To Whom It May Concern:

We, the undersigned, are writing on behalf of the seven individuals arrested on July 16, 2018 at the Broward Transitional Center in Pompano Beach, Florida, by the Broward Sheriff’s Office. Mathi Mugilan Paguth Arivalan, Alexis Butler, David (Bambi) Hitchcock, Christian Minaya, Charlie Nolan, Jillian (Jay) Pim, and Carlos Naranjo-Velasquez are all upstanding members of our South Florida communities who regularly advocate on behalf of those whose voices are all-too-often marginalized or left unheard. They are a diverse group of citizens of all ages, whose education, employment, and good works reflect their personal commitments to building a caring, inclusive society in which all people are valued and respected.

These individuals do not represent any one group or cause. Their advocacy reveals their dedication to human rights in both theory and practice. Their efforts to address the needs of others, as both paid professionals and volunteers, are exemplified through a wide range of activities and the examples are numerous.

Voting rights is especially timely with the upcoming FL Amendment 4 ballot measure, and half the group has volunteered for the Second Chances Campaign on behalf of rights restoration for returning community members. Several are also employed by New Florida Majority to register voters. They regularly advocate on behalf of our local homeless neighbors in front of city and county commissions and advisory boards, and they participate in food sharing with Food Not Bombs. Several members of the group helped win the campaign to Take Down Slavery Symbols in Hollywood to ensure residents of Liberia, the original, historic Black neighborhood in the city, would no longer be forced to reside on streets which honored racist Confederate figures. All of the members feel strongly about the need to address racial justice. In addition to participating with the Black Lives Matter Alliance Broward and Black Lives Matter Palm Beach County, they also support the work being done by the Miami Worker’s Center and the Community Justice Project.

All members of the group ascribe to an intersectional approach to addressing oppressions. They work for 2LGBTQIA+ advocacy, women’s and reproductive health, have helped publicize campaigns for Planned Parenthood, and regularly support SunServe. Some of the members have also acted on behalf of the Palm Beach County Tenants’ Union in combating unfair housing practices and local landlords' discriminatory and dangerous practices, most recently at Stonybrook in Riviera Beach. They fight for affordable safe housing and appropriate checks on development and gentrification in Fort Lauderdale, Lake Worth, and other communities. And all of them have been engaged in South Florida on behalf of a wide range of immigration concerns. They work alongside the Broward Immigrant Justice Coalition, the Florida Immigrant Coalition, United We Dream, Friends of Broward Detainees, and the Black Alliance for Just Immigration, to name a few.

These seven individuals care about their neighborhoods and all of the people who reside within them. They sit on local, city, and county boards and task forces, and have worked with other residents and community leaders, and with their elected and appointed local officials on countless issues. They have earned the respect and support of people and organizations from across the tri-county area.

We, the undersigned, ask you to drop all charges, and allow these friends and colleagues to continue their good works.

Respectfully,