Thanks for the opportunity to hear the recording. It was very moving indeed.
I did a quick check to see if there is any news of Ross and found this:
"ChainCatcher news, according to Tokenpost, Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht is working on his first autobiographical documentary after receiving a presidential pardon from Donald Trump and being released on January 21.
The documentary is led by filmmakers Jonah Tulis and Blake J. Harris, who have completed over 60 hours of interview content since 2019. The documentary is scheduled to be released in 2025 and will be produced and globally distributed by Submarine."
“Up With People” (in the 70’s and 80’s at least) was an international student program which traveled pretty much all of the global west. Our “vehicle” was a musical and dance show. It was performed by amateurs yet surprisingly powerful due to their collective message of service, visioning a more beautiful future, and free exchange of cultural perspectives. “We are all humans with much more in common than may be apparent.”
As a small town Mississipian and fundamentalist Christian, that year cracked open realities I hadn’t dreamed of. Even with its flaws, a brilliant program.
In 2016, California voters approved Proposition 57, also known as the Public Safety and Rehabilitation Act, which addressed the issue of non-violent offenders in custody, with the objective to reduce the sentences and costs associated with holding non violent offenders. I know that Ross Ulbricht was prosecuted (persecuted) federally and this law does not apply in this case, but treating him so badly for this non-violent offense is really out of touch with the political zeitgeist. I am so grateful to DT for using his presidential powers and taking this action on behalf of Ross Ulbricht. A stark contract to Biden preemptively pardoning Fauci. Interesting times, indeed!
Really great work here and much appreciate all the background. TBH, it was hard to find clear info. and truth on this whole story, so much propaganda and media lies out there. This is/was such a grave injustice and massive tyrannical abuse by our government. To think that Ross is probably ~40 years old now they stole so much of his life that he will never get back. But now he is FREE and hopefully this is a huge turning point to convince more citizens that such freedom can never be taken for granted and must always be tirelessly defended. Now we need pardons for Edward Snowden (American hero and patriot) and Julian Assange.
Did he set up a site or not where gnarly transactions happened? If any drugs were sold that could’ve ended someone’s life then I have limited sympathy.
What do you think about the City of SF handing out drugs to users without impunity? Or that the CEOs of mobile phone and telecommunication companies walk free despite the fact that drug lords use their devices and services?
My point is there are many platforms and services which are used by people with bad intentions or which cause harm … why aren’t we locking those people up?
OMG such a powerful post. i had not heard his call from prison; makes me even more aware of every iota of freedom i sacrifice for 'safety' or convenience. i remember a slogan from decades ago, 'kill your television'...makes me wonder how many of us have the guts to 'kill our phones' eh. anyways, his call so moving i had to go outside afterwards, put my head down and calm my heart. i am so relieved and grateful that for whatever reasons (politics makes me barf) ross ulbricht is breathing free. may godNess bless him and his family's healing journey. onward!
It's hard to read this without hyperventilating. He makes the nightmare so real. A lot of mixed emotions. I don't know how someone survives that. Grateful that you shared it, Neshma.
Thanks for the opportunity to hear the recording. It was very moving indeed.
I did a quick check to see if there is any news of Ross and found this:
"ChainCatcher news, according to Tokenpost, Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht is working on his first autobiographical documentary after receiving a presidential pardon from Donald Trump and being released on January 21.
The documentary is led by filmmakers Jonah Tulis and Blake J. Harris, who have completed over 60 hours of interview content since 2019. The documentary is scheduled to be released in 2025 and will be produced and globally distributed by Submarine."
Plus a short video of Ross thanking Trump - https://youtu.be/1gWab9YqNI4
That sounds positive!
That does indeed! Thanks for adding those excellent links to this post, I will definitely check them out. 🙏🏽
💥🔥Powerful post and powerful phone call! So glad he got pardoned. Travesty of justice. Thank you so much for positing it! Hope you're doing great! ❤️💕
Thank you Heather! Isn't it just?! Same back to you! 💕❤️💕
💓💓💓 Thank you for this SF. Big sigh of relief that Ross is out of hell.
Yes, and there's so many more who don't deserve to be there, right?
Yes.
“The beauty of life shines around you
Like the sun breaking through a cloud that has been
But sometimes you can’t see the rainbow
When you feel like a stranger on the outside looking in.
Til everyone is home, til everyone is home
Till the last soul is fed and there’s a roof above his head
How can there be peace? How can we be free to lay down the load?
We’re still on the road til everyone is home.”
Up With People 1979-1981
I sang this song with a group of 100 others from around the world 45 years ago. It is one of those songs etched into my heart.
Beautiful words. What was the context?
“Up With People” (in the 70’s and 80’s at least) was an international student program which traveled pretty much all of the global west. Our “vehicle” was a musical and dance show. It was performed by amateurs yet surprisingly powerful due to their collective message of service, visioning a more beautiful future, and free exchange of cultural perspectives. “We are all humans with much more in common than may be apparent.”
As a small town Mississipian and fundamentalist Christian, that year cracked open realities I hadn’t dreamed of. Even with its flaws, a brilliant program.
Nice! And I say, almost verbatim, the same thing in my video here: https://singlebeigefemale.com
That is profound and incredibly moving! Thank you for sharing this story.
Very! And yes, it needed to be heard.
In 2016, California voters approved Proposition 57, also known as the Public Safety and Rehabilitation Act, which addressed the issue of non-violent offenders in custody, with the objective to reduce the sentences and costs associated with holding non violent offenders. I know that Ross Ulbricht was prosecuted (persecuted) federally and this law does not apply in this case, but treating him so badly for this non-violent offense is really out of touch with the political zeitgeist. I am so grateful to DT for using his presidential powers and taking this action on behalf of Ross Ulbricht. A stark contract to Biden preemptively pardoning Fauci. Interesting times, indeed!
Yes! And actually I totally meant to mention the contrast with Fauci’s preemptive pardon… glad you brought it up.
Really great work here and much appreciate all the background. TBH, it was hard to find clear info. and truth on this whole story, so much propaganda and media lies out there. This is/was such a grave injustice and massive tyrannical abuse by our government. To think that Ross is probably ~40 years old now they stole so much of his life that he will never get back. But now he is FREE and hopefully this is a huge turning point to convince more citizens that such freedom can never be taken for granted and must always be tirelessly defended. Now we need pardons for Edward Snowden (American hero and patriot) and Julian Assange.
Yes absolutely! Free all those who are so clearly imprisoned unjustly.
Btw, that Dave Smith episode on him is really worth watching.
Did he set up a site or not where gnarly transactions happened? If any drugs were sold that could’ve ended someone’s life then I have limited sympathy.
What do you think about the City of SF handing out drugs to users without impunity? Or that the CEOs of mobile phone and telecommunication companies walk free despite the fact that drug lords use their devices and services?
I would obviously oppose that.
My point is there are many platforms and services which are used by people with bad intentions or which cause harm … why aren’t we locking those people up?
OMG such a powerful post. i had not heard his call from prison; makes me even more aware of every iota of freedom i sacrifice for 'safety' or convenience. i remember a slogan from decades ago, 'kill your television'...makes me wonder how many of us have the guts to 'kill our phones' eh. anyways, his call so moving i had to go outside afterwards, put my head down and calm my heart. i am so relieved and grateful that for whatever reasons (politics makes me barf) ross ulbricht is breathing free. may godNess bless him and his family's healing journey. onward!
Thank you. Yes so many of us are glad.
It's hard to read this without hyperventilating. He makes the nightmare so real. A lot of mixed emotions. I don't know how someone survives that. Grateful that you shared it, Neshma.
So effed up, like a million other injustices we witness. I’m just glad that at least he got out whilst he was *relatively* young.