Cleveland Kidnapping Victims to Receive Yearly Relief Payments and Free Rides to College
Ohio state representative John Barnes Jr. introduce a bill called Survivors of Abduction Act, aiming to make available relief payments and free rides to college to Cleveland kidnapping victim, Amanda Berry, Gina de Jesus and Michelle Knight, CBS News reported.
If approved by the state legislature, the act will provide the three women of $25,000 per year plus tuition fees in college and living expenses. Amanda Berry, Gina de Jesus and Michelle Knight will also be receiving a lifetime medical aid. Tax dollars will be used to fund the bill.
Furthermore, if approved, the bill is not exclusive to the three Cleveland kidnapping victims but also will be given to anyone who had been victims to "involuntary servitude" for at least eight years and above.
According to Mr. Barnes, "Society is not going to be kind to them regardless of whether or not they were in this situation or not. It's going to view well what have you done? What do you have to offer? So I thought, let's look at how we could restore what they would receive had they in fact had an opportunity to have their freedom."
Mr. Barnes said that other lawmakers have already extended their support for the Survivors of Abduction Act. "We want to be mindful that as news goes away, and as the limelight of the moment begins to dim, that a lot of that support is going to go away. So that, by far, is not enough to be sustainable to them."
In an interview with the Associated Press, Mr. Barnes pointed out that even if the act gets approval from the state, there is nothing that can bring back the things that these three women had lost in their ten years of captivity; activities like going to the beauty shop, taking a walk, attending prom and throwing a snowball.
Lawyers for Amanda Berry, Michelle Knight and Gina de Jesus chose not comment about the bill but assured that "Anything the community does to support these women is greatly appreciated," according to Atty Jim Wooley.
Mr. Barnes said that three women will just have to take a GED and be admitted to public college, university or technical school in order for the three women to take advantage of all the benefits that comes with the Survivors of Abduction Act
Mr. Barnes still hoped that other charities will not stop from supporting the three women even if the bill got approved. He told the Associated Press that he does not want the legislation to discourage acts of philanthropy toward the three women.
Mr. Barnes acknowledged the outpour of donations and all kinds of support for Amanda Berry, Gina de Jesus and Michelle Knight coming from all parts of the globe. In as much as he wants to do his job as a lawmaker, he still encourages those who are making the donations to carry on with the help they are extending to the three women.
Amanda Berry, Gina de Jesus and Michelle Knight still choose to live their lives hidden from the attention of people, but through their lawyers they extend their most thankfulness for all the blessings that had been coming.