California Freedom Petitions
TAKE ACTION in 3 STEPS!
Urge California Governor Gavin Newsom to decriminalize survival and COMMUTE THE SENTENCES of all survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
1. SIGN FREEDOM PETITIONS
- Janetta Leiva: bit.ly/CommuteJanetta
- Stacey Dyer: bit.ly/CommuteStacey
- Brandy Scott: bit.ly/CommuteBrandy
- Rae Harris: bit.ly/CommuteRae
- Tomiekia Johnson: bit.ly/CommuteTomiekia
- Liyah Birru: freeliyah.org
Update: Urgent COVID-19-related Calls for Clemency:
Join the California Coalition for Women Prisoners to call for the immediate clemency of Patricia Wright and Maria Aredondo, survivors who are particularly vulnerable in the pandemic:
Patricia Wright
Patricia is a 68-year-old Black mother and grandmother with terminal cancer and a survivor of domestic violence who is serving Life Without the Possibility of Parole (LWOP).
MARIA AREDONDO
Maria is an elderly woman currently undergoing chemotherapy for stage 2 breast cancer. Maria’s battle with cancer and other health conditions makes her especially vulnerable to Covid-19.
Brandy Scott
Rae Harris
Stacey Dyer
Tomiekia Johnson
Janetta Leiva
Liyah Birru
* THANK YOU! *
Your crucial support has helped secure commutations for the following incarcerated survivors: Tammy Garvin, Barbara Chavez, Kelly Ann Savage, Christina Martinez, and Gabriela Solano! Also, Tammy, Barbara, Kelly, and Lynn Noyes have all been granted parole! Your support was key in bringing these survivors closer to release and raising awareness about the criminalization of survivors and survival. You’re the best! Keep the love going and check out more opportunities to be in solidarity with survivors…
2. DROP LWOP!
3. SEND POSTCARDS & LETTERS
Governor Gavin Newsom
c/o State Capitol, Suite 1173
Sacramento, CA 95814
SAMPLE TEXT:
Dear Governor Newsom,
I join California residents urging you to commute the sentences of all criminalized survivors, and to end Life Without Parole sentencing.
The vast majority of people in women’s prisons, and many in men’s prisons, are survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Survivors are criminalized while attempting to navigate dangerous conditions of abuse and coercion. California prisons and detention centers perpetuate cycles of violence through the “abuse to prison” pipeline and because they are themselves sites of systematic gendered violence. This must end.
I call on you to boldly expand the historic increase in commutations and pardons. As an ally to survivors of violence, I urge you to recognize prisons and detention centers as forms of gendered violence and commute all survivors.
Sincerely,