Send a card to Cyntoia Brown - sex trafficked victim senteced to 51 years for self defence

[stumbledin]

There has been some coverage in the media about Cyntoia Brown but for anyone who hasn't heard here is a recent article www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/cyntoia-brown-life-sentence-supreme-court_us_5c0c7f30e4b0ab8cf693f5c5

There are current online campaigns to either secure her a retrial or ask the State Governor to grant her clemency.

She was 16 and being pimped by an older man when she defended herself in 2004. The ruling of 51 years is in response to an appeal hearing (I think).

I know there are many other women who have faced harsh sentences because they have fought back against male violence who we could also support.

But currently there are suggestions to send her a card or letter of support. But from this twitter thread you need to take the time to meet the rules of the prison system. But a card in a plain white envelope using blue or black ink seems to be okay. See twitter.com/prisonculture/status/1071618655182618625

There are also petitions www.mumsnet.com/Talk/petitions_noticeboard/3450017-Free-CyntoiaBrown?noti=1#83294516

Great idea, on it.

Sending a card tomorrow OP.

We too will be sending a card 😢 poor girl

Surely this just sex gone wrong?

No, she murdered a man while he was sleeping, then stole his wallet, his guns and his car. Here's the Court of Appeals decision about her case: www.scribd.com/document/395466717/Cyntoia-Brown-TN-Court-of-Criminal-Appeals-2014

If you want to support her because you don't believe a 16 year old deserves to be in prison for life and/or because you admire the way she's turned her life around, that's fine. But her conviction was absolutely justified by the evidence.

She didn't murder a random man, she killed a much older man with guns who she had sex with who she clearly thought might pull one on her.

Response to RCBadger

She was at that time an underage girl being pimped out by an older man and in this instance to an even older man who played with guns. He wasn't sleeping and she feared for her life. That immediate situation plus the accumulation of being under the control of her pimp must have put her in a traumatic state.

And yes if you are desperate to not only get away from the man with the guns but the pimp you would take money and steal a vehicle.

That doesn't make what she did right, but in many other cases these would have been mitigating circumstances.

I am astonished that you would think the situtation she was in was normal and she took advantage.

She was trafficked - ie she is a victim of crime by controlling men.

She was prostituted when under age - that could be considered statutory rape.

If you look at the girls in Rotherham exploited by older men who took advantage of their age and chaotic lives no one (apart from reactionary men) blamed them. This is no different.

And I dont doubt being a young WOC probably made her experience of the US criminal justice sytem negative.

Really shocked to see such an unreconstructed victim blaming comment on mumsnet.

Absolutely agree OP.

Though to be fair a lot of people blamed the girls in Rotherham including police, the council and social workers.

And still do.

If you read the actual account there’s a distinct possibility this charming young lady isn’t as innocent as you’d think.

Goodness me, this little thread in FWR is getting some attention!

What are you suggesting that you think we don't already know, Just?

Having read the Huffpost article I think it is correct that she is in custody. She killed someone.

However, this is a 16 year old child, diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome. She was pumped and raped by her much older "boyfriend" and raped by the man she killed.

The sentence given is ridiculously disproportionate. She should be in medical custody with shit hot counselling and rehabilitation for a year, not in jail for 52 years!

Pimped not pumped!

Okay, I've just read the link from RCBadger, where her appeal is denied. Fucking hell, that poor kid. It made me much more convinced that this is a miscarriage of justice. Did you read the medical evidence?

But currently there are suggestions to send her a card or letter of support. But from this twitter thread you need to take the time to meet the rules of the prison system. But a card in a plain white envelope using blue or black ink seems to be okay

What can one say? That is a real question not a rhetorical one.

MargueritaPink

I think what it means is say something simple and not political eg:

Peace and love / Keep strong /

Rather than:

The USA is a reactionary anti woman racist society and you are a political prisoner - Free all political prisoners - in sisterhood and solidarity !!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks- that wasn't quite what I meant. I was struggling to think of anything that wasn't trite or irrelevant or just misses the mark or that would be of any help to her.

"Pimped not pumped! blush"

Quite.
Does anybody know why MN, alone amongst talk boards, doesn't allow for any
editing?

sorry MargueritaPink

my fault for coming onto mumsnet late at night thinking I was making sense.

I agree difficult to think of what to say in the light of her situation.

"Hope you are keeping strong - a well wisher from the UK" ?????

Thanks. I'll use something like that

Not sure that it will come to anything but there is to be a preliminary hearing about the possibility of the Govenor granting clemancy.

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/trafficking-victim-cyntoia-brown-to-get-clemency-hearing_us_5af05538e4b0c4f19324abaa