Marissa Alexander, the Florida mother whose case became a rallying cry for anti-racism activists and survivors of domestic violence, was released today after three years of incarceration.
Alexander faced up to 60 years behind bars for firing a single shot near her abusive husband, unable to convince a jury she had feared for her life. A hearing today confirmed the terms: Having pleaded guilty to assault in exchange for credit for time served, she will be subject to two years of electronic monitoring and house arrest, except for approved appointments and employment.
Alexander’s case has long sparked outrage about the unequal application of the law for both black Americans and women.The Free Marissa Now Mobilization Campaign and The Monument Quilt wrote on Facebook that “350 quilt squares containing stories from survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault will blanket the Duval County Courthouse lawn to let Jacksonville and the world know Marissa is NOT ALONE.” A fundraiser on Alexander’s behalf exceeded its goals, raising $58,297 from 1,122 backers on the site GoGetFunding. “We have always believed that forcing Marissa to serve even one day in prison represents a profound and systemic attack on black women’s right to exist and all women’s right to self-defense,” the Free Marissa Now Mobilization Campaign said in a statement after Alexander’s plea deal.
It took them three years to release Marissa Alexander but yet only 12 minutes to convict her of firing a warning shot near her abusive husband. She feared her life, she was scared, and she had enough. The jury couldn't see her pain, her fear, all they saw was a woman with a gun who fired a one shot, a shot from fear to protect herself from her abusive husband that threatened to kill her on that day. I'm happy that she was released, but I'm still upset with the decision of the jury. She was abused! Was that not enough for them to realize she was protecting herself from a man that threatened to kill her? Our nation needs to WAKE UP! Our court systems need to WAKE UP! Too many African American lives were taken and too many African American people have been wrongly prosecuted! All we can do as African Americans and a nation is stand together, pray together, hope for change, and be the change we want to see. I'm trying to pinpoint this story as an "racial issue", but lately, in my eyes and in the eyes of my fellow African Americans, that's all see from this and the past tragic events involving Mike Brown, Eric Garner, Trayvon Martin, and other African Americans that had their lives taken for no reason at all. I pray for peace for Marissa Alexander, her family, and this nation.
Peace, hope, and love. - Takerra Mills
Blog Manager for Team Shoeicide
Facts about the Marissa Alexander Case was used from msnbc.com
