read our petition below:
Justice for Monica Cannon-Grant: Drop the Charges!
Who is Monica Cannon-Grant? Monica Cannon-Grant is a dedicated mother, community organizer, and activist who has tirelessly worked to support and uplift Black and brown communities in Boston. Her commitment to social justice has led her to:
Open a social impact center focused on providing critical resources to the community, including a food pantry that aided 500 families monthly, a recording/podcast studio available to community members free of charge and more.
Provide emergency housing and assistance for victims of violence, as a primary contact for incidents of community violence.
Partner with a local Black owned restaurant to cook and deliver 80,000 families in Boston following the closure of Boston Public Schools during COVID-19 in order to supplement free or reduced-price meals that kids normally had access to at school.
Collaborate with lawmakers and families affected by police violence to advocate for reform.
Organize large-scale events for Black lives in Boston, gathering over 15,000 people in peaceful protest.
Recognized for her activism, Monica has received accolades including:
2021 100 Most Influential Bostonians by Boston Magazine.
2020 Outstanding Leader by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce.
2020 Hero Among Us by the Boston Celtics.
2020 Best Social Justice Advocate by Boston Magazine.
Why Stand with Monica? Monica faces charges of fraud, which are unfounded and a result of her high-profile activism. Despite having no criminal history, she was subjected to a violent arrest in this case. Her home was damaged during the seizure of documents, as armed federal agents entered by breaking down her door with a battering ram, documents she was prepared to submit voluntarily.
Her advocacy has made her a target for conservative critics and far-right groups, who have intensified their attacks following her organization of a vigil and rally for George Floyd and other Black lives lost to police violence in June 2020. The state has subjected her and her family to judicial harassment, including moving to bar Monica from speaking to her father, a disabled veteran, who she has cared for since she was eighteen years old. In March 2023, Monica’s husband was killed in a motorcycle accident that left Monica alone in raising her youngest children, who were under two years old at the time of the accident.
The Media’s Portrayal Since Monica’s indictment, there has been a disproportionate media response, particularly from conservative outlets, attempting to paint her as guilty before her trial. This has overshadowed her significant contributions to activism and advocacy, her footprint of impact in the Boston area that far exceeds any claim being made against her. Online harassment, death threats and strangers surveilling her home has increased, namely because of local blogger, Aidan “Turtleboy” Kearney’s efforts to mobilize far-right racist supporters against her, who did not agree with her activism efforts. He posted hundreds of blogs, YouTube videos and social media posts dedicated to disparaging Monica - anyone who openly supported her received similar treatment. Today, Kearney faces 18 counts of felony witness intimidation and was recently jailed on a DV charge.
Our Plea We urge you to look beyond the headlines and support Monica Cannon-Grant, a true freedom fighter and protector of her community. Her work and dedication to social justice should not be overshadowed by these allegations. Stand with us in seeking justice for Monica and demand that these charges against her be dropped.
Learn More Please follow @fightformonica on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter, where inconsistencies in her case are outlined and broken down.