Letters of
Support

Re: Letter of Clemency Support Kassan Messiah #95A6899

To whom it May Concern:

My name is Imani Supreme Messiah, I'm 29 years of age and the oldest daughter of Kassan Supreme Messiah Sr. (95A6899). I became a mother in my teens to two black boys who are presently at the tender ages of 12 and 10. I graduated valedictorian of my junior high school and later earned a college scholarship attending Montclair State University. As a state licensed massage therapist employed by the New York Giants Organization and a (private firm) for more than six years, I've become a successful citizen and I thank my parents for that. Currently I'm looking for a location to begin my own franchise and I specifically thank my father for his unwavering optimism. The success of my siblings and I are a direct product of his impact and guiding hands. I know other people can be successful in life if my father was given the opportunity to help them.

I included my father's Din Number because that's all I've ever known to be his identifier in what I was told was a camp, that I soon realized was a prison. I was two years old when I began visiting my father. I can remember the excitement I had when I finally memorized my Dad's identification number but simultaneously naive in understanding it was that number that would keep him away from me. My mother would tell my brother and I that Dad was at a camp and had to stay for a while. Our weekly visits were so routine that at such a young age, we believed he was at a camp for Dad's. I can remember being seated waiting for my father to arrive in the visiting room and the moment we saw his face at the door, coming down the ramp or walking into the room, my brother and I would scurry from our chairs and run and jump in his arms. The pure love and joy I felt was incredible.

I distinctly remember at Greenhaven Correctional Facility, there was a yard in the visitation area and I remember playing in that yard with my father. He would throw us in the air, swing us around, chase us and always created games for us to play. My Dad was the center of attention with every child in the yard as they began lining up for their turn to be tossed in the air and he did. When my Dad played games with us he was very competitive, if we won we earned it. However, play time came only after we completed whatever our assignments were that my Dad had planned for that visit. I learned to tell time by the age of four and I was doing multiplication in the first grade. I was always ahead of my class, as were my siblings. I looked forward to our family visits at what we thought was my Dad's house because we knew we would wake up and Dad would be there and his physical presence meant everything. I felt like my family was whole, we were happy and it felt safe.

My fathers love and guiding hands have carried over with my children Aman and Ayan Messiah-Clanton. Seeing them run to my Dad the way I did as a child melts my heart but not only because of the love they share but because my father has been incarcerated for so long. I'm not completely sure when I came to the realization that my father was legitimately in prison and not coming home but | will never forget the feelings | had and still do today. It feels like my family and | are incomplete and have been for so long.

Since I was a child, | have been given time frames and prospective dates of release and would get my hopes up but after appeal denials and plenty of disappointments, | learned to accept the reality of the battle we faced. However, | have not accepted defeat in obtaining justice for my Dad nor has my family. My Dad has missed so much not being home with his family; graduations, celebrations, father/daughter dances, sporting events etc. but aside from my family, the world has missed the contributions of a great man. The exemplary example set by my father has shaped me into a faithful, hardworking, intelligent leader and it's because of his strength, lessons, and no excuses attitude. The nurturing and loving guidance my Dad provides even today has elevated my confidence to be successful in life.

There is a need for guidance in communities of color, where in many broken homes, the father figure is the missing element. The lack of having a male role model in many cases have lead our young men to seek that relationship in the streets, my Dad was one of those young men. We must do everything we can to break the cycle of incarceration. The wealth of knowledge and support that my Dad can provide our youth that look like his grandsons would be outstanding if he were free.

My father has been that guiding force for his children, extended family members and other men as well. I've always seen the reverence that my Dad received from high ranking officers as well as other men who were incarcerated and | remain amazed. However, as an adult | now understand that the respect he receives is because he's a good man. My father exemplifies great character and | too respect him because of it, especially because he remains humble.

My Dad has proven to be successful in the many roles he has; father, husband, teacher, therapist and trainer. He accomplished these roles within the confines of a correctional facility. Imagine the impact my Dad could have if he were released and freely mentoring youth from the outside. After all, my siblings and | were his first success stories and now the countless individuals he's encountered during his incarceration.

It's for all the reasons stated that I'm pleading that the Board will approve the application presented by my father, Kassan S. Messiah, Sr. granting him clemency, thank you.

Sincerely,

Imani S. Messiah