#freedom4fonny

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Post #11: Money, Money, Money - Ernestine Rivers

Money. Money, money, money. Why do our lives have to revolve around money! When my baby sister Tish told me about Fonny's imprisonment, my heart skipped a beat. Her lover, her life, locked up for something he never did. At that moment I knew it was my job to help her. So I did the best I could.

I'm not like the rest of my family. I'm going to be straight with you. Tell you what you need to hear. 

I went searching for a lawyer. But not one of those state lawyers that are hired to make sure that the black man looses, I went and found a fighter; Mr. Hayward. I know at the start my family was a bit iffy about him. They knew that most lawyers were working for the State, and wouldn't really try to win Fonny's case, but I knew Mr. Hayward was different. 

But Money.... money, money, money. We're all working 5x as hard as before. My pregnant baby sister is working even though she could give birth at any second. Finally mama told her she was no longer allowed to go to work. *phew*. But we need money to get mama to Puerto Rico and it's not going to be cheep. 

At night all I think about is money. How much we need to pay Mr. Hayward, and how much we need for mama's trip. I'm scared that one day we won't have any money and Fonny's fate will be sealed. 

Money....

-Ernestine Rivers

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Post #9: Justice to the Innocent - Mr. Hayward

Equal. What do you think about when you hear that word? Justice for all? Everyone is treated equally? In the Court, in our justice system? 

Wrong. In this society, equal is, equality for Whites, and Whites alone. The society has been built on white supremacy. The Declaration of Independence, it states, "All men are created equal"... but are they? No. All Whites are created equal. Black men are treated like second class citizens and are discriminated against.

When I took Fonny Hunt's case, I knew that the odds were against me. Defending a black man in a society that favors Whites? But I still don't care. I am going to fight for Fonny's freedom and fight against the system. 

Life now for Blacks is much better than before. The Civil Rights movement has made life better, but not at all equal or perfect. People like Martin Luther King Jr., and Rosa Parks have inspired me to do right unlike most lawyers who are hired by the state. 

I know the Rivers and I know Fonny and I know he would never rape a girl. The way he acts, and the way he treats Tish make it very clear he would never hurt someone. It's my job now to help bring justice and get him out of jail. 

I hope that I can talk to Daniel and make sure he doesn't change his testimony and I hope that Sharon can get Victoria to change her testimony.

I also really hope that other lawyers will see this and find it in their hearts to do the right thing. Save a man because it's the right thing, not because society tells him otherwise.  

-Mr. Hayward.

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Post #8: A Trip To Remember- Sharon Rivers

I'm scared, nervous. Those are the only words that can describe my situation. I have to go to Puerto Rico to find Victoria. Well, I don't have to, but as I said in my last post, I would do anything for my baby. No amount of money will get in my way to saving my baby's life and her finance's life. I have to go and find Victoria and try to convince her to change her testimony. 

I'm so nervous, but I have to put up a front for my baby. Tomorrow I'll leave, and Mr. Hayward is going to give me a photo of her, and an address. Although, he says that where I am going, there isn't really an address, just a general location. 

I hope I can do what I need while I'm down there. To help my baby girl get her finance out of the injustice of society. Wish me luck on my journey. 

-Sharon Rivers

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Post #7: A Never Ending Loop of Confusion -Tish Rivers

Today Ernestine told me they found her.. Mrs.Victoria Rogers/Sanchez....but...she's in Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico?! Now we have to come up with the money to pay for someone  to go down there and try to talk some sense into that woman. She is causing me to so much and stress; something a pregnant woman shouldn't be feeling. I felt my baby kick again today, and I felt a kick in the face when I heard the news about Mrs.Rogers/Sanchez. 

Who is going to go down South? I can't, I'm too pregnant and the stress level would be bad for my baby. Everyone keeps telling me to stay off my feet, and that it's my job to "to bring that baby here, safe and well" (114). Mr. Hayward can't go because it will seem like he's going to interrogate the witness. Ernestine or Frank can't go, so that leaves Mama. Oh how she's not going to like this one bit. But, Ernestine and I have to break the news to her tonight. I hope everything goes alright.

-Tish Rivers.

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Post #6: Help A Friend in Need - Joseph Rivers

Today I went to see my old friend, Frank Hunt. As you probably know by now, Fonny is Fonny Hunt, so yes, Frank is his father. Me and Frank, we talked for what seem like years. We talked about Fonny, Tish, life in general, but mostly Fonny and Tish. We talked about the price of the lawyer continuing to go up and how time flashes before your eyes.

I feel like just yesterday, Tish was my little girl. Innocent, and I felt like I was able to protect her from the racist world she was born in. But reality has hit me hard in the face today. Tish is no longer a little girl, she's a woman. She has a baby on the way, but her counterpart is in the slammer. 

Frank and I... we don't got a lot of cash lying around. We're all trying to chip in to help out my baby girl's fiance. My question is how long are we going to he able to provide the money that's needed to get the best help for Fonny. 

I'm so glad that my other daughter, Ernestine, was able to find a lawyer, Mr. Hayward, a man who isn't afraid to take Fonny's case, even though he knows it's going to be a hard one. I can't tell you how much I'm thankful for that Mr. Hayward. I often stay awake at night and talk to my wife, Sharon about you and your dedication to my daughter's fiance and your willingness to help us free an innocent man.

-Joseph Rivers

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Post #4: "Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon...which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it." - Martin Luther King Jr.

 I always look up to Civil Rights icons like Martin Luther King Jr. to help guide the way we free Fonny. I know we will never win if we use violence- people like us, we get killed if we try to use violence. So, we have to learn to use our words instead of violence to get what we want. -Ernestine Rivers. 

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Post #2: Mother to Mother - Sharon Rivers

Alonzo Hunt. No one goes by his real name anymore. We all call him Fonny, just like we call my daughter Tish not Clementine. 

*Sigh*, where to start...

I've known Fonny Hunt since he was a young boy. I've come to think and treat him as if he was my son, and if he wasn't in jail, he would be my son in law. 

For all you mothers out there, is there anything in the world you wouldn't do for your children? Would you not got to the end of the universe and back for them? I will go anywhere, and do anything for my children's lives, happiness, and freedom. 

Fonny's wrongful conviction has not only made my daugther's life hard and stressful, but my grandchild's as well. Today my daughter came home and told me she was pregnant. I asked her if Fonny new, and she said she had told him during her visit today. She told me he was happy and he was crying and laughing at the same time. But all I could think about is, 'baby girl, he's in...jail...'. How is my daughter supposed to be happy if her fiance, the father of her baby is locked up for a crime he never committed? How am I supposed to protect my baby from the injustice our country has brought upon us? 

I can't stop thinking that the probability that Fonny will be released from jail before my Tish gives birth, is one in a million. For a black man, all odds are against him in the eyes of the Judge. 

Please help me save my daughter, her baby, and her lover because  neither of them deserve this. Help us spread the word about Fonny so maybe, just maybe, someone will see our blog and help us make a difference. 

-Sharon Rivers.