Everyone in fandom knows the story of Jean Valjean, and the story of his lengthy incarceration for a minor crime and his life-changing meeting with a bishop after his release has been hugely important for us. This holiday season, keep a poor person charged with a misdemeanor out of jail, and contribute to changing a society that ostracizes prisoners by lending a helping hand,
The Bronx Freedom Fund posts bail for poor New Yorkers who are charged with misdemeanors (minor crimes), helping avoid the situation where they plead guilty simply because they are stuck in jail. Even if a person is later found innocent, time in jail can be a terrible setback in their life.
I propose that this holiday season, we in the Les Miserables fan community contribute to this fund (and other community bail funds) to put the message of this story we all love into action by not turning away from some of the most vulnerable people in our society.
I also would like to organize a fandom auction to benefit this fund, with fanworks on offer for people who donate to the cause. However, even a tiny bit helps, and so I encourage all to give what they can. Please contact me if you’re interested so we can organize the auction, and please, please boost. The tag is “bishopmyrielfundraiser”.
Okay, I’m setting up a sideblog open to submissions so we can do this auction thing! the url is bishopmyrielfundraiser.