My name is Marissa Alexander, I am a mother of three children, but at the present time, I am not able to be with them due to the following circumstances. I am currently sitting in the Pretrial Detention Facility in Jacksonville FL, Duval County awaiting a sentence for three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon with no intent to harm. ... In an unprovoked jealous rage, my husband violently confronted me while using the restroom. He assaulted me, shoving, strangling and holding me against my will, preventing me from fleeing all while I begged for him to leave. ... I was unable to leave, trapped in the dark with no way out. For protection against further assault I retrieved my weapon; which is registered and I have a concealed weapon permit. Trapped, no phone, I entered back into my home to either leave through another exit or obtain my cell phone. ... The weapon was in my right hand down by my side and he yelled, “Bitch I will kill you!”, and charged toward me. In fear and desperate attempt, I lifted my weapon up, turned away and discharged a single shot in the wall up in the ceiling. As I stood my ground it prevented him from doing what he threatened and he ran out of the home. Outside of the home, he contacted the police and falsely reported that I shot at him and his sons. The police arrived and I was taken into custody.
-- Excerpt from A Letter by Marissa Alexander to her supporters
As part of National Domestic Violence Awareness month, we were joined in-studio by
Esther Armah, founder and Creator of
Emotional Justice Unplugged, and co-founder of
#31forMarissa, with Mariame Kaba of the
Chicago Taskforce on Violence Against Girls & Women. Ms. Armah discussed the cultures of silence within our communities around domestic violence, particularly amongst men. For more information:
Free Marissa Now campaign
Emotional Justice Unplugged
#31ForMarissa Coverage at Ebony
Read the Letters at The Swag Spot
Donate to Marissa Alexander's Legal Fees
For updates and more information, you can also follow @PrisonCulture and @esther_armah
Also on today's #TWiBRadio, #TeamBlackness discussed New Jersey finally getting something right and Eminem getting everything wrong.
Subscribe on iTunes | Subscribe On Stitcher | Direct Download | RSS
And this morning on #amTWiB, The Morning Crew discussed the Obama Administration taking heat for the glitchy Obamacare registration, breast feeding and an abortion may be used against you, and is Biggie too much for a street name?
Subscribe on iTunes | Subscribe On Stitcher | Direct Download | RSS
(Cross-posted)