Rebels for Justice

So0 whAts the Sc3nar1o?? Made at ABC NoRio

2008-07-22T13:03:00.000-07:00

Check out the shirts that we made at ABC NoRio!! We will be selling these shirts at Baretto Point Park on July 29th from 5pm=10pm ish... The shirts will range from $10-15 and proceeds will go to Life After Exoneration... Thanks!

Yo, these are some of the ACTION participants, both first years and fourth years

The shirt titles are "I love FREEDOM" , "Justice , "Pump up the Volume "

This ^^ is Dominique one of the Rebels 4 Justice members

This << is Judith another one of the Rebels for Justice members

Keeping Awareness Alive

2008-07-22T08:17:00.000-07:00

Since the summer (and our work for spreading awareness) is coming to an end, Rebels 4 Justice want to give everyone the chance to spread and educate the tragedy and the problems with wrongful convictions and injustice in the United States. We are going to share the workshop we used so that others may use it as well. Using the documentary "After Innocence" directed by Jessica Sanders will be the main ingredient of the workshop.

Introduction
Objective: To get everyone interested in justice and get and starting idea of what justice means to them pre-film.
Everyone goes around saying their name and what justice means to them in one word. Once everyone has shared, start by explaining what exonerations and exonerees are and introduce the film. You will be splitting the film into three clips with an activity in between clips.

Movie- First break will be at the end of chapter 5 which is about 23 minutes

Needs Assessment Activity
Objective: To get people engaged in the statistics of the necessities of an exoneree
You will need 10 volunteers and 10 sheets of paper based on a survey of 60 exonerees done by the Life After Exoneration Program. Each paper will have one of the 10 problems: without health insurance, basic social service needs, lost custody of children during prison, earning less than pre-prison, separated/divorced during prison, unemployment, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety disorder, inadequate housing. The idea is for the volunteers to put themselves in order from most problematic to deal with to least problematic to deal with. Make sure they keep in mind that they are thinking in terms of what an exoneree needs. The people who are not volunteering will create a fish bowl around the volunteers and they write down what necessity caused the most problem to put into place. Also they give a suggestion of where that necessity should go. After 5 minutes of sorting, the volunteers get in order and share why that necessity is placed in that order. After they share, ask the audience if there is anything they disagree with and why. Once everyone has discussed, take out a chart paper with the actual order of the necessities. They are as followed:

1. Basic Social Service Needs- 55%
2. Without health Insurance- 54%
3. Inadequate Housing- 44%
4. Earning less than Pre-Prison- 43%
5. Depression- 40%
6. Separated/Divorced during prison- 39%
7. Anxiety Disorder- 38%
8. Lost custody of children during prison- 30%
9. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder- 28%
9. Unemployment- 28%

More likely than not, students will be shocked at the results. Then ask everyone what was the most shocking and why. Once the discussion comes to a close, gather everyone back in their seats for the second portion of the film.

Movie- Up to chapter 11 which ends at about 53 minutes total and 30 minutes from the first cut.

Apology/Forgiveness exercise
Objective: To make an emotional connection between exonerees and those in the outside world.
You will have questions and statements written on a chart paper. Everyone is asked to answer the question as if they were an exoneree. The first statement is "An apology is necessary to be able to forgive the system/government/prosecutor. Those who agree will stand those who disagree will sit. Pick some volunteers to explain why they are standing/ sitting. The second is a question: "What would you need in order to forgive?" Allow people to discuss among themselves.

Movie- This is the last clip so allow it to finish. It will take about 40 minutes.

Reflection- Have some people share back their opinions on the film. Then, split up the group in 2 groups. The first group will be asked "After watching the documentary, do you believe justice is colorblind (in other words... does race affect justice)?" The second group can have a choice of the 2 questions: "Is it an artist's duty to advocate/ spread the word about injustice? How? and/or What elements contribute to wrongful convictions?

We guarantee that neither you or the participants will ever look at the United States justice system the same.

Update

2008-07-15T12:56:00.001-07:00

We Just held a workshop at HEAF Youth Center, where we viewed the film "After Innocence" and led a small workshop with curent Freshmen. This event was productive and thought provoking. We are hoping to host another event before August 1st so0o... if you have any ideas, please contact us @ exonerproject@yahoo.com Keep a lookout for our short documentary at the "I love my Block" film festival where we will be showing that and selling shirts.

New Man Exonerated

2008-07-09T07:55:00.000-07:00

It's no surprise that the court has made another mistake, taking 15 years away from Patrick Waller who was exonerated June 30th, 2008. Here's the link to his shocking story.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/070108dnmetexonerate.dcd19fe.html

The June Event

2008-07-07T08:07:00.000-07:00

On June 14, 2008 we had our first event at the Bruckner Bar and Grill. Personally, it was an exhilarating event where we got to put the information we knew to the test. There were many emotions from the audience though none were surprising; they all couldn't believe there were exonerees with such uncivil treatment in the United States. The discussions were easy to maintain since everyone seemed so passionate to speak their mind on the video screened "After Innocence." Every time we showed another clip of the documentary, the audience became more in awe of the injustice we live among. We did a good job at maintaining the mood of the documentary and keeping the audience entertained by continuous interaction. We were also successful in the small but efficient art auction. Special thanks to Keith Kaminski, Rachel Eliza Griffiths, David Flores, Carla Repice, Catherine Epstein, Maya Pindyk, Keir Johnston, and ACTION participants for their artistic donations. With the thanks of our audience participants, we were able to raise over $500. We had a very interactive and passionate audience but one of our goals for the next event is to reach out to more people so that we may spread the word even more. At this moment in time, we are reuniting for the summer portion of our program and we are beginning the reflection of our last event... we will keep you posted!

Rebels for Justice Big Event

2008-06-05T18:01:00.000-07:00

On June 14th 2008 from 3:00pm-8:00pm, we will be hosting our 1st benefit to raise money for the exonerees. During this event we will be having a silent art auction, viewing of a documentary/discussion, food and refreshments. This event is free, however, we are asking for a suggested donation of $10 to help us raise the funds for these people. The event will be held at the Bruckner Bar which is located at 1 Bruckner Boulevard Bronx NY, 10451 Nearest train- 6 at 138th

Sometimes to RECEIVE you have to GIVE!!!

2008-03-29T11:39:00.000-07:00

Hey Guys a LITTLE Update for You

We need money... It's kind of blunt, however in the times that we are living through, money makes the world go around. We do not beg, however we ASK that you donate funds to our efforts to help exonerated victims. We are running low on funds, and in order to continue with our efforts we need a little monetary help.
If you would like to donate money to our efforts please send yor funds to DreamYard Action project Memo: Exoneration Project along with your name and group affiliation if any:

DreamYard Action Project
872 Gerard Avenue
Bronx,NY 10452
1.718.588.8007
exonerproject@yahoo.com

If you would like to donate directly to Life After Exoneration, please send funds to:

Life After Exoneration Program
PO Box 10208
Berkeley, CA 94709
(510) 526-2168
vollen@berkeley.edu

In pursuit of Justice,
Dominique

Psalm for Distribution

2008-03-22T10:17:00.000-07:00

Lord,
On 8th Street
Between 6th Avenue and Broadway
In Greenwich Village
There are enough shoe stores
With enough shoes
To make me wonder
Where there are shoeless people
On the earth.
Lord,
You have to fire the Angel
in charge of distribution.

Jack Agueros

There are so many ways the government can help its people
and it makes me wonder
why some people are left without help

On The Road...

2008-03-22T10:12:00.000-07:00

Last week we headed to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to interview people on their thoughts about the justice system. Why Philadelphia? Because some of the most patriotic symbols of liberty is in Philadelphia. The Liberty bell and independence hall all symbolize one side of the justice system that does not apply to all in the justice system.

20 Innocent Years in Prison- The Witness... A Jail House Snitch

2008-03-01T09:06:00.001-08:00

Hey guys, this is a link to a radio show that Heather Weigand sent us from Life After Exoneration. This clip entails interviews with exonerees, Timothy Atkins, Greg Wilhoit,Calvin Willis, as well as Heather. This show reflects on their time in prison, current status, and issues with the American Justice System.

http://www.linder.com/knx/innocent.mp3

Another attachment is a website thats presents legislative bill H.R 4063 which would compenstate programs that fund exonerees (ie; Innocence Project,and Life After Exoneration)

http://www.fantasycongress.com/legislation/H.R.4063

February 16th 2008

2008-02-16T11:18:00.000-08:00

Today Rebels for Justice worked on narrowing down our list of exonerees that we would like to get in contact with. We will be getting in contact with Heather Weigand in hopes of interveiwing a few exonerees for our documentary. If you or someone you know would like to get interviewed for our documentary, pleasse feel free to contact us at exonerproject@yahoo.com

Mission Statements

2008-02-02T11:03:00.000-08:00

WE WANT THE EXONERATED TO BE COMPENSATED IN THE AMOUNT OF THEIR STATE'S AVERAGE SALARY.

WE BELIEVE THAT FOR EVERY YEAR AN EXONEREE WAS JAILED, THEY RECEIVE THE MONEY THAT WOULD HAVE BENEFITTED THEM. THIS WILL HELP INCREASE THEIR STANDARD OF LIVING, THE TYPE OF LIVING THEY DESERVED.

WE WANT COMPENSATION IN THE FORM OF PROGRAMS, HOUSING, AND MONEY SO THAT THEY MAY BECOME POSITIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.

WE BELIEVE THAT MONEY COMPENSATION IS VERY NECESSARY BUT NOT THE
ONLY FORM OF COMPENSATION. NECESSITIES INCLUDE JOB PLACEMENT
ASSISTANCE, SKILL TRAINING, COUNSELING, FREE EDUCATION, AND FREE HOUSING.
FREE HOUSING SHOULD BE PROVIDED THE SAME AMOUNT OF YEARS SPENT IN
PRISON. SINCE THEY WERE UNALE TO OBTAIN THESE THINGS AS PRIVATE
CITIZENS, IT SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THEM FROM THE PEOPLE WHO TOOK IT AWAY.

WE WANT ALL LAWYERS IN THE CONVICTION OF AN EXONEREE TO BE
SUBJECT TO A BOARD OF REVIEW, MANDATING THAT THEIR ACTION
DURING TRIAL BE SCRUTINIZED TO THE FULLEST.

WE BELIEVE THIS IS THE LEAST BIT OF JUSTICE THAT COULD BE GIVEN TO THE
EXONEREES, THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO FEEL HEARD AND IMPORTANT IN A
SOCIETY THAT GAVE THEM NO GOOD MEMORIES FOR SO MANY YEARS.
THIS WILL SHOW THAT THEIR SUFFERING IS NOT BEING DISCARDED.

Update 1/26/08

2008-01-26T11:42:00.000-08:00

We have sent information packets to Heather Weigand from Life After Exoneration Program and Liz Webster from The Innocence Project. We are also contacting Jeff Deskovic and currently searching for a place to host our benefit. In addition, we are researching exonerees for our short commercials and documentary.

Updates

2008-01-22T21:50:00.000-08:00

We are planning to interview Jeff Deskovic for our documentary this Thursday, Saturday, or any of the other dates we mentioned on the email. Please keep Thursday open because we will probably go up to Peekskill for the interview. Any questions, just call me!

- Judith