US EditionFiona Apple’s musical return: a heartfelt call for justice for mothers in pre-trial detention
- On May 7, 2025, Fiona Apple debuted a new protest song titled “Pretrial ,” her first original release since 2020, which draws attention to the struggles of incarcerated mothers unable to pay bail within Maryland’s cash-bail system and beyond.
- Apple wrote the song after volunteering as a court watcher for two years with CourtWatch PG and Free Black Mamas DMV, observing nearly 4,000 bond hearings where many women were jailed for inability to afford bail.
- The protest anthem and its video focus on Black mothers presumed innocent but detained pretrial, separated from their dependents, with visuals and stories shared by these women to expose the system’s impact.
- Apple highlighted the frequent occurrence of judges setting bail amounts that many defendants are unable to pay, underscoring systemic problems within the justice system, and expressed hope that the project helps illuminate the serious consequences faced by those held before their trial.
- Apple’s release supports bail reform advocacy by providing a donation website and promoting local bail funds, reflecting tireless leadership support and amplifying calls for court-watching and abolitionist futures.
22 Articles
22 Articles
Fiona Apple Drops First New Song in 5 Years, Intense Tribute to Mothers Trapped in Detention, ‘Pretrial (Let Her Go Home)’
Fiona Apple dropped her first new song in five years on Tuesday (May 6), the Intense tribute to mothers trapped in jail, 'Pretrial (Let Her Go Home).
Fiona Apple’s First New Song in Five Years, ‘Pretrial (Let Her Go Home),’ Spotlights Jailed Mothers Who Can’t Afford Bail
Fiona Apple's first new song in five years, 'Pretrial (Let Her Go Home),' spotlights mothers who can't afford bail, especially Black women.
Fiona Apple’s First New Song In Five Years, ‘Pretrial (Let Her Go Home),’ Was Inspired By Court-Watching
Fiona Apple goes at her own pace: She started her career in the ’90s, but she’s only released five albums. New music from her doesn’t arrive every day, but today (May 7) is one of those rare days as Apple has unveiled “Pretrial (Let Her Go Home).” Apple shared a statement about the song, saying: “I was a court watcher for over two years. In that time, I took notes on thousands of bond hearings. Time and time again, I listened as people were take…
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