FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 20, 2019
Contacts:
Wade Fink - ​wade@wadefinklaw.com​ 248-770-8333
Kim Hunter - ​kim@engagemichigan.org, ​313-287-2992

Court Reverses Convictions Against Detroit Mother and Activist
Siwatu-Salama Ra
Appeals Court ruling is a major step toward justice
DETROIT - Siwatu-Salama Ra, a prominent racial justice and environmental activist from
Detroit, had her controversial felonious assault and felony firearm convictions reversed today by
the Michigan Court of Appeals. Prosecutors must now decide whether to appeal the case to the
Michigan Supreme Court, pursue a second trial, or dismiss all charges.
The reversal is her attorney’s, Wade Fink’s, second felony conviction reversal in the last two
weeks. Attorney Fink also secured a reversal of a first-degree murder conviction based on the
racist comments by a juror made in deliberations.
“The Michigan Court of Appeals again showed itself to be the thoughtful, deliberative judiciary
that citizens can rely upon to carry out justice,” said ​Attorney Wade Fink, ​“This is a huge
victory for justice. Siwatu acted in self-defense and we hope the case is completely dismissed.
But if this case is brought again, we intend to prove it – this time in a fair trial where Siwatu is
permitted to present a defense.”
The Michigan Court of Appeals reversed three charge felony charges Ra attained in the process
of protecting her family from a woman who Ra said tried to use her car as a “battering ram”
against Ra’s vehicle which contained Ra’s then two year old and against Ra’s mother. Ra held
up her legal, licensed, unloaded firearm to ward off the attack.
Ra’s case captivated a national audience, as she was imprisoned while in her third trimester of
pregnancy. Like many other women who are incarcerated while pregnant, her ankles were
shackled during medical exams, and she was forced to give birth under watch of prison guards.
Ra’s case was also of interest to organizations fighting the racist enforcement of firearm
policies, as many viewed Ra showing her lawfully registered and unloaded firearm as justified
self-defense. Ra, a 28 year old mother and community organizer with no prior record and who

 lawfully possessed a handgun, was charged with three felonies, including one felony carrying a
mandatory two-years of incarceration.
At the original trial, Wayne County Judge Thomas Hathaway did not allow Ra to present a full
self-defense claim to the jury. In addition, the trial judge did not allow Ra’s attorney to
cross-examine the driver of the car, Chanell Harvey, about the fact that she was on her third
round of felony probation for having assaulted others. As a result, Ra was convicted and
sentenced to a mandatory period of two years in prison. Ra asked for time to report to prison, or
for a delayed sentencing, so that she could give birth to her child outside of prison, but the judge
denied her requests.
Ra retained Wade Fink Law, P.C., a Metro Detroit based criminal defense firm, to handle her
appeal. The Firm’s lead attorney, Wade Fink, stated that Ra’s trial was a “parade of errors” and
before the appeals court even decided the case, Fink secured Ra’s release from prison on bond
pending appeal by showing that the appellate issues had substantial merit. Ra was released
with a GPS tether that restricted the time she could be outside of her home ​until the appeals
court made its most recent decision to reverse her convictions.

For more information on this case, see the following sites and stories:
FreeSiwatu.org
https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/the-injustice-of-siwatu-ras-imprisonment-and-t
he-relentless-logic-of-mass-incarceration
https://www.metrotimes.com/news-hits/archives/2018/09/11/detroit-activist-siwatu-salama-ra-ap
peals-questionable-gun-assault-conviction
https://www.essence.com/news/detroit-activist-siwatu-salama-ra-wants-to-end-the-slavery-tactic
s-used-on-pregnant-women-in-prison/

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