Help Aspen Fight Unjust Charges

Hello Friends,

Aspen, my daughter and fellow Assange activist, was arrested in Peach County Georgia on the 20th of May. We were able to secure her bond on the 4th of June. She is now home in Oklahoma where she waits to be indicted on charges that carry a mandatory minimum of 33 years.

Her crime? She had plans to attend a music festival in Florida with her best friend and his two friends. When her bestie and his girlfriend pulled out at the last minute, Aspen went with their friend David. He was described as a safe person by her trusted friend. Aspen is a high functioning autistic. We rely on "trusted friends" quite often now that Aspen is an adult. She lacks the discernment that most people take for granted. She sees only what is presented to her. So she went to the festival. On the way back, the RV was pulled over. The guy she was traveling with had a lot of drugs in his RV. It is customary in Peach County Georgia to arrest anyone else in a vehicle with the same charges as the person suspected of a crime. David, the owner of the RV, told the cops at the time of their arrest and the judge at their initial hearing that Aspen was not part of, nor privy to his drug operation.

Many of you know Aspen from the movement to Free Assange. She gre up in it. For 9 years she held signs, manned tables, passed out literature, addressed envelopes, and wrote letters. She introduced so many people her age to the Assange case. Anyone that knows Aspen, knows that she is not a drug dealer. She's never had so much as a parking ticket. She is a beautiful soul who only seems to see the good in people. Like many autistics, Aspen has an innocence that has not faded with age. It is both a blessing and a curse.

Prior to securing bail, she spent 15 days in jail. To say that they are ill equipped to provide for someone with special needs is a gross understatement. They lacked both the knowledge and the will to meet her needs, both mentally and physically. Like many autistics, Aspen has chronic health problems that require constant management. It will likely take months for her to recover from what has already happened. The idea of being labeled a criminal and the threat of decades in prison has traumatized Aspen.

Studies show that autistics do not do well navigating the legal system. It takes them longer to process information, and the clarifying questions they need to ask are seen as oppositional or argumentative. Studies show that the prevalence of autism in the "penal system" is significantly higher than in the broader community. Their moral rigidity and slower processing times are treated as contrived rather than seen in the context of their disability.

Fighting these charges will cost a small fortune that we do not have. We already borrowed everything we could to secure her lawyer for the bail hearing and to pay the bail. Now we need to pay for the lawyer moving forward, some specialists, and investigator and travel expenses. We need to raise $30,000. Please share this everywhere you can. Help if you can.