Philadelphia activist Michael Ta'Bon has locked himself in a homemade jail cell for a month-long campaign.
Ta'Bon, 36, spent nearly 10 years behind bars for armed robbery and now he's on mission to keep young people out of prison. He's staging a 28-day "Prison and Death Fast" at the "R.I.P. Wall" at 1924 W. Hunting Park Ave. in the Nicetown-Tioga neighborhood.
The Founder of the "Rest in Peace" Memorial Wall that honors local murder victims says he's trying to dissuade young people from committing crimes that will land them in prison or get them killed.
“Instead of the young bucks going to jail to find out for themselves, I'm bringing the jail to the young bucks,” Ta'Bon said.
Ta'Bon and his friend Lional Dunbar created the mural wall in 2007 by to make sure the people who were taken by violence are never forgotten.
Ta'Bon believes he's made a successful transition from convict to a productive citizen. He wants to share his experiences in the criminal justice system which he says institutionalizes too many of Philadelphia's youth.
Ta'Bon plans to be locked in a jail cell, in public view, for 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout the month of February to demonstrate the horrors of being locked up. His effort was mounted with a call for donations of money and items like heaters and a trailer, along with volunteers to staff the event.
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The event is also meant to honor the fallen victims of senseless crimes in the Philadelphia area.
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