The fight for Ross Ulbricht’s freedom continues, and it’s gaining some high-profile supporters. Over thirty public figures from around the globe will gather on 4th December, starting 10 PM EST, for the “Free Ross-A-Thon”.
Also read: New $1.2m Grant Seeks Bitcoin Protocol Diversity
Free Ross-A-Thon is an online conference to support Ulbricht, the defendant in the Silk Road case. Ulbricht was sentenced to life in prison without parole in May, 2015. He is currently appealing his conviction and sentence in the Second Circuit.
Liberty Activists to Speak at Event
Over 30 well-known experts will speak during the free, eight-hour, livestream fundraiser. Speakers include activists, economists, policy analysts, historians, best-selling authors, musicians, documentarians and family members.
Among them are Jesse Ventura, former governor of Minnesota and best-selling author; Doug Casey, world- renowned investment advisor; Alex Winter, acclaimed filmmaker; Tom Woods, political commentator; and Roger Ver, bitcoin expert and entrepreneur.
“I believe a gigantic injustice has been committed with the jailing of Ross Ulbricht,” said Doug Casey. “Life without possibility of parole amounts to a political sentence, worse than those meted out by the Soviet Union.The situation is shameful, Kafkaesque, and must be set right.”
Worth Fighting For
Despite prosecutors’ zealous determination to make an example of Ulbricht, his fight is far from a lost cause. In recent appeal proceedings, judges criticized elements of the case including the harsh sentence for non-violent crimes, shaky evidence and emotional testimony from parents whose children had died of drug overdoses.
The Free Ross-A-Thon event aims to cover the Ulbricht family’s mounting legal costs. These include $14,000 alone for printing and binding Ulbricht’s appeal documents for the court. Even then, this is only a fraction of the costs associated with Ulbricht’s legal defense.
“In addition to helping pursue justice for Ross, these eminent speakers will address the drug war, criminal justice system, economics, privacy, freedom issues and the dangerous precedents being set with this case,” said Lyn Ulbricht, Ross’ mother and event organizer.
Will you tune in to the Free-Ross-A-Thon? Will Ulbricht walk free in your (or his) lifetime? Let’s hear your thoughts.
Images via Wikimedia Commons, FreeRoss.org
