Human Rights Lab Student Interns at Parole Illinois’ Free Minds, Free Voices Celebration
Free Minds, Free Voices was a night dedicated to celebrating the long, hard, work to end mass incarceration and build support for legislation for a parole system in Illinois. Parole Illinois is an organization that was born from the struggles of people caged in our state’s prisons who insist on being seen fully as three-dimensional human beings. This special evening was about celebrating their fierce leadership, brilliance and vision for a fair and inclusive parole system.
Parole Illinois is the only grassroots organization led by incarcerated leaders in Illinois, and this special evening was organized by an inside/outside community of Parole Illinois members and supporters, including Lab/Mass Incarceration Working Group Student Interns.
Indigo Wright, Human Rights Lab Peer Leader/Special Projects Fellow,
and Chioma Nwoye, Human Rights Lab Summer Intern, volunteering
at the Free Minds, Free Voices art table.
Invoking the words of Prison + Neighborhood Arts/Education Project's Think Tank and Parole Illinois member Devon Terrell who said: "I walk into the future by visualizing it today" -- at the celebration, attendees gathered to visualize a future with parole in our state.
Colette Payne, Director of the Women's Justice Initiative’s Reclamation Project,
one of three recipients of Parole Illinois’ inaugural Freedom Fighter Awards.
Parole Illinois is continuing to mobilize support to pass Senate Bill 2333, Earned Discretionary Reentry. If passed, the bill would give incarcerated individuals the opportunity to petition for earned release.
Check out pictures from Free Minds, Free Voices on the Human Rights Lab flickr. All photos taken by Devontez Cox (@Devontezz), AB’23.