Fundraiser and Support for Shanesha Taylor

[Content Note: Misogynoir; class warfare; criminalization of need.]

Yesterday, I wrote about Shanesha Taylor, a homeless, single mother of two children, who was arrested for child abuse after leaving her children in the car while interviewing for a job, because she had nowhere else to leave them.

In comments, Shaker Kimand48 linked to a fundraiser for Taylor, which I confirmed care of Prison Culture would be directing all collected funds to Taylor.

Last night, Prison Culture tweeted, which I am quoting with her permission: "Only $50 away from $5,000 4 #ShaneshaTaylor. Called Maricopa County this afternoon & learned that bond is $9,000."

Which means, as Shaker LeahC observed, that only funds raised beyond $9,000 will start paying for anything beyond getting Taylor out of jail.

Currently, the fundraiser stands at $9,994.

So, if you can afford to donate, please keep the donations coming.

And, if you cannot afford to donate, there are other ways to help. Prison Culture offers these additional suggestions "for how we might proceed in support of Shanesha."

1. Sign the following petition to Bill Montgomery who is the County Attorney for Maricopa County. Share the petition with everyone you know. Can we gather 10,000 signatures by Saturday? Let's try.

2. After you have signed the petition, directly EMAIL Bill Montgomery to ask that he DROP THE CHARGES against Ms. Taylor.

3. It's always great when Prosecutors also receive phone calls. Please call the Maricopa County Attorney's office to ask them to drop the charges against Shanesha Taylor. Be polite about it but suggest that resources would be better spent providing Ms. Taylor and her children with help over punishment. They have already suffered enough.

Maricopa County Attorney's Office
Phone: (602) 506-3411
Hours: 8am – 5pm Mon-Fri

4. Are you on Facebook? Post a message on Bill Montgomery's Facebook Page explaining why he should DROP THE CHARGES against Ms. Taylor.

If you have additional suggestions for how to help, please feel welcome and encouraged to drop them in comments.