Black Women’s Lives Matter caravan stops in El Paso
A special caravan made a stop in El Paso.
Participants in the Black Women’s Lives Matter caravan which started in California and is traveling to Florida, are speaking out on what they call injustice.
They say a woman defending her life was wrongly prosecuted.
The woman this group is talking about is Marissa Alexander who made headlines in 2012 after firing a warning shot at her husband.
Alexander was prosecuted and was given a 20-year prison sentence.
The BWLM caravan is now determined to help free Alexander.
On Friday evening the sound of drums and herbal smoke filled the room as dancers pounded the stage with their feet at Caf Mayapan.
But it was just a welcoming party for this group of women.
“We’re going from Berkeley to Los Angeles to Palm Springs into Arizona,” said caravan member Lajuna Decatur.
The group is determined to spread a message.
“Women are not recognized. Battered women are not recognized. Women are not supported in the legal system,” Decatur said.
The group said the injustice suffered by women in our current society happens all too often.
“The voices have no voice because when a system is allowed to trample on its people and they cannot stand against it someone needs to stand in representation for them,” Decatur told ABC-7.
And in this instance they are representing Alexander.
The 31-year-old woman says she fired warning shot at her estranged husband because she feared for her life.
“Her story is horrendous,” said Caravan member Angela Scott.
Members of the group say they have their reasons for jumping aboard the caravan.
“I’m here not only as a woman and black woman but as a person who’s been in situations of abuse,” said Scott.
The women say domestic abuse is not talked about enough in today’s times.
“This is one story out of many stories and I think it’s very important these stories are not being told and they’re so common and they should be told,” said Scott.
The caravan plans to be in Gainesville, Florida, by Jan. 27th.
That’s when another hearing in Alexander’s case takes place.
It is conceivable a judge could let her out.
