#FreeOurYouth Day of Action 

 

The international #FreeOurYouth Day of Action is happening NOW!

We will be ramping up our demand to governors, juvenile detention and correctional administrators, and other state and local officials across the country: Release youth currently incarcerated in youth prisons, juvenile and immigration detention centers amid the COVID-19 pandemic!

 

 

As you know, under normal circumstances, youth detention centers and youth prisons are horrible places. In a pandemic, close quarters and unsanitary conditions could let disease spread like wildfire—the threat is dire.

The only way for youth to be safe from this pandemic is for them to be free from detention —and governors have the power to make it happen!

If you are interested in participating in this virtual action, we ask that you sign up, sign on and get social!

Here are the details: 

1.     Take a moment to sign up for today’s #FreeOurYouth Day of Action.

2.    Consider signing on your organization for the Day of Action.

3.    Make use of the social media toolkit that we have created. 

4.    Today, take a picture, tag your governor, challenge 3 of your friends to do the same, and GET THE WORD OUT!

5.    Forward this email now to anyone in your network to take action.
We are partnering with young people, students, and advocates worldwide to flood social media to speak with one voice, calling on governors and policymakers around the country to release incarcerated youth & to provide youth with support to transition home. We would really appreciate your help in encouraging others to participate.

Please forward this message to your friends, and others in your network. Folks can just click here to sign up to take virtual action with thousands of others nationwide.

 

JOIN TODAY’S ACTION!

 

Youth prisons are already becoming COVID-19 hot spots. This virus is not waiting. We can’t wait either.

Thank you for all you do. Please reach out to me at hernan@youthfirstinitiative.org, if you have any questions.

In Solidarity,
Hernán, Youth First

The #FreeOurYouth international day of action campaign co-sponsors include ACLU at Moritz, African American Juvenile Justice Project (Georgia), AYICRIP (Nigeria), Columbia University Black Students’ Organization (New York), Connecticut Juvenile Justice Alliance, Defence of Children International, Families & Friends of Louisiana’s Incarcerated Children, Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop, Friends of Inmates Zambia, Generation Progress, The Justice-Involved Young People Network (Australia), Juvenile Film, Juvenile Justice Advocates International (Mexico), Lake Braddock PTSA, New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, Ohio State United Students Against Sweatshops, Outlaws at Moritz, Penn State Student’s Restorative Justice Initiative, PLUMAS (Political Latinxs United for Movement and Action in Society) at UVA, Progeny (Kansas), Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth, Rutgers-New Brunswick Black Student Union (New Jersey), Second Chance Freedom Foundation, Student Immigrant Movement, Team Child, Virginia Coalition for the Fair Sentencing of Youth, Virginia Student Environmental Coalition, and Youth4Justice NJ.