During the pandemic, we learned yet again that we must take care of ourselves. As many of our community members remained home during intense lockdowns without substantial relief from the state while billionaires and corporations rake in record profits, mutual aid became more important than ever. The state also allowed city and county jails, federal and state prisons, juvenile detention jails, and immigrant detention centers to become hotbeds for COVID-19 infections and death camps for millions. Rapid response actions to free them all, caravan protests to demand relief, and communities of caring mutual aid kept us going and helped us live out the world we want to see, now.
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Coalition to Decarcerate IL:
Clemency Now! February 2022 -- What started as a coalition to end Illinois' prison lockdowns and fight for better medical conditions for those inside during the height of COVID-19, the Coalition to Decarcerate IL is a group of loved ones of the incarcerated, currently and formerly incarcerated individuals, activists, and creatives working towards abolition and fighting for the rights and dignity of currently incarcerated individuals and their loved ones. |
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#FreeTheMoms Action
May 7, 2021 -- End IL Prison Lockdown, AFSC Chicago, and Mamas Activating Movements for Abolition & Solidarity (MAMAS) came out to a Mother’s Day rally where they delivered a giant Mother’s Day card to JB Pritzker’s home, singed by dozens of mothers of the incarcerated and incarcerated moms. We Demanded that the Illinois Governor restore contact visit and end of the lockdowns, sign the clemencies on his desk, and free our loved ones! Cancel the plans to build a new youth prison in IL and #StopLDC! |
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End IL Prison Lockdown
December 15, 2020 -- SoapBox joins the End IL Prison Lockdown Coalition (now the Coalition to Decarcerate IL) to demand that the state of Illinois take the appropriate actions to protect those in IDOC. “Where are you Gov. Pritzker? In the past 10 months, incarcerated people in Illinois have faced an extreme, ineffective l, and unending prison lockdown, forced to stay in their cell over 23 hours a day! Still, over 60 are dead and 1,000s infected. Cages don’t drop COVID! |
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Feed 79th: TRAP House Chicago
June 2020 -- With COVID-19 creating barriers to food access and many grocers shutting down in response to the uprisings, we saw spike in mutual aid efforts globally; Chicago was no different. Restorative justice streetwear boutique TRAP House Chicago started their Feed 79th program to joyously feed the community. |
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#FreeThemAllBlockParty
May 13, 2020 -- Folks from Assata's Daughters, Liberation Library, American Friends Service Committee (Chicago), Chicago Freedom School, and more held a #FreeThemAllBlockParty outside of Chicago’s Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (JTDC) to show solidarity with the young people inside who are #TrappedByToomin. As of May 27, 2020, Judge Michael P. Toomin has been keeping young people trapped there, admitting 100+ new youth to the jail since the COVID-19 outbreak & preventing hearings from being scheduled that would facilitate their release. Demand action here! |
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#RightToRelief Caravan
May 7, 2020 -- During the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis and beyond, various groups and individuals in Chicago are demanding #RightToRecovery! Along with the People's Bailout, we are calling for an inclusive bailout for and by the people to the rights and resources that have been hoarded for far too long. Get a glimpse of last Thursday's mass caravan action in downtown Chicago featuring Bourbon 'n BrownTown alum Ariel Atkins. Let’s not go back to normal. |
