#SurvivedAndPunishedThese are survivors of domestic and/or sexual violence whose survival actions have been criminalized. Some are still in prison, some are confined to their homes, some are languishing in immigration detention, and some live with the threat of incarceration or deportation at any moment. Some did not make it out of prison alive. The risk of criminalization is particularly high for Black women. Below are snapshots of just a few stories that have received press or activist attention. WE DEMAND THEIR IMMEDIATE FREEDOM.
* DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH 2017 SOLIDARITY ACTIONS * |
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MARISSA ALEXANDER
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NAOMI FREEMAN
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TEWKUNZI GREEN
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TONDALAO HALL
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Naomi Freeman, a Black mother of two in Chicago, was brutally assaulted by an abusive partner while pregnant and in front of witnesses. In self-defense, she hit her abuser with a minivan, which ended his life, and she is being prosecuted for murder. She says, "I never meant to hurt him that day, I only acted in fear for my life. I have to forgive myself, but not for surviving, and I don't think I should be punished for defending my life. I have to get home to my kids as soon as I can and be the best mother I can be. I need a second chance at life for them and for myself." Naomi's family and a coalition of Chicago organizations are raised money for her bond and organizing for her freedom. She was released on bond on December 23, 2015.
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Tewkunzi Green was holding her infant son when she was attacked by her child's father. He backed her up against the kitchen sink and choked her. Tewkunzi grabbed a knife and stabbed him once in the chest and he eventually died. She was prosecuted and sentenced to 34 years in prison.
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Tondalao Hall, a 30-year old mother from Oklahoma, is serving a 30 year sentence–15 times that of the man who abused her and her children–for “failing to protect” her children from his abuse. Tondalao applied for a commutation of her sentence but was denied by the Oklahoma parole board. More about her case here. Oklahoma organizers are launching a campaign to free Tondalao, join their facebook page for updates.
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NICOLL HERNANDEZ- POLANCO
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SHANTONIO HUNTER
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NAN-HUI JO
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Nicoll Hernandez-Polanco is a transgender woman from Guatemala who was detained in the all-male wing of ICE’s Florence Service Processing Detention facility in Florence, Arizona. Nicoll came to the United States seeking asylum in October 2014 because she was the target of violent attacks, constant harassment, and discrimination in her country of origin. However, while in ICE custody, she faced sexual harassment, abuse and threats from both the detention center guards and from fellow detained migrants. She was also placed in solitary confinement in retaliation for advocating for herself. Mariposas Sin Fronteras organized for Nicoll's freedom, and she has since been released.
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Shantonio Hunter is a black mother and survivor of domestic violence from Nashville who is being unjustly prosecuted for the death of her three-year-old son Elijah because she was unable to control her abuser. She has been incarcerated for the past four years while awaiting trial for charges of felony murder, aggravated child abuse and child neglect.
Community advocates are organizing and urging Nashville DA Glenn Funk to dismiss all charges against Shantonio so that she can begin to grieve, heal and rebuild her life. They call for supporters to take action steps to #FreeShantonio, and welcome organizations to endorse the letter to the DA by contacting them at: nashvillepartdef@siliconvalleydebug.org. |
Nan-Hui Jo (조난희) is a loving single mother, undocumented Korean, and survivor of domestic violence. After fleeing to Korea with her child to escape her abusive partner, she was charged with child abduction and found guilty. Upon her release from county jail, she was immediately taken into Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. She spent 3 more months in immigration detention, and was released on July 17, 2015. She was not allowed any contact with her daughter for nearly the entire duration of her incarceration. Though she is now out of detention, she is still facing deportation, which could result in permanent separation from her daughter. Stand With Nan-Hui is organizing for her full freedom.
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RALKINA JONES
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PARIS KNOX
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ARLENA LINDLEY
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Ralkina Jones is a Cleveland mother who was arrested on a Friday night following an altercation with her ex-husband. She told the jail guards, "I don't want to die in your cell." Although her family visited her in a Cleveland Heights jail the next day and attested to her good health at the time, she was found dead in her cell Sunday morning. Officials have admitted that her medical needs -- which were in part due to injuries stemming from domestic violence -- required medication that she was not given properly while behind bars, causing her to lose her life.
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Paris Knox was indicted for the stabbing death of Malteeny Taylor, her boyfriend and the father of their baby son. Evidence at trial showed that Paris was repeatedly attacked by Malteeny Taylor. The jury was instructed on self-defense and second-degree murder for provocation and unreasonable self-defense, but she was ultimately convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to 40 years' imprisonment. She is attempting to appeal the decision.
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Arlena Lindley and her toddler child were brutally abused by her boyfriend, Alonzo Turner, for months. She tried to escape with her son, but her boyfriend took the child, locked Arlena out of the home, and murdered the child. Alonzo Turner pled guilty to murder and is serving a life sentence. Arlena was also prosecuted and got 45 years under Texas’ injury to a child by omission law. On January 28, 2016, Arlena was granted parole after serving 9 years in prison.
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CHRISTINA LOPEZ
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EISHA LOVE
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ROSA MARTINEZ
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Christina Lopez is a 35 year old transgender woman who has been in immigration detention for a year and a half. She needs medical attention for Hepatitis C, which so far the detention center has refused to provide despite several requests. Christina's migration was an attempt to escape harsh violence against transgender people in Peru. However, upon coming to the U.S. she had little support or resources and became involved in an abusive relationship which included physical violence. Om LGBTQ and immigrant rights organizations under the #Not1More campaign, including Familia QTLM, GetEQUAL, the Transgender Law Center.
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22-year-old transgender black woman, Eisha Love, along with another young trans* woman, Donta "Tiffany" Gooden, 19, were subjected to a verbal and physical assault by two men at a gas station. The men chased Love who attempted to drive away, when she lost control of the car and hit one of the pursuers. Eisha was arrested and indicted on a charge of "attempted first degree murder" with "intent to kill." She was in prison for three years without a trial. Gooden was killed later in retaliation by people who were under the impression that she was Eisha. Her case is unsolved and uninvestigated. Eisha's supporters organized around her case and circulated a petition demanding her freedom. On December 17, 2015, Eisha was finally released and is fundraising for resources to get back on her feet. DONATE HERE.
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Rosa Martinez is a survivor of domestic violence and the Los Angeles Police Department has certified that she is eligible for protection from deportation. However, ICE wants to deport her based on a felony conviction of burglary from 2006. This same charge is now a misdemeanor in California due to Prop 47. After serving her sentence, Rosa reunited with her children. The Immigrant Youth Coalition and RAIZ are organizing for her freedom.
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CECE MCDONALD
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BRESHA MEADOWS
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ANNA NEPOMUCENO
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THE NEW JERSEY 4
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NY NOURN
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RASMEA ODEH
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YESENIA PALENCIA
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KY PETERSON
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PRECIOUS
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MARCELA RODRIGUEZ
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RAJESHREE ROY
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VENICIA SANTIAGO DE RAMIREZ
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Marcela Rodriguez is an undocumented single mother of 3 U.S. citizen children and a survivor of domestic violence. In 2013, she called the police to seek help during a violent incident with her abusive ex-husband, but once the police arrived, they arrested her and and turned her over to immigration enforcement. She was then placed in immigration detention and put into deportation proceedings. While she was detained, her husband kidnapped her two children and fled to Mexico, fearing prosecution and deportation himself. Immigrant Youth Coalition and RAIZ organized for her release, and she is now free, working on reunification with her children.
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Rajeshree Roy, an immigrant from Fiji, is a survivor of long-term childhood sexual abuse and domestic violence who has been incarcerated for nearly half her life. She was first imprisoned as a teenager after being tried as an adult for actions resulting from PTSD. At 16, she was sentenced to 15 years in an adult prison. Upon release, she found a job, got married and had 3 children. Her husband eventually became abusive, so she left the relationship—but without child support or eligibility for public benefits. Rajeshree struggled to make ends meet, and was arrested after shoplifting a garden hose from Wal-Mart. Because of the prior conviction, the District Attorney sought a sentence of twenty-five years to life. She was released from prison after CA voters passed Prop 47, but instead of being freed, she was picked up by ICE to face deportation charges. Asian Law Caucus fought for her release and people petitioned and donated to Rajeshree's bond. Also, undocumented women in detention took part in a historic hunger strike with documented women in criminal custody. In February 2016, Rajeshree Roy was released.
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Venecia Santiago de Ramirez is currently in immigration detention at Yuba County Jail. She is facing deportation, which would send her back to her abuser in the Dominican Republic . Venecia has been a long-time resident of New York, and is a loving mother to her son, daughter and her two grandchildren. Her life has been devoted to caring for her family, but they are unable to visit her because she is being held in California and her family is in New York. Venecia fled her abuser to save her own life, but instead of being granted asylum, Venecia has been held in detention for almost 3 years, apart from her loved ones and support system. Immigrant Youth Coalition is fighting for her immediate release.
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KELLY ANN SAVAGE
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ZENAYDA DEL CARMEN SORTO
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ALISHA WALKER
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Kelly Ann Savage is a domestic violence survivor serving her 20th year in prison for a crime she did not commit. In 1995, Kelly's abusive husband killed her son Justin after she put her children to sleep and left the house to run errands in preparation to leave him with her children the next day. Her ex-husband has confessed his responsibility for Justin’s death. The DA blamed Kelly for not escaping sooner, and she was convicted of first-degree murder for “aiding and abetting” her abusive husband, and sentenced to Life Without Possibility of Parole. California Coalition for Women Prisoners is advocating for her freedom. In February 2015, the DA refused to consider a deal for Kelly's release. Kelly’s next court hearing will be in May, when the judge will hear oral arguments from both sides.
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Zenayda del Carmen Sorto is a refugee mother and survivor of domestic and sexual violence seeking asylum in the United States. Gangs murdered her 16-year-old son. The local police refused to investigate, and the prosecutor's office said they couldn't help. Her ex had also subjected her to brutal abuse and sexual violence and almost killed her. After her kids first escaped, Zenayda fled El Salvador and hoped for a safer life for them all in the United States. Asylum officials violated due process and rejected her claim. ICE tried to coerce her into agreeing to being deported and an ICE agent even sexually assaulted her while in custody. ICE has now convinced the Department of Justice to press federal felony charges against her for not signing deportation papers. She is now facing a prison sentence. The National Day Laborer Organizing Network is organizing in #SolidarityWithZenayda.
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Alisha Walker is a sex worker who was working when attacked. Her attacker, a regular client, became aggressive, hostile, and demanded unsafe services while under the influence of alcohol. When Alisha refused, he escalated from threats to violence. As she felt her life at risk, Alisha fought back. For defending herself, and saving the life of another woman who was on the scene, she is facing 15 years behind bars. Supporters are organizing for her freedom.
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