This holiday, support incarcerated folks by joining Season For Solidarity

This holiday season, support incarcerated folks by joining us for Season For Solidarity!

Join us this Friday, December 15, 2017 from 5 p.m.-9 p.m. at Plymouth Congregational UCC (4010 Kalamazoo Ave SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49508) for A Season for Solidarity.

This is an event to bring light to mass incarceration and spread joy and love to targeted communities and people including activists, LGBT prisoners and survivor/victims of domestic violence, especially those of color. It will also be a great space and opportunity to meet and share with members of the community, eat great food and get educated on mass incarceration as it affects communities nationally and locally.

Incarcerated women of color especially Black women, LGBTQ people especially trans folk of color, sex workers and human trafficking survivors, domestic violence survivors, leftist activists and organizers, undocumented people are some of the communities targeted by unjust systems that could use love, uplifting, and support during the holiday season.

Around this time of year people often turn to charitable or major non-profit efforts to reach out to people “in need." However, we feel it’s important for us to look within our own communities and neighborhoods at existing frameworks or possibilities of mutual aid to support one another and those most affected by state violence that do not commonly receive attention or support by mainstream initiatives and charitable givings during the holidays. That can look like letter writing, raising funds, raising awareness on the issues, supporting local incarcerated folks, getting educated, expressing yourself artistically, helping change the narratives on policing, criminality and violence, and so much more.

At the event there will be presentations and information on the J20 protestors, Black and Pink and Free Ky Peterson, Free Desirae, Survived and Punished, Free Red Fawn and Standing Rock support. There will also be letter writing tables, merchandise, arts n' crafts, teach-ins, zines and other informational materials to take home and food!

This event is free, but donations will be accepted to support the incarcerated people discussed and highlighted, including J20 activists and Desirae Glatfelter, a local victim/survivor of domestic abuse who was incarcerated for defending herself. Proceeds from any merchandise will also be going to support incarcerated people and those targeted by the state.

We hope to see you there!