THE RODWELL SPIVEY BROTHERS LEGAL DEFENSE FUND

On June 1, 2021, Newark undercover plainclothes police attacked four young Black men–the Rodwell Spivey brothers – in front of their home in the South Ward of Newark, NJ. According to police complaint, the cops stopped the Rodwell Spivey brothers because they were “wearing white t-shirts and dreads”--clearly racially profiling and targeting them because they were Black.  The Rodwell Spivey brothers are now facing charges of up to 30 years in prison for simply defending themselves against a racist police attack. One of the brothers, Justin Rodwell, has been imprisoned in Essex County Correctional Facility since June 1, 2021 without a trial.  The Newark police continue to harass Monique Rodwell, their mother, her family and neighbors by blockading the entire block with multiple police vehicles in the summer and ongoing repeated late night, menacing drive-bys by unmarked police cars. These racist police and courts have terrorized Black and Latino families in Newark and Essex County for too long. We call for the immediate release of Justin Rodwell.   The Legal Defense Fund is organizing a team of attorneys committed to fighting all the charges against the brothers and getting them dismissed. This will cost thousands of dollars but it can be done! We call on all anti-racists to contribute to this important cause.