Activism in
Central California
HIV/AIDS Activism at the Central California Women’s Facility in the Early 1990s
The Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF) is an all female prison in Chowchilla, California. During the late 1980s & early 1990s, the CCWF had no licensed doctor or hospital. Many women were dying of treatable health conditions. There was no HIV/AIDS treatment. Joann Walker began advocating for the compassionate release of Betty Jo Ross who was dying of AIDS at Chowchilla. Walker was a member of the Coalition to Support Women’s Prisoners at Chowchilla and they collaborated with Judy Greenspan and others from ACT UP San Francisco’s Prison Issues Committee, to continually hold prison officials accountable.
The legacy of Joann Walker, Twillah Wallace, Judy Greenspan and others during this time changed the face and tactics of activism for incarcerated women and those living with HIV & AIDS. A snapshot of that story is told in Metanoia.
Read: Letters from CCWF
Watch: Interview and Panel with Judy Greenspan
Central California Women's Facility Chowchilla. Program. "HIV/AIDS Counselors / Educators Awarding of Certificates," September 1994. Judy Greenspan Papers, The LGBT Community Center National History Archive.
Central California Women's Facility Chowchilla. Program. "HIV/AIDS Counselors / Educators Awarding of Certificates," September 1994. Judy Greenspan Papers, The LGBT Community Center National History Archive.
Central California Women's Facility Chowchilla. Program. "HIV/AIDS Counselors / Educators Awarding of Certificates," September 1994. Judy Greenspan Papers, The LGBT Community Center National History Archive.
Central California Women's Facility Chowchilla. Program. "HIV/AIDS Counselors / Educators Awarding of Certificates," September 1994. Judy Greenspan Papers, The LGBT Community Center National History Archive.
Joann Walker, Coalition to Support Women Prisoners at Chowchilla. Article. "A Woman's View: The Worst Day of My Life!," c.1994. The Cap. Judy Greenspan Papers, The LGBT Community Center National History Archive.
Chrystos, California Coalition for Women Prisoners. Flyer. "Chowchilla: Gateway to Prosperity," 1995/1996. Judy Greenspan Papers, The LGBT Community Center National History Archive.
Chrystos, California Coalition for Women Prisoners. Flyer. "Chowchilla: Gateway to Prosperity," 1995/1996. Judy Greenspan Papers, The LGBT Community Center National History Archive.
Chrystos, California Coalition for Women Prisoners. Flyer. "Chowchilla: Gateway to Prosperity," 1995/1996. Judy Greenspan Papers, The LGBT Community Center National History Archive.
Joann Walker, Coalition to Support Women Prisoners at Chowchilla. Flyer. "The Name of the Game," early 1990s. Judy Greenspan Papers, The LGBT Community Center National History Archive.
Noelle Hanrahan. Newspaper Clipping. "To Die in Chowchilla," 1994. San Francisco Bay Guardian. Judy Greenspan Papers, The LGBT Community Center National History Archive.
Twillah Wallace. Poem. "PAIN," c.early 1990s. Judy Greenspan Papers, The LGBT Community Center National History Archive.
ACT UP/SF. Flyer. "WANTED FOR THE MURDER OF CALIFORNIA PRISONERS WITH AIDS," 1993/1994. Judy Greenspan Papers, The LGBT Community Center National History Archive.
Bill Workman. "Prison Lets Woman With AIDS Go Home," 1994. San Francisco Chronicle. Judy Greenspan Papers, The LGBT Community Center National History Archive.
Coalition to Support Women Prisoners at Chowchilla. Flyer. "Send Betty Jo Ross Home for Christmas," c.1993. Judy Greenspan Papers, The LGBT Community Center National History Archive.
Miriam Berman, Coalition to Support Women Prisoners at Chowchilla. Article. "Joann Walker, Prisoner Organizer, Granted Compassionate Release," 1994. Judy Greenspan Papers, The LGBT Community Center National History Archive.
California Coalition for Women Prisoners. Newsletter. "The Fire Inside," Issue Number 1, June 1996. Judy Greenspan Papers, The LGBT Community Center National History Archive.
California Coalition for Women Prisoners. "Stop The Murder Of Women Prisoners!," c.early 1990s. Judy Greenspan Papers, The LGBT Community Center National History Archive.
Coalition to Support Women Prisoners at Chowchilla. Map / Flyer. "Directions to the Central California Women's Facility at Chowchilla," c.1994. Judy Greenspan Papers, The LGBT Community Center National History Archive.