More and more people are standing with Lawrence in his fight against the unjust prosecution which has been brought against him. Please join us in supporting him by making a contribution to the Lawrence Brose Defense Fund. The urgency of this appeal cannot be stressed enough. In the letter below, filmmaker and scholar Caroline Koebel brings her voice to support Lawrence's defense.
Dear Friends, The struggle of filmmaker and non-profit arts leader Lawrence Brose to defend himself against allegations by the federal government on child pornography possession continues despite the flimsiness of the prosecutions case and the recommendation in June 2011 of United States Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy to dismiss the indictment. The resources funneled into the prosecution are staggering, and this case is one clear example of the mishandling of taxpayers dollars. It represents the unfair and wrongful pursuit of an innocent man and furthermore it distracts from the real work that needs to be done in order to protect children. It is a great relief to know that Lawrence has as his attorney Paul J. Cambria, Jr., who is highly experienced in arguing cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. Readers will be familiar with Attorney Cambrias defense of another Buffalo-based artist facing federal prosecution, Steve Kurtz of Critical Art Ensemble, and the eventual triumph of that defense. At the same time, it is no mystery that a strong legal defense requires a steady flow of financial resources. Brose, a native son of Buffalo born and raised in a working-class Irish Catholic neighborhood of the citys industrial South Side, is broke. He no longer holds his position as Executive Director of CEPA Gallery, and despite spending the entirety of his retirement savings on his defense, he has incurred tremendous debt. To try to measure the good he has done for Buffalo is a ridiculous feat. As an internationally honored filmmaker, artist, and non-profit cultural advocate, he could have moved anywhereand the fact that he chose his hometown over NYC, Los Angeles, or Berlin shows his allegiances. His affirmation of self through collective empowerment in the form of creative, educational and cultural opportunities for a wide demographic has been made clear again and again. When I moved to Buffalo in the late 90s, Lawrence welcomed me wholeheartedly. Our films had played at some of the same festivals, but this was our first chance to meet in person. I soon learned that the depth of his film artistry is matched by the sincerity and strength of his person. The personal and professional exchange that followed remains a high point of my Buffalo years. Lawrence is one of the most humane individuals I have had the honor of knowing directly. He is also one of the most resilient: despite unfathomable personal loss (he has mourned the untimely deaths of several life partners as well as siblings), his capacity to love and to share remains untarnished. Witness, for example, his devotion to CEPA Gallery, which flourished under his helm. Now is the moment to support Lawrence Brose! Please find details about donating to his defense and other ways to help below. Thank you! Caroline Koebel Faculty, Transart Institute (New York & Berlin) ************************************************************************ With these letters of support, generous donors helped raise over $17,000. We cannot express our gratitude enough for this outpouring of help. There is a growing momentum of support, but we do need to remind all supporters that we need to raise a significant amount of money to defend Lawrence's innocence and help him reclaim his life. Lawrence's legal defense has depleted his life's savings, and he is currently unemployable in this situation. Please remember that tax deductible donations to Lawrence's defense can be made through the National Center for Reason and Justice. http://ncrj.org/lawrence-brose/ NCRJ works for child-protective laws based on science, fairness, and good sense, and supports people who are falsely accused or convicted of crimes against children. Also, please visit the defense fund website if you wish to donate directly: http://lawrencebroselegaldefensefund.com/. The website continues to update with supportive testimonials and contributions to the art sale to benefit Lawrence's defense. To all who are receiving this email, please let us know if you do not want to receive these updates. For everyone else, PLEASE SHARE THIS WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES. We also invite supporters to send us their comments and suggestions for spreading the word and seeking support. We are confident that justice will prevail for Lawrence Brose with your help. Sincerest regards, The Defense Fund Team [email protected] www.lawrencebroselegaldefensefund.com _______________________________________________ FrameWorks mailing list [email protected] https://mailman-mail5.webfaction.com/listinfo/frameworks
