JUSTICE FOR HAKIYM
Help Free a Hero: Justice for Brian “Hakiym” Simpson A Firefighter Wrongfully Incarcerated
We stand in unwavering solidarity with Brian “Hakiym” Simpson—a beloved community member, certified CAL FIRE and wildland firefighter, and a courageous man wrongfully incarcerated after defending himself during a racially charged attack.
Hakiym has risked his life to protect others. He deserves our protection now.
This isn’t just about one man—it’s about a system that criminalizes survival, silences truth, and devalues Black lives. Fighting for Hakiym’s freedom means fighting for justice on a broader scale.
Because no one is free until everyone is free.
The Background
Justice for Hakiym is a national campaign to free Brian “Hakiym” Simpson—a Black, Indigenous, and partially blind CAL FIRE Engineer, wildland firefighter, father, poet, and longtime community advocate. In June 2024, while working wildfire season in Southern Oregon, Hakiym was subjected to a racially charged confrontation by a white coworker who admitted in court to throwing the first punches and chasing Hakiym after he attempted to walk away. Multiple witnesses testified that the coworker used a racial slur during the incident. A toxicology report confirmed the attacker had illicit opiates in his system, with heroin identified as a likely source. Despite these facts—along with corroborating testimony that Hakiym acted in self-defense and an internal investigation that initially cleared him—he was arrested on Juneteenth 2024 and prosecuted.
He was tried by an all-white jury in Josephine County, a region shaped by a legacy of white supremacist ideology, sundown towns, and racial violence. The judge, known for an unusually high number of overturned convictions, failed to properly instruct the jury on Oregon’s self-defense law. A key eyewitness, a fellow Black firefighter, testified that Hakiym did not initiate the fight—but his account was dismissed, and after trial a juror admitted they didn’t trust him. This case is not only a personal injustice—it is a window into how Oregon’s legal system continues to criminalize Black survival and uphold the structures of systemic racism
“This was not a jury of his peers. It was a jury of his persecutors.”
— NAACP Eugene-Springfield
“The system failed. The prosecutor ignored bias.
The jury was allowed to disregard key Black witnesses.
We are demanding a full pardon.”
— National Action Network, Portland-Beaverton Chapter
Why This Matters
This Isn’t Just About Hakiym
Hakiym’s incarceration is part of a much larger pattern—where Black survival is criminalized, and systems meant to protect instead punish. His case reflects the racial disparities, biases, and blind spots that still define our legal system.
Justice for Hakiym is about freeing one man—but it’s also about standing up for every person who has been silenced, ignored, or erased by systems that weren’t built for them.
This fight is urgent. And it belongs to all of us.
Across the country, thousands of people have joined the call to free Hakiym. Firefighters, civil rights organizations, elected officials, and everyday citizens are standing together to expose the injustice of this case and demand accountability.
Support includes:
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Nearly 8,000 petition signatures urging Governor Tina Kotek to act
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Formal backing from the NAACP Oregon Chapter, the National Action Network (NAN), and the Oregon Remembrance Project
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Over 200 federal, state, and contract firefighters across 22 states—smokejumpers, crew bosses, incident commanders, and more—signing on in solidarity
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Statements from the LA City and LA County Stentorians (Black Firefighter Associations)
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Support events in Medford, Eugene, Portland, Spokane, Seattle, Boise, Cave Junction, and beyond
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A six-page letter from NAN Portland/Beaverton’s chapter president, and ongoing interfaith advocacy
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A growing grassroots campaign led by community organizers, Indigenous youth, artists, and cultural workers
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Media coverage includes: covered this: such as Atlanta Black Star, BET, Black Enterprise, Rogue Valley Times, KGW8, The Young Turks, etc
From public demonstrations to direct appeals to the Governor’s office, the movement to free Hakiym is building pressure,
amplifying truth, and refusing to let this story be ignored.
Upcoming Events
BLACK AUGUST
JUSTICE FOR HAKIYM
Hosted by Don’t Shoot PDX and The Black Gallery
Portland, Oregon
Saturday, August 9th 2025
Contact Us
Want to support the Justice for Hakiym campaign? Reach out to learn how you can get involved—whether through community outreach, organizing events, sharing media, or spreading awareness online.
We welcome volunteers, media contacts, social justice groups, fire service allies, artists, and anyone ready to stand for justice. Let’s work together to amplify Hakiym’s story and push for exoneration.
Contact us directly or include your interests and skill set—we’ll help you find the right fit.