My name is Jade Cole and I am petitioning for the freedom of my dad, Frederick Cole Sr.

January 12, 2011, my family was changed forever. At this time, I was fifteen in my tenth grade year of high school. I was on the bus on my way to school while my ten-year old brother was awaken by federal marshals with guns. Our house was raided for money and marijuana by the feds that we’re not found. My mom and dad were taken into custody. My mom made bond, which left enough time for us to leave the home we could no longer afford due to my mom losing her job and my dad's incarceration. Once we moved in with my grandmother, federal investigators constantly came and questioned my mom. They used everything she said and used it toward her sentencing. If there are any changes whatsoever in answers to repeated questions you’re automatically sentenced five years for a federal minimum sentence. Right before Christmas in December of 2011, my mom was sentenced to federal custody and spent five years away from me and my brother. My grandmother was 73 at the time and was left to take care of me and my brother. My dad's lawyer informed my grandmother that his sentence only carried five to ten years. After going through a switch with judges and delayed sentencing, he was sentenced twenty years for marijuana conspiracy.

February 22, 2011, my grandfather, my dad's father was called home to heaven and my dad didn't get to see his dad for the last time. This time was hard for me because I wasn't ready for my friend, my guardian angel, my grandfather to go and I could feel the pain my dad probably felt as I read aloud his letter to my grandfather and our family. My dad has no prior criminal history and has accepted responsibility for the drugs he sold. My dad did everything for his family. My dad is a father of five. He wanted his children to have a life he didn't have growing up. Without the physical and financial support of my parents, my journey through high school and start of college has always felt like something was missing and wasn't anything close to what I dreamed it would be. I have learned to work hard and appreciate everything I have today. I want my brother to have our father's support during his teenage life and on the day of his graduation. Neither one of my parents were present to see me or my sister go to prom or graduate high school. I just want my family back together. My dad deserves a chance to be there for his children, mother, and family.

Looking at the numbers, 60 percent of U.S. prisoners are either African American or Latino. "One in every 35 African American men, one in every 88 Latino men is serving time right now. Among white men, there are one in every 214." This information came from President Obama's speech at the NAACP's 106th national convention on July 15, 2015. In America, 2.7 million children have a parent in prison. $80 million is spent to keep people incarcerated. The money used to keep non-violent drug offenders incarcerated could be used toward doubling high school teachers salary, eliminate tuition at every pubic college and university, and provide preschool for toddlers in America. President Obama's commutation and pardon grants would change my life and my other families. 

I'm asking everyone who took the time out to read my dad’s story to help grant my dad clemency with help from President Obama by signing my petition.