PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Date: October 23, 2014
From: Free Marissa Now Mobilization Campaign
Contact: [email protected]
For Immediate Release
Date: October 23, 2014
From: Free Marissa Now Mobilization Campaign
Contact: [email protected]
Marissa Alexander Supporters Correct Misleading Media Reports 45 Days before Historic Trial
Activists advocating for the freedom of Marissa Alexander, a Florida mother who is being prosecuted for defending herself from an abusive husband, urge media sources to actively and accurately cover Alexander’s upcoming historic trial, currently scheduled for December 8, 2014. They are troubled by recent misleading online news articles that suggest Alexander no longer faces incarceration, when in fact, Alexander may be sentenced to a mandatory 60 years in the upcoming trial.
In 2010, Marissa Alexander, an African American mother of three, was attacked, strangled, and threatened with murder by her abusive estranged husband. To defend herself, she fired a single warning shot that caused no injuries. In 2012, Alexander was found guilty of aggravated assault and sentenced to a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison. After spending nearly three years in prison, Alexander successfully appealed the trial in September 2013, overturning the verdict. However, Florida State Prosecutor, Angela Corey, announced that she would re-prosecute Alexander, this time tripling Alexander’s original sentence to a mandatory 60 years.
Recently, an old news story about Alexander’s successful 2013 appeal has been circulated and recycled among news websites and social media as if the news is current rather than a year old. Alexander’s supporters are very concerned that the current circulation of the outdated news has led some to erroneously believe that her appeal was recently decided and she is out of danger. They believe this misleading media could undermine grassroots support for her freedom.
“We’re glad that Marissa’s name is still in the media,” said Sumayya Fire, member of Free Marissa Now, “but the headline should be ‘Survivor of Domestic Violence Saves Her Own Life, Still Threatened with Appalling 60 Year Sentence.’ Another helpful headline would be ‘85%-90% of People in Women’s Prisons Experience Sexual and Domestic Violence before Incarceration.’ Why aren’t we having a national discussion about the ways that survivors of violence, especially black women, are systematically criminalized? The media needs to be all over this trial because of the dangerous and historic precedent it will set for the right of all women to defend themselves from domestic violence and sexual assault. If the trial ends in a life sentence for a woman whose life was threatened and caused no injuries when defending herself, all women's right to self-defense will be weakened. A guilty verdict will also legally affirm violence against black women in particular, and it further erodes the right to a fair judicial process for domestic violence victims. The media must do better, this story is much too important to get wrong. Black women's lives matter.”
Supporters urge people all over the world to increase media advocacy to improve and expand news coverage about Alexander’s case. They also stress the urgent need for fundraisers (donations can be made at tinyurl.com/MarissaDonate), direct action, and community education to build a powerful base of support for Marissa Alexander in time for her December trial. More details can be found at www.FreeMarissaNow.org
The Free Marissa Now Mobilization Campaign is a national grassroots campaign led by a core of organizers representing the African American/Black Women's Cultural Alliance, New Jim Crow Movement - Jacksonville, and INCITE! Women of Color and Trans People of Color Against Violence. For more information, see www.FreeMarissaNow.org.
Activists advocating for the freedom of Marissa Alexander, a Florida mother who is being prosecuted for defending herself from an abusive husband, urge media sources to actively and accurately cover Alexander’s upcoming historic trial, currently scheduled for December 8, 2014. They are troubled by recent misleading online news articles that suggest Alexander no longer faces incarceration, when in fact, Alexander may be sentenced to a mandatory 60 years in the upcoming trial.
In 2010, Marissa Alexander, an African American mother of three, was attacked, strangled, and threatened with murder by her abusive estranged husband. To defend herself, she fired a single warning shot that caused no injuries. In 2012, Alexander was found guilty of aggravated assault and sentenced to a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison. After spending nearly three years in prison, Alexander successfully appealed the trial in September 2013, overturning the verdict. However, Florida State Prosecutor, Angela Corey, announced that she would re-prosecute Alexander, this time tripling Alexander’s original sentence to a mandatory 60 years.
Recently, an old news story about Alexander’s successful 2013 appeal has been circulated and recycled among news websites and social media as if the news is current rather than a year old. Alexander’s supporters are very concerned that the current circulation of the outdated news has led some to erroneously believe that her appeal was recently decided and she is out of danger. They believe this misleading media could undermine grassroots support for her freedom.
“We’re glad that Marissa’s name is still in the media,” said Sumayya Fire, member of Free Marissa Now, “but the headline should be ‘Survivor of Domestic Violence Saves Her Own Life, Still Threatened with Appalling 60 Year Sentence.’ Another helpful headline would be ‘85%-90% of People in Women’s Prisons Experience Sexual and Domestic Violence before Incarceration.’ Why aren’t we having a national discussion about the ways that survivors of violence, especially black women, are systematically criminalized? The media needs to be all over this trial because of the dangerous and historic precedent it will set for the right of all women to defend themselves from domestic violence and sexual assault. If the trial ends in a life sentence for a woman whose life was threatened and caused no injuries when defending herself, all women's right to self-defense will be weakened. A guilty verdict will also legally affirm violence against black women in particular, and it further erodes the right to a fair judicial process for domestic violence victims. The media must do better, this story is much too important to get wrong. Black women's lives matter.”
Supporters urge people all over the world to increase media advocacy to improve and expand news coverage about Alexander’s case. They also stress the urgent need for fundraisers (donations can be made at tinyurl.com/MarissaDonate), direct action, and community education to build a powerful base of support for Marissa Alexander in time for her December trial. More details can be found at www.FreeMarissaNow.org
The Free Marissa Now Mobilization Campaign is a national grassroots campaign led by a core of organizers representing the African American/Black Women's Cultural Alliance, New Jim Crow Movement - Jacksonville, and INCITE! Women of Color and Trans People of Color Against Violence. For more information, see www.FreeMarissaNow.org.