from In Contempt
[This post only contains information relevant to Philadelphia and the surrounding area, to read the entire article follow the above link.]
Though with a delay, we return with the monthly news roundup of analysis on prison rebellions and imprisoned freedom fighters that is IN CONTEMPT! Once again, the US has seen unprecedented authoritarian repression confronting determined community resistance. As we enter another insurrectionary moment, we are reinvigorated by the relentless struggles of political prisoners worldwide who continue to inspire collective action through words and deeds.
Following the closing of It’s Going Down, a new collective will continue publishing monthly “In Contempt” updates on this noblogs. We hope this publication helps develop networks of inside-outside solidarity – over 100 copies are mailed to people behind bars each month! Please submit any updates and calls to action to the new email in_contempt at autistici dot org.
“Escalation means that you trade your banner for a sledgehammer, you lock on and get in the way of business as usual.” – Sean Middlebrough, escaped Palestine Action UK prisoner
11 Charges Against the Northumberland 2 Dropped
In December 2025, Philly ABC announced that the judge overseeing the case against the Northumberland 2––Cara and Celeste, accused of freeing hundreds of minks from a fur farm in PA––dismissed ELEVEN charges total between defendants Cara and Celeste—including one count of ecoterrorism and several misdemeanors.
The next step is a pretrial conference in February. After that will come trial.
While this is big and exciting news, the case isn’t over yet. Cara and Celeste still have many charges to fight. Trial will come with extra costs on top of the other legal fees.
Thank you for all your support!
To donate: Venmo @phillyantirepression (note “for cc”)
For more updates: tinyurl.com/we-support-cc
George Floyd Uprising Prisoners
As far as we know, these are the current addresses of political prisoners from the George Floyd Uprising:
David Elmakayes #77782-066
USP Lee
U.S. Penitentiary
P.O. Box 305
Jonesville, VA 24263
Smart Communications / PA DOC
Khalif Miller / #QQ9287
SCI Forest
P.O. Box 33028
St. Petersburg, FL 33733
Visit https://uprisingsupport.org/ for more ways to support.
And print the January 2026 Uprising Support zine:
Deaths in ICE Custody
The year started off with a sharp rise in deaths in federal custody as the feds expand network of immigrant detention centers, seeking to repurpose industrial warehouses, a new “Panhandle Pokey” in Florida, and re-opening the scandalous FCI Dublin. A new report shows Homeland Security is incarcerating people than ever before; there are 70,000 people in DHS custody, expected to increase as their detention budget exceeds even that of the Bureau of Prisons.
- Parady La died from treatable fentynyl withdrawals just days after being arrested by ICE and held at the Bureau of Prison’s facility FDC Philadelphia.
Birthdays
Joseph “Joe-Joe” Bowen
Birthday: Jan 15
“Joe-Joe” Bowen is a Black Liberation Army (BLA) Prisoner of War, serving two life sentences for the assassination of a prison warden and deputy warden, as well as an attempted prison break which resulted in a five-day standoff after his initial arrest.
Joseph Bowen #AM-4272
Smart Communications/PADOC
SCI Fayette
P.O. Box 33028
St. Petersburg, FL 33733
As PADOC is a digital mail scanning state, please use single sided letters; books must be sent to Joseph Bowen #AM4272 / 268 Bricker Road / Bellefonte, PA 16823-1667
