Archived Campaigns: #FreeThemNow – CT & NY (2020 – 2022)

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, we knew it would be bad for incarcerated people. Many jails and prisons became super-spreader sites. In the first few weeks of the pandemic, Katal launched our #FreeThemNow campaigns in Connecticut and New York, demanding that 1) incarcerated people be released, and 2) basic preventative tools like masks and soap be provided to incarcerated people.

This page brings together many of the resources, graphics, and materials we created and distributed during the period of these campaigns: 2020–2022.

In both Connecticut and New York, we produced fact sheets (CT Fact Sheet, NY Fact Sheet), held rallies (including multiple car caravan rallies in CT), and called on the governors to release incarcerated people.

We successfully brought public attention to the impact of the pandemic behind bars; we elevated the stories and voices of our members (both incarcerated people and their families); we organized online to generate momentum for change; and we compelled action on the part of decision makers. In CT, we rallied at the legislature and pushed the DOC to adopt health-based measures to protect people locked up. In NY, with our allies at Unchained, we won an important victory when Gov. Andrew Cuomo agreed to release nearly 1,100 incarcerated people (see the press release here).

You can see most of our press releases, action reports, and op-eds from our #FreeThemNow Campaigns at this link.

As our organizing moved online during the early weeks and months of COVID, we produced a number of animated graphics (GIFs) with artist Josh MacPhee, in an effort to raise awareness of the impact of COVID-19 behind bars. Some were specific to Connecticut, and some specific to New York.

We also made printed materials that we distributed in Connecticut, New York, and around the country. Copies of the printed materials can be found in our physical archive. Many of the online graphics and animations are collected below.

Posters

One of the first things we made with Josh MacPhee in the early months of COVID-19 were these #FreeThemNow posters, calling for the release of people from jails and prisons (poster 1, poster 2). We had the posters printed by the Radix Printing and Publication Cooperative, in Brooklyn. We publicized these posters online, and offered to send them free to anyone by mail. We got a ton of requests, and sent hundreds of these posters to advocates in dozens of states across the country.

Images & Animated Graphics (GIFs)

#Free Them Now CT Graphics

#Free Them Now NY Graphics

Our #FreeThemNow Graphics & Posters