Posts Tagged Marissa Alexander

Keeping Marissa in mind

I was honored to participate in this campaign, Keeping Marissa in Mind, organized by the extraordinary activist Mariame Kaba. The poem I’m reading in this video is called “Flare” and it’s written by National Book Award winner Nikky Finney

I was honored to participate in this campaign, Keeping Marissa in Mind, organized by the extraordinary activist Mariame Kaba. The poem I’m reading in this video is called “Flare” and it’s written by ...

#KnowYourHistory: Women of color have been moving beyond “pro-choice” for decades

On Tuesday, the New York Times published a feature on reproductive health advocates moving away from the language of “choice.” An important and interesting topic, the potentially illuminating piece instead served to obscure the history of the move away from choice language, completely erasing women of color’s crucial role in developing the reproductive justice framework that set the stage for this move by the larger and more well-funded (and, ahem, white-lady-led) reproductive health organizations. Since then, women of color in the reproductive justice movement have been hollering a collective WTF. 

On Tuesday, the New York Times published a feature on reproductive health advocates moving away from the language of “choice.” An important and interesting topic, the potentially illuminating piece instead served to obscure the history of ...

Marissa Alexander now could face 60 years in prison for defending herself

The state of Florida seems determined to punish Marissa Alexander for defending herself.

You may recall that in the fall, the black mother who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for firing a warning shot into a wall to scare off her abusive husband, was granted a retrial. She was released, after three years in jail, in time to spend Thanksgiving with her family, but then the Florida State Attorney Angela Corey moved to revoke her bond.

Now Corey–who has the power to reduce the charges or drop the case entirely–says they’ll try to triple Alexander’s original prison sentence from 20 to 60 years if she loses the retrial in July. 

The state of Florida seems determined to punish Marissa Alexander for defending herself.

You may recall that in the fall, the black mother who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for firing a ...

Weekly Feminist GIF

WHEN FLORIDA TRIES TO SEND MARISSA ALEXANDER BACK TO PRISON FOR GOING SHOPPING


I tried holding it together, but it was truly enraging. Luckily, the judge ruled that Marissa Alexander will remain free on bond (Twitter user @AngieNixon live-tweeted the hearing). But the determination of the state to lock a black woman away is enough to set your entire head on fire.

Mychal Denzel Smith is a Knobler Fellow at The Nation Institute.

WHEN FLORIDA TRIES TO SEND MARISSA ALEXANDER BACK TO PRISON FOR GOING SHOPPING


I tried holding it together, but it was truly enraging. Luckily, the judge ruled that Marissa Alexander will remain free on ...

Why is Florida State Attorney Angela Corey trying to put Marissa Alexander back in jail?

Sigh.  Marissa Alexander was finally released after years in prison, but State’s Attorney Angela Corey just moved to revoke her bond on the grounds that she left her home in violation of the terms of her release to go shopping with friends and family.  Alexander’s attorney maintains that she had the permission of the supervising corrections officer, but Corey, who seems to have it out for Alexander, is going ahead with the motion.

Sigh.  Marissa Alexander was finally released after years in prison, but State’s Attorney Angela Corey just moved to revoke her bond on the grounds that she left her home in violation of the terms of ...

Marissa Alexander: an update and a letter

Marissa Alexander should never have been sentenced to jail for defending herself from an abusive husband by shooting at a wall, injuring nobody. She shouldn’t have to be retried. But at least she has been released on bond and was able to spend Thanksgiving with her family. It was the first time she had seen her family out of jail in three years.

Marissa Alexander should never have been sentenced to jail for defending herself from an abusive husband by shooting at a wall, injuring nobody. She shouldn’t have to be retried. But at least she has been ...

Load More