Thread by @MsKellyMHayes

TODAY is the beginning of the National Week of Mourning for people we have lost to COVID-19, and of our Signs, Shrines, Collages and a Mixtape: A Remote COVID Vigil event, which runs all week. We are collaging, creating shrines, hanging banners and more. facebook.com/events/8206524…

You may notice banners like the one pictured above popping up around Chicago. These are not "banner drops," but rather, an effort to create spaces where people can honor their grief in a shared way, even if they are viewing the banner at different times. #WeGrieveTogether

.@anarchocatfan and I put up this one this morning. If you are in the Rogers Park/Edgewater area, you can find this banner at Schreiber Park, if you would like to take a moment there, or leave a flower or candle. I don't know how long it will be up bc we did not get permission.

We will also be releasing our COVID Memorial Mixtape, featuring local activists @julianapino, @solbutterfly, @radfagg, @tanuja_devi and our long distance activist fam, @bresha_meadows. Their speeches, and one from me, will be set to music by @RicWilson. #WeGrieveTogether

If you create a collage/shrine, or take a photo of yourself with a sign, please share it to the event page, and when sharing anywhere, please use the hashtag #WeGrieveTogether so we can find it. We want to uplift your contributions on multiple platforms. facebook.com/events/8206524…

We know that facing these feelings isn't easy. If you're struggling with grief during the pandemic, the Mutual Aid Mourning & Healing Project can help connect you with free counseling and other grief-related services. We are here to help. #WeGrieveTogether transformativespaces.org/2020/04/13/the…

Another banner goes up, this one hung by @radfagg. This image contains the names of 1,000 people lost to COVID-19, including federal prisoners. #WeGrieveTogether

https://twitter.com/radfagg/status/1312799861683650560

It appears more folks would like to hang banners in Chicago this week as part of the vigil. My collective printed 14 and we are tapped out on funds for this purpose. If you would like to help us order more, you can donate here. #WeGrieveTogether

liftedvoices.networkforgood.com/projects/11034…

If you have the resources to get your own copy of a banner printed, we have images formatted for that purpose you can access. This image, by Elizabeth Perez, featuring the names of 1,000 people lost to COVID-19 can be found here. #WeGrieveTogether drive.google.com/drive/folders/…

If you would like to get your own copy of Molly Costello's #WeGrieveTogether banner, which represents the various ways we are supporting each other from a distance during this crisis, you can find images formatted for that here: drive.google.com/drive/folders/…

Shout out to Cicely Wilson Fleming for creating this lovely at-home display of #WeGrieveTogether artwork. If you would like to print images to create your own, or to collage or make a sign, you can find art here: bit.ly/grieveart

I just want to name that our weeklong vigil that involves collaging, hanging banners, a distanced solidarity demo outside a prison, a mixtape, a zine, and even more ways for people to plug in, from wherever they are, is a culmination of months of work contributed by many people.

Each of our social media based #WeGrieveTogether vigils included new art and other material created by people who wanted to honor the memories of those we've lost. Over time, those efforts built up the assortment of imagery that is being shared online and in-person this week.

When we heard organizers had announced a National Week of Mourning for this week, we decided to bring together the energy, artwork and spirit of our #WeGrieveTogether vigils in a more comprehensive way. I will be sharing the things we made & planned together throughout the week.

This project belongs a to a lot of people & I think that's really beautiful. A lot of people contributed material & artwork, and a lot of you tweeted during our social media vigils. This weeklong effort is the culmination of all of our contributions. Thank you. #WeGrieveTogether

These lovely #WeGrieveTogether offerings come from @tanuja_devi. Please join us as we continue our week of collaging, hanging banners, posting signs and sharing music to honor those we have lost to COVID-19. Learn more: facebook.com/events/8206524…

This tribute to those we have lost to COVID-19 was created by Rachel Wallis today in the front garden of her home. #WeGrieveTogether

On Wednesday we will be sharing "Let This Radicalize You: A COVID Memorial Mixtape," a collection of speeches from abolitionists and organizers set to music and mixed by @RicWilson with instrumentation from @tobigrooves. #WeGrieveTogether

We obviously borrowed part of the title from @prisonculture's words, "Let this radicalize you rather than lead you to despair," which are also quoted in our #WeGrieveTogether zine. The zine will also be released on Wednesday as part of our weeklong vigil.

Our COVID memorial zine will include the full text of all of the speeches. The mixtape will be played through loud speakers outside a federal prison this week, and by remote participants, as we continue our weeklong #WeGrieveTogether vigil.

More banners going up. #WeGrieveTogether

Another banner goes up. This one outside Bateman Elementary School. #WeGrieveTogether

At the corner of Rogers and Winchester at Pottawattomie Park. #WeGrieveTogether