Startling news. Syesha Mercado has started a Go Fund Me campaign to cover legal costs as she fights to regain custody of her child.
The American Idol season 7 2nd runner-up uploaded an emotional video to Instagram describing her trauma. She goes into further detail on her GoFundMe. In an update, she mentions that her partner and Amen’Ra’s father Tyron is an educator and youth service professional working in the foster system.
I am a Pregnant, breastfeeding, Mama who went to the hospital with the intention to get my sun, Amen’Ra, some fluids while transitioning from extended breastfeeding to being bottle-fed. On March 11th, our sun Amen’Ra was forcefully and legally kidnapped from us by CPS, who claim we refused a B12 shot that was a matter of life and death, which is an absolute lie. We never refused a B12 shot, and at no point was he on the verge of death. Our Sun has since been placed with a white foster family without interviewing qualified relatives or friends of our family for placement while they investigate. We are given limited information and presently only have weekly zoom visitation for an hour with our sun, with no court order stating these visitation limitations.
Our sun Amen’Ra is a captivating spirit, a beautiful light, with eyes bright like the sun. He brightens up any room with his vibrant smile. He is 15 months old and absolutely loves being in nature, his mommy reading to him, playing his djembe drums, and listening to his favorite album on the record player, Bob Marley.
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Peace Everyone. I know it’s been a while since I’ve posted and never could I have imagined returning back to this platform with news like this.
On March 11th my sun was stolen from me. I was surrounded by CPS and armed officers with racially charged questions, and FALSE claims that we refused a B12 shot during our hospital stay to get my sun fluids. Ra was transitioning from extended breastfeeding to the bottle. My Sun was placed in a white foster home bypassing our qualified relatives for placement. THIS IS LEGALIZED KIDNAPPING!
I can’t even explain how traumatizing it has been to be forcefully removed from my proudest creation in this life, My sun, my pride, and joy…..Amen’Ra.
The police officer dismissively said, “It’s just one night.” But that one night turned into 53. 53 nights without being able to sing him to sleep and kiss his forehead goodnight…..There are literally NO words that can express how I have to relive that day, every day. Every moment leading up to the decision to take him to the hospital. THAT specific hospital. Black Women are so unprotected in this system. And I refuse to be silent and allow this to happen to another Black Woman or Child.
Today I am taking a stand to FIGHT BACK. I will not be Silenced! I need my Tribe more than ever right now to stand with me to bring our baby home. To #BringRaHome. We demand to hold those who are responsible ACCOUNTABLE. Our sun should NEVER have been taken from us and I refuse to let our story go unheard and unseen.
We have hired a lawyer and started a campaign to help with our mounting legal fees, necessary expenses for medical specialists, and team members that will help us fight back. It will take a BIG backing for us to fight against a BIG system that is doing everything in its power to destroy us. To stand up against this system and its way of thinking & laws steeped in colonial times, we need your support.
Click the link in my bio to share & support. Help me bring my baby back home.
Taking a glance at her social media, Syesha moved back to her hometown, Sarasota, Florida at the end of 2019. At some point she found a partner and had a baby. Initially, she posted during the coronavirus pandemic, but her last Instagram post before this week was in June 2020. While she starred in the Broadway production of Book of Mormon in 2014, lately she’s been selling health and wellness products like crystals, sage sticks and health food. In this video, she warns about additives in foods typically found in supermarkets. She has an Instagram devoted to health and wellness HERE her last post on that site is dated December 2020. The singer also created a website devoted to her baby featuring photos and video HERE.
In between, she was also recording and releasing music. Music and health products were featured on her official website, Syesha.com which she deactivated at some point.
Syesha Mercado came in 3rd place behind winner David Cook and runner-up David Archuleta on American Idol season 7 in 2008. The 20 year old singer performed Think by Aretha Franklin for the judges. In her video package, she talked about her dad’s struggles with addiction.
