Help a man get his freedom back
Donation protected
Help our coworker and community member Joseph (or Kofi to you and me) regain his freedom.
He has worked and lived in our communities for over 30 years.
He has been detained by Immigration and being held at Maplehurst Correctional Complex in Milton on immigration charges. It has been over 3 weeks since he was detained by 12 immigration officers as he was getting ready to go to church on Sunday morning. Believe me, Maplehurst is not a place for someone who did not do anything criminal.
In an effort to become a Canadian citizen he was required to attend quarterly meetings, the last being in December of 2018. He missed it due to being hospitalized. Kofi suffers from bipolar disease and extreme anxiety.
I, as his employer and work family (I'm including my wife, son, daughter, mother, and aunt who have contributed to this and consider him as family), have paid his lawyers retainer fee ($1500) so that we can establish a release plan and have him once again be a productive member of our society. We still need help. His lawyers fees will be approximately be between $4000 and $5000. And it is urgent as those fees are expected to be paid this week.
I only found out about his detention because the correctional facility called to say that he was not able to come to work because of his detention. He ensured that I knew where he was. In this context, I knew that I am part of his family as he is part of ours. Kofi not only does not have family here, but with incarceration comes the lack of access to real resources that are helpful and effective, people who care, and political allies.
I've only known Kofi for 60 days, but can attest to someone who works hard and has something to give back, especially as someone who can train today's youth.
The support allows a man a future. A real future that I would like to help craft with him. One that shows growth and promise. A future that is free and equal.
He has worked and lived in our communities for over 30 years.
He has been detained by Immigration and being held at Maplehurst Correctional Complex in Milton on immigration charges. It has been over 3 weeks since he was detained by 12 immigration officers as he was getting ready to go to church on Sunday morning. Believe me, Maplehurst is not a place for someone who did not do anything criminal.
In an effort to become a Canadian citizen he was required to attend quarterly meetings, the last being in December of 2018. He missed it due to being hospitalized. Kofi suffers from bipolar disease and extreme anxiety.
I, as his employer and work family (I'm including my wife, son, daughter, mother, and aunt who have contributed to this and consider him as family), have paid his lawyers retainer fee ($1500) so that we can establish a release plan and have him once again be a productive member of our society. We still need help. His lawyers fees will be approximately be between $4000 and $5000. And it is urgent as those fees are expected to be paid this week.
I only found out about his detention because the correctional facility called to say that he was not able to come to work because of his detention. He ensured that I knew where he was. In this context, I knew that I am part of his family as he is part of ours. Kofi not only does not have family here, but with incarceration comes the lack of access to real resources that are helpful and effective, people who care, and political allies.
I've only known Kofi for 60 days, but can attest to someone who works hard and has something to give back, especially as someone who can train today's youth.
The support allows a man a future. A real future that I would like to help craft with him. One that shows growth and promise. A future that is free and equal.
Organizer
Ashvin Gehani
Organizer
Toronto, ON
