[LIVE] Emergency Action for Russell Maroon Shoatz: We Demand Medical Transfer to Home Hospice

On Thursday, August 12, 2021 Russell ‘Maroon’ Shoatz, a 77-year old Black Political Prisoner and grandfather with stage 4 cancer was denied medical transfer to hospice by a judge. The judge found that deferring Maroon’s sentence so he could live out his last days in hospice care created an undue risk of escape and a danger to the community, citing his 1970 and 1980 escapes from prison as reasons, despite his age, use of a wheelchair for mobility, recent decades of exemplary behavior in prison, and strong community support. Community members will be rallying outside Philadelphia’s Juanita Kidd Stout courthouse on Monday, August 16th at noon to bring attention to the judge’s recent decision to deny Maroon’s release. Attendees are encouraged to wear masks and all white attire for the rally.

MORE ABOUT MAROON & STATEMENTS FROM FAMILY, COALITION & LEGAL:

Maroon is a 78-year-old religiously devoted grandfather, beloved community member, mentor, and concerned citizen for human rights and the liberation of all oppressed people. He is serving multiple life sentences as a US-held political prisoner, including 22 years in solitary confinement.
He is currently wheelchair-bound, partially blind, suffering from Stage 4 terminal pancreatic cancer, and has survived COVID this past year, in spite of the DOC’s totally inadequate medical care.

LAST THURSDAY AUGUST 12, RUSSELL MAROON SHOATZ’S PETITION TO QUIETLY LIVE OUT HIS DAYS IN HOSPICE CARE WAS DENIED.

Judge Kai Scott of the Philadelphia Court of Common Please denied Russell Maroon Shoatz’s petition for a medical transfer, despite his immobility and terminal cancer diagnosis, because she believes he is a danger to the community and a risk of escape.