NJ4 activist, Blair Doroshwalther, has been working with Terrain, Venice, and the families of the women to produce and create a documentary about their case.

Check out the trailer for The Fire This Time and sign up for updates on the website.

On March 18th, Renata accepted a plea bargain to reduce the length of her sentence. See FIRECE NYC for the full update.

While we wait for Renata’s new contact information, make sure to keep in contact with Patreese by sending her letters and packages. Check the list of allowable items under the NY State system before sending packages. Your support means a lot to her!

Letters and packages can be mailed to:

Patreese Johnson
#07-G-0635
Bedford Hills Correctional Facility
P.O. Box 1000
Bedford Hills, NY 10507

To follow up from the protest, we need to get at least 400 letters to Morgenthau before the 17th to show that the community supports an end to the prosecution against Renata Hill!

It is encouraged that more letters come from the NYC/NJ area. People should also aim to use the letter template below to create their own unique letters, especially explaining to the DA’s office about how the case affects them directly.

[Your Name]
[Your address]

Robert M. Morgenthau
District Attorney
New York County
1 Hogan Place
New York, NY 10013

[Date]

Re: People vs. Renata Hill

Dear Mr. Morgenthau:

I am writing concerning the case of Renata Hill, who is scheduled to appear in court on March 17, 2009 for a potential retrial. Ms. Hill’s original trial was stemming from an incident in August 2006. Her conviction for Gang Assault was recently overturned on appeal. Your office is about to make a decision on offering Ms. Hill either a retrial or a plea bargain where she would serve a year in prison.

Whatever Ms. Hill’s role on that night, she shouldn’t have to go back to prison. Ms. Hill has already served two years. While she was incarcerated, she was separated from her young son. She also suffered the death of her mother, whose memorial she was unable to attend. I want to encourage you to stop further prosecution in this case, and to release Ms. Hill so that she may get on with her life.

I am writing as a person who identifies with the queer and trans communities. What happened during the incident involving Ms. Hill on August 2006 was terribly unfortunate. I believe that none of the defendants who were changed actually went out there that night with the intention of criminal activity. Life is difficult for queer and trans people, and we ask that your office recognize the constant threat of danger we live with.

Ms. Hill has been punished enough for her role in the event – both by actual imprisonment, and in the impact that imprisonment has had upon her life. I appreciate any assistance you can provide in preventing any further injustice.

Thank you for your consideration,

Sincerely,

______________________________________________________________________________________

For Immediate Release                                                                                                                                                                                            

February 27, 2009            

Contact:

 Kimma Walker 973.676.9813                                                                                                          freenj4@yahoo.com

Queer and Trans Demonstrators Confront District Attorney

One of the NJ4 Appears in Court Next Week

National NJ4 Solidarity Committee Demands and End to All Prosecution Against Renata Hill and Immediate Release of Patreese Johnson from Prison

________________________________________________________________________________________

What:                RALLY: The National NJ4 Solidarity Committee rally in support Renata Hill and self defense for all marginalized queers, transfolks, women and people of color.

When:                        12:00 Noon

                        Monday, March 2 2009

Where:            Office of the District Attorney

                        1 Hogan Place

                        Manhattan, NY

Who:             The NJ4 Solidarity Committee, comprised of such groups as FIERCE, Gay Shame SF, LAGAI — Queer Insurrection, Bash Back, Resistance in Brooklyn and Queers for Economic Justice.

Why:             On August 16, 2006, seven young black lesbians were in New York’s West Village and were accosted by Dwayne Buckle, who eventually grabbed one of them, and a fight ensued. The seven women were arrested and charged with crimes such as “gang assault.” Three of them took plea agreements.

The other four lesbians Terrain Dandridge, Renata Hill, Patreese Johnson, and Venice Brown were put on trial in 2007. In the trial and the surrounding media they were dehumanized, villified, and called a “lesbian wolf-pack.” The prosecution and trial were so biased that in an unprecedented move the First District Appellate Court reversed all of Terrain’s convictions, and dismissed the indictment with prejudice, although by that time she had served almost two years in jail/prison. In October of 2008, a retrial was granted on the felony gang assault charges against Renata and Venice, and they both got out on bail after serving more than two years. Patreese’s sentence was reduced to 8 from 11 years, but not overturned. Assistant District Attorney Lanita K. Hobbs is demanding that Renata be returned to prison, or face another trial.

Many diverse communities have rallied to the case, seeing the DA’s prosecution of the lesbians as a denial of their right to defend themselves and each other. “If we are killed or raped, we are mourned as victims, or supported as survivors. But if we fight back successfully, we are imprisoned. The district attorney is leaving us no options when we are attacked on the street,” said spokesperson Ralowe of the NJ4 Solidarity Committee. “It is time for the district attorney to stop persecuting these lesbians and let them get on with their lives.”

The Committee will be not only be demanding that the D.A. drop the case against Renata, but also to help secure Patreese Johnson’s immediate release.

###

http://www.radioproject.org/archive/2008/5108.html

it’ll air here in the Bay this Friday. 1:30 on 94.1fm

and then next week, on Dec 24, there’ll be a different version (mostly the same, but with Born in Flames theme music!!) airing on FSRN — i’ll send the link to that one when it’s done.
a link to the audio is also on the audio and flyer tab.

🙂 thanks, ya’ll!

p.