Free Sara Kruzan!
RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA –
Family and supporters of human trafficking victim Sara Kruzan rallied to ask Riverside District Attorney Paul Zellerbach to grant Kruzan time-served for the 18 years she has served in prison for killing the man who raped her and forced her into prostitution at the age of 13. On September 18, 2012, Riverside District Attorney Paul Zellerbach will decide whether Sara will be released with time served.
Kruzan was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in 1995 but in 2010 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, commuted Sara’s sentence to life with the possibility of parole. A petition launched on Change.org has now collected almost 25,000 signatures calling for Sara Kruzan’s immediate release. On Monday, September 17th, supporters for Sara’s release delivered 800 pages of the signatures to the Riverside DA’s office to plead for her freedom.
There are numerous calls to action with these supporters, including calling the DA’s office to express their support for Sara’s release, tweeting the DA’s office, and emailing the DA directly to ask that he make the right decision and release Sara from prison. Jada Pinkett-Smith’s organization, Don’t Sell Bodies, has also recently signed on to support the bid for Sara’s freedom.
Sara Kruzan is a survivor of child molestation, rape, child sex-trafficking, and intimate battering. On March 10th, 1994, her longtime abuser G. G. Howard was motioning to rape Sara inside of a hotel room, and Sara let off the fatal gunshot which ended her sex-captor’s life. A year later, at the age of 17, Sara was convicted of the first degree murder of George Gilbert Howard. Sara was sentenced to life in prison, plus four years, without the possibility of parole. On December 31st, 2010, then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, commuted Sara’s sentence to life with the possibility of parole.
Sara currently resides in an honors dorm in a women’s facility in the State of California. Sara has earned a college degree and has been named Woman of the Year by Correctional Officers. Sara’s final appeal to be released with time served was dated July 19, 2012, yet granted a 60 day extension. The National Campaign to Free Sara Kruzan is currently petitioning, educating, and demonstrating for Sara’s immediate release.
Sara's supporters held an evening show of support on an overpass of the 215 freeway close to UC Riverside on Sunday, September 16th. Signs illuminated with Sara's name received several honks of support!
Coverage of the campaign to free Sara Kruzan:
Give Sara Kruzan a Chance
http://www.nctimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/forum-give-sara-kruzan-a-chance/article_22645fe7-42d5-5697-8da8-84735a862605.html
Sara's Story: East County Activist Launches Campaign to Free Sara Kruzan by Ron Logan - 7/7/12
http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/node/10314
California Supreme Court Returns Sara Kruzan Case
to Riverside
http://www.kpbs.org/news/2012/jul/05/california-supreme-court-returns-sara-kruzan-case-/
www.iamsjk.com
www.freesarakruzan.org
www.facebook.com/forcesforsara
Family and supporters of human trafficking victim Sara Kruzan rallied to ask Riverside District Attorney Paul Zellerbach to grant Kruzan time-served for the 18 years she has served in prison for killing the man who raped her and forced her into prostitution at the age of 13. On September 18, 2012, Riverside District Attorney Paul Zellerbach will decide whether Sara will be released with time served.
Kruzan was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in 1995 but in 2010 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, commuted Sara’s sentence to life with the possibility of parole. A petition launched on Change.org has now collected almost 25,000 signatures calling for Sara Kruzan’s immediate release. On Monday, September 17th, supporters for Sara’s release delivered 800 pages of the signatures to the Riverside DA’s office to plead for her freedom.
There are numerous calls to action with these supporters, including calling the DA’s office to express their support for Sara’s release, tweeting the DA’s office, and emailing the DA directly to ask that he make the right decision and release Sara from prison. Jada Pinkett-Smith’s organization, Don’t Sell Bodies, has also recently signed on to support the bid for Sara’s freedom.
Sara Kruzan is a survivor of child molestation, rape, child sex-trafficking, and intimate battering. On March 10th, 1994, her longtime abuser G. G. Howard was motioning to rape Sara inside of a hotel room, and Sara let off the fatal gunshot which ended her sex-captor’s life. A year later, at the age of 17, Sara was convicted of the first degree murder of George Gilbert Howard. Sara was sentenced to life in prison, plus four years, without the possibility of parole. On December 31st, 2010, then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, commuted Sara’s sentence to life with the possibility of parole.
Sara currently resides in an honors dorm in a women’s facility in the State of California. Sara has earned a college degree and has been named Woman of the Year by Correctional Officers. Sara’s final appeal to be released with time served was dated July 19, 2012, yet granted a 60 day extension. The National Campaign to Free Sara Kruzan is currently petitioning, educating, and demonstrating for Sara’s immediate release.
Sara's supporters held an evening show of support on an overpass of the 215 freeway close to UC Riverside on Sunday, September 16th. Signs illuminated with Sara's name received several honks of support!
Coverage of the campaign to free Sara Kruzan:
Give Sara Kruzan a Chance
http://www.nctimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/forum-give-sara-kruzan-a-chance/article_22645fe7-42d5-5697-8da8-84735a862605.html
Sara's Story: East County Activist Launches Campaign to Free Sara Kruzan by Ron Logan - 7/7/12
http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/node/10314
California Supreme Court Returns Sara Kruzan Case
to Riverside
http://www.kpbs.org/news/2012/jul/05/california-supreme-court-returns-sara-kruzan-case-/
www.iamsjk.com
www.freesarakruzan.org
www.facebook.com/forcesforsara
- TAGS:
- justice,
- california,
- sara,
- human,
- trafficking,
- riverside,
- kruzan
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