FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 3, 2023
Bond Granted for Atlanta Solidarity Fund Defendants
ATLANTA, GA — On Friday, Dekalb County Judge Altman granted $15,000 bond for each of the three Atlanta Solidarity Fund defendants. Judge Altman expressed concerns about the flimsiness of the charges of charity fraud and money laundering and lack of evidence thus far.
“I don’t find it real impressive.” Judge Altman said. “There’s not a lot of meat on the bones…of thousands of dollars going to fund illegal activities.”
These developments come after The Atlanta Police Department and Georgia Bureau of Investigations raided the home of three organizers with the Network for Strong Communities and Atlanta Solidarity Fund (ASF), a nonprofit organization and bail fund founded in 2016 that offers legal support to those facing state repression for protest-related activity. ASF has been an outspoken critic of state repression of social movements, use of chemical weapons on protesters, and increasing police militarization. Marlon Kautz, Savannah Patterson, and Adele McLean were arrested and have been charged with money laundering and charity fraud. The three are the first known people associated with a bail fund to be criminally charged.
The three defendants are expected to be released from Dekalb County Jail sometime around noon today. Community will be gathered at the jail to greet them. Media is encouraged to attend and document.
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