Paris Knox is a 38-year-old Black mother who, in 2007, was sentenced to 40 years in prison for killing her abusive ex-partner when he attacked her in her home in 2004. In early 2017, her conviction and 40-year sentence were vacated. Now, though presumed innocent and awaiting trial, her bail has been set at $500,000 with a $50,000 bond that she cannot afford. Today she remains in prison and separated from her mother, sister, and child, who is now 14 years old.
Like many other Black women, Paris is in prison for self-defense.
Expressing solidarity is an integral way to support survivors and reduce the isolation of prisons. Write paris a letter of support and encouragement at the address below. For tips on letter writing to people in prison, check out the letter writing section in the #SurvivedAndPunished toolkit.
Paris Knox
Inmate No: 20170120230
P.O. Box 089002
Chicago, Illinois 60608
You can also support Paris by purchasing a book on her wishlist.
In June, Hope Dector from the Barnard Center for Research on Women and I released three collaborative videos with Mariame Kaba, narrated by CeCe McDonald with audio editing by Lewis Wallace, artwork and photographs by Sarah-Jane Rhee, Nicole Harrison, Molly Crabapple, Dignidad Rebelde, and Erin K. Wilson. Each of the three short videos highlight a case of a person criminalized for defending herself from gender violence.