The purpose of this GoFundMe is to raise money for legal aid on the behalf of Edward Wesley III. Any additional funds raised will go towards further legal assistance and/or to Wesley himself.

We understand that not everyone is able to contribute financially, but we would appreciate it if everyone could share widely. #FreeWesley

At the age of 19 years old, Wesley was sentenced to 63 years in prison. He has served roughly 25 years of this sentence, meaning he has spent more than half of his life in prison for a crime he was convicted of as a teenager. His current release date isn’t until 2059, when he will be 81 years old. With Wesley’s request and consent, this GoFundMe has been created to hire legal aid, with the goal of a sentence modification. The statement below is from Wes himself:

“Hello America,

My name is Edward James Wesley III and I’m currently incarcerated at Wallens Ridge State Prison. As a very immature, young teenager, at the age of 18, I made some bad choices and because of those bad choices, I ended up in jail and was sentenced to 63 years in prison. I didn’t kill or r*pe anyone, nor did I sexually m*lest any children. I don’t feel I should be incarcerated for almost my whole life for attempted murder and a bunch of gun charges I honestly didn’t do. I was sentenced by a white, racist judge in Manassas, Virginia, who’s goal at the time was to give out a million years before he retires. This judge didn’t look to give me a chance, he took my first charges as an 18 year old, to be railroaded in his court, and with his help, my whole life was taken away.

When I first came to prison, I was so angry at the courts and my family. For a very long time, I hated them both. But no longer do I hate the courts or the white, racist judges who over-sentence young, Black men. Now, as a 43 year old grown man, I fight to break free from the white, racist world I’m stuck in, called prison. When I first came to prison, I could not read or write, but over the years in prison, schooling was not afforded to me, so I taught myself how to read and write. In my remaining time I have left, I don’t focus on the negative. I now always try to look at the bright side of any situation. In this racist world I’m stuck in called prison, I have had to do things I didn’t want to do, in order to stay alive. I have spent years in solitary confinement. Everyday is a battle for me not to go crazy; the hardships I face now are on so many levels. I’m being held in a white, racist prison, surrounded by white, racist guards who want to do me hard for the color of my skin. I’m around a bunch of inmates who are like I once was: angry and don’t care.

Right now, I’m trying to raise money to pay for legal fees to try to regain my freedom. I don’t hold onto what happened in the past, now, everyday I try to fight and try to stay strong. I fight for a second chance at freedom. Please help me fight for that chance. Please donate whatever you can to my legal assistance fund. Also, if you want to reach out to me, you may do so by logging onto Jpay.com and sending me an e-mail. Or you could send me a letter in the mail at the address listed below. My fight is hard to fight alone, please donate and become another person with compassion, a part of my army. Your help is surely needed.

Edward James Wesley III #1052555-D606

Wallens Ridge State Prison

P.O. Box 759

Big Stone Gap, VA 24219”

This GoFundMe has been organized by Becca Breslaw, Karina Elias, and Taylor Fisher: three friends and pen-pals of Wesley, introduced through blackandpink.org. Thank you for your support!