Incarcerated Mother’s Day Vigil 2017. Photo Credit: @loveandstrugglephotos
Chicago, IL. On Saturday, May 12th, noon, Moms United Against Violence and Incarceration (MUAVI) and co-sponsoring groups, will gather directly across from Cook County Jail with formerly incarcerated moms, and moms who have been separated from kids by other institutions of state violence. Through featured speakers and performances, they will draw connections between targeted disinvestment, intensified policing, loss of affordable housing, gender-based violence, and criminalized acts of survival. MUAVI and co-sponsoring organizations will collect toiletries for women and gender non-conforming people locked up at the jail and Logan prison, and offer flowers to families leaving the jail after Mother’s Day weekend visits.
Participants will include moms who have returned recently, including women whose criminalization is related directly to domestic violence. Several have had their cases resolved in the last 10 months due, in part, to a participatory defense campaign involving MUAVI and some organizations co-sponsoring the vigil, including Love & Protect, Lifted Voices, Chicago Community Bond Fund, Chicago Volunteer Doulas, Chicago Books to Women in Prison, and more.
“It’s a powerful force when we come together to free someone. When Paris called [during last year’s vigil], that inspired me to know that she would be coming home, I felt such tremendous support, and I felt so happy because she knew she wasn’t alone and other women inside knew that someone cares, that there are people who want to support.” said Debbie Buntyn, advocate and mother of Paris Knox.
What: Vigil and toiletry drive outside Cook County Jail
When: Saturday, May 12th, Noon
Where: Cook County Jail, 2700 S California, across from the main visitor’s gate
Event Page: bit.ly/IncarceratedMomsDay2018