The Young Gifted and Black Coalition is voicing their support of Cherokee student Dereian Brown. Dereian is being railroaded through the expulsion process at the Madison Metropolitan School District. They are arguing that Dereian, who went through YWCA’s restorative justice program and who is supported by the community, must continue to be punished.

To be punished for allegedly bringing a toy gun to school, that no one can testify seeing on school grounds, even though community voices are calling to end this farce. It suggests that our school district views him initially dangerous and that the most severe punishment must be had. Which we know, due to implicit bias studies, is something continually faced by Black youth.

MMSD and Jennifer Cheatham have stated many times that they want to end Madison’s school to prison pipeline. If they expel Dereian Brown, they are

Lisa is Free!

Immediate Release: 
T Banks: 313-936-8351  
Alix Shabazz: 608-210-9623 

On Friday December 18th, due to ongoing pressure from YGB, Freedom Inc, Operation Welcome Home, and supporters Lisa Mitchell has been released from jail.   

This is a huge victory to see Lisa, a Black trans woman, freed from solitary confinement, given a time-served sentence, able to dress how she wants as a woman for her continued probation period, and on the path to getting full trans health care. 

The campaign to #FreeLisa is part of YGB's larger campaign to #FreeThe350 and the #HandsOffBlackWomyn campaign. 

Eisha Love a Black trans woman incarcerated for self-defense against a racist transphobic attack in Chicago was also released on the same day.  This was the result of another strong grassroots effort. 

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#HandsOffLisaMitchell

Sign the petition! Lisa Mitchell is a Black trans woman who has been sitting in solitary confinement in Dane County Jail for the past 6 months. She is in solitary solely because of her gender identity as a Black trans woman.

• We demand that Lisa be let out of solitary confinement
• We demand that Lisa be given time served, revocation dropped, and released from jail immediately
• We demand that the conditions of her probation do not limit her gender expression as a woman 
• We demand full trans health care for Lisa

She is being held on charges of “prostitution.” Sex work should not be criminalized. In Mitchell’s case, if she engaged in sex work, she did so out of poverty as she was homeless at the time of this arrest. Mitchell was initially charged for an altercation that she had with the person who solicited her for this work which has since been dropped because she was not at fault. Lisa would have otherwise been released from jail pending the resolution of these charges, except she was already under supervision by the state's Community Corrections. 

While fighting her case, Lisa Mitchell has experienced transphobia at all levels of the criminal system. She has been denied hormone therapy, has been called the wrong name and pronouns, her gender identity has been called deceptive and a disguise, and again, her long sit in solitary is only due to her gender identity. The harassment and criminalization of Lisa Mitchell due to being a Black trans woman must stop.

  During the 1-hour a day she has out of her cell she has been working to get trans health care exclusions removed from Medicaid in Wisconsin. She is a tireless activist for all trans people and she needs our support now. 

We say #HandsOffBlackWomen! #HandsOffLisaMitchell! 

We will not stand for Lisa Mitchell serving any more time in jail or being sent back to prison. She has been criminalized due to poverty and her gender identity since she was a teen and is now thirty five. It is time for her to be released, get full health care, get housing, and get a chance to truly advocate for trans people from the outside. 

1 in 2 Black trans women are incarcerated or formerly incarcerated in the US. We need to end this pattern of criminalization and we can take one step towards this by setting Lisa Mitchell free. 

All power to the people, 

Young Gifted and Black 
Freedom Inc 
Operation Welcome Home 
Dane County Trans Health Group 
Groundwork 
Outreach 
No Dane County Jail Working Group

ALL DANE COUNTY STATE REPRESENTATIVES ENDORSE MITCHELL FOR JUDGE

They Join Three Dozen Elected Officials and Legal Leaders Pledging Early Support 

 

Madison – All eight area state representatives from Dane County joined legal leaders and local elected officials in endorsing Everett Mitchell in his campaign for Dane County Circuit Judge.  Early support also includes Congressman Mark Pocan, County Executive Joe Parisi, Sheriff David Mahoney, and over one hundred local community leaders.

 

"Mitchell served as an assistant district attorney who handled dozens and dozens of cases. He's also served as a pastor and community leader who shares our values.  It's the exact balance Dane County needs in a local judge” stated State Representative Melissa Sargent.

 

Monona State Representative Robb Kahl also shared his support, saying, "Mitchell understands the critical issues we face in Dane County. He is prepared to work towards justice, as defined under the rule of law, and in a way that serves everyone equally.”

 

State Representative Chris Taylor, Mitchell’s Campaign Treasurer, added "He is the leader we need on the Dane County Circuit Court.  At a time when our constitutional rights are under siege, Everett is a champion for the constitution and the protections it affords all of us."

 

The Eight Dane County area State Representatives endorsing Mitchell include:

 

• State Rep. Chris Taylor, 76th Assembly District 

• State Rep. Terese Berceau, 77th Assembly District

• State Rep. Lisa Subeck, 78th Assembly District

• State Rep. Dianne Hesslebein, 79th Assembly District 

• State Rep. Sondy Pope, 80th Assembly District

• State Rep. Melissa Sargent, 48th Assembly District

• State Rep. Robb Kahl, 47th Assembly District 

• State Rep. Gary Hebl, 46th Assembly District 

 

Everett Mitchell previously served as a Dane County Assistant District Attorney, and received his Law Degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School. He still practices regularly as a pro-bono attorney for those in need of representation, and has authored and implemented strategies to cut recidivism rates for ex-offenders.  He and his wife Mankah live in Sun Prairie with their two children.

 

A full list of all endorsements is available atwww.everettmitchell4judge.org/endorsements