The Free Anwar Campaign: Take Action • Ask Congress to support the Second Look Act • Premiere Video

If you believe in second chances, please keep reading. For those of you who follow me on social media, you've seen me post the hashtag #FREEANWAR everywhere. I've started a movement for my loved one, Anwar Vivian, who's has served over 21 years of his in prison with a Life Without Parole (LWOP) sentence. He's now in his 40's and is a completely changed man.

I started the Clemency for Anwar Vivian petition to supplement Anwar Vivian's commutation hearing. The goal is to provide background information, evidence of Anwar’s successful rehabilitation, and an actionable and thorough re-entry plan into civilization. Specifically, we aim to provide the Board of Pardons with information about Anwar’s life prior to his incarceration, the steps he has taken to educate and rehabilitate himself while incarcerated, the impact his absence has left on the community as well as the impact he hopes to make upon returning, and the many supporters that await him if/when he is released. We have also developed comprehensive housing and employment plans to aid in Anwar's re-entry process.

ANWAR'S BACKGROUND

Anwar’s upbringing has not been fair to him. His father died when he was an infant and his mother died when he was 7 years old. Both of his parents died from drug overdose. After experiencing both of his parents’ deaths, Anwar and his 3 siblings (from his mother’s side) were all separated, living with different relatives. Anwar went on to live with one of his aunts in Florida. She provided a structured home for Anwar and made sure that he stayed on track. Anwar went to a good school and was involved in little league sports, summer camps, and church. Unfortunately, his living conditions with his aunt were short lived. During a holiday, when Anwar was 9 years old, he went to live with his family in Philadelphia. Unfortunately, Anwar quickly found himself living in an environment infested with drugs and violence, which became a recipe for his destruction. Inappropriately, this environment in Philadelphia enabled and encouraged him to hang out on street corners, which ultimately led him to the predicament he finds himself in today.

Anwar’s childhood relinquished parts of his innocence at a tender young age, which negatively shaped his perception. He believed the only way to survive and to try to fit in was on the streets. He had no positive male guidance in his life. The males that were in Anwar’s young life manipulated him to sell drugs. Violence and drugs were pervasive and often unavoidable, a reality that hindered Anwar’s confidence and self-esteem.

Anwar's favorite things to do are practice his faith, listen to good music, mentor young people, be fit and healthy, read, write poetry and bond with his family. His career goals are to be a fitness trainer, a construction entrepreneur and a published writer. He deeply wishes to be reunited with his family members. He wants to get married and live a life as a husband and father. Anwar has been jailed for biased purposes and received a sentence that was excessive. According to his LWOP sentence, he may not be released from prison for a crime he committed when he was 22 years old.

Anwar takes full responsibility for his actions. He has dedicated the last 21 plus years to reflection and growth, using his spiritual growth as a mechanism to express his remorse. He has always been honest and upfront about his past, while remaining optimistic and hopeful about the present and the future.

ANWAR'S TRANSFORMATION

Anwar is a mentor and dedicated family man who demonstrated profound growth over the past 21 plus years. To the years of commitment to his own betterment and with the support of his friends, family and community, Anwar has become a reflective, thoughtful and self-aware man. He has developed his emotional intelligence and consistently expresses remorse for his past.

Over the years, Anwar’s spiritual embracement has enabled him to reflect on his life and his past actions through his spiritual growth. It is through his spiritual growth that he has been able to grapple more deeply with his feelings surrounding his crime. His spiritual growth has become an avenue through which he has been able to more fully express his remorse. Additionally, Anwar has taken his growth and brought it to incarcerated youths encouraging healthy self-expression. His mentoring was centered around the understanding that everyone’s individual experiences inform their perception of the world and sharing these perspectives through verbal communication can bring people closer together. His mentoring demonstrates a deep and passionate belief that the capacity for change is integral to the human condition, and he has embodied this change in this path to redemption.

Through this reflection, Anwar has come to understand that his actions, both positive and negative, have important and lasting consequences. He has consistently participated in prison programs to improve himself so that he is in a better position to give back in meaningful ways. Beyond his endeavors, Anwar has remained active in many prison programs, doing what he can do to help himself and others. He remains deeply optimistic that some day, he'll get out of prison, against the odds.

YOUR SUPPORT MATTERS

Your voice joins a wealth of supporters fighting for change in the criminal justice system throughout the Commonwealth, from elected officials to progressive activists throughout the public and private sectors. Your support matters. Whether clemency for Anwar ultimately comes from the court system or from the Board of Pardons and the Office of the Governor, we thank you for contributing to the growing swell of support. It matters. And it will change one man’s life for the better – a man who has dedicated his life to helping others.

Anwar wishes he never lost his way and never reacted the way he did in the tragic situation that landed him in prison. He is extremely remorseful for the crime he was convicted of and deeply empathetic to the family it affected. However, we 100% believe he has changed and has turned his entire life around to become a valued member of society. He has maintained strong and meaningful social relationships with his family and friends during his incarceration. His many letters of support convinces him there is a community of individuals eagerly awaiting his return. Anwar remains extremely close with his fiance, yours truly, (who built Anwar's social media presence for Gov. Tom Wolf and the public to see), his siblings, aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews. He maintains friendships that have spanned decades and continue to make new relationships.

Beyond Anwar’s exemplary behavior and achievements, he continues to strive in learning more while incarcerated, receiving his GED and many certifications. Currently, Anwar is waiting to be enrolled in Villanova University to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree. Research indicates that post-secondary education of incarcerated individuals prepares the inmate psychologically for re-entry into the free world, resulting in a decrease in recidivism.

WHERE TO SEND DONATIONS

We're using Donor Box to collect donations that will assist Anwar with his health and legal fees in support of his commutation hearing held by the Board of Pardons and approved by the Governor. Please don't send donations on Change.org because we won't get it, they will. (link: https://donorbox.org/clemency-for-anwar-vivian)

SUBSCRIBE TO MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL FOR

THE PREMIERE OF ANWAR TELLING HIS STORY

THROUGH HIS OWN WORDS

AIRING ON FRIDAY OCTOBER 14, 2022 AT 8PM EST ON YOUTUBE

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LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SECOND LOOK ACT LAUNCHING IN 2023

U.S. Senator Cory Booker and U.S. House Representative Karen Bass have introduced bicameral legislation to create a sentence review procedure for people serving sentences longer than ten years in federal prison. Inspired by the cases of Matthew Charles and William Underwood, the Second Look Act of 2019 would appoint federal judges to consider petitions for sentence reduction after a person has served at least 10 years. The court must find that the person is not a danger to the safety of any person or the community; they demonstrate readiness for reentry; and the interests of justice warrant a sentence modification.

A second look at these long sentences is essential to account for the personal changes that people make over time, and to preserve public resources for effective crime prevention. In order to take action, we must ask the senators and representatives of Pennsylvania to cosponsor the Second Look Act.

We need to ask Pennsylvania senators and representatives to cosponsor the Second Look Act.

TAKE ACTION: CLICK HERE to start the form (there's a standard template they give you but I personalized the template with Anwar's info). CLICK HERE to access the text to copy and paste.

Please note: we're addressing Pennsylvania's Congress and for them to pull up, you'll have to use a PA address on the form. If you don't have one use: 1200 Mokychic Rd, Collegeville, PA 19426

We are making moves everyday to bring Anwar closer to redemption. Thank you for doing this for him! He appreciates you all so much and sends his love to all of his supporters. Watch a tutorial on how to complete the Second Look Act form below.

RECAP: 5 WAYS TO TAKE ACTION

Click here to sign Anwar's petition for clemency.
Click here to make a donation that will assist Anwar with legal and medical fees. All donors get a free gift.
Click here to start the Second Look Act form. There's a standard template they give you but I personalized the template with Anwar's info. Just click here to access the customized template I created.
Click here to write to Right2BeFree to let them know about this movement. Explore the page and fill out their contact form.
Click here to follow the #FreeAnwar campaign on TikTok (@FreeAnwar). Anwar's campaign page needs followers so the Governor and state can see that he’s being supported on social media.