Tewkunzi Freedom Day

800 West Buena Avenue,Chicago IL 60613

19 November, 2022

Description

As imagined by Tewkunzi before her passing, Tewkunzi Freedom Day celebrates the victorious release of incarcerated gender-based violence survivors and raises up the names of incarcerated survivors still fighting for their freedom. Speakers for this year’s event include Chicago Community Bond Fund Director Keisa Reynolds-Drennan; Tewkunzi’s mother, Arleen Herndon; Supreme Court appellate attorney, Andrea Lewis; and formerly incarcerated survivor Melissa Giles. Tewkunzi Freedom Day was launched in 2021 to celebrate the first anniversary of the release of freedom fighter Tewkunzi Green, our beloved friend and colleague. After her release, she worked to support families of incarcerated people and to fight for other incarcerated people in her role as Community Educator at IPP. Tewkunzi passed away in February 2022. While we continue to grieve for her, we also continue to be inspired by her work. As the famous social justice activist Mother Jones taught us, we must mourn those we have lost while we continue “fighting like hell” for survivors still in prison. In that spirit, we look forward to our Second Annual Tewkunzi Freedom Day Event. Our theme this year is the movement itself. In the midst of our grief and fatigue, we must remind each other that we are not alone in our grief or in our efforts to carry on. All of us — in our various roles as activists, formerly or currently incarcerated survivors, parents, lawyers, abolitionists and loved ones of incarcerated people — are part of a movement. This is event is kid friendly! We will have balloon animals and arts and crafts. Kids under 15 years old can reserve a free ticket. Most importantly, everyone should come in something you plan to dance in because we will be closing the event with a dance off! As you know: “A revolution without dancing is not a revolution worth having.” *Please note* - This event will be photographed and images from the event will be used on IPP's social media platforms. - We strongly encourage all attendees to be vaccinated, wear a mask while not actively eating or drinking, and take a rapid test prior to attending. Let’s protect each other. - We are happy to share that we will have a videographer, Tom Callahan, videotaping for the purpose of a future documentary about Tewkunzi and the movement that she was part of, as well as for IPP promotional materials. If you do not want to be videotaped please notify IPP staff prior to the event or upon check in.