Sherry Yvonne Johnson (born September 23, 1959) is an American activist who advocates for restrictions on child marriage in the United States.
Johnson successfully campaigned for tighter restrictions on child marriage in her home state of Florida.
Johnson's mother did not support or believe her statements that she was raped, and did not accompany her to the hospital when it was time to deliver the baby.
Johnson's mother arranged for her to marry the deacon who had raped her, Alfonsa Tolbert, so that he could avoid criminal charges.
"[3] Johnson also believes that permitting child marriage allows rapists to escape the legal consequences of their crimes by marrying their victims.
"[5] In 2012, Johnson began to lobby the Florida state legislature to make child marriage illegal.
17-year-olds can marry in the state of Florida, regardless of if a pregnancy is involved, as long as their intended partner is less than two years older than they are.
[6] This amended legislation again passed unanimously in the Senate; in the House, support was near-unanimous, with George Moraitis the lone dissenter.
[8] Despite the lack of an outright ban on child marriage in Florida, Johnson stated that she was pleased with the bill, saying, "I can deal with the line of [age] 17 with all of the requirements.