4 GROUNDCOVER NEWS INCARCERATION LILY PASTORA MONTEROSSO U-M student contributor Shock. Fear. Hope. Those were the emotions that many people faced when the Journey to Justice bus tour arrived at the Michigan League (University of Michigan student union) on Friday, Oct. 17. Run by the Unlock the Box campaign and Look 2 Justice, alongside local partners such as Open MI Door, a bus-turned-art-exhibition is traveling around the nation to show the injustices people face in solitary confinement. Solitary confinement is a form of punishment where a person in jail or prison is placed in a locked room for as long as 22 hours or more a day. Many people who are in solitary confinement are denied access to family visits, recreational activities and prison programming, leaving them alone in a jail cell that resembles an empty cage. Organizations like Unlock the Box try to raise awareness on how solitary confinement is harmful to those forced into it while working with governments to try to alleviate the issue through legislation or policy. The first part of the event focused on the decorated school bus next to the Michigan League, which was transformed into a portable museum that showcased people who faced solitary confinement and their testimonies. When I walked into the bus, the first thing I noticed was the bare bunk beds, each one cramped and featuring a thin blanket and pillow as the only means of comfort. People were able to lie in the beds while listening to an inmate's experience through a prison phone, allowing them to be immersed in the experience of someone in solitary confinement. Meanwhile, there were lockers at the back of the bus, each one showcasing a person who went through solitary confinement and giving their stories while their personal belongings were scattered around the locker itself. As I was listening to the stories, I could hear the fear from their tone in the stories — the screams of help from the inmates, the crude conditions that people faced and the dwindling morale that made people feel less and less human. These exhibits allowed participants, including myself, to understand how solitary confinement can be dehumanizing and used wrongfully in the incarceration system. While exploring the bus, I met with Hakim Crampton, the Government Relations Liaison for Citizens for Prison Reform and a survivor of solitary confinement. After being wrongfully convicted for a murder at the age of 18, Crampton spent 15 years in prison, witnessing firsthand how solitary confinement harmed him and his community EVENTS ALL HALLOWS ILLUMINATION Saturday, November 1, from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Frog Island Park, Ypsi All Hallows Illumination is a beloved Ypsi tradition where thousands of jack-o'-lanterns create a glowing, magical trail. Bring your creation to Frog Island. Ypsi provides the LED lights for a safe, glowing display — no candles needed! A thrilling performance by the incredible Ypsilanti Youth Choir, spooky DJ tunes, local arts mini marketplace and pet costume parade! Sign up to volunteer and lend a hand today: firstfridaysypsi.com/all-hallows AFRICAN WOMEN FILM FESTIVAL 2025 Wednesday - Friday, November 5-7, select times Michigan League, State Theater, Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor A three-day celebration of the creativity, resilience and global impact of African women in cinema.This year’s festival centers on the theme “Voices of Resilience: The Power of Storytelling in African Cinema."The event features award-winning filmmakers from across the continent alongside University of Michigan faculty experts for film screenings, Q&A sessions, and panel discussions. Full schedule available at ii.umich.edu/asc/news-events/ events/awff2025.html FIRST FRIDAYS YPSI Friday, November 7, 5-11 p.m. Downtown and Depot Town First Friday food court and normal festivities — explore businesses to shop exclusive discounts, attend pop-up events and galleries featuring Ypsilanti area artists and performers. YPSI PULL OVER PREVENTION Saturday, November 8, 10 a.m.- 12 p.m. Masjid Ibrahim, 315 S. Ford Blvd, Ypsilanti Provides free car repairs of lights, tire pressure and fluids to prevent unecessary interactions with law enforcement. Free food, pet food and supplies, A2 COMMUNITY BOOKFEST Sunday, November 9, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. AADL downtown, 343 S. 5th Ave. Booksellers, publishers, authors, and more will be tabling and various activities for all ages, such as keynote author talks, hands-on crafts for kids and adults, storytimes, and discussion groups, will take place throughout the day. Additionally, from 1 -2 p.m., the Fifth Avenue Press annual author reception will celebrate books published by the Library in the prior year. CONCERT FOR PEACE Tuesday, November 11,7 p.m. The Ark, 316 S Main St. Ann Arbor This annual concert benefits the Veterans for Peace Chapter 93 Peace Scholarship Fund. Proceeds will go to scholarships for college students enrolled in an accredited peace studies program and for programs to assist combat veterans suffering from serious trauma. This year’s lineup includes community resources and more. Laith Al-Saadi, Judy Banker, Al Bettis, Dave Boutette and Kristi Davis, Chris Buhalis, Annie & Rod Capps, Rochelle Clark, Lauren Crane, Dave Keeney & Sophie Hanifi, Shari Kane & Dave Steele, Billy King, Pontiac Trailblazers, Maddy Ringo, Michael Smith, Rollie Tussing and Matt Watroba. INTERFAITH COUNCIL FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE CONNECT AND ACT Saturday, November 22, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 120 S. State St., Ann Arbor Join to learn ways that you can get involved in a community that is ready to "Circle Up" and get to work! Build skills together, plan together and act together! Register to attend in-person or online: givebutter.com/CircleUp2025 Submit an event to be featured in the next edition: submissions@groundcovernews. com peers. He said that while he had support from his family during his time in prison, many others who face the same situation do not. “When you don’t have anyone to turn to, there’s no support, then mental illness could even increase tenfold,” Crampton said. He now shares his experience around the state in order to educate the public about the abuses that happen with solitary confinement, while encouraging them to take action in the community and with the government. After the bus tour, the second part of the event was a discussion at the Michigan League. After watching some documentaries about how solitary confinement is impacting people in Michigan, there was a panel discussion with Joel Carter, who faced solitary confinement while being incarcerated; Margo Schlanger, a professor at the University of Michigan who focuses on civil rights with criminal detention; and Barbara Oppewall, whose son Ben passed away due to severe conditions while being in solitary confinement. Each one gave their own perspectives and opinions, and the various ways in which the issue can be tackled through local organizations and the government. This event allowed me to learn more about this staggering issue and understand how it can affect not only the person in solitary confinement, but Inside the tour bus OCTOBER 31, 2025 Journey to Justice Tour brings awareness, hope also the families and friends of the individual. Incarceration is one of the main contributors to homelessness, and when someone is forcefully put into an environment that strips away their individuality, they can develop mental health issues that can lead to poor choices, continuing the cycle of incarceration. Event organizers stressed talking about this issue with others to raise awareness while also contacting representatives to inform them to work on bills that end solitary confinement in Michigan. For survivors like Hakim, grace is a crucial thing for people to give. He concluded, “There’s different times in our lives that we make mistakes. And should those mistakes be backbreaking, life-ending mistakes? You know, I don’t think so. I think that we need to have some grace, you know, forgiveness for people.”
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