Rasmea Odeh out of jail, heading home to Chicago

Members of the Rasmea Defense Committee from Chicago and Detroit/Dearborn just welcomed Rasmea back from four weeks in a Port Huron, Mich., jail. She arrived at the U.S. Marshal’s office in Detroit for processing at approximately noon today, Dec. 11, and was greeted shortly thereafter by friends and family, who are bringing her home to Chicago now.

She looks strong, and is upbeat and excited to see more of her friends, family and supporters soon. The defense committee wants to again thank everyone for their phone calls, letters, rallies, protests and all the other activism that helped us get Rasmea released. She sends her love and appreciation to all, and graciously asks us to be ready for the next stage — winning the appeal and exonerating her fully.

Rasmea will be meeting with her attorneys in the next few days, and they will begin establishing strategies for the sentencing on March 10 and the appeal, respectively. We will reach out to everyone soon, and call on defense committees and supporters across the country to gear up for another intense #Justice4Rasmea campaign.

But for now, let’s celebrate knowing that Rasmea will be back home safe, and ready to get back to her work with the Arab American Action Network (AAAN) and its Arab Women’s Committee.

We will be welcoming her home publicly for the first time next Wednesday, Dec. 17, at the AAAN’s event showcasing the Wishah popular dance troupe directly from Ramallah in Palestine. Join us to celebrate her, and Palestinian culture and resilience, by purchasing your tickets here! tinyurl.com/m6jdzm2

Stay updated at uspcn.org and stopfbi.net.