Photo credit: Becca Waterloo

Update: Thanks to a groundswell of online support, direct action organizing and an amazing legal team through the Cook County Public Defender's Office, Keshia is as free as she can be. In a stunning move, the state offered Keshia a reduction from the 1st degree murder charge that she'd been facing for 4 years to involuntary manslaughter. Keshia, who was facing up to 60 years in prison if convicted, and whose core commitment is to her young daughter, took that plea. She will now serve 2 years of probation. Probation is still a risk. Up to 25% of people in jail and prison at any given time are there for an alleged violation of probation or parole. This is a significant harm reduction, made possible by this community of support, but it is not justice. Still, this ongoing support, through messages and donations, is a reminder to Keshia that we are grateful she defended her life and her pregnancy and we will continue to support her. We are also demanding that Governor Pritzker pardon Keshia and other criminalized survivors, some of whom are still in IL prisons.

Moms United Against Violence & Incarceration, along with Love & Protect, Survived & Punished and more, have supported criminalized survivors of gender based violence going back to the Campaign to Free Marissa Alexander, and later the campaigns to Free Cherelle Baldwin, Naomi Freeman Jasmine Baugh, Shanice Page and more.

What these survivors have in common is that they are all Black mothers charged for the outcomes of acts of self-defense, and many were pregnant and post-partum at the time of their arrest. Keshia Golden was 8 months pregnant at the time of her arrest, and whatever the outcome of her case, we stand by her and her three year old child.

Thank you to all who have supported Keshia and other survivors in any way you can. Keshia is scheduled for trial on Monday, August 24th, 9am. We do not know what the outcome will be, but whether it is dismissal, a plea offer Keshia can accept, an acquittal or a conviction at trial--we will be here to support Keshia and her child and we hope you will too!

One thing Keshia will need, especially if she has an outcome that does not include prison time, is stable housing for herself and her child, and all the basics that a survivor needs to rebuild her life--after years of interpersonal violence, and the institutionalized violence of prosecution.

Add to all this, Keshia, has spent the last year taking care of her toddler, who has undergone invasive spinal surgeries and months of rehabilitation. Keshia has been unable to work given the need to constantly care for her child, while also going to court and doing all the things she needs to do to assist in her own defense--while also trying to keep her child housed and fed. That's a lot. Imagine doing all that, more or less, on your own?

But, the good news is, Keshia may be reaching the (relative) freedom side of her case soon--we hope! And when she does we can help her rebuild her life in a really simple way: we can donate a few bucks--whatever you can comfortably afford. That support can be life changing. Thank you in advance.