Bring Our Families Home

Bring Our Families Home (BOFH) is a campaign by family members of American hostages and detainees advocating for their immediate release. The James Foley Legacy Foundation claims that there are approximately sixty Americans who are being held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad. The Foley Foundation provides support to BOFH.^[1][2]

Bring Our Families Home

Formation	2022
Key people	Neda Sharghi, sister of Emad Shargi; Harrison Li, son of Kai Li; Amber Bobin, family of Paul Rusesabagina; Drew Havens, advocate for Eyvin Hernandez

The successful advocacy campaign of Trevor Reed's family, which pressured the U.S. government to secure his release from Russia, was a transformative moment for the families who founded BOFH.^[3] The detention of Brittney Griner in Russia, who is a member of BOFH, has elevated the profile of wrongful detentions and American hostages.^[4][5]

Advocacy campaign

Purpose

The campaign launched in May 2022 to urge United States President Joe Biden to use "any and all means available," including prisoner exchanges, in order to secure the release of their family members.^[3][6] BOFH has asked for meetings with President Joe Biden by families of those who are detained in the same country.^[3]

In May 2022, BOFH gathered near the White House to request a meeting with President Joe Biden and to raise awareness about wrongful detentions.^[7][8] In June, the campaign wrote a letter to the President urging him to meet with families.^[9][10] Shortly after the letter was sent, families met virtually with Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Many families were left frustrated following the meeting.^[11][12]

Washington D.C. mural

In July 2022, the campaign unveiled a 15-foot tall mural that featured eighteen Americans who are wrongfully detained abroad.^[13][14] The mural spans an alley in Georgetown (Washington, D.C.) on M Street near Levain Bakery.^[15]

The mural included the images of WNBA Basketball player Brittney Griner, who was detained in Russia, Emad Shargi (Iran), Luke Denman (Venezuela), Alirio J. Zambrano (Venezuela), Morad Tahbaz (Iran), Mark Swidan (China), Jose Angel Pereira (Venezuela), Siamak Namazi (Iran), Baquer Namazi (Iran), Jorge Toledo (Venezuela), Matthew John Heath (Venezuela),^[16][17] Majd Kamalmaz (Syria), Airan Berry (Venezuela), Paul Whelan (security director) (Russia), Shahab Dalili (Iran) Kai Li (businessman) (China), and Paul Rusesabagina (Rwanda).^[18] The image of Eyvin Hernandez was added to the mural in October.^[19][20]

Isaac Campbell, an artist from Iowa, spent months creating the mural using paper, water, flour and sugar.^[21][22] Campbell spoke to symbolism of the mural: "It is going to be subjected to the elements, both natural and human. It is going to rip. It is going to tear. It is going fade. All those things are going to happen. That is a really important metaphor for the time that these families have been experiencing in a way that we can begin to think about the pressure that they are under and how time is an important factor in their lives.”^[18]

Members of the Women's National Basketball Association's New York Liberty attended an event unveiling the mural, including Coach Sandy Brondello, Stefanie Dolson, Rebecca Allen (basketball), Sami Whitcomb, Jocelyn Willoughby, and Marine Johannès.^[13][23] Washington Mystics players Natasha Cloud and Elizabeth Williams were also present.^[13][24] Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger D. Carstens attended the ceremony.^[25][26] United States Department of State spokesperson Ned Price called the mural: "a powerful symbol of those who have been deprived and taken from their loved ones."^[27]

Image projections

In September 2022, the campaign projected images of their family members who are detained abroad on New York City buildings. The images included a call to action for President Biden.^[28] The Campaign displayed the projections during the 77th meeting of the United Nations General Assembly, which President Joe Biden attended.^[28]

Response

Releases

In October 2022, BOFH held a welcome home event to celebrate the release of seven members of the campaign: Mark Frerichs, Baquer Namazi, Matthew John Heath, Jorge Toledo, Alirio Zambrano, Jose Luis Zambrano, and Jose Pereira.^[19] Jonathan Franks, a spokesperson for the campaign, said of exchange that freed seven Americans in Venezuela: "We applaud President Biden for having the courage to make this deal and encourage him and the administration to continue building upon the momentum."^[29][30][31]

Executive order

In July 2022, President Biden signed an executive order intended to increase the flow of information to Americans detained abroad and sanction those responsible for wrongfully detaining Americans abroad.^[32][33]

References

1. Dandurant, Karen. "James Foley Foundation a partner in DC mural to raise awareness about hostages". Foster's Daily Democrat. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
2. "Mother of journalist murdered by ISIS discusses how the U.S. handles hostage situations". PBS NewsHour. 2022-07-20. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
3. Breslow, Jason (2022-08-04). "The families of Americans who are wrongfully detained are very much done being quiet". NPR. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
4. Daley, Jim (2022-09-29). "Bigger than basketball". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
5. "Brittney Griner Featured On Mural With Other Americans Detained Abroad". BET. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
6. "Families Of US Citizens Held Abroad Join Hands For Louder Call On Biden". Iran International. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
7. Hansler, Jennifer (2022-05-04). "Family members of Americans detained abroad gather to raise awareness and seek meeting with Biden | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
8. "Dozens of families gather in Washington D.C. for campaign to rescue American hostages". khou.com. May 4, 2022. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
9. Hansler, Jennifer (2022-06-22). "Families of Americans detained abroad call for urgent action from Biden to free their loved ones | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
10. Knutson, Jacob (2022-06-21). "Families of Americans wrongfully detained by foreign governments press Biden for meeting". Axios. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
11. Atwood, Jennifer Hansler,Kylie (2022-06-23). "Families of unlawfully detained Americans left with mixed emotions after Blinken tried to reassure them in call | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved 2022-10-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
12. "Families of American hostages abroad discouraged after Blinken call - Al-Monitor: Independent, trusted coverage of the Middle East". www.al-monitor.com. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
13. "Mural of Brittney Griner, other detained Americans unveiled in Georgetown". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
14. Pamuk, Humeyra (2022-07-20). "Faces of Americans detained overseas now visible to thousands". Reuters. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
15. "A New Mural to Recognize Detained Americans Abroad Is Coming to Georgetown—but It Won't Last Forever - Washingtonian". 2022-07-19. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
16. Ade, David. "Tennessee family calls for U.S. government to show more urgency in release of former Marine". Gray DC. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
17. Krueger, Kelly Ann. "Knoxville Marine accused of being a spy, released from Venezuela". WVLT. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
18. Turner, Tasha (2022-07-22). "Ottumwa native creates art to bring awareness to American hostages, detainees". KTVO. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
19. Sands, Peggy (2022-10-17). "Families of Wrongfully Detained Celebrate 7 Newly Freed". The Georgetowner. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
20. "Family of Los Angeles public defender detained in Venezuela: "Time is of the essence"". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
21. Bumbaca, Chris. "'Giving a voice to the voiceless:' Mural features Brittney Griner, wrongfully detained Americans". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
22. Hawk, Emily. "Ottumwa native advocates for release of American hostages, detainees". Ottumwa Courier. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
23. Zucker, Joseph. "Brittney Griner Featured on Washington D.C. Mural Honoring Americans Detained Abroad". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
24. Hatfield, Jenn (2022-07-24). "New Brittney Griner mural has Mystics' fingerprints on it". The Next. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
25. Beermann, Judith. "Bring Our Families Home Mural Unveiled in Georgetown". Georgetown Dish. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
26. Hansler, Jennifer (2022-07-20). "Families of Americans detained abroad unveil mural of loved ones and call on country not to forget them | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
27. Koenigs, Patrick. "New mural calls attention to Americans held abroad as loved ones say, 'This doesn't go away'". ABC News. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
28. Meehan, Maureen. "Images Of Americans Detained Abroad Including Brittney Griner Projected On NYC Buildings For Biden And UN To See". Benzinga. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
29. Pamuk, Humeyra; Spetalnick, Matt (2022-10-01). "Venezuela frees seven jailed Americans in swap for two Maduro relatives". Reuters. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
30. "Venezuela releases seven US hostages in exchange for two prisoners". Washington Examiner. 2022-10-01. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
31. "Citgo 6 execs released from Venezuela". Fort Bend Star. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
32. Callery, Tim (2022-07-20). "New executive order authorizes sanctions on countries wrongfully detaining US citizens". WMUR. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
33. Vasquez, Adam Zuvanich, Lucio (2022-07-21). "Citgo 6 families look for Biden's help". Houston Public Media. Retrieved 2022-10-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

Sources