MASS ENCARCERATION MONUMENT PROJECT
The objective is to abolish the Prison Industrial Complex (PIC). Our strategy is to create a monument to commemorate this era of mass incarceration. We aim to harness the power of stories to shape the collective imagination in support of our goal. To erect the monument, we strive to utilize the stories of those affected. The function of the memorial is to remind people that we have more work to do in order to abolish the PIC.
Title: The Monument
Artist: Caymitte Woodly (Filipo)
Medium: Resin Sculpture
Dimensions: 4.7" (H) x 8.7" (W) x 5.5" (D)
Style: Contemporary
Description:
The Monument is a resin maquette created by artist Caymitte Woodly (Filipo), commissioned by The Black Response Cambridge as part of the Monument Project. This powerful contemporary sculpture portrays five human figures breaking the chains of slavery, racial segregation, and incarceration—three pillars of a long and continuing legacy of systemic oppression.
The piece is a bold visual statement connecting historical injustice to the present-day realities of the prison-industrial complex. In breaking their chains, the figures reflect collective struggle, resistance, and the unyielding pursuit of true liberation. This maquette serves as the prototype for a future permanent monument, envisioned as a public space for reflection, remembrance, and organizing.
As we gather on Juneteenth to honor the emancipation of enslaved African Americans, The Monument reminds us that the fight for freedom is ongoing. It challenges us to confront the structures that perpetuate racial harm today—most notably, mass incarceration.
We invite you to be part of this movement:
Sign the petition today to support the creation of a permanent monument. Help us urge local and state authorities to recognize this era and our demand for justice with a lasting public installation.
Together, we can turn memory into action.
