Building Community Power Through Celebration at Decarcerate and Chill

Nikki points her fingers toward the crowd and Mrs Dee Dee takes to the mic as  DJ Ansharaye spins behind them

We ready, we coming. On Saturday, June 25th we kicked it with old friends and new for a celebration of our collective struggle to get free. We shared delicious food as DJ Ansharaye surrounded us with good vibes on the 1s and 2s. 

A picture shows people lined up for food and a young kid in the foreground of the photo

As Audre Lordre made clear, “Without community, there is no liberation, only the most vulnerable and temporary armistice between an individual and her oppression.” Our movement family pulled together for Decarcerate and Chill, because we believe in building powerful and deep relationships across traditional dividing lines of race and geography. We build with everyone who has a loved one or a friend in prison, so we can build the movement to free them.

Marcie and Mrs Dee Dee post for the camera

Sponsored by Abolitionist Law Center, Straight Ahead, Free The Ballot and our sister organization Amistad Law Project, this gathering provided space for friends and family members of the incarcerated, formerly incarcerated people and supporters to connect and build with each other. After several years of the pandemic and in the midst of an uncertain and tumultuous times, our movement family is prioritizing these in real world spaces for connection. 

a crowd gathers near the stage for a group photo

Did you miss this gathering? Well we want you at the next one! Sign up below to help us build the movement to get free! 

 

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