Join Moms United and co-sponsoring orgs for our 5th annual Mother’s Day vigil and toiletry drive outside Cook County Jail, on the green, directly across from the main visitor’s gate. The median on which we hold the vigil is accessible insofar as there is no incline or stairs, but the ground can be difficult to navigate if it has been raining. We’ll have volunteers to assist, some chairs, and please reach out if you would like to confirm that first: MomsUnitedChicago@gmail.com subject line, “accessibility”.
Co-sponsors include Black Lives Matter: Chicago, Black Lives Matter Women of Faith, Brave Space Alliance, Chicago Community Bond Fund, Chicago Books to Women in Prison, Chicago Volunteer Doulas, Lifted Voices, Love & Protect, The People’s Lobby, Justice for Alisha Walker/Support Ho(s)e, Sister Survivor Network, Westside Justice Center, Women Gathering for Justice and more!
We will uplift and honor mothers separated from their kids by incarceration in jails, prisons, deportation centers, and even by the restrictive conditions of electronic monitoring and parole, which are not supportive of caregiver duties. We will hear from formerly and recently incarcerated moms, their loved ones, and abolitionist organizers/artists–many embody all of these descriptions. We’ll hear music, release biodegradable balloons, greet loved ones on their way to and from visits.