National support grows for Bresha Meadows, accused of killing abusive father

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Bresha Meadows, who was 15 when she killed her abusive father in what she claims was a matter of self-defense, was charged with aggravated murder in July and is currently in jail for her actions, but a growing number of people are calling for her release.

As of Tuesday, a petition for her release from Trumbull County Juvenile Detention Center had acquired 13,000 signatures. Supporters pointed out that Meadows’ father had threatened to kill her and her family and that he was abusive, and punishing her for standing up for herself sent the wrong message.

“Criminalizing Bresha in this context sends a harmful message to survivors and their children — that even in the most desperate of situations, they will be punished instead of helped,” the OrganizeFor petition reads.

According to the Free Bresha Meadows Campaign, 16 cities will be holding events in solidarity with her. Her aunt, Martina Latessa, said that knowing so many people support her has been instrumental for Meadows in keeping her spirits up, as she has been on and off suicide watch while she has been imprisoned.

“She knows she has a lot of supporters because we tell her every time we see her,” Latessa told The Huffington Post. “Usually when her court dates come up she gets all freaked out. She’s just really scared she’s going to spend the rest of her life in prison.”