This past weekend, I had the opportunity to meet up with BJ Bernstein, the attorney for Genarlow Wilson. As many of you know, Genarlow is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence for having consensual oral sex with a fellow teenager –Wilson was 17 and the girl was 15. Although the laws have recently been changed to prevent future recipients of consensual oral sex from doing 10 year bids –largely because of Genarlow’s plight and Bernstein’s tireless adovcacy– there is no retroactive law that can free this young man.

Bernstein met me in Chicago at the National Hip-Hop Political Convention in order to spread the word about his unjust incarceration and rally support. She reminded me that Genarlow, who is now 19, has already spent nearly two years in jail for a crime that now carries a 12 year maximum. It is essential that we not forget that this young man is set to lose 8 more years of his life if we don’t do anything soon.

After the Court of Appeals of Georgia affirmed Genarlow’s conviction, Wilson’s legal team filed a Petition for Certiorari asking the Supreme Court of Georgia to consider the case. This is a critical decision!

What can you do? Please visit www.WilsonAppeal.com, sign the online petition, donate to his legal/education fund, and contact politicians in the state of Georgia to express you disgust with this law.