By Joe Tucker
Throughout the pandemic, with various seasons of work from home or lockdowns, I began to walk the South Akron neighborhood more and more. One of my favorite loops takes me around the Summit County Jail.
Over those walks, I witnessed a unique conversation unfold:
Signs and balloons would be tied to the fences across the street from the jail. Messages of love and support would be written on these large posterboards with balloons and streamers.
“We love you”
“We miss you”
My next walk would reveal the signs had been taken down, with only a few streamers and ribbons evident of their existence. My walk after that would show a new sign along a different section of fencing – once again expressing love and support for someone on the inside.
And again, the sign would be removed leaving only strands of ribbon.
Eventually a new sign was posted. This time along the jail’s high fencing:
“NO COMMUNICATION WITH INMATES,”
it read in bold capital letters.
In defiance of the dictate, the banners and balloons persisted for a few more weeks until the Ohio weather chilled, with the signs being removed time and time again.
Now only the prison’s signs remain, as well as a few cords and scraps of ribbon.
I often think of these signs as two tales of reentry – one voicing love and support, the other articulating punishment and control.
I don’t draft this reflection to disparage the Summit County Jail. They are our neighbors, and we love them. But we do need to be reminded not to dismiss the voice of love and support for those in prison.
After all, it was Jesus who voiced, “I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’