Safety and Freedom Fund

🎓 Kenisha was originally denied access to classes because of her life sentence. 📚 At OR, we seek to create access to education to all who desire it. Flash forward to now, Kenisha’s life sentence has been reduced, and she is on track to graduate with a B.A. next summer!

#TheLensNola🔍 The community solar project would provide subscriptions for 350 neighbors, reducing their Entergy bills by at least 25%. buff.ly/3L6jjVl

PSA: Jul 4, eligible individuals can carry a concealed firearm without a permit IN Louisiana EXCEPT in the City of N.O. Due to municipal law, you still need a permit until Aug 1. NOPD encourages all gun owners to act responsibly & watch this video about the new law.

59 years ago #SCOTUS guaranteed access to birth control. Now, that and much more is under threat. motherjones.com/politics/2024/… via @MotherJones #ReproductiveRights

🫶 Operation Girls aims to create a safe, supportive space for justice-impacted girls, so we greatly appreciated @odysseyhousela coming to speak about harm reduction. The girls learned important information and skills to stay safe around alcohol and drugs. ✊ Knowledge is power!

A felony conviction should not mean hunger. 🙅‍♀️ This powerful piece by @thehill argues for reforming laws that deny food assistance to people with convictions. thehill.com/opinion/congre… #CriminalJusticeReform #SocialJustice

3 teens accused of stealing, burning LGBTQ flag in St. Tammany nola.com/news/crime_pol…

How can a father be there for his kids after losing their mother while trapped in jail on unaffordable cash bail? Samuel struggled to navigate his partner’s murder while in jail pretrial. bailproject.org/stories/mourni… We paid his bail and helped Samuel get back on his feet so he could grieve in peace among his community and not behind bars.

🎤 Ashley, our Policy & Legal Associate, hopped on Fox 8 News Friday to shed light on how Operation Restoration empowers women and girls impacted by the criminal legal system to overcome hurdles and rebuild their lives. Learn more at or-nola.org. #Reentry

As we fight to end the mass incarceration of women and girls overall, we will also continue to advocate to decriminalize abortions because FREEDOM should still be 🆓👏🏾

It’s been two years since SCOTUS held that the right to an abortion is NOT protected by the U.S. Constitution.

NEW: during #PrideMonth, we are highlighting how the Biden administration’s asylum bans & border policies strand LGBTQI+ refugees in danger & risk their wrongful return to persecution. Read our new report: humanrightsfirst.org/library/u-s-as… Key findings below🧵 These policies:⬇️

Did you know that LGBTQ+ individuals are disproportionately affected by cash bail and pretrial incarceration? Together, we can work towards a system that treats everyone with fairness and dignity.  Join us in advocating for a more just and equitable future. Let’s celebrate #PRIDE by taking action and reaffirming our commitment to fighting against the injustices of the cash bail system. 💗

People leaving prison have sky-high mortality rates. Making sure they have healthcare coverage upon release from prison would save lives and reduce recidivism. prisonpolicy.org/blog/2022/11/2…

Louisiana's laws affect #LGBTQ+ rights. 🏳️‍🌈⚖️ HB608 just passed, crafting a legal definition of woman that excludes trans women and prohibits access to restrooms. HB414 is pending, aiming to remove LGBTQ+ sexual health content from libraries. @WGNOtv wgno.com/news/politics/…

We’re looking forward to serving our community on June 14th from 11am-3pm! 🥘 Lunch is on us at PotBelly NOLA, plus: 🗳️ A voter registration drive 🍧 Free Icecups 👚 Free new and gently used clothing ⚖️ Pro bono legal services ❤️ A resource fair #NOLA or-nola.org/news/juneteent…

⏰ Today is your last day to submit comments to a new rule proposal reducing housing barriers for people with convictions! 🏠 Our Housing Specialist Dolfinette Martin went live on @wbok_1230 to bring attention to it. Submit your commment here: regulations.gov/document/HUD-2…

Of 3,000 women who were pregnant when they went to prison, only HALF received any kind of prenatal care apart from an obstetric exam. Prison is no place for mothers to be. prisonpolicy.org/reports/pie202…

🏳️‍⚧️ Proud to stand with our LGBTQ+ community in Louisiana to repeal the discriminatory Crime Against Nature Statute (CANS). This outdated law unfairly targets LGBTQ+ individuals, especially trans women of color. Learn more: or-nola.org/programs/lgbtq #CansCantStand

What kind of criminal justice system allows a woman at nearly eight months pregnant – who has not gone to court – to be left alone in a jail cell for 24 hours a day? One that relies on cash bail. Without anyone to turn to for help paying bail, Maribeth was trapped behind bars for nearly 3 months without being convicted of anything. We stepped in to pay her bail and she was able to deliver her baby in a hospital. Read her full story at bailproject.org/maribeth-fl.