FIERCE! Fabulous Independent Educated Radicals for Community Empowerment!
br> Tuesday, July 10th at 6:30pm at the new office of FIERCE! located at 147 West 24th Street, 6th Floor (between 6th & 7th Ave. – 1/F/C/E to 23rd Street)
YOUNG LESBIANS FROM NEWARK NEED OUR SUPPORT!
On August 18, 2006, seven young African American lesbians traveled to the West Village from their homes in Newark for a regular night out. When walking down the street, a male bystander assaulted them with sexist and homophobic comments. The women tried to defend themselves, and a fight broke out. Thus began the women’s nightmare for almost a year. Three of the women accepted plea offers. On June 14th, 2007 Venice Brown (19), Terrain Dandridge (20), Patreese Johnson (20), and Renata Hill (24) received sentences ranging from 3 ½ to 11 years in prison.
The women and their families now call on our communities for support. Their emotional and financial burdens have already been immense. These hardships will only continue as the women begin their prison terms and the process of appeal."
http://www.fiercenyc.org/
( the NJ7 working group in solidarity with FIERCE) Announcing the formation of a NJ7 film working group which will expediently produce a 15-30 minute documentary film interviewing the women and their families to raise money for their appeals and to broaden support in the greater community.
If you would like to get involved, please contact me or attend a production meeting this week Wednesday June27 @5pm-7 at Bluestockings: 172 Allen St. @ Stanton (212-777-6028) Call or email if you have any questions, and thanks for all of your inspired work. Love and Solidarity,
Wade Rosenthal
A Working Outline of Some Tasks for the film working group/ Roles to fill include:
WRITERS/RESEARCHER
-map out the narrative arc that will keep all the interviews on message.
-fact-checking
-create a number of speaking prompts that interviewees can read ahead of the filmed interview and discuss with their legal counsel before filming.
COMMUNITY LIASON
-strategically determine who to interview in Newark, NY, and the jails.
This could also be the same person we cast to conduct the interviews.
ACCOUNTING
-help with creating and managing a modest budget. contact potential funders
LEGAL
available for consultation by families defendants / final cut legal OK
TECHNICAL CREW
-interviewer
-experienced camera/ sound/ lighting
-editors
-leads on equiptment / rentals
all kinds of production help!!!
Wade Rosenthal
Print a PDF of the following flier @ http://www.fiercenyc.org/
YOUNG LESBIANS FROM NEWARK NEED OUR SUPPORT!
On August 18, 2006, seven young African American lesbians traveled to the West Village from their homes in Newark for a regular night out. When walking down the street, a male bystander assaulted them with sexist and homophobic comments. The women tried to defend themselves, and a fight broke out. Thus began the women’s nightmare for almost a year. Three of the women accepted plea offers. On June 14th, 2007 Venice Brown (19), Terrain Dandridge (20), Patreese Johnson (20), and Renata Hill (24) received sentences ranging from 3 1/2 to 11 years in prison.
The targeted incarceration of people of color, youth, women and LGBTQGNC people is unacceptable and unjust. These women needed protection, but what they’re getting is imprisonment.
The women and their families now call on our communities for support. Their emotional and financial burdens have already been immense. These hardships will only continue as the women begin their prison terms and the process of appeal.
HOW YOU CAN HELP: * Pro-bono legal support: Most if not all of the women need new lawyers for the appeal. Finding new counsel is the #1 priority for support. All leads and contacts welcome.
* Media contacts and writers: Journalists to report, community members to write op- eds, and media-savvy people to advise the families about working with media.
* Pen pals: Prison is profoundly isolating, as well as boring. Express your solidarity and prayers for the women’s strength.
* Money: Some of the families have depleted their life savings paying legal fees. Also imagine: collect calls from prison, transportation costs upstate for prison visits, paying for prison commissary. Direct financial contributions (even $10, $20, $30) are needed, along with people to organize fundraisers.
* Diverse organizational support: Building a public campaign requires support from all corners. If you think the sentences these women are receiving are too harsh, there is a place for your support.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! For more information about how to get involved, please contact: Bran Fenner [bran@fiercenyc.org], Jessica Robertson [jessonia@gmail.com], or Jessica Stern [sternj@hrw.org].
br> Tuesday, July 10th at 6:30pm at the new office of FIERCE! located at 147 West 24th Street, 6th Floor (between 6th & 7th Ave. – 1/F/C/E to 23rd Street)
YOUNG LESBIANS FROM NEWARK NEED OUR SUPPORT!
On August 18, 2006, seven young African American lesbians traveled to the West Village from their homes in Newark for a regular night out. When walking down the street, a male bystander assaulted them with sexist and homophobic comments. The women tried to defend themselves, and a fight broke out. Thus began the women’s nightmare for almost a year. Three of the women accepted plea offers. On June 14th, 2007 Venice Brown (19), Terrain Dandridge (20), Patreese Johnson (20), and Renata Hill (24) received sentences ranging from 3 ½ to 11 years in prison.
The women and their families now call on our communities for support. Their emotional and financial burdens have already been immense. These hardships will only continue as the women begin their prison terms and the process of appeal."
http://www.fiercenyc.org/
( the NJ7 working group in solidarity with FIERCE) Announcing the formation of a NJ7 film working group which will expediently produce a 15-30 minute documentary film interviewing the women and their families to raise money for their appeals and to broaden support in the greater community.
If you would like to get involved, please contact me or attend a production meeting this week Wednesday June27 @5pm-7 at Bluestockings: 172 Allen St. @ Stanton (212-777-6028) Call or email if you have any questions, and thanks for all of your inspired work. Love and Solidarity,
Wade Rosenthal
A Working Outline of Some Tasks for the film working group/ Roles to fill include:
WRITERS/RESEARCHER
-map out the narrative arc that will keep all the interviews on message.
-fact-checking
-create a number of speaking prompts that interviewees can read ahead of the filmed interview and discuss with their legal counsel before filming.
COMMUNITY LIASON
-strategically determine who to interview in Newark, NY, and the jails.
This could also be the same person we cast to conduct the interviews.
ACCOUNTING
-help with creating and managing a modest budget. contact potential funders
LEGAL
available for consultation by families defendants / final cut legal OK
TECHNICAL CREW
-interviewer
-experienced camera/ sound/ lighting
-editors
-leads on equiptment / rentals
all kinds of production help!!!
Wade Rosenthal
Print a PDF of the following flier @ http://www.fiercenyc.org/
YOUNG LESBIANS FROM NEWARK NEED OUR SUPPORT!
On August 18, 2006, seven young African American lesbians traveled to the West Village from their homes in Newark for a regular night out. When walking down the street, a male bystander assaulted them with sexist and homophobic comments. The women tried to defend themselves, and a fight broke out. Thus began the women’s nightmare for almost a year. Three of the women accepted plea offers. On June 14th, 2007 Venice Brown (19), Terrain Dandridge (20), Patreese Johnson (20), and Renata Hill (24) received sentences ranging from 3 1/2 to 11 years in prison.
The targeted incarceration of people of color, youth, women and LGBTQGNC people is unacceptable and unjust. These women needed protection, but what they’re getting is imprisonment.
The women and their families now call on our communities for support. Their emotional and financial burdens have already been immense. These hardships will only continue as the women begin their prison terms and the process of appeal.
HOW YOU CAN HELP: * Pro-bono legal support: Most if not all of the women need new lawyers for the appeal. Finding new counsel is the #1 priority for support. All leads and contacts welcome.
* Media contacts and writers: Journalists to report, community members to write op- eds, and media-savvy people to advise the families about working with media.
* Pen pals: Prison is profoundly isolating, as well as boring. Express your solidarity and prayers for the women’s strength.
* Money: Some of the families have depleted their life savings paying legal fees. Also imagine: collect calls from prison, transportation costs upstate for prison visits, paying for prison commissary. Direct financial contributions (even $10, $20, $30) are needed, along with people to organize fundraisers.
* Diverse organizational support: Building a public campaign requires support from all corners. If you think the sentences these women are receiving are too harsh, there is a place for your support.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! For more information about how to get involved, please contact: Bran Fenner [bran@fiercenyc.org], Jessica Robertson [jessonia@gmail.com], or Jessica Stern [sternj@hrw.org].
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