JUSTICE FOR 68-year-old GRANDMOTHER RITA GRAY

Sasha Simpson is organizing this fundraiser.

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Hello, I'm Sasha Simpson, and I have been blessed to know Rita Gray for the better half of my life. Rita is my daughter's grandmother and has served as a mother figure from the moment she met me, as a 15-year old pregnant teen. I was a in and out of foster care as a teen when I first met Rita while dating her son and she took me in as one of her own, making it her life's mission to ensure that I did not become just another statistic. Rita taught me how to drive, bought me my first car, took me back to school shopping, made every OBGYN appointment, held me by the hand while I began to navigate through life as a teen mom, and saw to it that I had a normal teenage experience.

Rita, a Central State graduate, instilled in me the value of education. After receiving my bachelors she pushed and encouraged me to pursue my MBA, promising that she would assist in any way she could, from childcare, financial support, or just a shoulder to lean on and as always Rita made good on her promises. I share this very private part of my life story only as a testament to who Rita is as a person and the positive impact that she's had on my life. To say that I owe Rita my life is cliche but honestly, without her support and guidance I don't know where I would be at today. It is with deep sadness and sorrow that I pen this GoFundMe campaign, but Rita is in dire need of your support.

On May 28th around 8 am Rita's Columbus, Ohio home (which she has owned and lived in for 25+ years) was invaded by SWAT police officers with a "no-knock" warrant in hand. If you have the pleasure of knowing the 68-year-old government retiree, then you know that the matriarch's family and home come second to none, which she takes great pride in fiercely and courageously protecting. With no prior offenses or criminal record, Rita was able to exercise her 2nd amendment, the right to bear arms, and is a licensed CCW holder. Rita made it a point to be licensed to carry and conceal, noting that the neighborhood where she once raised her 3 children, was not as safe as it once was 25+ years ago, but she would not allow the neighborhood's increasing crime rate to drive her out of her "American Dream" which she worked so hard to obtain.

Police officers conduct 20,000 no-knock raids a year and civilians are often the ones who pay the price when they go wrong.

No-knock raids were established and to be reserved for the most threatening situations but this situation was not the case. This was not one of those "dangerous and threatening" circumstances which called for the police to execute a "no-knock" raid, this was the home of a dotting grandmother of 3, a home where the grandchildren have their bedrooms decorated, stay for extended sleepovers, and spend their summer breaks at their beloved "Nana's."

Rita is currently in custody.

All funds raised will go to her legal proceedings and will be deposited into the personal bank account of Sasha Simpson where it will then be allocated toward Rita Grays lawyer fees. As we have a long journey ahead of us. I appreciate everyone who has clicked on this link and read Rita's story, even if you're not able to donate please share with others. We welcome your thoughts, prayers, and positive words and I will be sharing them with Rita too. I can't express how grateful we are for your support.

I have included links to articles of how civilians end up paying the cost of the “no-knock" warrants, their lives lost, either by death or incarceration.