Reflection Friday: Being a Social Worker during Social Work Month and taking action in an unjust world

Hey Faither, Happy Friday! I have not done one of these in a while. But I have a special Reflection Friday today. This week I had the opportunity to participate in a rally for a man who was declared innocent by a judge in Missouri but has not been released due to laws and policies. As some of you may know, I reside in St. Louis, Missouri, and I am a ride or die for St. Louis. I moved to New York for some healing when my mom passed away. During this, the world watched as George Floyd was murdered on TV. I joined multiple protests daily with blisters up and down my feet (I had to go to the doctor). Before this, I was in STL at every protest for many injustices. I really hate the injustice systems in this country. With that being said, on Wednesday, one of the community activists, Ohun Ashe of STL, posted a flyer for a #ChristopherDunn who was proven innocent by a judge in 2020. Now, I remember this case. I remember learning about Christopher and how Missouri has failed yet another family and US citizen once again. Everyone says, "Make Amerikkka great again." But when was it great? When did it benefit anybody else but white men? When I saw this flyer, I decided that day I was going to the rally. I had the opportunity to meet Christopher's mom, wife and sister, and some childhood friends. We had a great conversation about the case, the laws, and the injustice systems. This is near and dear to my heart because I've watched the racist injustice system tear apart many families in St. Louis alone! I've had to contact attorneys and write many letters on families' behalf. Being here mattered to me because I wanted Christopher home. There is no way someone is proven innocent, but a SYSTEM keeps them locked in. Growing up, we were taught everyone in jail is terrible and that they deserve to be there. As an adult, I have indeed seen how big of a lie that has been. When Mike Brown was murdered by that evil man with a badge, people ridiculed Mike Brown when he was the one who was murdered. I've watched cops harass multiple people throughout my years. I've even been in a car with all black people, but because I am a white-passing Puerto Rican, I've been asked, "Are these really the people you want to hang out with?" All we were doing was pulling over in our residential neighbor in front of our house eating McDonald's. I've seen cops tell people to turn off their phones and ask people who will society believe them or us? Ever since high school, I've noticed how society treats people and how they teach us. One of my earliest encounters with a therapist was her asking me if I was depressed because I went to a predominantly black school. Because God forbid that white students do not do anything horrific. When I saw the flyer on social media this week, I thought I needed to be there. They're asking for support. It is not easy to ask for help in general. But imagine going to court multiple times and fighting for justice for your loved one and hearing a judge put on public records that your loved one is innocent, but there is a law in place in this racist system that keeps your loved one behind bars. The community needs us. As an ally, as a social worker, while it is social work month and being a human on this Earth, I felt it in my soul to show up for the family. Yes, I had the stuff to do before and after. I was only there an hour, but I made time to be there because it was that important. Christopher Dunn should be home. He should not be held, especially since being found innocent by a judge. Christopher Dunn was arrested at 18 and was charged with murder. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole. While speaking to the family of Christopher Dunn and they were telling me about his case, and I was telling them about another very similar case (yes, in STL too). They told me that the key witnesses did come back on their story and changed their story. Meaning they admitted that the original story was not valid. In 2020, Christopher Dunn had an evidentiary hearing where the judge said he was innocent. But the judge will not release him even though he has found Christopher innocent. Now there is a ruling in Missouri titled Lincoln Vs. Cassady. Basically, this says that you will not be released unless you're on death row while being proved innocent. So, Christopher is innocent, but he did not receive death row; he received life without parole. Missouri will not release him. An innocent man has been sitting in jail for at least 32 years since he was 18 convicted of a murder that he did not commit, a judge has even found him innocent, and he is not released. I need all my allies, community supporters, social workers, and humans who have the heart to contact

Governor Michael L. Parson

phone: (573) 751-3222

Email:governor.mo.gov/contactus

Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner

Phone: (314) 622-4941

Email: media@stlouiscao.org

Please reach out to them via this information and all social media platforms! Christopher Dunn should be home! If you need help on what to say please check out Christopher’s website where they provide an email template: https://justiceforchristopherdunn.org/contact/

We can not and will not stand by this unjust system.

We are sending love to Christopher Dunn's family and loved ones and Christopher Dunn himself. We will be fighting for him!

Also, thank you to Ohun Ashe for always being a voice to the community and keeping us in the loop!

My beautiful faithers, please remember to love you the way you love the world, and please remember to fight for the injustices in this world.

-LeLe

Local Self-love Advocate