Tish Hyman, a singer-songwriter and rapper, protested outside the Shakopee Women’s Correctional Facility in Minnesota on Monday against a state policy allowing men who identify as women to be housed with women in prisons.
The organizers stood firm in their mission to ensure the removal of what they termed “predatory men” from Minnesota’s women’s prisons. They expressed serious concerns regarding the well-being of female inmates at MCF-Shakopee.
“To secure the safety, privacy, and dignity of women and girls, we need to acknowledge the physical and biological differences between the sexes. I think single-sex prisons are crucial,” remarked Kelly Blass, one of the event’s organizers.
Tish Hyman called the situation an “injustice” that allows men to share facilities with women in prisons.
“We’re raising awareness about the troubling circumstances occurring in this prison and more broadly across the nation,” she announced using a loudspeaker. She pointed out the risks posed by having men in these environments and said, “You can only imagine how dangerous that is.”
“One man can cause havoc in a women’s prison, whether it’s nine men or 20,000,” Hyman emphasized to the gathered crowd.
She also expressed her discomfort about the idea of stronger men being inside women’s prisons, suggesting they could easily exploit vulnerable female inmates.
“These women are human beings,” she insisted. “Committing a crime doesn’t diminish their value. Do you get it? This is insane!”
“Honestly, many people aren’t aware of what happens in American prisons,” she explained. “There are men there. Gender labels aside, there are men and women. Some men may wear dresses, but that’s just not significant!”
“Women deserve protection from men. They shouldn’t share prison space, locker rooms, or sports with us. They are men!” she exclaimed.
“I’m frustrated by the lack of common sense,” she continued. “These are clearly men. Just look at them,” she said while revealing photos of several individuals identifying as women at the correctional facility.
“We need any necessary legislation to remove them. It’s outrageous and dangerous,” she concluded. “This situation has got to change. It’s just obviously wrong.”
Blass added, “We urge the state of Minnesota to acknowledge the gender-based protections that women have fought for, rather than embracing ideologies that can jeopardize the rights, privacy, and safety of women and girls.”
