#31forMARISSA Day 28

Today is day 28 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 Girls and Women , 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: This is the final week of this campaign. On November 1^st, there will be a status hearing on the Marissa Alexander case where the state will either decide to drop the case or set the date for moving ahead with a new trial. The fight to pressure the state to drop the case is on. For a full update on the case read 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 actually a poem from 20-year-old Malcolm London. In "Praise for Black Women," he calls on the church to be more active when it comes to domestic violence and issues a call to men to stop hiding behind silence.

Praise for Black Women by Malcolm London

“marissa I can see the cathedral

behind your eyes, staring a system down

that fails to protect your sanctity

while calling you jezebel…”

“America having the largest prison system

Is domestic violence too…”

“…this is also to the men.

we are silencing.

we cannot be cowards

cannot hide behind rape jokes

or pretend we don’t know men are crucifying