There are a lot of things that I don’t know… For example, I don’t know anything about the human genome project. I don’t know how to mountain climb. I have no idea who the current President of Paraguay is.

I do know at least one thing for sure. I know that subjecting children who we cage to rape behind bars is unconscionable. If only one child is sexually victimized in our prisons, then that is too many. I also know that sexual violence is endemic to prison. This means that no level of “reform” will eradicate it. If we want to end the rape of incarcerated children, we must close youth jails and prisons. That’s it.

photo by Sarah Jane Rhee (7/30/13)

Today, I stood with dozens of my fellow Chicagoans to say that we adamantly oppose the judicial rape of our children. Furthermore, we insisted that youth jails & prisons be shut down.

photo by Sarah Jane Rhee (7/30/13)

Wearing red, holding signs in silence we held vigil. We announced to legislators that we were present and watching their actions.

photo by Sarah Jane Rhee (7/30/13)

We were a diverse group, from different walks of life, but our message was clear, unified, and unmistakable:

photo by Sarah Jane Rhee (7/30/13)

I was heartened by the number of young people who stood in solidarity with their incarcerated peers:

photo by Sarah Jane Rhee (7/30/13)

photo by Sarah Jane Rhee (7/30/13)

photo by Sarah Jane Rhee (7/30/13)

photo by Sarah Jane Rhee (7/30/13)

Ultimately, we stood together to remind our fellow Chicagoans including our legislators of the humanity of the children in our prisons.

photo by Sarah Jane Rhee (7/30/13)

We will continue to stand in solidarity with children in prison in Illinois until none are left behind bars.