Letter for Collective Care and Solidarity
Hello everyone,
This is Philippe’s sister. I am writing on behalf of Philippe because he is still readjusting to life after the past month in detention and is understandably very exhausted. However, he is incredibly happy to be out and deeply grateful for the extraordinary mobilization behind him that undoubtedly contributed to his release.
My family and I are equally grateful. When we first learned that Philippe was in detention, our immediate thought was: how are we going to get through this? More than anything, I believed we would be fighting this battle alone. Instead, within just a few days, support came from so many different directions.
From professors who sent Philippe commissary, to GEO and Taubman students and faculty who organized support efforts and amplified my family’s plea, to professors and former supervisors who wrote remarkable letters on Philippe’s behalf—letters so compelling that denying bond would have seemed profoundly unreasonable—to everyone who contributed toward Philippe’s legal and tuition expenses and relieved the immense financial burden that accompanies a crisis like this: thank you.
You all made this painful time so much more bearable for my family and me. Although the nights have been sleepless over the past month, every conversation and planning session I shared with Philippe’s communities at Michigan, Swarthmore, and beyond became deeply therapeutic to me.
Even before Philippe was released, you gave me the feeling that this was a battle we could win. You gave me hope when I felt hopeless, and compassion during one of the most difficult moments of our lives.
When I reflect on everything that happened, I sometimes cry—not out of sadness or anger, but because all of you showed me what is possible when people come together for a just cause. Fighting for my brother’s rights alongside all of you was one of the most empowering experiences of my life.
What I feel goes beyond gratitude. I leave this experience with a renewed faith in community, collective care, and solidarity.
As Philippe rests and prepares to resume classes in the fall, I sincerely hope that Taubman and the University of Michigan will continue supporting him in securing the funding and stability he needs so that he can simply become the best version of himself, despite the fate this administration tried to impose upon him.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you all.
Please to donate to Philippe’s fund. Because Taubman College refuses to materially support Philippe, we, his community, are raising funds to cover his legal fees and his erroneous $38,000 tuition balance to ensure that he finishes his degree.
Use the QR code below or visit bit.ly/DetainedGradFund to donate.
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