Today is day 21 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 Domestic ViolenceEmotional 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: Today, check out Huff Post Live at 1:15pm EST for a special discussion of #31forMARISSA, featuring some of the men who have contributed letters. Also, tune in to "This Week in Blackness" at 3:30pm EST for a discussion of campaign: www.twib.fm. 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 Donald Stubbs, who issues a challenge to all men to support Marissa and change what he describes as 'selective injustice.' He takes on men who have been physically abusive—including those in his own circle who claim that there's a 'time' to hit a woman. 

"Hello Marissa" by Donald Stubbs 

"My heart goes out to you over this travesty, that I will call 'selective injustice.' There is absolutely no reason for you to be incarcerated over this."

"Our motto should be 'REAL MEN DON'T HIT.'  We should tell our next door neighbor that what he is doing is wrong…I challenge any man, right now, to stand up and take his place, if he truly wants to consider himself a man… Somebody once told me 'Man, sometimes you have to hit a woman.; My reply was, 'Well, when is that time?' It's been two years and I haven't received an answer yet. Beating a woman to control her, does not make you a man, it makes you a slave owner."

"When will we learn that, women don't want to be owned, they want to be loved. When will we learn that, love doesn't hurt, love doesn't put you in the hospital, love doesn't cause you to 'run away,' love doesn't cause you to have suicidal thoughts, and love doesn't make you feel alone." 

Read this brother's complete letter here.

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