In Contempt #44: Prison Rebellion in Idaho, Running Down the Walls, Antifascist Targeted in Indiana

  • September 2, 2024 1:52 am

from It’s Going Down

[This post only contains information relevant to Philadelphia and the surrounding area, to read the entire article follow the above link.]
In this column, we present our monthly roundup of political prisoner, prison rebel, and repression news, happenings, announcements, action and analysis. Packed in as always are updates, fundraisers, and birthdays.There’s a lot happening, so let’s dive right in!

Running Down the Walls, Curbfest, and other Upcoming Events

There’s a number of important prisoner support events coming up. September 15th sees the 25th anniversary of the annual Running Down the Walls ABC fundraiser event, with events currently planned for Portland and Eugene, OR, Los Angeles and Huntington Park, CA, Chicago, IL, Philadelphia, PA, Bloomington, IN, Lowell, MA, and Brooklyn, NY.

Curbfest events in support of political prisoners are planned for New York on September 7th, Philly on October 5th and Houston on October 26th

Running Down the Walls, Curbfest, and other Upcoming Events

There’s a number of important prisoner support events coming up. September 15th sees the 25th anniversary of the annual Running Down the Walls ABC fundraiser event, with events currently planned for Portland and Eugene, OR, Los Angeles and Huntington Park, CA, Chicago, IL, Philadelphia, PA, Bloomington, IN, Lowell, MA, and Brooklyn, NY. The Huntington Park event will be on September 28th.

Curbfest events in support of political prisoners are planned for New York on September 7th, Philly on October 5th and Houston on October 26th.

December 6th-13th will see a week of “Shut ‘Em Down” demonstrations and actions organized by Jailhouse Lawyers Speak.

Political Prisoner News

Philly ABC have shared an update about the upcoming release of the book, I Am Maroon: The True Story of an American Political Prisoner. Book launch events will be held in NYC on September 6th and Philadelphia on September 22nd, and you can find more links related to the book here.

Uprising Defendants and Other Ongoing Cases

Pennsylvania uprising defendant Khalif Miller has been added to the Uprising Support site, while Arkansas defendant Rene Goddard is due to be released soon. South Carolina uprising defendant Brittany Martin has just had an appeal against her four-year sentence denied, while Philadelphia uprising prisoner Ant Smith has just been freed.

Phone Zaps, Hunger Strikes, and Prisoner Rebellion in Idaho

Incarcerated workers at SCI Fayette in Pennsylvania launched a hunger strike at the start of August, in protest at the prison continuing to impose lockdown-era isolation policies. The Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee have been encouraging people to call the SCI Fayette Superintendent on 724-364-2200 and the PADOC central office on 717-728-2573 in support of the strikers’ demands.

General Prison News and Abolitionist Media Updates

Supporters of the Vaughn 17 have shared a new recording of a call with Dwayne “BIM” Staats, discussing his current legal situation.

Uprising Defendants

See Uprising Support for more info, and check out the Antirepression PDX site for updates from Portland cases. To the best of our knowledge they currently include:

David Elmakayes 77782-066
FCI McKean
Federal Correctional Institution
P.O. Box 8000
Bradford, PA 16701

Khalif Miller #70042-066
USP Big Sandy
U.S. Penitentiary
P.O. Box 2068
Inez, KY 41224

Upcoming Birthdays

John Bramble

A former Vaughn 17 defendant and contributor to the Vaughn uprising zines Live from the Trenches and United We Stood and other publications. Johnny has continued to organize and agitate against the prison system from within. As a result, he is still being held in solitary confinement.

Johnny is looking for anarchists, autonomists, and other radicals to regularly correspond with. Delaware uses Getting Out for email messaging, so you can also send him a message by going to gettingout.com, setting up an account, and then adding him as a contact using his inmate number .

Birthday: September 1

Address:

John Bramble
Delaware DOC – 1101
PO Box 96777
Las Vegas, NV 89193

 

Monday August 26th: Black August Letter-writing

  • August 26, 2024 1:08 am

from Philly ABC

black-august-letter-writing-2024.jpg

In August 1979, the first official Black August took place when incarcerated people came together to commemorate the deaths of brothers Jonathan and George Jackson, who were killed after the Marin County Courthouse Rebellion (Jonathan in August 1970 and George in August 1971). Prisoners in San Quentin started this tradition of daily exercises to sharpen their minds, bodies, and spirits in honor of the collective principles of self-sacrifice, inner fortitude and revolutionary discipline needed to advance the New Afrikan struggle for self-determination and freedom.

Black August now takes place all month as an invitation to reflect on the history of the Black freedom struggle, to celebrate those who have come before, and to commit to continuing this fight for justice and liberation. We invite you to remember, reflect, learn, and unlearn, by connecting with Black freedom fighters still behind bars.

Join us on Monday, August 28th at 6:30pm at Wooden Shoe Books as we share a compilation of audio commemorations and inspiration from Black August and take time to send out letters and cards to political prisoners from Black liberation movements.

Download a PDF of the Black August illustration by Kevin Rashid Johnson laid out as a card to print. Check prisonersolidarity.com for Black Liberation prisoners to send cards to.

We’ll also be sending a birthday card to Leonard Peltier (September 11th).

Black August Letter Writing

  • August 20, 2024 1:55 am

Submission


In celebration of Black August, we’re going to write to two fighters in the black liberation struggle who are currently incarcerated. We will be writing to Malik Muhammad and Casey Goonan. Bring food and homies! We’ll provide stamps, pens, envelopes, and paper. Please wear a mask!Malik’s writings: https://malikspeaks.noblogs.org/

Update on Casey’s legal case: https://chicagoantireport.noblogs.org/post/2024/08/12/update-3-on-casey-goonan/

O.R.C.A
Anarchist Social Space in Philly
https://orcaphilly.noblogs.org/

Ant Smith Released From Prison

  • August 8, 2024 1:10 am

from Instagram

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Activist and Educator, Ant Smith, Released from Federal Prison (Wednesday, August 7, 2024) Ant Free! After 198 days of being imprisoned at FCI Fort Dix, our brother, friend and comrade, Ant Smith, is free! Ant was released on Thursday morning, August 1, 2024, back home to Philly, where he will spend some time in a halfway house as the completion of his sentence. Ant and the Defense Committee thank all of you for your outpouring of support, including monetary donations, letters and spreading awareness about his case. Please understand that Ant is acclimating to life post-prison, so he will be taking care of himself, his family and loved ones, and his wellness first (and in the foreseeable future), before making a formal statement or being more visibly present. Additionally, a Welcome Home Celebration will be planned soon – Stay Tuned! In the meantime, wish him well, and he will be sure to see you all shortly!
Free Ant Defense Committee #FreeAnt #AntFree

Incarcerated People At SCI-Fayette Launch Hunger Strike On August 5th

  • August 6, 2024 1:21 am

from Instagram


SCI Fayette is one of the few prisons left in Pennsylvania still running on isolation policies implemented during the COVID-19 Prison Shutdowns. Incarcerated people there are severely limited in movement and yard time, despite all other COVID mitigation policies being canceled, or non-existent. These isolation policies have disrupted many of the established community organizations developed in prison prior to COVID.

We know that prison enforces isolation and tries to disconnect us from our loved ones inside. Stand in solidarity with incarcerated people putting their freedom on the line for community.

Hunger Striker Demands:
Full Day Room Recreation (No Cohorts) on every housing unit: 7:45-10:30 am, 1:15-3:35 pm, 5:00-8:30pm
More seats on the housing unit to accommodate seating arrangements.
Community Yard for all blocks.
Collective religious congregation for the whole prison.

Call SCI Fayette and PA DOC Officeon 8/5/24!

Phone Zap for Hunger Strikers!

Call!!! SCI FAYETTE SUPERINTENDENT: 724-364-2200

Then call!!!! PA-DOC Central Office: 717.728.2573

In Contempt #43: Deadly Heat Wave Hits Prisons, Multiple Hunger Strikes Kick Off, July 25th Roundup

  • August 2, 2024 1:31 am

from It’s Going Down

[This post only contains information relevant to Philadelphia and the surrounding area, to read the entire article follow the above link.]
In this column, we present our monthly roundup of political prisoner, prison rebel, and repression news, happenings, announcements, action and analysis. Packed in as always are updates, fundraisers, and birthdays.

There’s a lot happening, so let’s dive right in!

Black August, Week of Solidarity, and Running Down the Walls

Further ahead, mid-September will see Running/Pushing Down the Walls events in various cities, with Philadelphia, Bloomington, Lowell, Chicago, and Huntington Park confirmed so far. Jailhouse Lawyers Speak are also calling for “Shut Em’ Down” demonstrations on December 6th – 13th.

Uprising Defendants, Stop Cop City and Other Ongoing Cases

A rave is being held in Philadelphia on August 2nd to raise funds for Ellie and John, two Georgia uprising defendants who are being released soon. You can donate directly to their post-release funds here.

Philadelphia uprising defendant Khalif Miller has been given a 1-10 year state sentence on top of his existing 5 year federal sentence. You can write to him at:

Khalif Miller -066
USP Big Sandy
U.S. Penitentiary
P.O. Box 2068
Inez, KY 41224

Amber Kim Hunger Strike and Other Calls to Action

Separately, a call has gone out for a phone zap in support of prisoners at Vaughn prison in Delaware, who are reporting torture and beatings at the hands of prison officers.

Uprising Defendants

See Uprising Support for more info, and check out the Antirepression PDX site for updates from Portland cases. To the best of our knowledge they currently include:

David Elmakayes 77782-066
FCI McKean
Federal Correctional Institution
P.O. Box 8000
Bradford, PA 16701

Anthony Smith
14813-509
FCI Fort Dix
Federal Correctional Institution
Satellite Camp
P.O. Box 2000
Joint Base MDL, NJ 08640

Khalif Miller #70042-066
USP Big Sandy
U.S. Penitentiary
P.O. Box 2068
Inez, KY 41224

 

Statement of solidarity with casey goonan by stevie wilson

  • August 1, 2024 1:23 am

from In The Belly

Many years ago, while imprisoned at SCI-Smithfield, and struggling to keep our study groups afloat, I received an e-mesage from Casey Goonan. I had no clue whom he was. He said he reached out because he heard about the work I was doing inside and wanted to offer any assistance he could. He did, and he continued to do so. Casey has been one of the most consistent and ready allies/accomplices of imprisoned people. Whether producing zines that center imprisoned voices, mailing zines to imprisoned people at no cost, coordinating phone zaps to combat repression by prison officials, raising funds for mutual aid, building social media presence for imprisoned folx or just lending an attentive ear to the concerns of imprisoned people, Casey has been unstinting in his support of anyone, anywhere, who is being oppressed.

My friend, my comrade, my brother, is currently being held in a county jail in CA. I wish I were out there to do more for him, to manifest by love and solidarity for him. What I want everyone to know is that Casey Goonan is an amazing ally/accomplice of oppressed people everyone. In this, his time of need, he should be supported and cared for. I ask people to keep close tabs on the situation, show up for Casey and make sure that while he is inside, jail officials do not harm him or exacerbate his condition. I don’t ever claim to speak for all imprisoned people, but I feel confident in saying that thousands of imprisoned people across this land have benefited from Casey’s efforts. We ask you support our comrade and care for him.

Always,

Stevie

Monday July 29th: Letter-writing for Stop Cop City Defendants

  • July 26, 2024 1:01 am

from Philly ABC

stop-cop-city-letter-writing.jpg

 

Join us on Monday July 29th, 6:30pm at Wooden Shoe Books as we send letters to comrades incarcerated for their support of the movement to Stop Cop City. In 2017, the Atlanta Police Foundation proposed the destruction hundreds of acres of Weelaunee forest to build a massive compound that would train cops from around the world in militarized tactics, urban warfare, and putting down social movements. The full Cop City proposal came in 2020 after national uprisings around the police murder of George Floyd and Rayshard Brooks.

In 2021, forest defenders and community members established a long-term encampment in the Weelaunee forest. Shortly thereafter, a multi-agency task force began arresting and charging them with domestic terrorism. January 18th, 2023 brought more raids, arrests, and the murder of Manuel “Tortuguita” Terán. This was the first police killing of an environmental activist during a protest in modern U.S. history. Autopsy results indicated that the police shot Tortuguita 57 times while their hands were up. On April 19th, the DeKalb County Medical Examiner’s office ruled Tortuguita’s death a homicide. On October 6th, a Georgia prosecutor announced that there would be no charges for any of the troopers involved in the murder.

Opponents of Cop City, however, have increasingly faced charges of unprecedented severity. On September 5th, 2023, Georgia’s Attorney General filed an indictment against over 60 individuals under the Rackateer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. On May 31st, 2023, a heavily-armed SWAT team raided the house of three bail fund organizers, arrested them, and charged them with money laundering and charity fraud. The intensifying repression has also extended to the general population of Atlanta, with police targeting four neighborhoods for purposefully invasive, round-the-clock surveillance.

The resistance to Cop City has also escalated, resulting in numerous delays and, according to Atlanta city officials, almost $20 million in damages. Communities across the country rallied against the targeting of activists and the killing of Tortuguita, and have supported activists held without trial, sometimes for upwards of a year.

Even before its completion, Atlanta Cop City’s militarized approach to social movements has already become a model for how to train police across the U.S.; between the George Floyd Uprisings and today, planning or construction has begun on 66 new Cop Cities around the United States. Similarly, the unprecedently fierce legal and extralegal measures taken against those resisting Cop City in Atlanta—domestic terrorism charges for civil disobedience, RICO charges for bail fund organizers, generalized harassment, and murder—can be understood as a localized experiment for broader application. These tactics of repression are being auditioned in Atlanta; if successful, you can bet they’ll be generalized across the U.S. For these reasons, it’s incumbent on all of us support those on the front lines of stopping Cop City, and especially those who’ve already paid the price of their freedom for this struggle.

We’ll also be sending birthday cards to U.S.-held political prisoners with birthdays in August: Bill Dunne (August 2nd), Hanif Shabazz Bey (August 15th), Ronald Reed (August 31st).

We Keep Us Safe: Building A Culture of Solidarity In the Face of Repression – Part of the Philly WAWOG Summer Movement School

  • July 18, 2024 1:24 am

from Making Worlds

REGISTER HERE (RECOMMENDED)

As our movement gains strength, it will inevitably encounter state repression. How do we respond collectively to this repression? This workshop will discuss some of the tactics most commonly used by police and federal agents to target our movements, and offer suggestions on how to respond. Topics covered will include: what to expect when being arrested in Philadelphia; the role of the FBI in movement repression and how to deal with federal agents; social media “best practices”; and how to support arrestees and political prisoners.

In the past year, the movement for Palestinian liberation has attained unprecedented levels of mobilization. But strategic reflection and study is necessary to keep the movement moving. Writers Against the War on Gaza offers a series of workshops this summer to deepen the knowledge of five elements of the struggle for Palestine: “PACBI,” “Anti-repression,” “Black and Palestinian Solidarity” and “History of Palestinian Resistance.” All are free to attend.

Laura Martin is a labor historian and a member of the Bay Area Anti-Repression Committee, a bail fund and political education collective.

Tori is a legal worker at Up Against the Law Legal Collective, a Philadelphia-based group that supports local activists.

  • Thursday, July 25, 2024
  • 6:00 PM 7:30 PM
  • Making Worlds Bookstore & Social Center 210 South 45th Street Philadelphia, PA, 19104 United States (map)

From Philly with Love

  • July 11, 2024 1:56 am

from Indybay

graffiti for Casey Goonan
graffiti for Casey Goonan
original image (1898×1068)

Khalif Miller Given 1-10 Year State Sentence On Top Of Federal Sentence

  • July 9, 2024 1:22 am

from Mastodon

It’s been a little over a month since the upsetting news that was given a 1-10 year state sentence on top of the 61 month (5 year) Federal sentence that he has been serving since October of 2020.

Khalif is one of the five people indicted along with for his participation in the racial justice uprisings in 2020. He is facing a total of 15 years for attending a protest on May 30th, 2020. This is the new COINTELPRO!

We’re rehashing this 6/1 post from the @FreeAntPHL IG account to bring Khalif back to the top of your feed.

Send him some ♥️ at:

Khalif Miller -066
USP Big Sandy
U.S. Penitentiary
P.O. Box 2068
Inez, KY 41224

Rear perspective image of Khalif in a courtroom. Vertically aligned text displays the hashtag "Free Khalif." Horizontally aligned text reads "Today, Friday May 31, Khalif was given a 1-10 year sentence for a probation violation. Khalif has been in federal prison since October 25,2020, when he was arrested for participating in racial justice protests in Philadelphia. He was given a five year federal sentence, which triggered a probation violation. Now he has to serve another 1-10 years. 15 years for attending a protest."

ALT
Two headshot photos of Khalif over a background of swirling shapes and colors. Left photo shows Khalif smiling in front of a tree, and wearing a Rugrats shirt. Right photo shows him in a car with child sleeping in the back seat. He is wearing glasses in both photos. Text on image reads the hashtag "FreeKhalif."

ALT
Background of swirling shapes and colors, with text that displays Khalif's mailing address.

Zine on Resisting Mask Bans

  • July 4, 2024 1:59 am

Submission

A zine was made on resisting mask bans. It calls for a different set of strategies than the public health model, advocating for a diversity of tactics. The model proposed in this piece is inspired by the prisoner revolts against neglectful COVID practices in 2020.

[PDF for reading]
[PDF for printing]

In Contempt #42: Hunger Strikes and Phone Zaps, June 11th Roundup, Mexican Anarchists in Trouble

  • July 2, 2024 1:30 am

from It’s Going Down

[This post only contains information relevant to Philadelphia and the surrounding area, to read the entire article follow the above link.]
In this column, we present our monthly roundup of political prisoner, prison rebel, and repression news, happenings, announcements, action and analysis. Packed in as always are updates, fundraisers, and birthdays.

There’s a lot happening, so let’s dive right in!

Hunger Strikes and Calls to Action

A phone zap has been organized for Alejandro “Capo” Rodriguez-Ortiz of the Vaughn 17, who is facing retaliation after being moved back to Vaughn. DC IWOC write:

He’s been back at James T Vaughn for 4 months and they continue to deny him a job, education, vocational training, or any programming!! Then recently security denied him an honor visit, even tho he qualifies. We’re asking for support in calling the wardens office and Dover (central office) for him to have access to a job/education/programs.

JTVCC wardens office: 302-653-9261
Dover commissioners office: 3027395601
Name: Alejandro Rodriguez-Ortiz SBI 515700

Script: Hello, I am calling on behalf of Alejandro Rodriguez-Ortiz, SBI 515700. I hear that security is denying him an honor visit even though he qualifies, and he is also being denied a job and programming. He has been back at Smyrna for 4 months and has not had any write ups and is trying to live in peace. Why are they denying him a job and honor visit? This type of vindictive behavior from security is corrupt. Please reconsider and let him have the honor visit and give him job opportunities to succeed.

According to an update: “[They] will try to get you to contact family services about the visit. However this does not remedy the fact that the prison is withholding opportunities for a job, which he would need to apply again in the future for an honor visit.”

After 16 years of incarceration and many years of DOC torture, Beans (Abednego Baynes) of the Vaughn 17 is finally coming home this fall. Beans was one of 18 prisoners indicted for the uprising at James T Vaughn Correctional Center in 2017. Beans is asking for donations so his family can get down to Delaware to see him when he lands, and to cover rent and other expenses for several months while he gets work and more permanent housing figured out. Please donate and spread widely! Donations can be sent to phillyantirepression through venmo or $MachaelRobinson on cashapp

Write to Beans at the following address:

Smart Communications/PA DOC
Abędnego Baynes –
SCI Mahanoy
PO Box 33028
St Petersburg, Florida 33733

General Prison News and Abolitionist Media Updates

The Rebellious Hearts account continues to post new material from Vaughn 17 defendants such as Dwayne “BIM” Staats on a regular basis.

Uprising Defendants

See Uprising Support for more info, and check out the Antirepression PDX site for updates from Portland cases. To the best of our knowledge they currently include:

David Elmakayes 77782-066
FCI McKean
Federal Correctional Institution
P.O. Box 8000
Bradford, PA 16701

 

This Week in Fascism #137: Antifascists Sentenced in San Diego, Pushing Back Against Far-Right Attacks on Palestine Solidarity

  • July 1, 2024 1:13 am

from It’s Going Down

[This post only contains information relevant to Philadelphia and the surrounding area, to read the entire article follow the above link.]

Welcome back fellow antifascists!

As always, we have a lot to cover in this column, especially important analysis and lots of roundups of antifascist research and action. With lots to talk about, let’s dive right in!

Research Roundup

Other reports from Idavox you may have missed include write-ups on “prominent [Pennsylvania] neo-Nazi Mark Kauffman,” who was arrested by law enforcement at his own wedding on weapons and methamphetamine charges, Nicholas G. Mucci, a neo-Nazi involved in White Lives Matter plead guilty to attacking an antifascist benefit show in New Jersey, and Ebrahim and Mathew Yehounatan, far-Right Zionists in New York who are harassing pro-Palestinian solidarity demonstrations.

Lastly, Idavox also noted that a small group of neo-Nazis held a tiny demonstration in Philadelphia that included Benjamin Franklin Ryder, a “registered sex offender with a long criminal history as well as a history of neo-Nazi activism,” and Stephen Thomas Farrea, a member of the Nationalist Social Club 131, became the second member of the group to be arrested “for possessing child pornography.” Faith, family, and folk!

July 25th and Antifascist Prisoners

Currently there is a call to rally support for antifascist prisoners across the world on July 25th. From the call:

Across the world, fascist and far-Right movements are trying to advance their agendas of bigotry, ultra-nationalism and authoritarian control. The establishment–no matter who is in power–does not and cannot offer solutions for deepening economic inequality or any of the numerous crises we are living through. Instead, those in power continue to advance the militarization of police and the hardening of borders as the rich have become richer than they have ever been before. As the world burns and our lives become harder and harder, the fascist and far-right menace offers only lies and scapegoats–demonizing and attacking migrants, refugees, LGBTQ+ people, as well as racial, religious, and ethnic minorities.

The July 25th International Day of Solidarity with Antifascist Prisoners originated in 2014 as a Day of Solidarity with Jock Palfreeman, an Australian man who served 13-years in prison in Bulgaria for defending two Romani men from an attack by fascist football hooligans. In 2015, J25 expanded into a global day of solidarity with all antifascists facing State repression. The friends and comrades we are celebrating on J25 were on the frontlines of this fight against fascism and the far-Right, and we will not forget them behind prison walls as we continue the struggle for liberation.

As revolutionary antifascists, we believe that building movements of defense and solidarity with those locked behind the prison walls is fundamental in the three-way fight against both the far-right and the State. This July 25th, we call on antifascists worldwide to take part in the International Day of Solidarity with Antifascist Prisoners!

Find out more info on how to support, places to donate, and materials for printing, go here.

Cover Photo: Alissa Azar

Two Gentrifying Constructions Sites Attacked

  • June 25, 2024 1:25 am

Submission

I attacked two construction sites. At one site I destroyed four Ring cameras, at another I threw paint on its sign and walls. These small actions were done in solidarity with anarchist prisoners and the struggle at SCI Rockview.

Fuck gentrification!
Free Palestine!
Long live anarchy!