Marissa Alexander is finally free!

After going through hurdles to prove self-defense against her abusive ex-husband by firing a warning shot, and finally having to take a plea deal, Marissa Alexander is now free.

Marissa Alexander is free

Marissa Alexander of Jacksonville Fl., was sentenced to 20 years in prison for firing the shot in the air.

The mother of three was released after she completed two years of court-ordered home confinement, and previously served nearly three years in prison on weapons and assault charges.

Plea deal

In 2014, Alexander accepted a plea deal of her conviction in a jury trial to avoid a potential 60 years behind bars.

“Today, after 3 years behind bars and 2 years of house detention, Marissa Alexander was finally released from state confinement,” a statement from the Free Marissa Now campaign reads.

“Marissa Alexander has been punished for over 5 years for defending her life from a domestic violence attack threatening her life nine days after she gave birth. The Free Marissa Now Mobilization Campaign is thrilled that we have finally made it to the day that we can say Marissa Alexander has her freedom.”

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Stand Your Ground law

Marissa Alexander was at the forefront of the Florida’s controversial Stand Your Ground law, claiming self-defense against her abusive ex-husband.

Alexander wanted to bring her case to the limelight to highlight systematic patterns of criminalization when it comes to people of color. Her case drew national attention in 2012 after George Zimmerman was acquitted of manslaughter and murder of Trayvon Martin.

The Stand Your Ground law came into play in the beginning of the Martin case when George Zimmerman wasn’t immediately arrested for Martin’s killing. However, George Zimmerman did not use the Stand Your Ground defense during trial when he was acquitted of all charges. But Alexander believed she had a legitimate reason to use the law intended to protect self-defense shooters from criminal prosecution.

The stand your ground law (sometimes called “line in the sand” or “no duty to retreat” law) is a justification in a criminal case, whereby a defendant can “stand their ground” and use otherwise unlawful force without retreating, in order to protect and defend themselves or others against threats or perceived threats.

Marissa Alexander is free

Alexander testified that her ex-husband, Rico Gray, threatened to kill her on Aug. 2010, moments before she fired her legally registered firearm into the ceiling of her Jacksonville home to prevent a domestic violence attack. In sworn statements, Gray acknowledged that he physically abused Alexander.