Earlier this year, Addis NOLA, a Black-Owned Ethiopian restaurant located in Mid-City, unveiled a new mural earlier this year to address the injustice associated with mass incarceration and cash bail. Addis NOLA, one of the restaurants who catered for the 2021 Love Your City Awards Gala, is located three blocks from the New Orleans Jail, and the mural was commissioned by the New Orleans Parish Prison Reform Coalition (NOPPRC). One side of the mural depicts a cheerful New Orleans scene, while the other side exposes the harsh reality created by mass incarceration and the U.S. criminal justice system.

This mural draws attention to cash bail, which keeps many convicted people pending a trial unless they have money to post bond. This artwork highlights how cash bail draws attention to the city’s poorest neighborhoods. According to a study by the Vera Institute of Justice, about 1 in 3 defendants in New Orleans mentioned that their primary reason for being there was their inability to afford bail, and 88% of money from the bail system comes from Black families.

Other than collaborating with NOPPRC, Addis has also collaborated and supported other Black-owned restaurants and businesses in the city to uplift everyone. Last August, Addis merged menus with Beaucoup Eats, another Black-owned restaurant, for a day and it was a huge success. It’s amazing to see Addis spread awareness about important racial justice issues in New Orleans while also uplifting other Black-owned restaurants and artists. If you are interested in ordering their food or seeing their mural, Addis is located at 422 S Broad Avenue, and they are open every day of the week except Tuesday

Sources:

https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/arts/article_87375aac-94cc-11eb-9441-37dba42115bd.html

https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/eat-drink/article_a7776f8c-dcdf-11ea-a28f-7f777cfa90cb.html