Anonymous Submission to North Shore Counter-Info
In the early evening of December 31st of 2025 in Hamilton, Ontario about 40 masked and dark clothed individuals joined together in the shadows of a city park. After Safety tips, lighters, and fireworks were shared, quietly and together we walked up the bridge to the jail that has held and still holds our friends and neighbours.
From the wiz pop of the first Roman candle to the banging, tapping, and shapes shifting in the windows they knew inside and we knew outside together it was New Year’s Eve at Barton Jail. The group stuck together tight and moved around the jail to reach as many windows as possible. Our big waves silhouetted against the snow by firework light. We wanted to make sure that the people inside for another year knew we didn’t and won’t forget that even they deserve a celebration on this special night.
With our hearts full again the cold wind felt refreshing not freezing and after another long hard and heavy year it felt a little lighter and easier to believe that another world without prisons is possible.