BEAR: Building Essential Advocacy Resources is proud to be partnering with Disconnect Foundation for our first Dignity of Bail Initiative!

Our community has already raised $27,000 for legal fees, comms, and bail. Now, with fiscal sponsorship from Disconnect Foundation, your gift is tax‑deductible and fuels the first $30,000 Dignity of Bail grant.

Donate today to help us secure freedom and establish a sustainable pretrial support model for our community.

Why now?

Our first recipient is Sam Escobar. Sam is an Indigenous activist who is facing an exorbitant $1,000,000 bail in Orange County, on top of several grave abuses and rights violations for which we demand accountability:

Sam experienced brutal and excessive violence at the hands of police upon arrest (details can be found here), the extent of which required hospitalization prior to booking.
While in custody, Sam’s medical needs have been continuously unmet, endangering his health.
Sam has a very limited window to file the tort needed to secure civil legal support, hindering the due process that is every detainee’s right. We are approaching filing deadlines and need to act quickly.

Sam’s story is harrowing, but it is not rare. It is a microcosm of the wider systemic issue of carceral violence faced by Indigenous People of Color in the US. What Sam has endured, namely the denial of health care, dignity, and suitable living conditions – basic human rights enshrined in law – is something that NO ONE should have to experience.

It is painful for the community to watch this injustice befall someone like Sam, whose activism and steadfast commitment to the people has been a source of strength and hope. We invest in Sam’s well-being not only out of love and care for Sam, but as an investment in the community. It is the first crucial step in creating the infrastructure needed to address the critical pre-trial needs of community members when facing the carceral system.

Initiative 1: $30,000 Grant

This initial grant will cover the following expenses:

Bail bond down payment
2 initial months of bail payments
Ensuring a stable return to community with basic lodging, essentials, and travel/gas to visit with family and begin working
Expenses incurred after losing apartment and welding job during 6 months of pretrial detention
Provision of basic needs while still detained

It is essential to note that this is the first of more grants to come in the future. Future grants will be smaller in order to maximize impact by assisting as many people as possible. Through this larger initial grant, we will be establishing the infrastructure required to do so.

What’s next

In 2026, we will expand to a revolving bail fund. This fund will sustain ongoing, community-led pretrial support, and keep resources in the hands of the community for the purpose of continuing to meet these needs as they emerge when community members are faced with legal challenges.

Who we are

BEAR builds pretrial resources, education, and direct support so community members can fight their cases from a place of safety and dignity.
Disconnect Foundation is a nonprofit formed by artists for liberation whose mission is to empower individuals and communities through creative expression, healing, and transformative activism.

The bigger picture

Global Indigenous people of color are disproportionately targeted by police, ICE, and the carceral system, including exploitative, for‑profit bail predatory loans. By funding pretrial grants, education, and a revolving community bail fund, we protect dignity and keep families together.

Act now

Donate now to help get Sam situated and to build durable infrastructure for urgent and emerging needs.

Every year, Sam and the wider community participate in ceremony on “Thanksgiving” (or Indigenous Day of Mourning/Thanks-taking).

Let’s make sure that Sam can be out in time to attend!

Your donations will buy the crucial time needed for Sam to begin to recover his health and sort legal matters prior to the ceremony.

BEAR Dignity of Bail: FREE SAM

By Disconnect Foundation

BEAR Dignity of Bail: FREE SAM

Team Members