WE WON"T FORGET - HER CAMPAIGN CONTINUES
Sex Abuse Gone Crazy
By Stephen Wilson
Editors Note: Teachers have been documenting a workplace of fear in the Chicago Public Schools as teachers have been investigated for any little accusation of sexual abuse. Most cases have been thrown out, but many educators have suffered by being taken out of the classroom, or forced to attend hearings. It's safe to say the Chicago Tribune - a pro-business publication that hates unions and public education - lead the witch hunt after featuring a series of sex abuse cases. Our news blog would like to feature the stories you do not read in the mainstream press owned by the 1 percent. The stories about higher up officials who get away with sex abuse, and teachers like Jennifer Fichter, a teacher sentenced to 22 years in prison for having sex with a 16-year-old student. Had she crossed north into Georgia where 16 is legal consent, she would have been a free woman.
Jennifer Fichter, an American English teacher who received the draconian 22 year sentence for having consensual but illicit sex with three 17 year old students has been languishing in prison for five years. But her valiant supporters are in no mood to give up on her.
"Anything you are willing to do to help me gain my freedom is so appreciated. Thank you " states part of a letter sent from her to well-wishers and activists who have been persistently pursuing a relentless campaign for her release.
For those who are unaware of the case, Jennifer Fichter was an English teacher in Polk County, Florida, who was arrested by Lake land Police in April 15th 2014 and charged with sexual battery with three 17 year old students. She was found guilty, receiving an incredible sentence of 22 years imprisonment. This was followed in April 2017 where she was sentenced to a 3 year concurrent sentence. The injustice of this sentence provoked an outcry, especially in Russia where she retains enormous sympathy and support. Almost as many as 77,000 people signed her petition.
What provoked the wrath of many people was that her sentence of 22 years even surpassed the 21 year sentence granted to a deranged fascist mass murderer who who killed 77 people and wounded over a 100. What is more, while in many other countries, the usually deemed appropriate punishment would be to dismiss such a teacher. The severe sentence and attempts by some to demonize her as a 'pedophile', 'maniac', 'pervert' and 'kidnapper' only reinforced the belief that she was a victim of some religious moral witch hunt. Critics of the sentence regard the case as an example of 'legal despotism ', 'petty tyranny' and 'United States legal tyranny'. A Russian teacher, Aleksi Kutnetsov, stated : "This is a repressive sentence, basely, extremely cruel and hypocritical ". Another indignant supporter complained "She is not a maniac, pervert or pedophile. She never raped, beat up or killed any children. Contrast this with the case of a Norwegian Neo Nazis."
However, the supporters of the Free Jennifer Fichter campaign which can be found on Face book are anxious that with the passage of time, her case can be forgotten. The campaign might run out of steam. A spokes person on the site warned: "The worst news is that Jennifer has been in prison for five years.
If initially Jennifer's case caused a public outcry, in the world, now it has slowly begun to forget about it. That's sad. Unfortunately, the petition on the website Change.org by Denis Shirynaev , which has collected nearly 77,000 signatures has been closed by site administration. Why, we do not know, and Shiryaev doesn't know. But there's another person on this site in support of Jennifer, author Mike Brandner. There are only 633 signatures. Please sign it ".
The campaign appeals to supporters and activists not only to sign the petition, but write a letter asking for Jennifer's pardon to Florida governor Ron De Santis and directly to President Donald Trump. They even provide addresses:
Ron De Santis
https:// www.Flgov.
Com/email-the governor/
Donald Trump
http;//www.whitehouse.
gov/contact/
The campaign also urges supporters to write to any famous people they know in politics, or art as well as U.S. ambassadors all around the World. The activists are far from being naive. They claim 'letters of support of her will not lead to an immediate positive result. But we can draw public attention to such a terrible and unfair sentence. We can find an influential person who will feel sympathy for Jennifer and in the end it will have an effect. '
Of course, the activists and advocates have long pondered over which legal procedure might be the most effective in securing her release. Some have suggested the need to appeal to the Supreme Court on the fact that the case not only violated the constitutional separation of religion and the law, but entails cruel and severe treatment which is prohibited by the Constitution. Ernest Taylor states, " This punishment does not fit the crime. It is totally railroading and a violation of church and state '.
'Let's not forget about Jennifer and help her.' declare activists. We certainly won't forget. We will do our best to help her!
{Editor's comment. Second City Teachers covered this case in two articles dated July 20 ,2015, and February 28, 2016}
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