A Marathon for Freedom: #RunWithJorge
July 18, 2023
The Bring Our Families Home Campaign launched a multi-faceted digital media campaign following the journey of former hostage Jorge Toledo as he trains for the 2023 Marine Corps Marathon on October 29.
Jorge spent nearly five years wrongfully detained in Venezuela. His family was a member of the Campaign. He will be training and running alongside Mickey Bergman of the Richardson Center for Global Engagement, who has assisted with the recovery of numerous Americans detained abroad.
Follow us on social media @bofhcampaign and use the hashtag #RunWithJorge to see the latest content.
BOFH Campaign Mural Unveiling
Houston, TX
July 4, 2023
On Independence Day, 2023, the Bring Our Families Home Campaign unveiled a large-scale wheat paste mural depicting the images of the 15 American hostages and wrongful detainees in the Campaign currently being held in foreign prisons. The mural is the second in a series of wheat paste murals sponsored by the Campaign and designed by Isaac Campbell; the first was unveiled last year in Washington, DC. A press conference was held, featuring Reps. Sheila Jackson Lee and Al Green as keynote speakers.
Houston is a natural location for this mural, with 7 out of the 15 detainees in the campaign hailing from Texas, as well as the Houston area being home to several former hostages in the campaign, including Brittney Griner and many members of the CITGO6.
Brittney Griner’s Welcome Home Opener
Phoenix, AZ (Footprint Center)
May 21, 2023
Brittney Griner’s first home game with her team (the Phoenix Mercury) since her release from Russia took place on May 21 at the Footprint Center. To highlight its partnership with the Bring Our Families Home Campaign and to use its platform to bring awareness around the plight of wrongful detainees, the Phoenix Mercury unveiled the BOFH Campaign logo decal on the sideline of their home court, replacing 𝗕𝗚𝟰𝟮 which was placed there during BG’s detainment in Russia.
The 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲 decal will remain on their court for the 2023 season. The Mercury highlighted the Campaign throughout the game and also presented a generous $5,000 donation to the Campaign.
Brittney also shared her own continued efforts to support the BOFH campaign by partnering with @weareround21 for a T-shirt and hoodie release.
10% of the net proceeds from each purchase in the Brittney Griner x round21 collection will be donated directly to the Bring Our Families Home Campaign. Order now at the link below.
Hostage Week 2023 Events
Washington, DC
May 2-3, 2023
Candlelight Vigil:
The Bring Our Families Home campaign gathered for two events on the anniversary of the one-year make of launching this campaign. We hosted a candlelight vigil in front of the BOFH mural in Georgetown with former hostages, NGOs, and our campaign families, followed by a rally and press conference in front of the White House urging President Biden to meet with representatives of the families and bring our loved ones who are wrongfully detained American hostages home from around the world.
Rally and Press Conference:
Brittney Griner Press Conference and Mural Unveiling
Phoenix, AZ
April 27, 2023
The Phoenix Mercury, the basketball team of recently released wrongful detainee Brittney Griner, partnered with the Bring Our Families Home Campaign to raise awareness for American hostages and wrongful detainees at a recent press conference in Phoenix, Arizona.
To launch this partnership, Griner and BOFH chair Neda Sharghi unveiled the painting of a mural on the west side of Footprint Center, the team’s home arena in downtown Phoenix. The mural features the face of Griner along with all of the 15 wrongfully detained Americans in the Bring Our Families Home campaign.
Read more about the ongoing partnership between the Phoenix Mercury and the BOFH campaign in this official press release.
Welcome Home for former hostage Jose Pereira
Washington, DC (BOFH campaign mural)
November 17, 2022
On October 1st, President Biden announced the release of seven Americans from Venezuela, five of whom - Matthew Heath, Jose Pereira, Alirio Zambrano, Jose Luis Zambrano, and Jorge Toledo - were part of the Bring Our Families Home Campaign.
On November 17th, for the first time since being freed, Mr. Pereira left his home in Texas and traveled to D.C. to visit the mural and see his own face.
“My wish is to see my face on the mural before it fades.”
James W. Foley Legacy Foundation 5k Run
Washington, DC and virtual
October 15, 2022
Why the Bring Our Families Home Campaign Ran for Jim:
To show our support for the Foley Foundation and their efforts for our American hostages and wrongful detainees
To honor journalist Jim Foley, senselessly murdered by ISIS in 2014
To fight for the freedom of our own loved ones
To do everything we can to #BringThemHome
The Bring Our Families Home Campaign team was the #1 team - we raised the most money of any team
All proceeds from this run directly benefitted the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation.
Sidewalk Decals
New York, NY
September 2022 (during UNGA)
Digital Projections
New York, NY
September 2022 (during UNGA)
BOFH Mural - July 20, 2022
in Georgetown by Levain Bakery
Created by artist Isaac Campbell
Where: 3125 M Street NW, Washington, DC
Livestream video archived: https://bit.ly/BoFHMural
Showcasing 18 of our loved ones (individual pictures linked here):
Brittney Griner, Emad Shargi, Luke Denman, Alirio J. Zambrano, Morad Tahbaz, Mark Swidan, Jose Angel Pereira, Siamak Namazi, Baquer Namazi, Jose Luis Zambrano, Jorge Toledo, Matthew Heath, Majd Kamalmaz, Airan Berry, Paul Whelan, Shahab Dalili, Kai Li, Paul Rusesabagina
Artist Statement:
Look at your wrist. Do you see time?
Slowly ticking, seconds march like
soldiers - precise, unwavering, incessant.
Look at the sky. Do you see time?
Day fades to night fades to day - an infinite ebb
and flow, the rigid clock becomes a blur.
Look at the wall. Do you see time?
Maybe in the ink; slowly fading in the sun.
Maybe in the paper; gently peeling from the wall.
Maybe in the rips and holes; picked at by curious
fingers of those compelled to feel more.
Maybe in the pixels; juxtaposing days to decades,
a valuable treasure trapped by technology.
Maybe in the faces; some you remember from
yesterday’s news - some you have forgotten from
last week’s news - and most that news has
forgotten altogether.
Do you see time?
There are currently 65 publicly recognized
American citizens who are being held hostage or
wrongfully detained around the world. Of those,
18 are represented on this wall. Many of the faces
are from the last photographs their families took
before their loved ones were taken.
I see time in the eyes of their loved ones - a fiery
determination that only grows by the day. A
coalition built on hope and collaboration - unifying
strangers across the world by a single thread. For
some, days pass waiting for the next phone call from
abroad. For others, the outlook is far more uncertain.
This mural, made from flour, water, and paper, is
ephemeral. What will have happened for these
American citizens by the time this mural fades and
disappears? Do you see time? Or, more importantly...
Do you see how much time is left?
Putting Up the Mural
Photo credit: @kennygiarla
Photo credit: @kennygiarla
Photo credit: @kennygiarla
Photo credit: @kennygiarla
Photo credit: @kennygiarla
Photo credit: @kennygiarla
Photo credit: @kennygiarla
Photo credit: @kennygiarla
Photo credit: @kennygiarla
Photo credit: @kennygiarla
Photo credit: @kennygiarla
Photo credit: @kennygiarla
Photo credit: @kennygiarla
Photo credit: @kennygiarla
Photo credit: @kennygiarla
Photo credit: @kennygiarla
Photo credit: @kennygiarla
Photo credit: @kennygiarla
Photo credit: @kennygiarla
Campaign Launch - May 4, 2022
Family members of American hostages & wrongfully held detainees launched “Bring Our Families Home Campaign” & held demonstration in Lafayette Park to call on White House to take decisive action to bring their loved ones home. Live stream archived on FB page. Thanks to all the media and participants that made the even a success!
