When the United States secured the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner with a prisoner swap that sent convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout back to Russia. The move was controversial to many because even though Joe Biden brought back Griner, the United States left former Marine Paul Whelan imprisoned in Russia. Griner’s negotiator made it clear that they will try to bring Whelan back next, and Griner wants to help other Americans falsely imprisoned. And she had a message for Whelan.
Brittney Griner shared a handwritten letter on Instagram thanking her fans for their letters of support and urging them to join her in writing letters to imprisoned Marine Paul Whelan.
“Thanks to the efforts of many, including you, I am home after 10 months. You took time to show me you cared and I want to personally take the time to write to you and say that your effort mattered. Your letters helped me to not lose hope during a time when I was full of regret and vulnerable in ways I could have never imagined. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Because of you I never lost hope.
“Your letters were also bigger than uplifting me. They showed me the power of collective hands. Together, we can do hard things. I’m proof of that. My family is whole and now, thanks to you, we are fortunate to get to spend the holidays together. However, there remain too many families with loved ones wrongfully detained.
“Those families stood alongside you and all who supported the WeAreBG campaign to bring me home and it’s our turn to support them. I hope you’ll join me in writing to Paul Whelan and continuing to advocate for other Americans to be rescued and returned to their families.
“Thank you again from the bottom of my heart. I hope your holiday season is full of joy and love.
“Sincerely, Brittney Griner.”
Whelan has been imprisoned in Russia for nearly four years.
