Artists, Activists Demand Response

Grassroots activists fight hard to connect with Governor on behalf of wrongfully imprisoned men.

NEW YORK, NY (PRWEB) August 28, 2004 -- Eight months ago, Jenn Onofrio and Paul Rhyand set out to get the story of the West Memphis Three straight through the use of a letter writing campaign to Mike Huckabee, the Governor of Arkansas. They wrote the Governor one letter per week, copying each in a self-styled civic appeal to the Arkansas Parole Board, the New York Times, and the Washington Post, among others. Now, after receiving no response from the Governor or his office, theyre fighting back.

The Petition Site, an online activism source used for the collection and delivery of names, is hosting a petition for the young pair entitled We Demand a Response!" Started on August 26th, 2004, the petition aims to gather 4,000 names in the next thirty days.

Already in its first few hours, the petition includes activists and artists from Washington, D.C. to Guam, and doesnt appear to be losing momentum. This petition marks just part of the effort to embrace democracy put out by Onofrio and Rhyands not-for-profit, Voices of the Free.

To sign the petition, visit the Petition Site at http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/572201895

Voices of the Free aims to help people to identify their free voices in the democratic arena, and then utilize their voices through the use of creative and persuasive writing, theatre, visual art, dance, and other mixed media expression. The focus is on reactionary works -- politically proactive art -- and the relationship between the artist and the political spectrum. The currency is art; the artist is everyone; the profit is equality, freedom, and change."
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