Richardo is one of 40,000 people imprisoned in the US for cannabis crimes. We can help him and his family out!
Richardo Ashmeade is serving a 22-year sentence in a Federal Correctional Facility in Pollock, Louisiana on a nonviolent marijuana charge, leaving behind his now 25-year-old daughter. Richeda Ashmeade was just 12-years-old when her father was incarcerated and now, a California resident, she often peers out her window and sees the same behavior that sent her father away celebrated openly in her neighborhood.
“My father is intelligent, loving and resilient. He loves his children more than life itself. He meets every expectation of what a father should be,” said his daughter. Thirteen years into his sentence, mariuana is legal in 18 states and like all the best dads, he’s only thinking about his kids when he wrote “The silver lining is that although the US federal government has remained stubbornly slow to adapt nationwide reform policies, it seems that the next generation will reap the benefits of the changes, propelled by the ever increasing social acceptance."
Richardo and Richeda Ashmeade, circa 2008
Below are four simple ways you can lend a helping hand and show Richardo some love:
- Send him a Letter: Through LPP’s Letter Writing Program, you can let Richardo know that you are fighting for him, and that he’s not forgotten.
- Make a Call: Call Governor Ivey's office at (334) 242-7100 and the Alabama Bureau of Pardons & Paroles at (334) 242-8700. Let them know that you are calling to advocate on behalf of Richardo Ashmeade, a man who has been dealt a disproportionately lengthy sentence for a nonviolent marijuana crime.
- Spread the Word: Share Richardo’s story with your friends and family. There’s lots of ways to do this. Forward this email. Tag them in one of our Instagram posts. Bring it up on your next Zoom call.
- Roll It Up for Justice: Donate a few extra bucks when you make your next Dad Grass purchase. We’ll match each donation through the end of August. Donations go directly to The Last Prisoner Project’s clemency initiative which works to release cannabis prisoners like Richardo and help them to rebuild their lives post-incarceration. A small change can make a big impact, and every cent raised through the program gets us all closer to the day when every last cannabis prisoner is set free.