- Pin it
- SubscribeUnsubscribe
- Embed
Benjamin Passmore hasn't added a story.
UPDATE: We were able to raise enough for a lawyer who was able to make a deal and now Onishona is out on probation. We're very relieved to have our friend again.
-------------------------------------------
Two years ago Ona was racially profiled and arrested for an assault
he did not commit and was incarcerated in Orleans Parish Prison for a
year and half, he was put in solitary confinement several times during
his bid. He came out of OPP with undiagnosed PTSD from the many
terrifying experiences he had while incarcerated and had a very hard
time transitioning back into his community. Ona is part of the
activist community, he's a frequent volunteer for Community Kitchen
and Books to Prisoners. Ona was recently arrested for suspected simple
burglary. After his arrest he was sent to OPP and put into solitary
confinement with a broken toilet for a month. Fortunately Ona is in a
better facility but we want to be able to provide him with legal and
financial support. We're hoping to raise money for a lawyer and for
his various legal fees.
Ona was falsely arrested 2 years ago and charged with aggravated
assault. There was no substantiated evidence of his association with
this assault except for a suspect identification stating the aggressor
was a young black man.While a Prisoner's "innocence" is
irrelevant when framed within the context of the prison system's
unending guilt for murder, discrimination and enslavement, it is clear
this was an instance of cut and dry racial profiling. Ona was released
after a year in O.P.P.( a temporary holding facility) for good
behavior. Ona, like many others, experienced a lot of difficulty and
conflict re-entering "society". As a black, queer,
psychically diverse radical kid in one of the most notoriously
inhumane facilities in the country he experienced innumerable traumas.
He was kept in solitary confinement for extended period of times, and
lived under constant threat of assault and death. Once Ona was
released, they worked towards integrating into the radical community
including participating in prisoner solidarity support. Unfortunately
the cycle of racist policing continued and they were arrested again in
the fall of last year. After being kept in solitary for over a month
with a non working toilet they were transferred to the Hunt Prison
outside of Baton Rouge where they await trial. There are legal costs,
commissary costs, and other financial stresses on Ona's friends and
family.
Onishona's case is not one that fits into the regular narrative
of "political prisoners". However, capitalist economy would
not survive without the forced labor of prisoners, and the
consequential devaluation of all poor, black and brown life.
All Prisoners are Political Prisoners.
We are hoping to raise money for a lawyer and for his various legal fees
Highlights
See all activity10Activity
Delete media item?
Delete this item from the media gallery? It will also be deleted from any related story update.
Set as ?
The campaign video will appear in social media and email.
The campaign cover picture will appear in social media and email.
The will appear at the top of your campaign page and in social media and email.
Reset ?
It will be removed from the top of your campaign and won't be used as default in social media and email. The will remain in the media gallery.
Embed
Share a link
Delete update
Delete this story update?
Any pictures or videos will remain in the campaign's media gallery.
Report campaign
Report submitted
Thank you. We take reports like yours very seriously. Our goal is to keep the community safe.
Please know that we may contact you for more information, but that we won't notify you personally of our decision. If the campaign remains available within a few days, it's likely that we determined it not to be in violation of our policies.
Thank you. We've already received your previous report. If the campaign remains available within a few days, it's likely that we determined it not to be in violation of our policies.
Tell us about the problem. Please fill in both fields below.
Record a video
Upload a video
Nothing grabs attention for your cause like a personal video. Take a minute or two to record one now. Record a short video message of support. Or upload one from your device. You can preview or redo your video before you post it.
Nothing grabs attention for your cause like a personal video. Upload a short video message of support. Upload a short video message of support. Or record one right now.
- Most effective video length: about a minute.
- Maximum length: 5 min.
- You can preview or redo your video before you post it.
Heads up! The existing video will be replaced.
Email your friends
Join our team
Tell people why our cause matters to you. Your personal message will encourage others to help. Easy, effective, optional.
Say it in video
Short personal videos by supporters like you are incredibly powerful. Record one right now and you'll help us raise more money. Easy, optional, effective.
Add a personal goal
Set a personal fundraising goal. You'll encourage more contributions if you do. And rest easy. There's no obligation to achieve your goal or bad consequences if you don't. Easy, optional, effective.
We have a video!
Video thumbnail
We'd love to show you our campaign video. Want to take a look?
, you're already on the team.