@spotlight

Spotlight: A Mother Pleads for her Son's Release

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Imagine being 17 and being charged as an adult and you're taken from a high school classroom to a prison cell, and you're about to serve a 20 year sentence. For the last ten years, Robert Herrera has been sitting in a six by eight cell, and he didn't point a gun at anyone. He didn't shoot anyone. Karen Gonzalez is Robert's mom, and she's a talent acquisition professional

For the last 10 years, Robert Herrera has been in 6 x8 cell. #justice https://s.swell.life/SSEpMZUgGlQv5g4 #swellinterview #parents #insungheros

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@Karengonzales20
Karen Gonzales
@Karengonzales20 · 1:29
And yes, my job is not only to find wonderful people positions and roles within the media Space Group M, but I'm also here to advocate and to fight for my son's early release. And so it's been a journey. He's doing well. For the most part, a lot of programs are not available due to COVID. We haven't actually had an opportunity to visit him since COVID hit, so it's been since February
@spotlight

Here’s the video. https://s.swell.life/SSEpIIPi7BgkOgg

I can't imagine what hope means between the two of you and your whole family, because it's the biggest operating system that you have to have in a time like this. When there's something going on that gives you hope. Can you talk to us a little bit about your process so that you're seen by Governor Newsom so that he knows that there's an individual and not a number like you mentioned that this beautiful boy needs to be considered. What's that process like?
@Swell
Swell Team
@Swell · 0:15

Welcome to Swell!

@Karengonzales20
Karen Gonzales
@Karengonzales20 · 2:15
Also, how you're responsible for the crime, list out the crime, the charges. So there's definitely a process. I'm in the middle of it, so I'm not exactly sure what swell happen once we do file in terms of how long it will take to get an answer from the governor. But I'm definitely in the process of completing his commutation and getting it in front of the governor. Assume as possible
@spotlight

Video distribution..

So I'm assuming that the commutation is paperwork and you're filling it out and you're going to get it to the governor. Creating this video was also a process for you to do the storytelling that you're saying is so impactful. And I agree with you. It is is there any way this video can reach the eyeballs of people in power that are making these decisions, or is this something that's just to get support from your community
@Karengonzales20
Karen Gonzales
@Karengonzales20 · 2:09
But yes, the goal is to get it in front of many people, whether you are somebody who is a politician that can help make decisions on changing laws or the governor himself, I'm really trying to get not only educate family and people out there that this can happen to your son or daughter, but also just to show there's so many people in prison today that are youthful offenders had no idea until I was put in this position with my son
@spotlight

The story ..

And I want to talk about what happened to Robert and what circumstances he was in, and this is going to help everybody listening. And I appreciate you going back and telling the story. I'm sure you've told it a lot over the last ten years. I'm grateful that you're here on Swell telling it to us. So let's go there and help us understand who he led into his life that led to this incarceration. And thank you so much for sharing
@Karengonzales20
Karen Gonzales
@Karengonzales20 · 3:33
They wanted the money, he wouldn't give it to them. One of the kids shot the poor man in the leg and, God, he didn't die. And they ran out and left that place. At that point, my son definitely knew he was over his head, wanted to leave because they weren't supposed to use the gun. They did. And my son felt threatened. So he stayed with them. They went to a house party. They called it a house party
@Karengonzales20
Karen Gonzales
@Karengonzales20 · 2:38
Two, they charged them as a gang member, meaning that all of the kids had Latino last names, all of them, which meant they're a gang. You don't have to prove that they Karen a gang. At least that's what we were told. So, yeah, they were a gang, even though my son barely knew one of the kids and were complete strangers to the other two kids. But they were a gang
@spotlight

The Covid factor

I'm so glad you clarified. And the idea of them calling them a gang because of their Latino last names is just part and parcel of what our country is going through right now in terms of profiling, it's so hard to hear your voice speak of this. I can't imagine. I know you talk about ten years, but ten years are made up of weeks and months and seconds and days and all gobbled up together
@Karengonzales20
Karen Gonzales
@Karengonzales20 · 2:17
Hi, Deborah, thanks so much for recognizing racial profiling. This happened in 2010. It's crazy to think that it's still happening today, especially in the San Mateo County area. And when I go to visit Robert Or, when I have in the past before COVID, there would be a lot of Latinos, Hispanics and black and African Americans incarcerated. They're young. So it's definitely mass incarceration of Brown and black family members, loved ones that are incarcerated, which is really unfortunate
@DBPardes
Deborah Pardes
@DBPardes · 1:35

Open to all. Let’s keep this going .. #justice #activism #hope

I think it's really important for us in this new talking community that is swell to hear voices in response to this and to try to get the conversation going for all reasons, for prevention, reasons for activism, reasons for social justice reasons. We have an opportunity to keep the conversation going. So I just want to thank you so much for initiating this, for sparking this call with me, and let's see how it grows. And please use this platform to let us know how it's going
@DBPardes
Deborah Pardes
@DBPardes · 1:16

@Karengonzales20 AB 1509

But it's a long road. So, Karen, I'm glad we're back in touch. Can you give us a sense? First of all, how your son is? Let us know how you're doing and just update us on what we can do to support you. Looking forward to continuing this conversation
@Karengonzales20
Karen Gonzales
@Karengonzales20 · 2:47

#releaserobertherrerafromprison #AB1506 #criminaljusticereform

And so I don't know how we're going to fix it, but I'm determined to help him get the right medical team to help him with the necessary testing that needs to go on and hopefully get the right medication to get this autoimmune disorder taken care of
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@DBPardes
Deborah Pardes
@DBPardes · 0:59
I'm just me speaking about from my perspective, not from admin anybody else's. Let me know and fully supportive of this passing and your son regaining his freedom, sending lots of prayers to you and to him and to your whole family
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