Today is day 16 of the national month-long writing campaign for men on the issue of domestic violence and in support of Marissa Alexander, the Florida mother of three who was sentenced to 20 years for firing a warning shot to scare off her abusive husband. Launched by the Chicago Taskforce on Violence Against , Emotional Justice Unplugged, and the Free Marisa Now Mobilization Campaign, EBONY.com is the official media partner of this critical act of 'emotional justice' in action.


Check out our mission statement here and visit EBONY.com daily through the month of October to read powerful words from men who are committed to seeing justice for Marissa Alexander.

This campaign invites a nation of men of all creeds and colors to write letters. Today's letter is from a White man, a scholar—David. On his office wall, there's an image of Marissa. His letter explores a society that normalizes violence within masculinity and fails bBack women again and again. He asks himself how much more he needs to do in the fight for Marissa's justice, and calls other White men to action in pursuit of the freedom of this Black woman.

Dear Marissa, from David

"Each day as I look at your picture, I think: what am I doing in your march toward justice and freedom; what am I doing in the fight against abuse and violence?"

"…In 2010, your husband said, 'I got five baby mamas and I put my hand on every last one of them except one. The way I was with women, they was like they had to walk on eggshells around me. You know they never knew what I was thinking or what I might do. Hit them, push them.' Reading this hurts me because it is further evidence of our failure. We rear men who think this is ok, who are empowered to abuse. Where were we then? Where was the criminal justice system that is so concerned about protection and safety? We have failed you and for that I am sorry."

"While we have never met, you have impacted me in ways you will never know. I think about you daily; a poster calling for your pardon hangs in my office…While the injustices that have led you into a Florida prison have prompted national outrage, the entire nation should be outraged. Too many have failed to see you as their mother, as their sister, as their daughter, and their friend. We all should be demanding justice until your freedom is secured. "

Read this brother's complete letter here

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