Several Arrested In Protest Calling For Inmate Releases Outside Gov. Newsom's Home

California Governor Gavin Newsom
Photo credit Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

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Calling for mass inmate releases in the face of a coronavirus outbreak ravaging the state's prison system, several protesters were arrested after chaining themselves to a fence outside Gov. Gavin Newsom's Sacramento home Monday.

The group also rallied against the transfer of prisoners into the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Signs at the demonstration read: "Your actions save lives. Free them all."

The Sacramento Bee reports 14 people were taken into custody and charged with trespassing and failure to leave, unlawful assembly and failure to disperse after a warning.

The California Highway Patrol said officers cut chains linking protesters to the gate of the governor's home after about two hours.

Police moving to arrest a dozen protestors, including immigration attorneys, who have locked down to the front gate of Gov. Newsom’s home this morning to call on him to #FreeThemAll and #StopICETransfers to stop the spread of COVID-19 in detention facilities in CA. pic.twitter.com/DAzZwzvsUi

— BrookeAnderson (@movementphotog) July 27, 2020

Monday's protest followed the death of yet another condemned inmate at coronavirus-stricken San Quentin State Prison over the weekend. Nineteen inmates have died from complications related to the virus at that facility and a total of 47 inmates have died throughout the state's prison system.

Gov. Newsom's office did not immediately comment.

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