Who?

In 2016, Jessica Reznicek took direct action to halt the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Following in the Catholic Worker movement’s long tradition of non-violent protest, she disabled construction materials and machinery along the pipeline route.

In 2017, she publicly took responsibility for her actions at a press conference. Two years later, she was indicted on nine criminal charges by a federal grand jury.

In 2021 she was found guilty of “Conspiracy to Damage an Energy Facility”. Federal authorities waited till after the trial to define her actions as “terrorism”: a tag that nearly tripled the sentence attached to her conviction.

On June 29, 2021, Jessica was sentenced to eight years in federal prison. On August 11 she was incarcerated in Wauseca Federal Correctional Institute.

In 2022 an appeals court upheld her conviction and continued to describe her as a “domestic terrorist”.

It’s 2023. Jessica’s still not free. This Lent we’re fasting and praying for her release.

Join us.

What are we doing?

This Lent, we’re committing to spend every Friday fasting for Jessica’s release.

We’re practicing what’s known as a “Black Fast”: the oldest and most severe form of Christian fasting.

That’s one simple meal a day: no meat, no milk, no eggs.

And we’re also promising to pray every day for Jessica: with the campaign prayer, a traditional devotion like the rosary, or both.

We’re asking all Catholics, Christians, and all people of good will to join us in calling for Jessica to be set free.

And we’re asking for Joe Biden – the President of the United States, and a self-described devout Catholic – to defend religious freedom and civil liberties by pardoning Jessica today.

Prayer

“Lord, remember your servant Jessica in her imprisonment.
God of justice, strengthen her.
God of the poor, draw close to her.
God of liberation, set her free.
Through your Holy Spirit grant her courage, fortitude and peace, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Saint Francis of Assisi, pray for us.
Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, pray for us.
Dorothy Day, Servant of God, pray for us.
Mary, Mother of justice, pray for us.”

Resources:

• Official Free Jessica Reznicek Campaign
• A Rolling Stone story about Reznicek’s actions
• Sign a petition for Jessica’s release
• Catholic Social Action legal briefing on Jessica’s case