History of California Coalition For Women Prison (CCWP), San Diego Chapter
In the summer of 1999, Ms. Suzette Silva and Janice Jordan, both employees at the San Diego American Indian Health Center discovered a camaraderie of social and political justice for incarcerated women. After many afternoons of political lunch discussions, both women realized they subscribed to the California Coalition for Women Prisoner's newsletter THE FIRE INSIDE and shared a passion and desire to secure the freedom of battered women, poor women and women of color who didn't have a chance in the "Unjust" Justice System.
One case that stuck out for them both was and is the case of battered woman inmate, Theresa Cruz. Ms. Cruz is a Chula Vista mother of four who is serving a 7-year to life sentence for "conspiracy to commit murder". Ms. Cruz was physically beaten, threatened and abused by the father of her son. At her trial, Ms. Cruz's lawyer was not allowed to present San Diego Police Reports, Sheriff's Reports, Chula Vista Police Reports or records of restraining orders at her trial, because, the judge stated "it would sway the jury". The mother of a District Attorney and a law enforcement relative sat on Ms. Cruz's jury for her trial in 1990-1991. Her abuser did not sustain any permanent physical damage and is walking around to this day. Because Ms. Cruz case reflects the cases of over 600 women incarcerated in California's prisons for defending themselves against their abuse. Suzette Silva and Janice Jordan began recruiting ex-prisoners, activist and students to help officially start the San Diego Chapter of CCWP.
Organizers for the first meeting in March, 2000 included Theresa Azochar (Theresa Cruz's mother), Britton Neubaucher of the S/HE Collective, Lori Gutierrez of GroundWork Books, Mary Lou Finley of the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee, Michel Madrigal of the Peace and Freedom Party, Leilani Clark-artist/musician/grant writer and Gloria Verdieu of the International Action Center. Out of that first meeting, the San Diego Chapter of CCWP has become a recognized grassroots organization that supports all incarcerated women through letter writing, bookdrives, care packages and visits. CCWP also organizes a yearly vigil on International Women's Day in front of the Las Colinas Women's Detention Facility in Santee, San Diego County and co-organizes the Audre Lorde Celebration at the WorldBeat Cultural Center during Women's History Month. CCWP offers an internship program for students both at San Diego State University and the University of California at San Diego. Recently there has been another push of activism to secure the release of Theresa Cruz. Ms. Cruz has been up for parole the last five years and each year the parole board says, "maybe next year."
Every second and fourth Monday beginning in February 2004-THE FREE THERESA CRUZ CAMPAIGN-will be standing in front of the Old Courthouse at 220 W. Broadway in downtown San Diego from 4:00-5:30pm. For more information, please call 619.475.8227 or 619.255.0889.
