Holiday season is upon us, the pandemic is still raging, and 2020 is winding down. For incarcerated survivors of domestic and sexual violence, who were already battling severe isolation and hardship prior to COVID-19, this time of the year can be especially difficult: itโs supposed to be a time of coming together with family and loved ones, but care and contact from the outside have become more challenging than ever. Help us send some holiday love to incarcerated survivors, break through the isolation of survivorship, prison walls, and pandemic times, and lift the spirits of those fighting every day to survive. We will deliver these notes in time for Christmas, so please fill out and share widely! You are welcome to submit notes to this form multiple times, and we encourage you to write to more than one survivor! You can read each survivorโs story in-depth here: https://www.defendsurvivorsnow.org/ and find short descriptions below. ๐๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ฏ๐ ๐ฆ๐ผ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐ผ is an incarcerated survivor of domestic violence. Gabby was sentenced to Life Without Parole after receiving inadequate legal counsel and a judge denied an appeal to allow an abuse expert to advise the jury on the impact of Gabbyโs abuse. Gabby has been incarcerated for over 20 years, and after a commutation of her sentence, is eligible for parole next month. Gabby hopes to pursue a career in civic translation or language instruction when she is released. ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐ is a Black transgender woman who has completed her 22 year sentence for defending herself against her abusive partner, and she continues to be incarcerated because of an enhancement. Brandy is one of two transgender people serving time in a womenโs facility in California, she is a long-term member of TGI Justice Project, Survived & Punished, and the California Coalition for Womenโs Prisoners, and she is seeking a commutation of her sentence. ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ is an incarcerated survivor of childhood sexual abuse, domestic violence and sexual assault. Stacey has been incarcerated for 17 years now, and is serving a sentence of life without parole. ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ผ๐ฎ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ is a Black, transgender survivor of childhood sexual assault who was in a psychologically abusive relationship at the time of his arrest, and whose sentence was compounded by an inadequate legal defense. Kanoa is a community leader that has spent his 21 years imprisoned working to decrease violence and reduce the harms of imprisonment by becoming a Certified Mediator, a Domestic Violence Program facilitator, and a mentor to young people. ๐ง๐ผ๐บ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ธ๐ถ๐ฎ ๐๐ผ๐ต๐ป๐๐ผ๐ป is a Black mother, an incarcerated survivor of ongoing severe domestic violence, and a former highway patrol officer. In prison, Tomiekia facilitates support groups such as Pathways to Freedom, the Live, Learn, and Prosper program where she supports others who have experienced trauma, and she volunteers for charity and holiday programs as a practice of her Christian faith. Tomiekia is seeking a commutation of her sentence of 50 years to life, which failed to take into account the profound violence she experienced within her relationship. ๐๐ต๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐ is an incarcerated survivor of childhood sexual abuse and domestic violence and has been incarcerated for 11 years for a crime committed by her abuser. After a long trial, throughout which her abuser continued to threaten her, she was sentenced to Life Without Parole. While incarcerated, she has dedicated her time to supporting other incarcerated survivors through restorative justice programs and educating people on violence and trauma. Sheโs also a mother of 3 young children. ๐๐ฟ๐น๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ ๐๐๐ด๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ is an incarcerated survivor whose case details canโt be made public at this time, but would appreciate your kindness nonetheless. ๐ช๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ด is an incarcerated mother, community leader, and a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and intergenerational domestic violence.
The link is for a google form where u can submit letters in support of these people who are 1. incarcerated and 2. survivors of domestic and/or sexual abuse. from @abolishtime on instagram (where you can find more information about the project)
