Thread by @Piper

You may be binge-watching @OITNB right now and I hope you can’t stop thinking about the characters and their stories.

The last 10 years since my memoir was published have been crazy and instructive, and I want to offer a few reflections.

#OITNB #OrangeForever #FreeHer

@OITNB When you’re in prison you’re completely reliant on the kindness of strangers. And people are rightly scared when they're behind bars.

But I’ve seen incarcerated women share what little commissary they had to ensure others had tampons & could call their kids.

#OITNB #FreeHer

@OITNB (Calling your kids to say "I love you" from behind bars can cost as much as a $1.50 a minute BTW.)

#OITNB #OrangeForever #FreeHer

@OITNB The same is true when you get out of prison. But for the kindness of strangers many formerly incarcerated women wouldn’t be given the second-chance that everyone deserves.

#OITNB #OrangeForever #FreeHer

@OITNB Below are a few examples of the kindness YOU can offer incarcerated & formerly incarcerated women across the country – hundreds of thousands of women who are or once were serving time in #RealLifeLitchfields.

(Small spoiler ahead, but I promise it’s worth it!)

#OITNB

@OITNB In the final season of @OITNB, Taystee @thedanieb creates a fund to honor her friend Poussey @SamiraWiley who was killed by a prison guard in S4. She calls it the Poussey Washington Fund.

#OITNB #OrangeForever #FreeHer

@OITNB @thedanieb @samirawiley .@OITNB has created a real Poussey Washington Fund benefiting these incredible organizations.

@AntiRecidivism
@MigrantFreedom
@ImmDef
@ANewWayofLife1
@thecouncilus
@ccf_ny
@WPA_NYC
@unprisonproject

4 of them are led by women who survived prison. Donate: crowdrise.com/pwf

@OITNB @thedanieb @samirawiley @AntiRecidivism @MigrantFreedom @ImmDef @ANewWayofLife1 @thecouncilus @ccf_ny @WPA_NYC @unprisonproject I read a lot of books in prison. They helped make the unbearable moments more bearable.

Support the Women’s Prison Book Project @wpbp by donating a 📚, 💰or ⌚️.

Some of the most popular requests are drug/alcohol recovery books & GED primers. wpbp.org

#OITNB

@OITNB @thedanieb @samirawiley @AntiRecidivism @MigrantFreedom @ImmDef @ANewWayofLife1 @thecouncilus @ccf_ny @WPA_NYC @unprisonproject @wpbp For women re-entering, here’s how you can help:

1. Donate clothing, hygiene products & transit passes to re-entry groups or programs in your city/county

2. Hire them! Or donate to programs like @NelpNews, #InmatesToEntrepreneurs & @ceoworks

3. Support sober houses

#OITNB

@OITNB @thedanieb @samirawiley @AntiRecidivism @MigrantFreedom @ImmDef @ANewWayofLife1 @thecouncilus @ccf_ny @WPA_NYC @unprisonproject @wpbp @NelpNews @ceoworks I teach writing classes at 2 state prisons in Ohio & have seen firsthand how education – especially in the arts, sciences & humanities – helps restore dignity & reduce recidivism.

Encourage your local university or community college to offer #HigherEd programs in prisons/jails.

@OITNB @thedanieb @samirawiley @AntiRecidivism @MigrantFreedom @ImmDef @ANewWayofLife1 @thecouncilus @ccf_ny @WPA_NYC @unprisonproject @wpbp @NelpNews @ceoworks Also, ask your federal representatives to fully restore #PellGrants for incarcerated students.

#PellYes #OITNB #OrangeForever #FreeHer

@OITNB @thedanieb @samirawiley @AntiRecidivism @MigrantFreedom @ImmDef @ANewWayofLife1 @thecouncilus @ccf_ny @WPA_NYC @unprisonproject @wpbp @NelpNews @ceoworks If you're a wellness leader (e.g. yoga, dance, meditation), offer your services to a local women’s jail or prison.

Check out @prisonyoga, @prisonyogany, @dancetobefreeus & @conbodynyc.

#OITNB #OrangeForever #FreeHer

@OITNB @thedanieb @samirawiley @AntiRecidivism @MigrantFreedom @ImmDef @ANewWayofLife1 @thecouncilus @ccf_ny @WPA_NYC @unprisonproject @wpbp @NelpNews @ceoworks @PrisonYoga @PrisonYogaNY @dancetobefreeus @conbodynyc 80% of women in jails & 62% in prison are moms.

1. Donate to @NationalBailOut, which works to #FreeBlackMamas

2. Support/start a prenatal/postnatal care program for pregnant women behind bars like @prisondoulas

3. Donate⌚️or 💰to groups that support kids w/ incarcerated moms

@OITNB @thedanieb @samirawiley @AntiRecidivism @MigrantFreedom @ImmDef @ANewWayofLife1 @thecouncilus @ccf_ny @WPA_NYC @unprisonproject @wpbp @NelpNews @ceoworks @PrisonYoga @PrisonYogaNY @dancetobefreeus @conbodynyc @NationalBailOut @prisondoulas Also, check out @projectavary, @scholarCHIPS & @avas_grace.

@OITNB @thedanieb @samirawiley @AntiRecidivism @MigrantFreedom @ImmDef @ANewWayofLife1 @thecouncilus @ccf_ny @WPA_NYC @unprisonproject @wpbp @NelpNews @ceoworks @PrisonYoga @PrisonYogaNY @dancetobefreeus @conbodynyc @NationalBailOut @prisondoulas @projectavary @scholarCHIPS @Avas_Grace Don’t support police chiefs, prosecutors, judges, politicians or presidents calling for mandatory minimums and other punitive policies that do little to increase public safety.

For more information, visit: aclu.org/issues/smart-j….

#OITNB #OrangeForever #FreeHer

@OITNB @thedanieb @samirawiley @AntiRecidivism @MigrantFreedom @ImmDef @ANewWayofLife1 @thecouncilus @ccf_ny @WPA_NYC @unprisonproject @wpbp @NelpNews @ceoworks @PrisonYoga @PrisonYogaNY @dancetobefreeus @conbodynyc @NationalBailOut @prisondoulas @projectavary @scholarCHIPS @Avas_Grace Incarcerated women are the fastest growing U.S. prison population & there is no public safety rationale for this.

@OITNB helped call attention to the injustice of our justice system in heartfelt & humanizing ways & through our kindness we can turn this moment into a movement.

@OITNB @thedanieb @samirawiley @AntiRecidivism @MigrantFreedom @ImmDef @ANewWayofLife1 @thecouncilus @ccf_ny @WPA_NYC @unprisonproject @wpbp @NelpNews @ceoworks @PrisonYoga @PrisonYogaNY @dancetobefreeus @conbodynyc @NationalBailOut @prisondoulas @projectavary @scholarCHIPS @Avas_Grace So, as we say goodbye to @OITNB, let us also say goodbye to a criminal justice system that has unfairly & unnecessarily destroyed too many lives.

Thank you for watching. FIN

#OITNB #OrangeForever #FreeHer