Fiona Apple's new song, "Pretrial (Let Her Go Home)," sheds light on the devastating effects of the cash-bail system, particularly affecting women and Black mothers. Inspired by her experiences as a court-watcher in Maryland, Apple reflects on the injustices she observed, where many were jailed simply due to their inability to pay bail. Her song serves to raise awareness about pretrial detention's impact on families and is a tribute to the women who have fought for their freedom through the Free Black Mamas DMV initiative, which she has supported for several years.
I was a court watcher for over two years. In that time, I took notes on thousands of bond hearings. Time and time again, I listened as people were taken away and put in jail, for no other reason than that they couldn't afford to buy their way free.
It was particularly hard to hear mothers and caretakers get taken away from the people who depend on them. For the past five years, I have been volunteering with the Free Black Mamas DMV bailout, and I have been lucky to be able to witness the stories of women who fought for and won their freedom.
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