Last year, we officially launched our newest organizing project called Mujeres Luchadoras, a group of women formerly detained at the T. Don Hutto detention center fighting to shut it down once and for all.
In March 2021, Mujeres Luchadoras led the first march in front of the T. Don Hutto detention center since the pandemic began. The event included a march led by directed impact women and followed by a car caravan of allies. The powerful event featured speakers from Mujeres Luchadoras — including a mother recently reunited with her daughter on whose behalf she had organized — along with Amy Nelson, Willie Nelson’s daughter who created a film about Mujeres Luchadoras. The protest was featured in coverage from NPR and the Austin American-Statesman.
Then in June, we held a two-day retreat with members of Mujeres Luchadoras and their families (11 kids!) at Alma de Mujer, a women of color operated retreat center in North Austin. We had therapists on hand who talked about the impact of being a woman of color and how to process the pain and trauma of incarceration. We had a session on healing the land including the space that T. Don Hutto occupies. We had childcare for the full two days. We also did a separate break-out with the youth, three of whom were formerly detained themselves. At the end, we held a visioning session and time at the water on the land to gather ourselves and vision what comes next.
With your support, we can continue to hold more events like these so we can uplift the organizing efforts of Mujeres Luchadoras and other groups directly impacted by the harms of mass incarceration, deportation, and criminalization.
Here’s what your donations will support: any upcoming protests and direct action events, strategy retreats, and economic development opportunities along with some stipends and staffing funds for members who take on leadership roles.
Donation levels:
- $25 sticker
- $50 sticker/mug
- $75 sticker/mug/koozie
- $100 limited edition sticker/mug/koozie/shirt
It’s time to dismantle the mass incarceration and deportation systems which cause lasting harm to our community. Help us build power with impacted people, and ensure that our communities are on the frontlines of change, and please consider joining us in making a donation for Amplify Austin today.
