Free Black Mamas DMV

“The only weapon we have is our bodies and we need to tuck them in places so wheels don’t turn.” -Bayard Rustin

Campaign Ended

Organized by Harriet's Wildest Dreams, Inc

$89,561

1.2k Supporters

111% of $80,000 goal

DiDi Delgado

Fundraiser since May 2023

Share DiDi Delgado's Page

$2,270

35 supporters

151% of $1,500 goal

DiDi Delgado's Story

#FreeBlackMamasDMV is a collective of organizations including Harriet's Wildest Dreams, Life After Release, Out for Justice and many others organizing an annual Free Black Mama’s Day. These bailouts and post release wrap around services across the DC and Baltimore metro areas have taken place since 2017 to raise the advocacy and amplification of dismantling, pre-trial detention and to end these systemic injustices that keep our people caged once and for all. “We are our ancestors wildest dreams.” #FreeBlackMamasDMV began as an answer for the call to action from Southerners on New Ground’s (SONG) in 2017 to bail out Black mamas and caretakers to raise public consciousness about the inhumanity of money bail. Since our collective 2017 inception, we have: Bailed out over 50+ community loved ones and counting; Provided access and pathways to addressing social determinants of health including transitional housing, clothing, transportation and cell phones to mamas and caretakers we’ve bailed out. Launched an eight (8) week paid fellowship at the Liberation and Justice Institute. For the past six consecutive years, we've provided emergency assistance for mamas and caretakers bailed out through #FreeBlackMamasDMV in collaborative conjunction with other local organizers. #FreeBlackMamasDMV is a member of National Bail Out Collective’s #FreeBlackMamas campaign, a formation of over a dozen community based organizations that is responsible for the Black Mama’s Bail Out along with subsequent bail out actions and strategies to end money bail and pretrial detention.

Team Members

NeeNee

$4,390.66

49 Supporters

SURJ DC

$4,015

32 Supporters

Frankie

$2,900

43 Supporters

DiDi

$2,270

35 Supporters

Makia

$1,085

29 Supporters

Samantha

$1,800

15 Supporters

Mikki

$1,090

18 Supporters

Jenna

$425

11 Supporters

Sarah

$750

5 Supporters

Katherine

$232.65

5 Supporters

Pchas

$195

3 Supporters

Cat

$85

4 Supporters

Story

Campaign Ended

$89,561

1.2k Supporters

111% of $80,000 goal

Campaign Update

almost 2 years ago

Your Donation Kept A Black Mama Free ❤️

Six hundred and sixty seven dollars is all that stood between Candy*—a single mother of five—and a six-month long jail stint that would jeopardize her place in a housing voucher program for survivors of domestic abuse and thrust her children into the foster care system.

The several hundred dollars she owed was the result of two missed restitution payments—payments often made as reparation to the court for harm caused to a person or property after a person has plead or been found guilty.

The missed payments are considered a violation of probation, and if she did not come to court with money-in-hand, she could—and likely, would—be re-arrested.

A single mother living on public assistance after a violent relationship with her children’s father left her body and economic stability badly bruised, Candy had no disposable income. When asked how she had been making restitution payments before being connected with #FreeBlackMamasDMV, she replied, “I know I’m not supposed to do it, but I’ve been selling my [food] stamps.”

Restitution is another side of financial strangulation courts impose on working-broke families without regard for their ability to pay, then threaten them with jail time if they fail to comply. It’s a system that sets poor and working-class families up to fail then brutally punishes them when they do.

Like bail, restitution is only a barrier for those who are already struggling financially. It leaves impossible choices for a family like Candy’s: take food out of her kids’ mouths or risk being taken away from her kids altogether.