Photo credit: Lacy Atkins via NY Times
Today is a BIG DAY for Cyntoia Brown, as she was released from prison!
She was tried as an adult when she was 16 back in 2004 for the murder of a man she was pimped to.
She was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison. BUT, there is always two sides to every story, and hers is devastating.
At 16 she was sold and forced into prostitution, which lead Brown to kill her abuser.
Many celebrities like Rihanna and Kim Kardashian came to her defense and brought her story to light using the hashtag #FreeCyntoiaBrown.
Riri posted on her Instagram, “Imagine at the age of 16 being sex-trafficked by a pimp named ‘cut-throat.’ After days of being repeatedly drugged and raped by different men you were purchased by a 43-year-old child predator who took you to his home to use you for sex. You end up finding enough courage to fight back and shoot and kill him.”
“You’re arrested as result tried and convicted as an adult and sentenced to life in prison,” Rihanna’s post continues. “This is the story of Cyntoia Brown. She will be eligible for parole when she is 69 years old.”
Kim Kardashian, who is strongly fighting for prison reform also got involved and praised Tennessee Governor for granting Cyntoia Brown clemency.
Cyntoia walks out of prison with an associate’s degree under her belt and ready to help as many at risk youth saying, “I learned that my life was . . . and is . . . not over.”
