Ohio Gov. John Kasich has agreed to investigate the case of Kelley Williams-Bolar, the black Akron mother who was convicted of “stealing” educational services by enrolling her kids in a white middle class school outside of her home district. "Our laws exist for a reason and they must be enforced, but the idea that a woman would become a convicted felon for wanting a better future for her children is something that has rightly raised a lot of concern with people, including me.”
The apparent racism and class hostility that prompted the Copley-Fairlawn school district to spend $6,000 hire private detectives just to prove that this one woman was somehow trying to cheat the school district has outraged thousands, prompting more than 80,000 to sign the Change.org petition urging Gov. Kasich to pardon Williams-Bolar. Others have pressured the governor through Facebook groups like this one and Twitter @JohnKasich demanding a pardon using the hashtag #KelleyWilliamsBolar.
Kelley Williams-Bolar's family has also set up a Paypal account to cover legal fees. You can donate by going to Paypal.com and making a payment to kelleywilliamsbolar@hotmail.com.
