Join Moms United, Believers Bail Out, Black Lives Matter: Chicago, Brave Space AllianceChicago Books to Women in Prison, Chicago Community Bond Fund, Chicago Torture Justice Center, Chicago Volunteer Doulas, Chicago Workers’ Collaborative, Circles & Ciphers, CommunityCave Chicago, Liberation Library, Love & Protect, Prison and Neighborhood Arts Project, Support Ho(s)e/Justice for Alisha WalkerUptown People’s Law CenterWestside Justice Center, and more to hold vigil for incarcerated moms at Cook County Jail; Logan and Decatur women’s prisons, and in jails, prisons, and detention centers, shackled by electronic monitors, around the country. We’ll honor caregiving inside and across walls, though not all self-identify as moms.
We’ll meet on the grass median directly across from Division 5 of Cook County Jail with flowers for people visiting loved ones inside, performances, messages from moms inside, and a speaker line-up centering those who have been locked away from loved ones. We’ll share action steps and invitations to current freedom campaigns and other initiatives in solidarity with incarcerated caregivers.
We’ll collect toiletry donations* for people incarcerated at Logan prison (the largest designated women’s facility in IL) and we’ll share drop-off locations too. Thanks to the solidarity of generous supporters, we’ve collected significant quantities in previous years, so we strongly encourage folks to contact us if you or your workplace, etc plan to do a drive in solidarity: MomsUnitedChicago@gmail.com Thank you!!
The area is accessible in that there is a sidewalk to approach from and no elevation, but the grass can be difficult to maneuver if it rains.
To clarify, Moms United operates from a definition of moms that is based on caregiving in a broad sense and self-identification.
*Toiletries needed: shampoo, conditioner, soap (bar or liquid body soap), chapstick, pads, tampons, stick deodorant (no spray or powder). Full size best, but if you have travel sizes, those are very appreciated too!