by Sol Mercado, Reentry Coordinator
What an inspiring and magical way to start the year! Planting Justice was honored to be able to host the “Freedom Tattoo Solidarity Event” at our nursery this month. This event was made possible thanks to our comrade Leesa Nomura, member organizer for California Coalition For Women’s Prisoners and founder of the “Freedom Looks Good On Us” Facebook page which has over 2.6K members and is still growing! The freedom tattoo started in Southern California when Leesa got the word "freedom" tattooed on her and made a post on the Freedom Looks Good On Us page. A lot of people began commenting on the page that they also wanted the tattoo and it quickly spread to Northern California, signifying the unity of all formerly incarcerated people across California.
It was a day full of joy, laughter, happy tears, love and solidarity. We had over 30 formerly incarcerated people show up to the event. Folks came from all over: Los Angeles, Sacramento, Albany, San Francisco and other neighboring cities and counties. As more people arrived throughout the day, the sense of joy, solidarity, and unity grew, especially as folks reunited with friends and loved ones that they did time with and had not seen in a very long time. While folks received tattoos, the group talked, ate food, and came together to celebrate and congratulate our sisters on the Inside who graduated a year-long coursed called GRIP (Guiding Rage into Power).
In our time together, seventeen people received a freedom tattoo. Everyone was so happy to be able to come together and stand in solidarity not only for those who have gotten their freedom but also for those who are still incarcerated.
Thank you to Guillermo Reyes who took the time to come all the way to Oakland to be a part of the Tattoo Solidarity Event and share his skills. Follow him on Instagram at @reyez_ink and support his work. See you at the next one!
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