Last Friday, Leqaa Kordia had a third bond hearing, yes, third. After the judge once again determined that she must be released, we were all hoping the administration would finally comply and let her go.

On Monday, that wish came true. Leqaa is finally free after being unlawfully detained for an entire year.

Though it never should have taken this long, this moment is a testament to the steadfastness of Leqaa’s family, her legal team, and the countless organizations and individuals who refused to let her case be ignored. That includes you. Every single one of you who joined our power hours, made calls, sent emails, and amplified her story – you helped make this happen.

People power works.

But our work does not stop here, as Leqaa herself stated. Because while we celebrate Leqaa’s freedom, we cannot ignore the systems that made her detention possible in the first place. We are in this for the long game. A true victory is not just freeing one person; it is dismantling the structures that allowed people like Leqaa, Mahmoud Khalil, Dr. Badar Khan Suri, and so many others to be detained simply for exercising their First Amendment rights, for speaking out against injustice, and for standing in solidarity with Palestine.

We must continue organizing, advocating, and pushing for accountability until no one is ever targeted, detained, or attacked for defending human rights, whether for Palestine or anywhere else. And we will not stop until the root of this injustice is addressed, and until Palestine itself is free.