June 19, 2015
A message from Jennifer Meeropol
On this day in 1953, my grandparents Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were executed at the height of the McCarthy era hysteria that was sweeping through this country.
In the videos below, my father and uncle (who were six and 10 when my grandparents were killed), share personal memories of the last four days of Julius and Ethel's lives including their final visit as a family, in Sing Sing Prison. Angela Davis explains the dramatic legal maneuverings that occurred. And Eve Ensler and Cotter Smith present the heart-wrenching letters that Ethel and Julius wrote from June 16th to 19th.
June 19th is a very somber day for my family and me, but I'm moved by hearing from many members of the RFC community who supported my grandparents then and stand with current activists and their families now. And I'm buoyed by knowing that because of our supporters' generosity, the RFC is making a real difference in the lives of today's children of targeted activists, who are living through nightmares similar to what my father and uncle experienced - kids including those whose stories are below.
Caden, Aisha, and Kyara were five, nine, and 15 when their mom was arrested. A leader in the right of return movement in New Orleans, their mother organized to demand the opportunity for residents to come back to their homes post-Katrina. In retaliation, she was harassed, arrested and eventually convicted on false assault. The judge, who denigrated activists from the bench during the trial, demanded that she begin serving her four-year sentence on the day of her conviction, leaving the shattered children to struggle without her. An Attica Prison Visit grant will allow these kids, now living with their grandmother, to visit their incarcerated mom for the first time in months.
Five-year-old Noah’s parents are environmental activists who operate a small non-profit that works to protect and restore a local river basin in their southern community. His father and older brother have been harassed and faced death threats from local oil and gas company employees because of their work monitoring and confronting the companies' illegal pollution and development activities. Someone poisoned the family’s dog, and Noah’s dad has faced warnings of sabotage against his business. An RFC grant will help Noah attend school in a safe environment, away from those who threatened his family.
I get the most profound sense of personal satisfaction from providing this kind of aid to such heroic families, and I’m sure you will as well. Since 1990 we’ve awarded over $5.6 million for therapy, sports, arts programs, summer camp, prison visits, and other vital resources to help hundreds of children not just survive, but thrive. This is your opportunity to embrace Noah, Caden, Aisha, Kyara and all the kids who are part of the RFC community, and assure them that they are not alone.
On this anniversary, please consider making a donation to support every child who, like me, knows the pain of a family experiencing repression. We can’t undo the wrong that’s been done, but every dollar you give makes a tangible, positive difference in these children’s lives.
Thank you so much.
Jennifer Meeropol
Executive Director