National Free Sara Kruzan Day of Action Today

Today is the national day of action to free imprisoned child trafficking victim Sara Kruzan. Across the U.S., advocates are tweeting, Facebooking, calling, emailing and, yes, even faxing Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, asking him to grant Sara clemency with time served. Will you be one of the tens of thousands of advocates demanding justice for this courageous woman?

National Free Sara Kruzan Day was organized by California anti-trafficking activists Nikki Junker and Barbie Magoffin through their organization With More Than Purpose. They first read about Sara's story on Change.org — how she was trafficked into prostitution at 13, raped by stranger seven nights a week for three years so her pimp could profit, and how at just 16, her abused psyche snapped and she shot her trafficker. When she went to trial, however, there was no consideration of her young age, the severe emotional and physical trauma she'd suffered, or her status as a victim of a horrific crime. She was tried as an adult and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. It was a sentence that mirrored the injustice and confinement of Sara's youth.

Sara had just turned 16 when she committed her crime, and she has now been in prison for 16 years. That's why Junker and Magoffin chose today, December 16, as National Free Sara Kruzan Day. Today, anti-trafficking advocates and Sara's supporters will be trending #freesarakruzan to the top of Twitter and bombarding Governor Schwarzenegger with messages of support for Sara's pending clemency petition.

Here's how you can join them and get in touch with Governor Schwarzenegger (suggested messages included or feel free to write you own):

• Tweet @Schwarzenegger:  @Schwarzenegger Before you leave office, grant Sara Kruzan clemency with time served http://tinyurl.com/2662tgk #freesarakruzan
• Comment on Facebook: Leave the Governer a message on his Facebook page:  If you do one thing before you leave office, please grant child trafficking victim Sara Kruzan clemency with time served http://tinyurl.com/2662tgk
• Call him at (916) 445 - 2841 and check out this sample script for phone calls and written messages.
• Email him at http://gov.ca.gov/interact#email and include a link to the Change.org petition asking for Sara's freedom.
• Fax him (it's like email, but with paper) at (916) 445-4633
• Write him a letter:
  California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
  State Capitol, 1st Fl.
  Sacramento, CA 95814
• And if you haven't signed this petition, add your name to the tens of thousands advocating for freedom and justice for Sara Kruzan.

Take 1, 2, or 3 minutes today to contact Governor Schwarzenegger and ask him to grant Sara Kruzan clemency and release her with time served. Or contact him using all the means above (bonus points if you know how to use a fax machine). You can also check out Sara's incredibly moving story below.