Youth activists from Fearless Leading by the Youth (F.L.Y.) and their supporters held a rally and press conference this morning to demand that funds be re-directed from incarceration to restorative justice efforts and other positive youth interventions. The rally took place at the Cook County Offices downtown to coincide with the monthly board meeting. The rally marked the 6th year anniversary of FLY and the Audy Home Campaign.

Some of the youth dressed as prisoners to make the point that the $40 million spent by Cook County to jail youth at a cost of over $500 a day would be better & more effectively spent at the community level providing needed resources.

by Sarah Jane Rhee (7/31/13)

“Cook County Board members are failing our youth, incarcerating youth isn’t working, and it is wasting money,” said youth activist and former detainee of the Cook County Temporary Juvenile Detention Center Auntraney Carter. “We are outraged that that as our friends die the county’s only response is to increase spending on juvenile detention.” (Source)

by Sarah Jane Rhee (7/31/13)

Below are some photos from the rally by the invaluable and amazing movement photographer Sarah Jane Rhee.

by Sarah Jane Rhee (7/31/13)

by Sarah Jane Rhee (7/31/13)

by Sarah Jane Rhee (7/31/13)

by Sarah Jane Rhee (7/31/13)

by Sarah Jane Rhee (7/31/13)

by Sarah Jane Rhee (7/31/13)

Update: Here’s a video of the action by Jake Klippenstein: