Today is day 12 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.


*NOTE: On Thursday October 10th #31forMARISSA held an amazing Google Chat led by activist and journalist Jeff Johnson with letter writers Darnell Moore and Kai M Green. The conversation was put together by campaign organizer Esther Armah as part of emotional justice intimate public conversations. Did you miss the conversation? Watch it here. 


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.

Today's letter is from award winning film-maker Byron Hurt, a brother who works at engaging men in dealing with the violence they perpetrate and in understanding that even if they don't being engaged in a community where violence occurs is crucial in making women and families and children and society safe. His letters deals with the hypocrisy of the criminal justice system and highlights how few men have engaged in a conversation around emotional responsibility.

"Dear Marissa" from Byron Hurt

"Marissa, I am really sorry that you had to experience such terrorism and violence at the hands of a man who claimed to love you. I have many women in my life that I love dearly, including my four-year old daughter."

"People around the country should be outraged about the length of your incarceration, or that you are even incarcerated at all!"

"…I have spent the last 20 years working to spread awareness about men’s violence against women, I try to sensitize men to the physical and sexual abuse that so many girls and woman experience on a daily basis. I also try to get us men to understand that violence against women is our problem to solve, and that we should not place all the responsibility of our abuse on victims and survivors."

"When I read your story, I was outraged over the hypocrisy in the application of Florida’s Stand Your Ground law."

"This is a shame, and a tragedy. You deserve to be defended, and protected by the criminal justice system, not criminalized by it."

Read this brother's complete letter here

CHECK OUT THE MEN'S LETTERS: theSWAGspot tumblr

SEND LETTERS HERE

DONATE TO MARISSA ALEXANDER'S LEGAL FEES FOR HER NEW TRIAL

'LIKE' the 'FREE MARISSA NOW' F/B Page

'LIKE' the 'EMOTIONAL JUSTICE F/B Page