There are several things you all can do to help Pablo:
1- Donate money via Paypal to pablosfreedom@gmail.com * -This money will go to his legal fund
2- Donate money to Pablo directly via accesscorrections.com- This money will keep food in Pablo's stomach. They tend to starve them in there. He can also use this money to buy stamps and letter writing materials.
3- Write letters to Judge Abrams. Even if you've already signed one of the form letters please take the time to write a personal letter. It will have a much greater impact on Judge Abrams.
4- Continue to circulate petitions! Email me at khennerty@gmail.com for the petition form.
5- Raise money! Throw benefits no matter how small or large. Every penny helps.
6- Raise awareness- Please contact blogs and press. Please let me know if you personally know anyone at any of NYC's newspapers.
7- Write politicians- Local or not. Pablo's immigration lawyer, Stan Weber, said that it is crucial that we have the backing of politicians. A handful of us are meeting up to brainstorm and write letters at the end of this week. Email me if you are willing to help out.
8- We have an art benefit coming up soon and will be needing donations. Please contact me a.s.a.p. if you're interested.
Thanks everyone and contact me at khennerty@gmail.com with any questions, suggestions, art submissions, etc.
*If you don't have a credit card and would like to donate money via cash, check or money order to Pablo please email me.
**NOTE** Please hold off on sending books to Pablo. He's only allowed a few at a time and already has over 20 (thanks to his generous friends!). I'll let you know when it's ok to send him more. You CAN however send him printed material.
I just sent this to the Bloomington Independent Restaurant Associate and thought someone might want to try something like it in Pablo's neighborhood in New York. I don't know if it will work, but thought it was worth a try:
ReplyDeleteTo Whom It May Concern:
I am writing concerning your help to support Pablo Airaldi. Pablo is a legal permanent resident of the United States and a former Bloomington resident, writer, and active member of the Bloomington Bicycle Project. He still holds many ties to the community, including a broad base of friends, there. He currently resides in New York where he has opened a bicycle repair and restoration shop. Unfortunately, due to a minor conviction almost ten years ago (before his time in Bloomington) he is currently being detained at the Hudson County Correctional Facility in New Jersey and is attending trials on his possible deportation. Friends from New York and Bloomington have held benefits to try to raise money for legal fees and incarceration expenses, and have continued to brainstorm other ways to raise funds and awareness of Pablo's incarceration.
As a former Bloomington resident for ten years, I am a follower of Bloomington Restaurants on Facebook. While reading over the daily specials at the restaurants on your page I had an idea that would be mutually beneficial to the local businesses and Pablo's cause. I envisioned a sort of "Dine for Pablo" or "Eat for Pablo" day at the local Bloomington Restaurants that are members of your organization. This would not only serve to raise awareness of the poor conditions he suffers as a detainee, including poor rations and quality of food, but I also hoped that the restaurants could donate a small percentage of their sales from that day to Pablo's legal fund. The businesses would benefit from increased exposure and revenues. I would personally inform local media outlets about the event, and myself, along with other friends of Pablo's and of the Bloomington Bicycle Project would help spread the word to dine in those local establishments on that day. I would coordinate with a current resident to spearhead the operation and coordinate other residents to pass out flyers, start facebook/social media chains, and get the word out by any medium available.
If this is something that interests you, please reply promptly, as Pablo's next court date is on January 6, 2011. It would be most helpful to hold the event before then. More information on his case, detention, and his story in his own words can be found at http://pabloairaldiupdates.blogspot.com/. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
Ian Uriel Girdley
1213 Ekin Avenue
New Albany, IN 47150
(812) 360-5054
ianurielgirdley@gmail.com
Ian,
ReplyDeleteInteresting idea! Let us know how it goes.
-Kat