Legal Defense Fund 4 Maria
Donation protected
Community Fam,
We need your help. María del Rosario Palacios, a close friend to many of us, a well-known social justice advocate, and loving mother of three needs our direct support. She is facing two legal issues that she needs all of our help on.
WHO IS MARIA DEL ROSARIO?
An Inspirational Public Servant.
María del Rosario comes from a humble background and has maintained a humble standard of living to pursue her passion of social justice. Maria is the first to graduate in her family from high school, let alone a Bachelors in Finance with honors, and started her masters in public administration last year. She was a nontraditional student who accomplished her biggest educational success while in the beginning of her motherhood to her oldest Sofia, now six, and twins Solomon and Serenity, who are turning three in a couple months.
Among her many jobs in business and the public sector she has worked as the Multicultural Student Affairs and Latino Success Coordinator at the University she graduated from and now works for a civil liberties nonprofit as the Policy Analyst and Leadership Program Coordinator. In each role she has impacted many rising leaders of all ages, including myself. She is truly an inspiration and is running for office for the second time (as Candidate for HA State House Representative District 29.)
A Sole Provider for Her Family.
María del Rosario has helped contribute to her family’s rent, food, and bills since she was sixteen years old. Raised in poverty, a daughter of poultry plant workers, and as a formerly homeless person she has always worked hard to provide for her family. She has not been fortunate in having another parent help her children. She does not receive child support nor government assistance.
However, she has always provided more than enough for her children by having two or three jobs at a time. She often drives for Uber, Lyft to pay bills and has been working on building up her own small business so that she can both provide for her family and work in the field she is passionate for. Like many other of her peers, she has put others before herself in this regard. This reason alone has pushed me to create the GoFundMe for Maria. So that we may follow her example in her strongest time of need.
A Super Volunteer.
María del Rosario has always believed in helping others. She is active in various different community initiatives including:
-PTA President for the second year in a row for her oldest daughter’s school
-Gainesville Business Networking Group
-Debate Team Volunteer for her former school
-Part of a Regional Planning Steering Community focusing on Equitable Access
-Academic Sorority Alumnae active member
-Volunteers to fundraise for a few nonprofits throughout the year
She schedules and organizes her time helping others while still ensuring she is the main person raising her children. Her heart always looks to make things better for the community and her children’s future community.
Maria in the news:
Local Coverage, UNG Debate, 2013
Community Work - New York Times, 2014
International Debate Recognition, 2016
CNN Coverage of GA Advocacy 2017
Running for City Council, 2017
More articles can be found by Googling “Maria del Rosario Palacios” and “Gainesville, GA”
WHAT LEGAL ISSUES ARE GOING ON?
María is currently having two legal issues.
One: Candidacy Qualification Challenge
Almost immediately after qualifying Maria was told by s friend about an elevator conversation at the GA State Capitol where the length of her citizenship was brought up with plans to have her disqualified. A couple weeks later Maria was sent a letter by the Secretary of State saying a local resident, with ties to the opposing political party, wanted her disqualified because she had only become a Citizen the prior year. This case is now being helped by a great civil law organization and is pending. Maria has lived in Gainesville, GA continuously since 1994 and became a legal permanent resident in Fall of 2009. Here is a picture of the court challenge.
Two: Unclear Investigation.
The details of the second issue cannot be shared too much since they are not fully clear to her and are at the same time sensitive to Maria’s well-being. In February of this year Maria met at the sudden request of a former employer to discuss an important matter she assumed was a request for community outreach. She learned she was being accused of a potential legal issue.
In March she gathered enough money for a down payment for a lawyer (thinking of precautionary measures) and was given a visit by law enforcement two days after. Four officials went to her house with warrants for her electronics. Two were secret service agents, one was a county official, and the other was an official from her previous employer.
The evidence presented against her are on five sheets of paper from her former employer. The recently filed charges are unclear yet but it is sure Maria will have to go through the legal system in order to be able to resolve this matter. While we do not speak for Maria legally, those of us tied to her former employer and her know she always does what is right/positive things for those around her and that the actions being taken seem out of the ordinary. We could speculate on the whole matter further but think it’s best we don’t. Although I and others are personally happy to talk to other close friends more about this.
HOW CAN I HELP?
This is our time to show direct support to Maria.
Pray.
We should definitely pray. Maria believes strongly in prayer and so do I. We have seen miracles happen in other areas and believe strongly in collective prayers/efforts.
Donate.
The initial part of her second legal case was quoted at $2,125 with additional billing hours at $325/hour. The case has progressed beyond the initial plan and Maria will have to pay a bond of at least $5000 on Monday. May 7th or after. To get through the next few days we will need your help to make sure Maria has adequate legal defense in this important moment in her life.
Please pray. Please donate. Please share to serious supporters. Maria needs us.
Thank you,
The Community for María del Rosario Palacios
We need your help. María del Rosario Palacios, a close friend to many of us, a well-known social justice advocate, and loving mother of three needs our direct support. She is facing two legal issues that she needs all of our help on.
WHO IS MARIA DEL ROSARIO?
An Inspirational Public Servant.
María del Rosario comes from a humble background and has maintained a humble standard of living to pursue her passion of social justice. Maria is the first to graduate in her family from high school, let alone a Bachelors in Finance with honors, and started her masters in public administration last year. She was a nontraditional student who accomplished her biggest educational success while in the beginning of her motherhood to her oldest Sofia, now six, and twins Solomon and Serenity, who are turning three in a couple months.
Among her many jobs in business and the public sector she has worked as the Multicultural Student Affairs and Latino Success Coordinator at the University she graduated from and now works for a civil liberties nonprofit as the Policy Analyst and Leadership Program Coordinator. In each role she has impacted many rising leaders of all ages, including myself. She is truly an inspiration and is running for office for the second time (as Candidate for HA State House Representative District 29.)
A Sole Provider for Her Family.
María del Rosario has helped contribute to her family’s rent, food, and bills since she was sixteen years old. Raised in poverty, a daughter of poultry plant workers, and as a formerly homeless person she has always worked hard to provide for her family. She has not been fortunate in having another parent help her children. She does not receive child support nor government assistance.
However, she has always provided more than enough for her children by having two or three jobs at a time. She often drives for Uber, Lyft to pay bills and has been working on building up her own small business so that she can both provide for her family and work in the field she is passionate for. Like many other of her peers, she has put others before herself in this regard. This reason alone has pushed me to create the GoFundMe for Maria. So that we may follow her example in her strongest time of need.
A Super Volunteer.
María del Rosario has always believed in helping others. She is active in various different community initiatives including:
-PTA President for the second year in a row for her oldest daughter’s school
-Gainesville Business Networking Group
-Debate Team Volunteer for her former school
-Part of a Regional Planning Steering Community focusing on Equitable Access
-Academic Sorority Alumnae active member
-Volunteers to fundraise for a few nonprofits throughout the year
She schedules and organizes her time helping others while still ensuring she is the main person raising her children. Her heart always looks to make things better for the community and her children’s future community.
Maria in the news:
Local Coverage, UNG Debate, 2013
Community Work - New York Times, 2014
International Debate Recognition, 2016
CNN Coverage of GA Advocacy 2017
Running for City Council, 2017
More articles can be found by Googling “Maria del Rosario Palacios” and “Gainesville, GA”
WHAT LEGAL ISSUES ARE GOING ON?
María is currently having two legal issues.
One: Candidacy Qualification Challenge
Almost immediately after qualifying Maria was told by s friend about an elevator conversation at the GA State Capitol where the length of her citizenship was brought up with plans to have her disqualified. A couple weeks later Maria was sent a letter by the Secretary of State saying a local resident, with ties to the opposing political party, wanted her disqualified because she had only become a Citizen the prior year. This case is now being helped by a great civil law organization and is pending. Maria has lived in Gainesville, GA continuously since 1994 and became a legal permanent resident in Fall of 2009. Here is a picture of the court challenge.
Two: Unclear Investigation.
The details of the second issue cannot be shared too much since they are not fully clear to her and are at the same time sensitive to Maria’s well-being. In February of this year Maria met at the sudden request of a former employer to discuss an important matter she assumed was a request for community outreach. She learned she was being accused of a potential legal issue.
In March she gathered enough money for a down payment for a lawyer (thinking of precautionary measures) and was given a visit by law enforcement two days after. Four officials went to her house with warrants for her electronics. Two were secret service agents, one was a county official, and the other was an official from her previous employer.
The evidence presented against her are on five sheets of paper from her former employer. The recently filed charges are unclear yet but it is sure Maria will have to go through the legal system in order to be able to resolve this matter. While we do not speak for Maria legally, those of us tied to her former employer and her know she always does what is right/positive things for those around her and that the actions being taken seem out of the ordinary. We could speculate on the whole matter further but think it’s best we don’t. Although I and others are personally happy to talk to other close friends more about this.
HOW CAN I HELP?
This is our time to show direct support to Maria.
Pray.
We should definitely pray. Maria believes strongly in prayer and so do I. We have seen miracles happen in other areas and believe strongly in collective prayers/efforts.
Donate.
The initial part of her second legal case was quoted at $2,125 with additional billing hours at $325/hour. The case has progressed beyond the initial plan and Maria will have to pay a bond of at least $5000 on Monday. May 7th or after. To get through the next few days we will need your help to make sure Maria has adequate legal defense in this important moment in her life.
Please pray. Please donate. Please share to serious supporters. Maria needs us.
Thank you,
The Community for María del Rosario Palacios
Fundraising team: Fundraising team (2)
Diana Paola Vela-Martinez
Organizer
Gainesville, GA
Maria Palacios
Beneficiary
Gabriel Velázquez Jr.
Team member
