Support Bryyant's Struggle for Freedom

My name is Benjamin, and I am raising money so that my friend Bryyant can afford an attorney who will advocate for judicial release, so he can gain his freedom.

I am a community organizer who works toward justice, dignity, and equality for all without exception. Bryyant learned about my social justice work, especially advocating for Palestinian freedom, and reached out to me to talk. We developed a relationship over many conversations, during which we shared our experiences, exchanged ideas, and got to know each other. Bryyant has now asked for my help fundraising for an attorney who can help him gain judicial release. He is eligible after having served 18 of his 23 year sentence and is a worthy candidate given his achievements during this time, including earning a college degree and committing himself to violence prevention in prison. Moreover, after learning about the struggles he has faced in prison, I remain firm in the idea that everyone deserves justice, equality, and dignity. Your support would make a big difference in helping Bryyant achieve his freedom.

Here is Bryyant's story, in his own words:

Have you ever seen the movie Hurricane, about the late boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter? Have you ever heard of the Sidney Holmes or Daniel Saldana story? If so, then you can understand the urgency of this next story and why this matters.

The year my life changed: In 2005, I was working as a welder and attending night classes at a local community college in Cincinnati, Ohio. While pursuing my associate's in business management, I was also training as a professional boxer. Little did I know that I would be implicated in an armed robbery of a credit union. Despite an airtight alibi and being with my girlfriend many miles away from the scene of the crime, ensuing conflicting witness testimonies, and DNA evidence indicating a completely different suspect, can you believe a jury still convicted me of this crime? My out-of-state and inexperienced attorney didn't help me at all. He failed to sway the jury of my innocence, let alone create reasonable doubt. Despite my unwavering claims of innocence, I was sentenced shortly after the verdict and was quickly transported to prison, where I would later spend well over a decade of my life in the abject squalors of solitary confinement, fighting for my freedom. In there, I survived two bouts of COVID-19 and thyroid cancer while emerging with an associate's degree in business management.

The challenges I face now: Unfortunately, several fundraising attempts during the pandemic were not as successful as hoped. However, enough money was raised to purchase my trial transcripts from the clerk of court, which was a little over $2,000. With your donations, I will be able to finally raise enough money to retain a good law firm with experienced attorneys that are specialized in advocating for judicial release. All donations will go towards bringing me home. My freedom is long overdue, and your generosity will not be taken lightly during these precarious economic times.

The appreciation: In closing, please know that donations are not everything, but your thoughts and prayers are. No matter how big or small your donations are, they are deeply appreciated and will ultimately change someone else's life for the better. And if you are not able to donate at this time, I appreciate if you share my story with others.

My contact: To learn more about me and my story, please visit my website at https://www.bryyantsilkko.com/. If you are interested in sending me some uplifting words of encouragement, please feel free to contact me personally, and if I can help bring awareness to your cause, please contact me.

"No one knows freedom like those who have lost it."

Benjamin's social media:

Instagram: bkqt

X: BenjaminKersten