To all supporters of the Hands Off Uhuru! Hands Off Africa! Defense Campaign, 

We are writing to inform all of you, our incredible donors and coalition members, about urgent updates with our fundraising campaign. We received the unexpected notification from the Open Collective Foundation, our fiscal sponsor up to this point, that they are abruptly dissolving. This means that we will no longer be able to accept donations on our current platform after March 15th, as we look for a new fiscal sponsor. This includes all of you who do monthly recurring contributions, which will be automatically paused after the 15th. As soon as we establish a new fiscal sponsor, we will let you know how you can reinstate your sustainer. 

At a time when the U.S. government is escalating its attacks on fundraising campaigns on anti-colonial struggles, such as in the raids and indictments of Stop Cop City Bail Fund organizers and the array of financial attacks on the Uhuru Movement, Hands Off Uhuru is resolute and determined to continue our fight for anti-colonial free speech and the right for all of our supporters to fund our legal and political fightback. 

This surprising and abrupt closure of Open Collective Foundation was made just a few weeks after we learned of a tentative trial date set for September 3, 2024. It is crucial that we are able to continue fundraising for our legal expenses, which will include testimony from expert witnesses and other crucial work to push forward our campaign to defeat the U.S. government's attempts to imprison Chairman Omali Yeshitela and the Uhuru 3. We will win! 

Your support over the past two years has made it possible to secure a strong legal team and carry forward with our work to fight for our right to engage in anti-colonial free speech. If you have any knowledge of other fiscal sponsors that align with the mission of Hands Off Uhuru, please reach out to us at [email protected]. 

Our fundraising committee is working rapidly to secure a new fiscal sponsor, and will keep you all up to date with the progress. We will not back down in our fight! We are winning! 

Mwezi Odom, Chair of the Hands Off Uhuru! Hands Off Africa! Defense Campaign