🚨 If you live in Brooklyn, THIS IS HAPPENING IN YOUR BACKYARD 🚨 People incarcerated at MDC have notified community groups of heat and hot water loss amid near freezing temperatures; excessive lockdowns with only 90 minutes of time outside of cells every other day; and denial of visitation rights amid a torrent of new COVID-19 cases, with at least 80 confirmed infections on the premises. Visitation was briefly allowed in November, and was quickly revoked, despite being permitted by the Bureau of Prisons broadly. According to one MDC prisoner (who prefers to remain anonymous, out of concern for their safety), “We go all winter without heat. The A/C is always on. We’re freezing in here.” This year alone, two people have died as a direct result of MDC's actions. Jamel Floyd, a 35-year-old Black community member, was pepper sprayed to death on June 3 by an MDC corrections officer. His family found out about his death via social media. MDC did not notify them of his death until June 12 — by letter. The second was Kenneth Houck, 44, who died on May 19 under unknown circumstances while imprisoned in MDC. His death was not reported until nearly a month later. MDC has a long history of neglect and conditions of confinement abuses, including a scandal which the Federal Defenders NY called a “humanitarian crisis” in its complaint suing the prison’s warden for a lack of heat lasting months during the 2018-2019 cold snap. @repjerrynadler & @rep_velazquez have already sent a letter to the warden of MDC requesting transparency (full letter here: bit.ly/MDC-COVID-letter) but Jamel Floyd’s family and the Sunset Park community is still awaiting justice for his killing, the immediate release of immunocompromised people, the restoration of social visitations, a commitment to consistent heat and hot water, and an end to the lockdown.