🌈#FreeThemAll

Liyah is an Ethiopian immigrant survivor, who is currently fighting her deportation because she defended herself from her racist, abusive husband. Gov @GavinNewsom can pardon her and stop her deportation, but has yet to do so w over half a million people demanding her safety.

Liyah shared so much of herself in the process & allowed us to join her fight for freedom. She's generous, kind, and loving; even while fighting her own deportation, she talked about wanting to starting her own org to eradicate hunger and will continue to work w @survivepunish.

Liyah's story is far from unique: like so many Black women who dared to defend themselves from violence and abuse (Marissa Alexander, CeCe Mcdonald, Cherelle Baldwin...), Liyah was punished for surviving violence. Because of her immigration status, she still faces deportation.

While the fight continues, I want to acknowledge/thank so many people and orgs. 10s of 1000s of ppl took action to #FreeLiyah. 100s of people pitched in to pay her bond. Our team will write an official thank you note, but I want to thank some key members of our badass team.

Liyah first got in touch w @anoop_alc for legal help. If it were a different attorney, there probably wouldn't have been a campaign. Huge difference to have a highly skilled, caring attorney like Anoop who values organizing and has sharp gender analysis

So grateful to work alongside @nourn_ny, who continues to organize to free survivors & refugees. Ny was such an integral part of the campaign, from emceeing and media interviews to working w loved ones and facilitating leg visits. You're amazing, Ny! I learn so much from you

With every campaign, there's a ton of behind the scenes work that happens. Our campaign really benefitted from @hellairritated, who kept us on track and was pretty much the main reason why everything ran so smoothly.

I also want to thank @lanetaya and @bitterillegal with @ciyja. Y'all are always down for anything from hosting a teach-in with liberators breaking down domestic violence, criminalization, and immigration to organizing a car rally.

Grateful for @lachicaboom, an amazing artist and organizer who helped us figure out arts/cultural strategy and connected us to folks in the art world whom we would not have reached otherwise. Xandra was always down and we benefitted so much from your creative wisdom

Thankful for all the talented artists: @mhwstudio who created the initial campaign graphic; @VidaKg who created fact sheet graphics; and @maiz_azulq who created additional illustrations for us to lift up Liyah's fight for safety and freedom from DV and criminalization.

Thanks to @hyejinhere who created the beautiful campaign website; @daisycvo part of the defense committee; @the18yearplan and the UCR #FreeLiyah team who organized their own actions and events @MariamAAyoub1 @JazminG74341169 @Marlene_Santoyo @AudreyHoang9 and so many others!

Thanks to @abogadatejana and the UC Davis law students who worked tirelessly to pull together the best legal support for Liyah. Thanks to @marenafaith @ColorOfChange @BAJItweet @policylink @sybilgrant @c_c_w_p @cpedvcoalition for supporting Liyah's campaign.

Shout out to the 510 action crew: @AsianPrisonerSC @CERIeastbay @sleesays; also deep gratitude to @svdebug for donating printed campaign shirts and to @ProArtsOakland for hosting us ams donating campaign posters

Always appreciate support from comrades in Chicago, New York, and of course, our @survivepunish CA team! @supporthosechi @MomsUnitedChi @LoveProtectOrg @survivepunishNY way too many people to tag