Dear Supporters of Marissa Alexander,
There is a mounting problem that we need your help with NOW! Since October 16th, MISLEADING INFORMATION has been floating around suggesting that Marissa Alexander is free. KNOW THIS: MARISSA IS STILL ON HOUSE ARREST, STILL FACING A HORRIFIC 60 YEAR SENTENCE, AND STILL PREPARING FOR THE TRIAL SCHEDULED ON DECEMBER 8, 2014 AT DUVAL COUNTY COURTHOUSE IN JACKSONVILLE FLORIDA. Please help us get this message out.
CASE STATUS: It's true that Marissa Alexander won her appeal, overturning her guilty verdict, but that all happened in September 2013. We don't know why the news is being re-circulated as if it's new information, but it's not. After Marissa won her appeal last fall, supporters from all over the world urged Florida State Attorney Angela Corey to drop the caseagainst Marissa Alexander instead of going forward with another prosecution. However, on October 31, 2013, Angela Corey took steps to prosecute Marissa AGAIN. Then on March 1, 2014, Angela Corey announced that she is advocating for a MANDATORY 60 YEAR SENTENCE for Marissa, tripling her original sentence. Since then, Marissa Alexander, her family, her legal team, and her movement of supporters have been preparing for the re-trial and pushing for an acquittal. Again, that trial is scheduled for December 8, 2014. In fact, crucial developments for how this trial will unfold have recently been reported.
The misleading information about the appeal is very confusing and causing more frustration than anything because we are ramping up all our actions to free Marissa. This has been a long and hard battle but we must be alert for the subtle tricks that would distract us. Please get your information from www.freemarissanow.org not just the mainstream media or clickbait websites.
Beloved Supporters, we still have a lot of work to do to get the word out and continue to raise funds to meet our goal. We have about 45 days until the trial begins. Please help us push forward:
* FUNDRAISE: You have raised almost $90,000 for the Marissa Alexander Legal Defense Fund. AMAZING! These funds have covered the $20,000 cost of the bond, which helps Marissa stay out of prison while prepping for the trial, and the cost of the ankle monitor she is forced to wear, which is about $6,000. The other funds go to the extensive legal expenses, estimated at $250,000. That's with a legal team working pro bono! We want to raise $35,000 more in time for the trial to make sure Marissa at least has $100,000 to cover some of the legal costs. Many of you have already donated and we truly can't thank you enough for your generosity and solidarity. We ask you to continue to ask others to donate, to organize fundraisers, and to shop at the Free Marissa store which sends all proceeds to the fund. We can do this!
Marissa Alexander Legal Defense Fund: tinyurl.com/MarissaDonate
Free Marissa Store: tinyurl.com/MarissaStore
Additional t-shirts for sale: http://forthebirdscollective.bigcartel.com/
* MEDIA ADVOCACY: We need you to contact your community media, online and offline media sources, and any media connections you have to urge them cover the case, and cover it correctly. 60 years mandatory minimum for self-defense should be the headline from coast to coast and all over the world. Make sure people know that Marissa Alexander is just one survivor of violence of many who are struggling with the awful conditions of criminalization. The only way we're going to turn the tide on misleading info is if our voices are louder.
Free Marissa Now Press Page: www.freemarissanow.org/press-page.html
Free Marissa Now Social Media: facebook.com/freemarissanow ; twitter: twitter.com/freemarissanow ;freemarissanow.tumblr.com
* DIRECT ACTION: Make sure everyone in your workplace, your neighborhood, your faith community, your friends and family know about Marissa Alexander. Hang a sign in your window. Table in your community. Do a speak out, organize a rally, a poetry session, a vigil, a prayer circle. We urgently need to get the word out. FLORIDA NEEDS TO KNOW THE WORLD IS WATCHING!
Take action list: http://www.freemarissanow.org/take-action-now.html
Direct action resources: http://www.freemarissanow.org/organizing-resources--fact-sheets.html
We know that you are very excited to see Marissa free but know that, when Marissa is set free, you will hear the sound of freedom in your soul and ringing in your ears because, through this case, we are connected.
We are on the homestretch of 6 WEEKS BEFORE THE TRIAL. To counteract any erroneous information, DOUBLE YOUR ACTIONS TO GET THE WORDS OUT. Come on y'all, we must stay the course to do all that we can do to see Marissa exonerated, vindicated, and restored to her family and community. We are almost there. So we need to KEEP GOING! Please share this widely and keep doing your work, because she's only going to win this with your big love and support!!
With love and towards freedom,
Free Marissa Now