Belly of the Beast-Belly of the Beast

Video Transcription

Video Summary

In this summarized video content, Kelli LeShawn Dillon Thomas shares her personal experience of being sentenced to prison for killing her abusive husband. She discusses the challenges she faced in prison, such as dressing appropriately and going through strip searches. Kelli also mentions the emotional toll of witnessing trauma and fighting for human rights in prison. Cynthia Chandler, from the Justice Network on Women, explains the lack of healthcare access and issues faced by women prisoners. Kelli brings a lawsuit against a doctor who performed a non-consensual hysterectomy and ovary removal, but the jury rules in favor of the doctor. Journalist Corey Johnson investigates non-consensual sterilizations in California prisons, uncovering a history of eugenics targeting people of color. The video ends by highlighting the need for legislation to protect women prisoners from forced sterilization and for organizations like Justice Now to raise awareness and advocate for change. It concludes with the news that Governor Jerry Brown has signed a bill ending forced prison sterilization in California, but acknowledges the ongoing work in holding the prison system accountable and supporting women in prison. The video emphasizes the importance of recognizing human rights violations and striving for prevention in the future.

Keywords

Kelli LeShawn Dillon Thomas

prison sentence

abusive husband

challenges in prison

strip searches

emotional toll

Cynthia Chandler

lack of healthcare access

non-consensual hysterectomy

Corey Johnson

non-consensual sterilizations

forced sterilization

negative impact on victims

informed consent

California prisons

advocacy work

targeting women of color

prisoners' rights