The July 2008 edition of The Progressive magazine featured an article titled "Juvenile Injustice" by Luis J. Rodriguez. The article references the case of Efrén Paredes, Jr. To view the writing please click on the following link:
http://www.scribd.com/word/full/3729780?access_key=key-14x0ed73c5rjnrl6qdi9
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Radio Interview with Efrén's mother, Velia
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Free Efrén Paredes, Jr. Poster Now Complete!
We now have a new poster available for people to print out and share to support our campaign to free Efrén. It is available in three sizes below.Please print some of the 8-1/2" x 11" size if you are unable to print the larger sized ones and help us distribute widely. You can also feature the JPEG version of the poster on your Facebook page by adding the Big Photo application and uploading the image. You can also display it on your MySpace page as well, or post it along with messages on people's walls on Facebook or MySpace.
If there is a place available for you to post it, please do so!
8-1/2" x 11" (for home printers)
http://www.divshare.com/download/47243
8-1/2" x 11"
http://www.divshare.com/download/47243
5" x 7" (in JPEG format to post on MySpace or Facebook; you can also access the HTML code to embed the image on a MySpace page or image from this link as well)
http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm32/Free-Efren/FreeEfrenPoster2x3.jpg
11" x 17"
http://www.divshare.com/download/47243
18" x 24"
http://www.divshare.com/download/47243
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Request for Presentations About Efrén Paredes, Jr. Injustice
To date we have made presentations at churches, colleges, community centers, organization meetings, schools, public libraries and homes. Anyone interested in having a member of The Injustice Must End (TIME) Committee do a presentation about Efrén's case can click here to send an e-mail request. You request will be forwarded to the appropriate member for follow up.
Please include the following information to better help us determine which TIME Committee member can be scheduled to do the presentation:
▸ Date and time you would like the presentation to be made;
▸ Location where presentation will be made (include street address, city, zip code);
▸ Size of location where presentation will be made (e.g., classroom, church, library, home, etc.);
▸ If you have a digital projector to show a PowerPoint presentation;
▸ If you have a microphone and sound system; and
▸ How many people you expect to attend the presentation.
The importance of these presentations can not be underscored enough. Through discussing Efrén's case, and casting light on the facts surrounding his wrongful conviction, we are not only creating much needed dialogue about Efrén's case, we are also:
▸ Discussing systemic problems that exist in the criminal justice system;
▸ Bringing attention to needed changes in the way juveniles are treated in adult courts and prisons;
▸ Educating people about the facts in Efrén's case, and correcting the lies and inaccurate information that have been circulated about Efren's case;
▸ Helping other families who are also going through similar experiences;
▸ Helping prevent this horrible experience from occurring to other families;
▸ Teaching others how to build a strong grassroots campaign to generate attention and support for a cause; and
▸ Helping the community heal by creating unity and developing real solutions to problems that plague the community.
Please include the following information to better help us determine which TIME Committee member can be scheduled to do the presentation:
▸ Date and time you would like the presentation to be made;
▸ Location where presentation will be made (include street address, city, zip code);
▸ Size of location where presentation will be made (e.g., classroom, church, library, home, etc.);
▸ If you have a digital projector to show a PowerPoint presentation;
▸ If you have a microphone and sound system; and
▸ How many people you expect to attend the presentation.
The importance of these presentations can not be underscored enough. Through discussing Efrén's case, and casting light on the facts surrounding his wrongful conviction, we are not only creating much needed dialogue about Efrén's case, we are also:
▸ Discussing systemic problems that exist in the criminal justice system;
▸ Bringing attention to needed changes in the way juveniles are treated in adult courts and prisons;
▸ Educating people about the facts in Efrén's case, and correcting the lies and inaccurate information that have been circulated about Efren's case;
▸ Helping other families who are also going through similar experiences;
▸ Helping prevent this horrible experience from occurring to other families;
▸ Teaching others how to build a strong grassroots campaign to generate attention and support for a cause; and
▸ Helping the community heal by creating unity and developing real solutions to problems that plague the community.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Request Pre-Printed Postcards for Campaign
If you are interested in receiving printed postcards of support on card stock paper, you can click here to send an e-mail with your request. Please include your complete mailing address and how many postcards you are requesting.
Once you receive the postcards, you will need to cut them and then they are ready to be signed, stamped and mailed. If possible please send us copies of the postcards being mailed to the Governor's office. We realize this is not always possible. If you can give us a count of how many were mailed, that would be very appreciated. We use this information for Efrén's commutation request to show the support he continues to receive.
You do not have to be in the State of Michigan to request the postcards. Also, anyone can sign them, even if you sent a postcard previously. The current postage is 26 cents for a postcard. That rate will change to 27 cents on May 12th. (If anyone needs help with postage, please feel free to get in touch via e-mail and we will help.)
Once you receive the postcards, you will need to cut them and then they are ready to be signed, stamped and mailed. If possible please send us copies of the postcards being mailed to the Governor's office. We realize this is not always possible. If you can give us a count of how many were mailed, that would be very appreciated. We use this information for Efrén's commutation request to show the support he continues to receive.
You do not have to be in the State of Michigan to request the postcards. Also, anyone can sign them, even if you sent a postcard previously. The current postage is 26 cents for a postcard. That rate will change to 27 cents on May 12th. (If anyone needs help with postage, please feel free to get in touch via e-mail and we will help.)
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Postcards to Michigan Gov. Granholm in Support of the Release of Efrén Paredes, Jr.
The following are three newly designed postcards of support people can download and print out. The files are in PDF format. You will need to print the files double-sided since there is information on both sides of the postcards. There are four postcards printed on each page.
Please share this link with all your contacts and ask them to contribute to our campaign to free Efrén by getting as many postcards of support signed and mailed in to the Governor's office. Anyone can sign the postcards. They do not have to be residents of the State of Michigan to sign them. Your assistance with this effort would be greatly appreciated.
The links to the files are as follows:
Postcards to Governor Granholm in Support of Efrén (Postcard 2)
http://www.mediafire.com/?lxgydvwzmcl
Postcards to Governor Granholm in Support of Efrén (Postcard 3)
http://www.mediafire.com/?lddxdty2121
Postcards to Governor Granholm in Support of Efrén (Postcard 4)
http://www.mediafire.com/?ymz4o9ntjvy
Front of Postcard 2
Please share this link with all your contacts and ask them to contribute to our campaign to free Efrén by getting as many postcards of support signed and mailed in to the Governor's office. Anyone can sign the postcards. They do not have to be residents of the State of Michigan to sign them. Your assistance with this effort would be greatly appreciated.
The links to the files are as follows:
Postcards to Governor Granholm in Support of Efrén (Postcard 2)
http://www.mediafire.com/?lxgydvwzmcl
Postcards to Governor Granholm in Support of Efrén (Postcard 3)
http://www.mediafire.com/?lddxdty2121
Postcards to Governor Granholm in Support of Efrén (Postcard 4)
http://www.mediafire.com/?ymz4o9ntjvy
Front of Postcard 2
Front of Postcard 3
Front of Postcard 4
Back of All Postcards
Back of All Postcards
Contact Michigan Gov. Granholm to Free Efren Paredes, Jr.
E-MAIL, FAX AND PHONE CAMPAIGNFOR EFREN PAREDES, JR. TO THE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN
Post updated 7-10-09.
The purpose of this post is to provide you with information about ways you can contact the Governor of the State of Michigan to support the release of Efren Paredes, Jr.
We would like to send as many messages to the Governor's office supporting Efren's release as possible, so she remains aware of the outpouring of support Efren enjoys across the state and country.
At the end of this post you will find a sample letter you can copy and paste into e-mails or faxes you would like to send to the Governor. You can modify the letter however you wish. If you choose not to modify the content of the letter the only change you need to make is to the information at the end of the letter that reflects who it is addressed from.
You can, of course, add additional information if you wish. The letter is only intended to assist you frame a letter of your own. You can use the entire letter or only use parts of it. The decision is entirely up to you. You can also click here to view a PDF document which contains additional ideas that can help you compose a letter.
Send a Letter via U.S. Mail
You can click here to download a form support letter in PDF format to be used as a model to compose your own letter to the Governor. If you do not have the time to construct an original letter of your own you may fill out one of the form letters, sign it, and mail a signed copy to the Governor's office. Whatever is most convenient for you.
You are encouraged to print out as many of the form letters as possible, to share them with others, and ask them to do the same. You can also direct people to this blog post, or send them a copy of the form support letter as an attachment, and ask them to get as many people to sign the letters as they can.
Fill Out Governor's Online Opinion Form
If you would like to fill out the Governor's online opinion form you can do so by clicking on the following link:
http://www.michigan.gov/gov/0,1607,7-168-21995-65331--,00.html
In the box labeled "Issue" please insert "Efren Paredes, Jr. Commutation Request." Underneath that box click the option "For" and then copy and paste the sample letter that appears on the next page into the "Message"section.
Send an E-mail
You can e-mail the Governor's office at govofficesom@michigan.gov.
Send Fax Message to Governor
If you would like to copy and paste the message and send it as a fax you can do so by faxing it to the Governor's fax number which is: 517-335-6863.
Efren feels the warmth of our embrace, the strength of our solidarity, and passionate call for justice. The more people involved in our e-mail and fax campaign the stronger our voice will be.
Sincerely,
Efren's mother, Velia on behalf of
The Injustice Must End (TIME)
www.4Efren.com
SAMPLE LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR
Date of Letter
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm
P.O. Box 30013
Lansing, Michigan 48909
RE: Commutation Request of Efrén Paredes, Jr. #203116
Dear Governor Granholm:
I am writing to join the chorus of hundreds of others across the nation who have expressed their full support for the release of Efrén Paredes, Jr. #203116.
I also join President Barack Obama, U.S. Council of Catholic Bishops, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the Michigan Department of Corrections, and many others who oppose the imposition of life without parole sentences for youth. As a civilized society I do not believe that young people's lives should be discarded or that we should ignore the concept of redemption.
Efrén has been imprisoned since age 15 and he is now 35-years-old. He has a stable home to be released to, employment opportunities awaiting him, and strong support from family and friends. His accomplishments while imprisoned are numerous, he poses no danger to society, and he is equally deserving of release as anyone who has been previously granted a parole or commutation.
If released, I strongly believe that Efrén would be a very productive citizen and that society would benefit by his return. It is our prayer that you will grant Efrén's commutation request when it arrives in your office.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Address
City, State, Zip Code
E-mail Address
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