Always on
This project successfully funded on 11th June 2026, you can still support them with a donation.
This project successfully funded on 11th June 2026, you can still support them with a donation.
Fighting a 36yr injustice. We aim to fund Rasheem's legal defense & launch The Chess Move: a program saving youth from the path he took. ♟️⚖
Our Story: The Chess Move
The Man Behind the Mission
My name is Rasheem Mathews. To the world, I was "LA Jay," a figure from Cleveland’s King Kennedy Projects during the "New Jack City" era. But for the last 36 years, I have been a number in the Ohio prison system16 of those spent in the sensory deprivation of solitary confinement. I am fighting a wrongful conviction based on a witness who admitted under oath that he lied. My life has been a series of high-stakes moves, but my most important move is the one I’m making now.
The Team
I am supported by a dedicated team of family, legal advocates, and filmmakers who believe in redemption and justice. Led by my representative, Joi Tate, we are working to bring the truth of my case to light while building the infrastructure for a program that will change the streets of Cleveland forever.
The Vision: The Chess Move Initiative
My vision is The Chess Move Initiative, a universal violence prevention program. I use the chessboard to teach at-risk youth that life has no "rewind" button. One emotional move can lead to a lifetime of consequences. By sharing the "Raw and Uncut" reality of my 36-year journey, I aim to steer the next generation away from the traps I fell into.
How We Will Use the Funds
Every dollar raised goes toward two non-negotiable goals:
1. Legal Defense: Funding the expert legal counsel needed to finally resolve my pending 2022 motion and bring me home.
2. The Documentary: Finishing production on "Blood On The Money," the film that serves as the visual curriculum for our youth mentorship program.
Your support helps us turn a 36-year tragedy into a blueprint for community peace.
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made