Qween's Legal Defense Fund

Update: On Tuesday, Nov. 7th, I became aware of a warrant for my arrest because of a BOLO and turned myself into Orleans Parish. The NOPD booked me under my dead name despite my legal name having been changed in 2017. Thank god that I wrote down numbers from my phone before I turned myself in because otherwise, no one would know where I was or how to find me. My bail was set at $175,000 which doesn't even match the charge I've been accused of. I am so lucky and grateful that people showed up for me because there is no way I could have ever made that bail on my own. Bail practices are unfair and unjust to poor people and people of color, who are disproportionately arrested, and detained but that's a fight for another day. Your donations secured $15,000 and my release. However, as of right now, I am indebted to the bondsman for $6,000 which is to be paid in monthly payments of $600 until the balance is paid, or I will go back to jail. Even though the NOPD had the resources and capacity to serve the warrant by picking me up at home, they used a BOLO alert. As a result, I was forced to resign from my employment losing the only source of income that I had to sustain my livelihood. My employer has confirmed that as soon as the case is closed, I will be able to come back. However, this can take years to close. The only way for me to defend myself is through a lawyer. The law firm I was able to retain is G. Carter Law. The fee is $13,000 with a $5,000 retainer which has already been paid. I am confident that Carter will guide me through this entire nightmare. 

The criminal justice system in this country is unjust and dehumanizing. The poor disproportionately suffer in this system and middle-class Americans who live paycheck to paycheck (like myself) can lose everything in a matter of moments. There are people in jail right now who don't deserve to be there and the only reason they are in jail is because they can't afford to get out. If they do get out, how are they supposed to stay out when they've just lost their job? I now have to choose between paying my rent to maintain the home that I've lived in for 8 years or making my bond payment to stay out of jail. This is how any American can become unhoused and left on the street. 

NO ONE DESERVES TO LOSE EVERYTHING BECAUSE OF AN ACCUSATION. EVERYONE DESERVES THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT. 

PRIORITY: What I need to survive these allegations is the Remainder of the Bond which is $6000 and what I owe my Lawyer which is $8000

Court fees: $1000

Housing stability: $5000

 I also would welcome employment but I couldn't pass a background check right now for the life of me. If anyone knows of any work, I need it.

I will come out on the other side of this and when I do I will begin fierce advocacy for the Prison Abolition Movement which is a network of activists that seek to reduce or eliminate prisons and the prison system and replace them with systems of rehabilitation and education that do not place a focus on punishment and government institutionalization.