While Resilience works to assure that response by officers, investigators, prosecutors are trauma-informed and survivor-centered, we are also deeply committed to ensuring our work includes survivors who are criminalized and prosecuted for the actions they took in order to survive. Join us on February 11 as we host a teach-in and letter writing event to #FreeChrystulKizer. Please see event details and more information below:
Chrystul is currently charged with the first-degree intentional homicide of Randy Volar, a 33 year-old white man, in an act of self-defense in June 2018 when she was 17 years old. Prior to his death, officials in Kenosha knew about Volar’s history of sexual abuse against young black girls and had arrested him on multiple charges including child sexual assault. Volar was released without bail and Kenosha prosecutors failed to act to protect the violence and exploitation of black girls by Volar, including Chrystul. Chrystul’s current charges carries a life sentence in Wisconsin and her bail is set at $1 million.
Far too often Black girls, especially survivors of sexual violence, face over-policing, discrimination, and criminalization by criminal justice systems, while white perpetrators of sexual violence are allowed to escape accountability. Black girls have the right to resist sexual violence and the right to survive. Join Resilience as we discuss the connection between sex trafficking, the criminalization of youth survivors of this violence, and the factors that led to Chrystul Kizer’s criminalization. We will write letters to the Kenosha DA and to Chrystul in a showing of support.
#FreeChrystul Teach-In and Letter Writing
February 11, 2020
6:00PM to 8:00PM
Resilience Central Office
180 N Michigan Ave. Suite 610
Chicago, IL 60601
Link to event on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1085293505156963/
#FreeChrystul, Chrystul Kizer, Events, Letter Writing, Teach-In