So, I realize y’all haven’t heard much from me about this whole grand jury business, and that’s because I really have nothing to report at all. As you know, Priyesh has been subpoenaed as well, so send good vibes to him! Thank you again for your support, it means the world to me. I hope this finds y’all well.
In solidarity,
Brittany Kenville
As I said in a post earlier, I don’t really have the words to express how much the support you all have given me means to me.
It is important to remember in times like these that the goal of grand juries is to tear us apart and pit us against each other, and it is important to remember that if we are against each other, they win. It is important to remember that it is their goal to isolate the people they’ve subpoenaed. So, to go public with this and receive such an incredible amount of love and support from my friends, acquaintances and even people I have never met before, it means everything to me. It gives me so much hope, which we all know is incredibly hard to come by in this world. It assures me that I have made the absolutely right decision in seeking counsel and exercising my rights, and it makes the looming threats seem far less terrifying. It proves to me that we are capable of laying any petty differences aside and uniting together, even sometimes as strangers, against a system we all feel to be deeply flawed, which is really the most important thing we should take with us from this situation.
I really cannot thank you all enough for the support, it means everything to me. I have been crying tears of joy for the last eleven hours, and my heart is full to bursting with love, admiration, respect and thanks to and for all of you. For those of you who have donated money to help with my legal fees, I truly want to kiss you all on the mouth in a completely platonic way. For those who have re-posted my statement, who have gotten in contact with me, who have ‘like’d what I’ve said or even just taken the time to read what I had to say, I truly want to kiss you all on the mouth in a completely platonic way. I never, ever expected my feelings to be so widely received, accepted and supported, and to know that they are means the absolute world to me. I have never felt less alone in my entire life; the knowledge that I am surrounded by so many strong, smart, kind, courageous and loving people is the most comforting feeling I’ve ever known, a sense of comfort I never thought it was possible to feel so deeply. It’s so strange to say in light of my situation, but this is probably the happiest and strongest I have ever felt.
So, I really, truly, deeply, madly thank you all from the absolute entirety of my being for that, and for all you have done/are doing/are going to do for me. My gratitude is eternal and unending, and know that if our roles are ever reversed, you will receive nothing but my help, support and love in return. I am in the realest love with all of you. Thank you.
In solidarity,
Brittany Kenville
Here’s my first move to raise money!
I’ve created a listing in the Fat Heart Press Etsy shop to donate $5, which I’ll be collecting along with 5% of all Fat Heart Press sales and sending to Brittany in one lump sum with a monthly care package. If this listing is successful, I will soon create some in higher amounts if folks feel like they are able to support more, and for higher donations I will send out small thank you gifts. But for now if you want to donate more than $5, simply purchase multiples on this listing. The money will all go directly to Brittany.
Thank you so, so much to the lovely Marta for her help with raising money for my legal fees. You are a goddess, there are no words with which I can express my gratitude. <3 <3 <3
There is also a ‘donate’ link on my tumblr page, I know that we are all poor punk kids and money is always tight, and anything will help. If you can’t afford it, just knowing that you all support me is more than enough.
This morning has been so overwhelming for me, I never expected this kind of support from all of you. I have been crying tears of happiness and been shocked at the incredible amount of support I’ve received. I can’t express my gratitude to you all, or thank you all enough. My heart is swollen with all the love I feel toward all of you. Thank you, thank you.
My name is Brittany Kenville. I have been subpoenaed as a witness to the grand jury convened in San Francisco in relation to events that took place in Santa Cruz, California in 2008. Grand juries exist to determine whether there is enough evidence for a person or persons to be indicted. Subpoenas are used to force the appearance at grand juries by anyone the prosecution feels may provide evidence in support of their case.
Grand juries operate in secrecy, and witnesses who choose to testify are not allowed to have a lawyer present when doing so. In cases like this, grand juries are used as a tool to strike fear in and intimidate activists, and also to neutralize them from action. They spread seeds of mistrust throughout activist movements, and they operate under the assumption that people in activist communities are inherently guilty by association. I am adamantly opposed to these proceedings. I believe that they are unjust and an appalling misuse of prosecutorial power. Using grand juries to harass activist communities does not serve justice, it is simply a means of political repression.
I have been working with an attorney, and I plan on exercising every right that I have in response to my subpoena. I have the complete, unfaltering support of my family, my friends and my fellow activists. I encourage anyone else who is subpoenaed to reach out, seek counsel, do research, and learn your rights in these proceedings. I hope everyone reading this will learn more about the grand jury system and join me in standing up against its use as a tool of harassment.
In solidarity, Brittany Kenville
