Pics of opponents of Governor Corbett's mass incarceration blocking construction traffic at SCI Graterford. Opponents of the prison have erected a school house on the grounds and have set up desks with the intention of transforming this institution of repression into a facility for solidarity, growth and learning.
“MISSING” is a visibility project, a public art project to create life size silhouettes to be placed on walls, used as signs, props, etc. to create awareness of those who have been stolen from our communities by the criminal justice system. Over 2.5 million are currently in prisons, jails and detention centers in the United States - more than any other country in the world. Each silhouette represents a missing member of our community, no matter the legal status, residency, or citizenship of the person who has been removed and sent away, leaving their families and loved ones behind.
Thank you so much to everyone who came out to today's barbeque! It was a beautiful day and lots of fun. Special thanks to all the groups who co-sponsored with us- ...And Justice For All, the Youth Art and Self Empowerment Project, Reconstruction Inc., the Human Rights Coalition, and X-Offenders for Community Empowerment. And also thanks to the McCreesh Rec Center for hosting us and to DJ Ed Onaci for all the great music.
Governor Corbett’s budget slashes millions from public education and social services while continuing to fund the state’s $685 million prison expansion plan. This plan will add over 5000 new beds to the Pennsylvania prison system.
We believe in a different set of priorities for Pennsylvania. Instead of sending more people to prison, we need to address the things that funnel people into the prison system. We want quality public schools, stable housing, jobs and job training programs, health care and food access, drug and alcohol treatment programs, community-based reentry services, and non-punitive practices that address the root causes of violence in our communities.
When Governor Corbett came to Philadelphia, Decarcerate PA lined the streets with cots and banners to demonstrate that money spent on prison beds is money taken away from the things PA really needs. Now we are taking our cots on the road! Every day from now until the budget passes, Decarcerate PA will post a new photo of these cots in front of institutions and places in Pennsylvania that are negatively impacted by Governor Corbett’s broken priorities.
You can let Corbett know that he’s taking PA in the wrong direction! Follow us on twitter @decacreratePA, and retweet the photos to @GovernorCorbett using the hashtags #PAbudget and #picturethis.