(late)UPDATE: 12/5/20
Matthew has recieved a conditional and partial pardon from Governor Northam. He "is expected to be released sometime in early 2021... He’s been incarcerated since the night of the accident, which occurred Jan. 4, 2019" according to the Virginian-Pilot. The pardon reduces his sentence, but does not wipe out his conviction. "Rushin will be on supervised probation for five years and must get mental health treatment, counseling and a substance abuse evaluation," (VP).
This is not an absolute pardon and he is still not free. I was so happy and hopeful when I heard he was pardoned and going home. After reading the articles below, I am still glad things are happening but... the amount of people, signatures, letters, laywers, time, money, hastags were needed to get this far terrifies me because a. it's still not enough and b. there are so many people who never get attention. Sources:
Content warning for the video below: it describes the night of the accident and what followed in detail, it is powerful and explains the situation well, which is what makes it really hard to watch. “URGENT: Matthew Rushin is in Prison for Being Black and Autistic,” Terravance (Nueroclastic).
This article is part one of a growing series about the unjust imprisonment of a 19-year-old black autistic man. The author explains what happened, what the cops claimed happened, and what should have happened. Yes, it is all on tape. She provides information about autism that will ensure you understand how horrible this was. No one should have to go through what he did, but for him, I can only imagine how the pain was ten times worse.
Matthew was in a car accident, both him and the other driver got hurt, but no one died and no one pressed charges. Even against the overwhelming, clear evidence that it was an accident, he was sentenced to 50 years, 40 suspended, for 2nd-degree manslaughter. He has been in prison for over a year without ever getting the medical help he desperately needs for the brain injury he suffered in the accident. And that’s the least of it. He was a mechanical engineering student at Old Dominion University with a bright future. He had ADHD, PTSD from a previous car accident that almost killed him, and anxiety on top of a severe traumatic brain injury. He was criminalized because of his skin color and taken advantage of because of his disability. I have so much more to say about this… but I can’t. I don’t know where to start. For now, I want to share his story and asking that you sign this petition, “Free Matthew Rushin (Autistic College Student @ ODU),” on Change.org. If you want to donate to help him, do so to his family’s fund for his legal defense team on GoFundMe and NOT on Change.org (profits do not go to the family). Share his story on social media if you can. I’ve also been writing to every media/government source I find with incorrect information. He deserves a pardon from the governor of Virginia, Ralph Northam. I plan to write to him, as well. I cried for him. I prayed for him. It is time to speak up for him and help him get free. Related articles
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