For Immediate Release: August 11, 2023
Contact: Ciora Thomas, ciora.thomas@sisterspgh.org, 412-297-0548
SisTers PGH released the following statement regarding Warden Orlando Harper’s retirement from the Allegheny County Jail:
(Pittsburgh) – Although it is good news that Orlando Harper will be retiring as warden from the Allegheny County Jail, we know there is still so much work to be done.
Too many people, especially Black trans women, have been harmed by his lack of care, and too many people have died in the jail on his watch.
We call upon our new county officials to do the hard work that is needed to protect Allegheny County citizens and do their due diligence to ensure our jail system is not wrought with abuse.
In addition, the county needs to provide reentry programs that do not just center religion but also particular demographics of people within the jail, including transgender people. SisTers PGH would gladly take on that task if given the support and financial resources to do so.
This is the county’s chance to start fresh and carve a path forward to justice.
SisTers PGH is a Black- and Trans-led 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that serves Trans, queer and nonbinary BIPOC (Black Indigenous People of Color) within southwestern Pennsylvania. Learn more at www.sisterspgh.org.
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