Paul Macklin, founder of the Save Brenda Fund, is thrilled to see that Brenda Martin is returning home to Canada today. It has been a journey lasting over two years since being first arrested and placed in a Mexico prison without having a trial to assess her innocence or guilt.
Brenda is currently on her way home from Mexico, landing in Waterloo and being brought to a Kitchener Detention Centre. It is unknown if Brenda will be serving time in a Canadian prison, and if so, for how long. It is the Save Brenda Fund’s hope that Brenda will receive time served from a parole board, being released to see her mother for the first time in years and getting the health care that she needs.
At this point in time, Brenda needs the support of the Canadian public. The help that they have given her is overwhelming, as she would not be on her way home today if it were not for them. Paul Macklin, who has been advocating for Brenda Martin’s freedom, stated that “Brenda’s long dark journey finally has a happy ending as she returns to Canada today, this is what we have been hoping for, such a long time”.
“Brenda is coming home today because of the efforts of countless Canadians from across this country, who wrote and donated and championed her cause. For me I want to acknowledge Charles Russnell of the Edmonton Journal for his tireless and dogged investigative journalistic efforts to bring attention to Brenda’s plight. To Debra Tieleman a childhood friend of Brenda’s who never lost hope for her freedom. To M.P. Dan McTeague who was a “Lion” in his pressuring the Harper Government to finally act on Brenda’s behalf. And to Peter Cleary for all the help he has been to me with the Save Brenda Fund.
“This is truly a joyous day for Brenda’s most ardent and steadfast supporter her mother Marjorie Bletcher, who has waged an unremitting personal campaign to bring awareness to her daughters desperate situation,” remarked Macklin.
“Brenda now begins a different journey, the one to rebuild her life, and to start the healing process with the love and support of her family and friends. I know Brenda is grateful to all those who donated to the Save Brenda Fund as do I, and also to the media personnel who has done so much to bring her story to the Canadian people,” said Paul Macklin.
“This is a story of how we as Canadians expect to be treated when we travel abroad for work or business, that we expect fairness, dignity and basic human decency. While we celebrate Brenda leaving Mexico, soon to be back in Canada, we can also celebrate the spirit celebrated by Canadian Citizens who would not accept the trampling of human rights of a Canadian citizen detained without bail in another country.
Brenda became a symbol of Canadian values and won Canadian's support,” stated Macklin.
