Join Moms United and Northside Transformative Law Center for a dinner, panel and facilitated discussion, in a fully accessible location, about the ways in which moms, overwhelmingly poor moms and disproportionately moms of color are criminalized out of abusive/coercive circumstances.
This includes legal theories of “failure to protect”, as well as accountability laws in which a person in charged for the actions of others, often their abusers. More broadly, this is about the ways in which poverty, abuse and trauma are addressed within punishment systems rather than with supportive resources–and will continue as such until we begin to dismantle those systems and commit to fully resourced communities, whole person healthcare.
The panel will feature Alexandra Chambers of the Free Shantonio Hunter Campaign, Monica Cosby of Moms United, Tanya Gassenheimer of Shriver Center on Poverty Law. We’ll be joined by loved ones of moms who are pre-trial and post-conviction, punished for the actions of abusers, grieving separation from children and facing the possibility of decades in prison. Invited guests also include domestic violence advocates, members of the public defender’s office, the state’s attorney’s office and the probation and parole board and YOU.
Co-sponsored by Chicago Books to Women in Prison, Chicago Community Bond Fund, Circles & Ciphers, Justice for Alisha Walker/Support Ho(s)e, Love & Protect, The Women’s Justice Institute – WJI, Westside Justice Center.
Fully accessible, free street parking, all ages welcome plus optional childcare. Dinner catered by @Spirit & Soul Catering