We are writing in support of James Ramsey. We ask that his humanity, and the humanity of those experiencing mental illness be recognized, that the DA immediately drops all charges against James Ramsey and redirects all energies to focus on his treatment and appropriate long-term care.

As you are aware, on April 29th, James Ramsey, a 25-year-old Black Oakland resident with a documented history of serious mental illness, knocked over, potentially by accident, 62-year-old Chinatown Chamber of Commerce President Carl Chan. Mr. Ramsey has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and told officers he had been off of his medication for about a month when he was arrested for the assault. However, instead of being provided sufficient treatment, James is potentially facing years in prison. OPD is using the assault as further justification to amass more of the city’s resources, and Carl Chan, in his role as Chinatown Chamber of Commerce President, is pushing for harsher penalties for people accused of theft across the whole of Oakland.

Anti Police-Terror Project’s program Mental Health First (MHFirst) grounds its work in principles of intersectionality and disability justice. We understand that Black and Brown residents with disabilities experience extreme institutional bias, discrimination, neglect and victimization as they are living at the intersection of both racism and ableism. According to media reports, Mr. Ramsey was also unhoused and likely living in abject poverty, which is another obstacle to him receiving appropriate care and treatment.

Media also reported that Mr. Ramsey has a history of severe mental illness, psychological trauma, and untreated traumatic brain injuries. The combination of all these factors is particularly pernicious as these tend to have a compounding effect on one another, and have a significant impact on a person’s perception of reality, decision making, and judgment, amongst other things. They also cause significant suffering and require intensive care. It appears that James Ramsey did not receive adequate care. We have been disturbed to read the report of James Ramsey being discharged from John George Psychiatric Hospital despite his pleas to be hospitalized. Instead, he was funneled into Alameda County Jail, as are many other Black and Brown people with disabilities, and spit back out with no resources or supports

The statistics are damning. Up to 40 percent of people with mental illness will be incarcerated at some point in their lives, and currently, anywhere between 20-50% of people who are incarcerated suffer from severe mental illness, and are likely not receiving appropriate care. People with severe mental illness are also more vulnerable to become victims of crime.

Here in Alameda County, a federal government report found the County mental health system was lacking in even basic preventative, community services while it remained heavily focused on incarcerating people experiencing mental illness in Santa Rita. This is what happened to James Ramsey in the past, and it is happening now.

It is imperative that James Ramsey’s case be treated as a medical issue. It appears that James Ramsey was experiencing a mental health crisis on the day of the incident. It is likely that his ability to perceive reality and make decisions about his actions was significantly impaired. Given his history of severe mental illness, he faces a high risk of victimization while incarcerated. There is ample research showing that people with mental illness are further victimized by the prison system, face more violence and abuse there, and are disproportionately subject to solitary confinement, which further exacerbates their mental illness. Additionally, there is no adequate mental health treatment available to people who are incarcerated. This is a highly relevant and urgent issue in Alameda County given the long and rich history of lawsuits against Alameda County Jail, on account of its civil rights abuses, violence, and insufficient mental health services. It also underscores the severity of issues connected to the Bay Area housing crisis.

The rise of Anti-Asian violence is a disturbing trend, and Anti Police-Terror Project condemns it and stands in solidarity with Asian people and all oppressed people everywhere. However, in this case, we see a man with disabilities in need of intensive care, not someone committing a hate crime.

Considering Ramsey’s lengthy, documented history of mental health struggles, we believe charges were never supposed to be filed against him, and we ask that the DA drops all charges. We request that adequate mental health treatment be recommended and implemented in the place of incarceration and punishment. We believe he has been seeking help (such as when asking to be hospitalized at John George), but instead has been relegated to cycling through emergency rooms, street corners and jails.

Society failed him. The medical system failed him.

We have a chance here not to fail him again; creating long-term safety for him and the larger community. James Ramsey needs — and deserves — housing, education, medical care, and intensive, trauma-informed mental health treatment. He should receive residential treatment without having to go to prison first, or the highest possible level of case management and support in the community. We hope that this can be extended to him.

Respectfully,