Click the play button on the left side of the flash player below to hear an interview done with Efrén by Jack Ebling on WILS 1320 AM this evening, Thursday, July 31, 2008. They discuss the wait that Efrén continues to endure as the Parole Board deliberates over whether or not to grant him a Public Hearing for possible clemency consideration from the Governor. Efrén was told at his parole interview on June 16, 2008 he could expect to receive a decision in 30-45 days. This is day 45 of that wait. Listen to Efrén in his own words!
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
Information About Efrén Displayed at 2nd Annual Westside Summer Fest in Lansing
Saturday, July 26, 2008 the 2nd Annual Westside Summer Fest was held in Lansing from 2 PM to 9 PM. The event, organized by Westside Alliance, drew over 5,000 people. There was face painting, food, music, poetry readings, farmers and artisans markets, bicycle races, a basketball tournament, and other activities at this all day event.
"Westside Alliance is a program of NorthWest Initiative, which seeks to create healthy communities in Northwest Lansing. Through community engagement and mobil
ization, the NorthWest Initiative advances the development of healthy, vibrant communities by building capacity to identify needs and formulate strategies to create change." (NorthWest Initiative web site)
Visit www.nwlansing.org to learn how to support and learn more about Westside Alliance and NorthWest Initiative.
T-shirts, posters and other information related to the campaign to free Efrén Paredes, Jr. were on display throughout the day at A.R.R.O. (Advocacy, Re-Entry, Resources, Outreach) and Peace Education Center tables. Members of The Injustice Must End (TIME) Committee were present as well and did a wonderful job sharing information about Efrén and gathering postcard and petition signatures supporting his release.
Many people stopped to inquire about Efrén's case and take information. The event also resulted in a significant increase in traffic to our web site and campaign blog. The event was a success and proved that once again people are deeply concerned with wanting to combat social injustice.
Thanks to NorthWest Initiative for organizing this wonderful event, to A.R.R.O. for displaying information about Efrén, to the Peace Education Center for helping gather postcards signatures of support for Efrén, and to members of the Lansing TIME Committee for their hard work.
Bill Woods at Westside Summer Fest
Stephanie Fisher and son at Westside Summer Fest
Woman signing Free Efrén postcard at Westside Summer Fest
"Westside Alliance is a program of NorthWest Initiative, which seeks to create healthy communities in Northwest Lansing. Through community engagement and mobil
ization, the NorthWest Initiative advances the development of healthy, vibrant communities by building capacity to identify needs and formulate strategies to create change." (NorthWest Initiative web site)Visit www.nwlansing.org to learn how to support and learn more about Westside Alliance and NorthWest Initiative.
T-shirts, posters and other information related to the campaign to free Efrén Paredes, Jr. were on display throughout the day at A.R.R.O. (Advocacy, Re-Entry, Resources, Outreach) and Peace Education Center tables. Members of The Injustice Must End (TIME) Committee were present as well and did a wonderful job sharing information about Efrén and gathering postcard and petition signatures supporting his release.
Many people stopped to inquire about Efrén's case and take information. The event also resulted in a significant increase in traffic to our web site and campaign blog. The event was a success and proved that once again people are deeply concerned with wanting to combat social injustice.
Thanks to NorthWest Initiative for organizing this wonderful event, to A.R.R.O. for displaying information about Efrén, to the Peace Education Center for helping gather postcards signatures of support for Efrén, and to members of the Lansing TIME Committee for their hard work.
Bill Woods at Westside Summer Fest
Stephanie Fisher and son at Westside Summer Fest
Woman signing Free Efrén postcard at Westside Summer FestThursday, July 24, 2008
Elena Herrada Appears on Radio Show Today to Discuss Efrén's Case and Pending Commutation Request
Please click the play button on the left side of the flash player below to hear an interview done this morning on WDET 101.9 FM Detroit Public Radio. The show featured Elena Herrada, The Injustice Must End (TIME) Detroit Committee, Co-Chair. Elena discussed Efrén's case and pending commutation request on the show.
A blog post was left on the WDET blog by TIME Committee member, Mike Kelly, which was read on the air during Elena's interview. This is the full text of the wonderful post that Mike left:
A blog post was left on the WDET blog by TIME Committee member, Mike Kelly, which was read on the air during Elena's interview. This is the full text of the wonderful post that Mike left:
The injustice being suffered by Efren Paredes is of course terrible for him and if only for that reason this innocent man must be freed through commutation. However there is a major stake we all have in seeing justice done because everyone is at risk when innocent citizens are sacrificed for political expedience, career advancement or racism within a local power structure.
Everyone with a concern for living in a society where laws protect rather than threaten liberty should go to Efren’s blog at www.Free-Efren.blogspot.com , review the information and petition the Governor for commutation.
Time is of the essence. Efren is contributing to a better society right now from prison, just think how much more he will do when he is finally freed. Many good folks are rightly concerned over broad issues of social justice and world peace but it is also vital that people of conscience also take action to right the wrongs done to individuals.
Educate yourself and help spread the word. I believe that our prayers are another way of taking effective action in support of Efren, his family and the future of our State.
Mike Kelly, Harper Woods
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Free Efrén T-Shirt and Poster Distribution Event at Gone Wired Cafe Held on Friday, July 18, 2008
Friday, July 18, 2008 members of the Lansing The Injustice Must End (TIME) Committee hosted a two hour event at Gone Wired Café in Lansing to distribute the Free Efrén Paredes, Jr. T-shirts, posters, and other information related to the campaign to free Efrén.
People attending the event left with several posters and T-shirts. They also signed postcards of support and took dozens of additional postcards home with them to share with others to sign as well.
An adjunct professor from Lansing Community College (LCC) who attended stated she would like Efrén to call in to speak to her writing class via speaker phone. We also learned that Free Efrén posters are appearing around the LCC campus.
Two women learned about the event after seeing a Free Efrén poster in Lansing and researching information about Efrén online. They saw the event that was created on Facebook and were able to attend. The Facebook event included the location, date and time of the event.
A woman at the event also invited the TIME Committee to visit her church and do a presentation about Efren's case, including distributing posters and T-shirts.
Overall everything was a real success and we helped generate additional support and interest in our campaign to free Efrén. We are learning that the Free Efrén T-shirts and posters are appearing at new places every day as we continue striving to make Efrén's presence and the injustice surrounding his case appear everywhere possible.
Thanks to everyone who attended the event. A special thanks to the Lansing TIME Committee members who hosted it, and to Gone Wired Café for their continued support!
Free Efrén posters, postcards and other information.
Liz O'Brien wearing Free Efrén T-shirt.
Free Efrén T-shirts each accompanied with
personal card of appreciation from Efrén.
People attending the event left with several posters and T-shirts. They also signed postcards of support and took dozens of additional postcards home with them to share with others to sign as well.
An adjunct professor from Lansing Community College (LCC) who attended stated she would like Efrén to call in to speak to her writing class via speaker phone. We also learned that Free Efrén posters are appearing around the LCC campus.
Two women learned about the event after seeing a Free Efrén poster in Lansing and researching information about Efrén online. They saw the event that was created on Facebook and were able to attend. The Facebook event included the location, date and time of the event.
A woman at the event also invited the TIME Committee to visit her church and do a presentation about Efren's case, including distributing posters and T-shirts.
Overall everything was a real success and we helped generate additional support and interest in our campaign to free Efrén. We are learning that the Free Efrén T-shirts and posters are appearing at new places every day as we continue striving to make Efrén's presence and the injustice surrounding his case appear everywhere possible.
Thanks to everyone who attended the event. A special thanks to the Lansing TIME Committee members who hosted it, and to Gone Wired Café for their continued support!
Free Efrén posters, postcards and other information.
Liz O'Brien wearing Free Efrén T-shirt.
Free Efrén T-shirts each accompanied withpersonal card of appreciation from Efrén.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
New Free Efrén Postcard!
Below is a link to the latest version of the Free Efrén postcard available for download and distribution. The file is in PDF format. You can print it back-to-back on cardstock and cut it in quarters. Please ask people to sign the postcards and mail them to the Governor's office. An image of what the postcard looks like appears below as well. Click here to download the postcard.
Efrén Appears on Ebling and You Radio Show Today (WILS 1320 AM)
Click the play button on the left side of the flash player below to hear an interview done with Efrén by Jack Ebling on WILS 1320 AM on Wednesday, June 16, 2008. They discuss Efrén's wrongful conviction, his refusal to admit to a crime he did not commit for nearly two decades, the wait he has endured the past 30 days from the Michigan Parole Board about whether or not he will receive a public hearing and be given serious consideration for release, his employment as a braille transcriber, among other things.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
The Free Efrén Paredes, Jr. T-shirts Have Arrived
Below are a couple photos of the Free Efrén Paredes, Jr. T-shirts which will begin being distributed in the coming days. The T-shirts are very nice and certain to generate attention. This is very important as we continue spreading the word about Efrén's case and increasing awareness about the deplorable injustice done to him.
We are inviting people to take photographs wearing the T-shirts and upload them to our slide show which appears at the top of this blog. You can also send us digital photos to our e-mail at info@4Efren.com to be uploaded to the slide show as well. Let's continue showing the world that we are supporting Efrén and becoming more energized each day.
We are inviting people to take photographs wearing the T-shirts and upload them to our slide show which appears at the top of this blog. You can also send us digital photos to our e-mail at info@4Efren.com to be uploaded to the slide show as well. Let's continue showing the world that we are supporting Efrén and becoming more energized each day.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
NorthStar Center Presentation About Efrén's Case Held Yesterday
Tuesday, July 8, 2008 The Injustice Must End (TIME) Committee to Free Efrén Paredes, Jr. did a presentation about Efrén's case at NorthStar Center in Lansing, Michigan.
The presentation was a success and members of the TIME Committee fielded questions from those in attendance. A PowerPoint presentation about Efrén's case was shown and the Free Efrén posters, postcards of support, signature petition forms, and other information was also made available about how to support Efrén's efforts for release.
Thanks to Maria and Dave of the TIME Committee for conducting the presentation, and thanks to NorthStar Center for hosting it. Your continued support is greatly appreciated as we diligently work to restore Efrén's much deserved freedom.
We also want to thank those who attended the event and took time out of their busy schedules to learn how they can assist the work we are doing. We will send Efrén photographs of the event to Efrén along with a copy of this blog post.
The presentation was a success and members of the TIME Committee fielded questions from those in attendance. A PowerPoint presentation about Efrén's case was shown and the Free Efrén posters, postcards of support, signature petition forms, and other information was also made available about how to support Efrén's efforts for release.
Thanks to Maria and Dave of the TIME Committee for conducting the presentation, and thanks to NorthStar Center for hosting it. Your continued support is greatly appreciated as we diligently work to restore Efrén's much deserved freedom.
We also want to thank those who attended the event and took time out of their busy schedules to learn how they can assist the work we are doing. We will send Efrén photographs of the event to Efrén along with a copy of this blog post.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Prison Creative Arts Project (PCAP) Presentation
Yesterday my husband, Hans, along with our close friend and TIME Committee member, Maria, presented about Efren's case at the Prison Creative Arts Project (PCAP) in Ann Arbor. PCAP is based at the University of Michigan.
According to their web site:
We met some wonderful young people that evening and shared Efren's story with them. We passed out the new Free Efren Paredes, Jr. posters for the first time at a presentation, along with some wonderfully prepared folders that Maria created for each person which contained various information related to our campaign.
Efren was able to call in to the presentation and answer questions over my speaker phone. It was a very positive experience and we are glad to have been able to meet everyone who attended. We look forward to seeing them again in the future.
Thanks to everyone who attended the presentation and thanks to PCAP for inviting us! Below is a photo we took with the group of PCAP members that attended.
According to their web site:
"Founded in 1990, PCAP is committed to original work in the arts in Michigan correctional facilities, juvenile facilities, urban high schools, and communities across the state. Our process is guided by respect and a spirit of collaboration in which vulnerability, risk and improvisation lead to discovery. We make possible the spaces in which the voices and visions of the incarcerated can be expressed."You can learn more about PCAP by visiting their web site at: http://www.lsa.umich.edu/english/pcap/.
We met some wonderful young people that evening and shared Efren's story with them. We passed out the new Free Efren Paredes, Jr. posters for the first time at a presentation, along with some wonderfully prepared folders that Maria created for each person which contained various information related to our campaign.
Efren was able to call in to the presentation and answer questions over my speaker phone. It was a very positive experience and we are glad to have been able to meet everyone who attended. We look forward to seeing them again in the future.
Thanks to everyone who attended the presentation and thanks to PCAP for inviting us! Below is a photo we took with the group of PCAP members that attended.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
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