“I wish the police were more sympathetic”

Kuze’s shoes, shared by Kuze for the archive.

Excerpt from Kuze, a defendant at the Palo Alto Courthouse in summer 2023.

Kuze: When I was incarcerated … Um, I really wanted, like, needed medical attention, and they wouldn't- like police were never sympathetic to it. And like it took forever to see a doctor. Can't get it like uh—see a doctor in a timely manner, if you're in jail. 

Interviewer: Mm hmm. were you-. 

Kuze: I wish the police were more sympathetic to that. To that. I have health problems right now because I didn't get proper treatment right now in jail. 

Interviewer: Um, would you feel comfortable elaborating on that? 

Kuze: Yeah. Um, I had uh knee pains, and I asked for, like, I also have, like, heel pain, from running—from a running injury. I have a running injury and heel pains, called plantar fasciitis, and I needed my orthotics, um, to wear my orthotics in jail, so I could like not have—because I’m a bit flat-footed and so my orthotics they were custom made and prescribed by my doctor. But I couldn't wear them in a jail. You have to wear the slipper's in jail, and they wouldn't me have orthotics because that—that was part of my property. And they don't let you have property. Like this, it's, uh … And it causes a whole, yeah. 

Interviewer: I'm sorry to hear that. 

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