Street Art Project Raises Bail Money to Free Black Mothers by Mother’s Day

Since 2018, the People’s Paper Co-op have collaborated with the Philadelphia Community Bail Fund on their annual Mama’s Day Bail Out campaign. Each year they organize exhibitions, parades, press conferences, and events to raise awareness and funds for the project, while sharing the stories, dreams, and demands of formerly incarcerated women with thousands of Philadelphians. In that time, their poster and t-shirt sales have raised over $125,000 to free Black mothers and caregivers for Mother’s Day. And this year, they’re aiming to raise $90,000!

The People’s Paper Co-op (PPC) is a women led, women focused, women powered art and advocacy project at The Village of Arts and Humanities in North Philadelphia. The PPC looks to women in reentry as the leading criminal justice experts our society needs to hear from and uses art to amplify their stories, dreams, and visions for a more just and free world.

“Cash bail is the modern-day debtors’ prison,” reads President Biden’s 2020 campaign website. “The cash bail system incarcerates people who are presumed innocent.” Biden and Harris ran on ending cash bail because it keeps people in prison solely for fact that unlike their wealthier counterparts many folks can’t afford their freedom. Ending cash bail is only the just thing to do morally and ethically, it’s a winning policy as well. And a policy change we must hold Biden and Harris accountable to. But right now, there’s women who need your help.

The mural photographed for this post was installed last Friday, April 23 at Ridge Avenue and Spring Garden Street. It’s just one of several installations going up around town right now to promote the 2021 Mama’s Day Bail Out Campaign webstore where you can buy art and tee shirts with 100% of proceeds go directly to the Philadelphia Community Bail Fund to free Black moms and caregivers for Mother’s Day. Please don’t wait y’all, your purchase needs to be made as soon as possible to free folks in time for Mother’s Day. Go buy the artwork now, it only takes a few minutes!

Mural photographed in this post was installed by People’s Paper Co-op Fellows Tinika Hogan, Ivy Johnson, and Janaya Pulliam; Lead Fellow Faith Bartley; and Co-Directors Courtney Bowles and Mark Strandquist!