Ways to help

Marie Mason needs your support!  Here are a few simple and easy ways that you can show your solidarity with this long-time social justice and environmental activist, and loving mother of two.

WRITE CHARACTER LETTERS IN SUPPORT OF MARIE TO THE JUDGE.

Guidelines for a letter of character reference:

The letter should be addressed to

Hon. Paul Maloney
United States District Court
410 W. Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo, MI 49007

Re: United States v Marie Mason

Case No. 1:08-47

The writer should introduce themselves, who they are, what community they live in, what they do, and how they know Marie and how well. (Thebetter one knows her, the more weight the opinion has).

The writer should indicate they are aware of the charges to which she has pled guilty - arson - and is facing a mandatory 7 year minimum. (Protestations that she must be innocent or not very guilty are not helpful.)

The writer should discuss positive aspects of Marie’s character. In doing this, it is usually helpful to think of anecdotes which illustrate the point. (E.g., trustworthy - had her watch the house, pets, and kids while out of town.)

Then find a way to ask the judge to be lenient in sentencing. The important thing is to humanize her for the judge.

Letters should be sent to me, not directly to the court. They will be reviewed and submitted all in one package at the appropriate time. It would be good to have the letters in my hand by mid-December.

John Minock
339 E. Liberty, Suite 200
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
jminock@ic.net

GET ON THE ANNOUNCEMENT LIST:

The list sends out the latest information. Get updates, info on benefits, pertinent articles and ways to help. Sign up by sending an e-mail to freemarie-subscribe@lists.riseup.net or to freemarie@riseup.net and we’ll put you on.

BECOME MARIE’S FRIEND ON MYSPACE:

Add Marie as a friend and forward to others! Go to www.myspace.com/earthfirstmarie

DISTRIBUTE FLYERS: You can now download support flier for Marie here!

HOST A BENEFIT IN YOUR CITY:

Plan an event to raise money and awareness. Any help that you can offer is appreciated.

DONATE:

Please note that there are now two funds accepting donations for Marie Mason.

Marie Mason Legal Defence Fund

Funds donated to this account will be used directly for Marie Mason’s attorney fees.

If you would like to send a check or money order please make it out to ”books for prisoners” and send it to the below address. Please ensure all checks/money orders are made out to “books 4 prisoners” or we will not be able to cash/deposit it!

Marie is currently in the Clinton County Jail pending sentencing, away from her community and young daughter, which comes with its own hardships and stresses.  Letters, Photos, Art, vegan recipes are all welcome. Please be sure to review the mail guidelines and Jail mail rules found below in detail before sending anything.

You can also e-mail letters of support to Marie, and those can be sent to freemarie@riseup.net and will be forwarded to Marie.

We are encouraging folks to write Marie while she is incarcerated. Letters from the outside will serve as a lifeline and help keep her spirits up.
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Letters of support must have a complete return address and must be addressed exactly as below for them to be accepted. Further mail rules and restrictions for Clinton County Jail are listed below.
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If you send Marie a letter and it gets returned to you, please let us know about it so we can add any other restrictions to the guideline list.
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All letters must have a return address on the envelope. Also put a return address on the letter itself, as prisoners are almost never given the envelopes. Avoid using white-out, stickers, tape, colored ink/paper or glitter. Written correspondence and drawings may be in pencil, standard ink pen, typewritten, or computer generated. No felt pens, markers, crayon, or colored pencil, etc. All personal artwork must be in black & white, copied pages can be in color. Most facilities do not allow torn pages from books, magazine or newspaper clippings. Photocopies, however, are accepted. Keep in mind that all mail is read by authorities.
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Again, DO NOT bring up or attempt to discuss Marie’s case, her co defendants, illegal acts, or the Green Scare when writing her. Please remember that, even if unsolicited, mail can still result in sanctions against a prisoner.

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PHOTOS

Marie can get up to 3 photos per letter. no larger then 4 x 6. She would like photos of nature and animals, specifically wolves and whales, hiking trips, and gardens.
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Send letters of support and photos to -

Marie Jeanette Mason
Clinton County Jail
1347 E Townsend Rd.
Saint Johns, MI 48879

MARIE’S BOOK WISHLIST

Marie does not have library privliages or access to a book cart while at Clinton County. In a recent letter she states “I hate TV and am dying of boredom…” Below is a list of subjects/topics she has requested.

All books must be softback. No CD’s, tapes, DVDs, stickers, hardback or books that are spiral bound will be accepted. Marie is only allowed 10 books in her cell at any one time so please contact us at freemarie@riseup.net first before ordering her anything.

Poetry - Nerunda, Whitman, Alice Walker, Emily Dickinson or anything by the Warrior Poets Society

Beginners guides Language Instruction type books - Spanish, French, German, and Russian