last time with his family.â