JUSTICE FOR JANELL
Hello Friend,
My name is Janell Robinson and I want to share with you my experience of how no one is ever free from the possibility of being the target or victim of the inequity and inequality of the American Criminal Justice System. I am seeking to raise $25,000 to cover my legal expenses related for my appeals process. Please read my story below.
The year 2020 brought to the forefront, of the American Society, the horrific injustices that many Black and Brown communities have endured since the abolition of slavery. After the tragic murder of George Floyd, on May 25, 2020, in Minneapolis, MN by Police Officer Derek Chauvin, the uncovering brutal murder of Breonna Taylor that took place on March 13, 2020 in Louisville Kentucky at the hands of the Louisville PD and the unforgettable February 23rd murder of Ahmaud Arbery who was followed and hunted down by white supremacists Travis and Gregory McMichael in Brunswick, Georgia, people from around the country began to voice their displeasure at the clear and obvious injustices in the American Criminal Justice System.
Unfortunately, these murders were only the tip of the iceberg. The hesitation to prosecute Travis and Gregory McMichael, in Georgia, coupled with the failure to act immediately by criminal justice officials in Minnesota and Kentucky provided proof that when a suspect or suspects are white, there is a hesitation in proceeding with prosecutions. This belief was exacerbated by the events that took place in Kenosha, Wisconsin last summer when Kyle Rittenhouse, a young white male, was allowed to walk away from the area where he shot and killed two innocent protestors who were voicing their discontentment about the same injustices I mentioned above.
These are just a few of the instances that have created a national protest against injustice and serve as the foundation for the call for drastic and broad reforms to the criminal justice system in our country. Anyone, paying attention, can tell that these issues are very real and the pains run very deep.
There is a need for substantive and meaningful change in our criminal justice system. While these cases brought national attention to the long and often overlooked problem of Racial injustice and inequity, in this country, they are only a small percentage of cases where people of color have been victimized.
On the other side of the issues surrounding injustices are those who have been victims within the Federal and State court systems. The innocent people who stood up for themselves and for their Constitutional Rights of being presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt of every fact necessary to constitute the crime charged. It is a proven fact that Minorities, such as Black and Brown people, have spent years imprisoned and separated from their families and from society because of unjustified and unfair prosecutions within the US Criminal Justice System (see the National Registry of exonerations website for details). My family and I are victims of this injustice. Please continue reading this passage to hear more of my story.
I grew up the inner city of Newark, NJ. Some people call Newark the "Brick City" because of the tall brick housing projects that residents used to live in. A brick is a tough and strong building block that is made to weather the storm. I was born to Newarkers, grew up in Newark, became an entrepreneur in Newark, worked in Newark, mentored youth in Newark, employed Newark residents and I have always attempted to help my community move forward. I am the Mother of two beautiful MIRACLE BABIES who have my whole heart in the palm of their hands. I learned how to be a Mother and an Entreprenuer from my Grandparents and parents who taught me how to be a Mother and an Entrepreneur by the example they set before me,
In February 2020, I became a victim of the injustices within the Criminal Justice System when a Federal Jury ruled in favor of the Federal Prosecution's case and found me guilty of charges brought against me. This all began several years ago when a family member and a family friend wanted to pursue an entrepreneurial dream of owning and operating a security company. As you know, many Entrepreneurs sit on their dreams and often have many business ideas that they want to pursue, in their heads, but don't immediately move forward towards those goals. During that time, we were not new to being Entrepreneurs. I used to own a hair salon and my family and I owned a franchised Italian Ice Cream and Desserts store in the City of Newark. We were encouraged, by a friend, to actively pursue the security business starting with threat assessment projects and other low risk security assignments that would serve as the perfect starting point for such a business.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, my role in the business increased for what was supposed to have been a temporary time frame. After winning the bid for the security account and after providing the contracted security services, I became a victim of the kind of setup usually reserved for movie scripts. Years later and much to my surprise, it was revealed that my so-called "friend" and others were engaged in nefarious business practices involving the theft of money. This same person agreed to give a testimony that the Prosecutors favored in exchange for a reduced sentence in her own conviction.
In an effort to protect herself and the others who were either involved with or working for people with a lot of money or who occupied positions of power and influence, I became the perfect scapegoat for the offenses that were taking place.
Being new, in the security business and determined to complete the assigned tasks, I was unaware of my friend's spurious facts and directives about what was required and I became the easy target to shift blame and responsibility to. As for the authorities, their case became easier by diverting from the real participants with political clout to targeting my family and then specifically me, a black single mother, whose assets weren't deep enough to put up a good defense against the government's overwhelming resources.
During my trial, it became clear that my attorney wasn't prepared to recognize clear evidence and witness violations; some of which fall within the Brady Rule. Witnesses that I recommended and who were present were never called to testify and evidence that I suggested being requested, that would have proven that the Prosecution's witnesses were not being truthful, was never brought to the attention of the court.
All of this was going on while I was being treated for a serious medical condition, hospitalized several times, had a few surgeries, was the primary caretaker for my mother who had bladder cancer (and passed away in November 2019) aided my Dad while he battled cancer, worked daily to provide for my family, had a newborn baby who was a Preemie and stayed in the hospital for over two months, running back and forth between hospitals and nursing homes taking care of my newborn baby girl and my dying mother, while I attempted to prepare myself for an unjustified trial and caring for my children as a single parent. This process was brutally life-changing, for me, and the stress of it all has been overwhelming. #BUTGOD and my Faith in God has kept me.
All of my life I have had to fight for what I needed and wanted in life. I've had to fight back against racism, sexual harassment in the workplace, discrimination against Blacks looking to start small businesses and more. It is with the same dogged determination that I used to overcome these obstacles that I intend to use to keep fighting to be exonerated of the charges I have been convicted of and to clear my name and reputation.
In retrospect, I do see where some things could have been been done differently more than ten years ago when the security business was operating. I am confident that if I had done just a few things differently, it would have been easier to prove my innocence. But, since I didn't know any better, at the time, I am forced to continue my fight to prove my innocence and restore my name. I have been maliciously prosecuted and penalized by a system who believes that you are guilty and who does not operate under the legal standard that everyone is innocent until proven guilty and where all of the pertinent facts of the case brought to light. Statistics show that many Black and Brown people incarcerated for crimes that they did not commit and I will be one of those people whose life is not valued and whose family has been torn, into pieces, in the aftermath.
This fight has been long, painful, expensive and overwhelming. I have depleted my personal resources, lost my mother to cancer and have endured health challenges that still require prolonged medical care. In March 2020, I was diagnosed with the Covid-19/Corona Virus with pneumonia and I was hospitalized for a week and was on oxygen. I am what the doctors are calling "long haulers" which are people who survived the virus but are still having residual and evolving health issues. My recovery was frightening as I watched the daily news conferences tally up the daily death toll of victims who died from this deadly virus. I am still being medically treated for post Covid-19 health issues.
In order to afford the expense of NEW legal representation during my appeals process I need to secure funding to cover attorney fees and any related services or expert opinions. I am looking to raise $25,000 within the next three to six weeks to cover the balance of the anticipated expenses.
If, for some reason, my expenses are less than $25,000 the balance of the money raised will be donated to a legal defense fund for someone else in need of assistance.
I am heartbroken at the thought of being taken away from my children, my family and friends. At one of my final hearings, The Prosecutor stated that my children are not special. I beg to differ. Being a Mom has been my best blessings ever and ALL CHILDREN ARE SPECIAL.
Thank you for taking the time out to read about my story. Please share it with others and use the hashtag #JUSTICEFORJANELL. Remember, Black Lives Matter and justice should be fair and equal to all. If you are able to donate to the cause we will be eternally grateful.
Sincerely,
Janell Robinson
#JUSTICEFORJANELL