KeepKloverFree

Hi,

My name is Chanice Reyes and I am a twenty-six year old woman, born in Trinidad, raised in Brooklyn, New York. I am about to begin my second year as a first generation (no longer in school dropout due to mental health issues), full time student at Queens College, studying Art Education. I am an artist and a writer – but above all else, I am an activist. I believe in the freedom of the people. I advocate, support, and dedicate myself to the liberation of all those oppressed. Every day for the past two months, I have been out protesting against police brutality and injustice within a system that is broken at the core.

On July 16, 2020 I was arrested and accused of attacking a police officer.

Around 4:30 AM, I was in my car, headed to the ATM to withdraw some money to put towards breakfast for the residents and protestors at Occupy City Hall. Pulling into the bank, I noticed I was being followed by several NYPD police cars. Within moments of attempting to park my car, roughly ten NYPD officers surrounded me with guns drawn and tasers pointed directly at me. Complying willingly, I stepped out of the car, and was immediately rough handled by this group of men. With no female officers in sight, I began screaming and shouting, “I want a female officer present,” expressing how uncomfortable I felt. The officers ignored my requests and one even said, “just put her in the van.” Given the context of everything that is happening in Portland right now, I became more paranoid and scared, and even started to think that this was happening to me, right here in New York City.

In the police car, one officer kept caressing my right thigh in an inappropriate manner. Another officer who was holding me from behind intentionally pulled my shirt to expose my bra strap. At the precinct, I was denied any phone calls and I had to beg them before they finally gave me my prescribed asthma pump. While locked in a cell by myself for thirty hours, Jail Support and my family were barely given any information, and they were told no bail could be paid, further delaying the process. My car was taken – my living space and lively hood to get by. I work in transportation and cannot make any money without my car. Several sentimental objects, valuables, and artwork were taken without any proper search warrants. All of my assets are still being held to this day. This past week, I received a letter of harassment from the KKK.

This is one of the many reasons why I continue to stay strong in the fight for the people. Thanks to Jail Support, my Occupy City Hall family, and all of my allies, we were able to pull together the $7,500 to pay my bail, despite the games we were forced to play. That being said, I am facing felony charges, and with the publicity of my case, the lawyer fees will cost more than my combined annual income.

I am asking you – the people who hold more power than what we are made to believe – to help me raise the money needed to remain free and continue to fight for justice.

Here’s to a brighter future where We The People Will Be Emancipated.