Homecoming Fundraiser for Vanessa del Rio

“Freedom will mean the ability to experience my true self in all my fullness and womanhood, which I’ve never truly been able to have by reason of my incarceration. And freedom for me also means justice, abolition, and repair. Freedom means emptying out these prisons, which don’t provide justice but instead are full of just us poor Black people, behind bars in disproportionate numbers, mostly for the fact of being poor and Black.”

-- Vanessa del Rio

Vanessa del Rio, our dear friend, community member, and comrade, has recently been granted parole after nearly 35 years incarcerated by New York State.

Vanessa is a 64 year old Black trans woman who has spent over half her life behind bars. In addition to amusement parks and cookouts, Vanessa loves architecture, tall buildings, fast trains, reading about abolition, and listening to Enya, Prince, and techno music. You can read more about her in her own words here .

Vanessa is overjoyed to be returning home and looking forward to building a life in New York City surrounded by her LGBTQ and abolitionist community and friends. We’re raising $10,000 to help support her as she embarks on this new chapter of her life.

Please join us in celebrating Vanessa’s freedom by donating as much as you can and sharing this fundraiser with your friends and family!

In love and solidarity,

Nadja