An update from the Free Maddesyn George defense campaign:

Dear Community,

Thank you for all of the ways you’ve helped build the campaign for Maddesyn George’s freedom. The petition has gained more than 1K signatures since last week’s webinar, and we’ve raised nearly $4K of our $5K goal for Maddesyn’s family support fund. We are so grateful for your support!

We need you to help us keep building momentum over the next five weeks!

Maddesyn recently accepted a plea deal that includes a manslaughter charge and a drug charge that carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years. The federal prosecutors are recommending that she serve 17 years. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 20, 2021, so we have until then to pressure the U.S. DOJ to drop the charges.

Let’s get to 10K signatures on the petition to the DOJ by 10/1

• Can you text the petition link to 5 friends today? change.org/freemaddesyngeorge
• Can you share the petition on a social media account? change.org/freemaddesyngeorge
  Sample post: Have you signed this petition yet? Tell the U.S. DOJ to drop the charges against Indigenous criminalized survivor Maddesyn George. #FreeMaddesyn #MMIW #SurvivedandPunished

Can you retweet, share, or repost the new 2-min documentary film about Maddesyn’s case from the campaign’s social media accounts? (And when you’re there, please “follow” the campaign!)

• • twitter.com/freemaddesyn
  • facebook.com/maddesyn509
  • instagram.com/freemaddesyngeorge

Join us from 5PM–6PM PST on Thursday, September 23 for a Write-Letters-to-Maddesyn Gathering. Please share the attached graphic and RSVP here.

Encourage friends to donate to Maddesyn’s support fund: https://gofund.me/b96b2ebb
Sample post: Maddesyn George, a young Native mother and survivor of sexual and domestic violence, is currently in jail and being prosecuted for saving her own life. Please consider making a donation to her support fund for child-raising costs and incarceration-related expenses. #FreeMaddesyn #MMIW #SurvivedandPunished

Save the Date: Day of Action to #FreeMaddesyn on October 8. More details coming soon!

Finally, if you missed last week’s powerful webinar, “Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women and the Campaign to Free Maddesyn George,” here is a link to the recording. Big thanks again to all of the co-sponsoring organizations.

With gratitude and in solidarity,
#FreeMaddesyn Organizers