The true power of viral public support has been proven today, as Cyntoia Brown – who was sentenced to 51 years in prison on murder charges at the age of 16 - was granted clemency by Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam. Cyntoia killed a man who was paying her for sex, prostitution she states she was forced into, alleging she feared for her life. Her case has been widely followed since 2011, when a documentary, Me Facing Life: Cyntoia’s Story, aired in the US and detailed her self-defence plea, which was not accepted by the jury.
Ordering her release after near 15 years in prison, Haslam stated she will be free from jail on the 7th August, but will be subject to 10 years parole. ‘Cyntoia Brown committed, by her own admission, a horrific crime at the age of 16,’ his statement read, ‘Yet, imposing a life sentence on a juvenile that would require her to serve at least 51 years before even being eligible for parole consideration is too harsh, especially in light of the extraordinary steps Ms Brown has taken to rebuild her life. Transformation should be accompanied by hope.’
The clemency has been well received by activists and celebrities alike, who have been campaigning on behalf of Cyntoia since November 2017. Despite the documentary about her case airing in 2011, which led to a law change stating those under 18 cannot be tried as adults in Tennessee – meaning today she would be treated as a child human trafficking victim - interest in her case peaked six years later after several celebrities began to share her story.
‘Did we somehow change the definition of #JUSTICE along the way?’ Rihanna shared on Instagram in 2017, ‘Something is horribly wrong when the system enables these rapists and the victim is thrown away for life.’
Using the hashtag #FreeCyntoiaBrown, various other celebrities commented on her case, including Kim Kardashian – who promised to call her attorneys to look into the case - LeBron James and T.I. Since her clemency was granted, Alyssa Milano, Sophia Bush and Meek Mill have all shared their support of Cyntoia, with Sophia stating:
‘It happened!! Thank you to everyone who fought for Cyntoia. Every phone call. Every letter. When you wonder, “I’m just one person, what can I do?” Look at how many of you added up to create a wave of support and get the attention of the powers that be!’
According to former Georgia governor nominee Stacey Abrams, human trafficking activists have been fighting for her case for years.
With her clemency considered a win for social activism, it serves as proof of the power of celebrity to band people together for one cause. It may have been activists that put pressure on the government to respond to her case, but it’s without a doubt that had celebrities like Rihanna and Kim Kardashian not shone a light on this injustice that such pressure may never have reached boiling point. As such, it’s also a grave reminder that that shouldn’t be necessary.
The fact that Cyntoia’s life rests on whether or not Rihanna sees a screenshot of her documentary on Instagram and decides to share it speaks volumes about the fragility of women’s lives in justice systems across the world. The fact that years of activism, legal pressure and a documentary about her trial was not enough to order government intervention sooner, but Kim Kardashian tweeting about it was, is simply terrifying.
We should not be reliant upon celebrity idols seeing a trending hashtag to feel protected as human beings in a justice system that ignores the experience of human trafficking and sexual violence and gives such heavy sentences under such obviously flawed circumstances. It may be a day for celebration for Cyntoia, but for other young girls and women in her former situation right now, this can only serve to remind them that the US legal system does not protect them.