Virtual Letter Writing Party For Marius Mason

from Instagram

Photo shared by Philly GAF on January 24, 2021 tagging @supportmariusmason. Image may contain: text that says 'SUPPORT TRANS X PRISONERS GAF VIRTUAL LETTER WRITING PARTY FOR MARIUS MASON TO CELEBRATE HIS BIRTHDAY January 26th, 2021 6:00 PM EST DM @PhillyGAF FOR MORE INFORMATION'.

Letter-writing party!

January 26th, 2021
6:00PM EST

Marie (Marius) Mason #04672-061
FCI Danbury
Route 37
Danbury, CT 06811

[DM @PhillyGAF FOR MORE INFORMATION]

Photo by Philly GAF on January 24, 2021.

Photo by Philly GAF on January 24, 2021. Image may contain: 1 person.

Graffiti for Dominique Remmie Fells

from Instagram

Someone sent us this dope pic of a piece for Dominique Remmie Fells. She was a black trans woman recently found murdered here in Philly. RIP Remmie

Letter Writing to Marius Mason (5/25)

from Philly ABC

Our letter writing event for this month will be for Marius Mason, who has unfortunately been recently diagnosed with COVID-19 and will be fighting the virus from behind bars. Marius was chosen both because of his diagnosis and also because of the fast-approaching June 11th International Day of Solidarity with Marius and all long-term Anarchist prisoners.

The event will be held on May 25th at 6:30 PM. Due to COVID-19, this event will be held online using the secure open source video conferencing platform, Jitsi. Privacy is encouraged – no one is expected to share their camera. The meeting details will be posted here a day before the event.

Background: Marius Mason is a transgender, environmental and animal rights activist. In 1999, in the name of the Earth Liberation Front (ELF) he set fire to a lab at the University of Michigan that was conducting research on genetically modified organisms (GMO).  After Marius’ husband turned states-evidence, Marius was threatened with a life sentence for the arson and other acts of sabotage. With little financial stability and fear of dragging his family into a costly legal battle, Marius pled guilty and was given an extreme sentence of nearly 22 years. No one was ever harmed in any of his actions.

Marius lived and worked in the Detroit area for most of his life. Like the late Earth First! (EF!) organizer, Judi Bari, he was part of a generation of radicals who worked to link the environmental and labor movements, and was jointly active in both EF! and the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). It was this alliance which led to the initial success of the anti-globalization movement such as at the 1999 anti-WTO demonstration in Seattle. Mason was an editor of the Industrial Worker, the IWW newspaper, and a musician who recorded a neo-folk album, Not For Profit, with fellow EF!er Darryl Cherney in 1999. He also worked with numerous political as well as traditional charity groups.

If you are unable to join us on Jitsi, please send Marius a letter anyways:

Marie (Marius) Mason #04672-061

FCI Danbury

Route 37

Danbury, CT 06811

United States

Joseph Berger, aka “GlockDoctor1488,” Host of Alt-Right Armory in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

from It’s Going Down

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

Antifascist researchers exposed the real name of “GlockDoctor1488,” the host of the Alt-Right Armory podcast, who has disrupted a number of leftist and liberal events in Pennsylvania over the past year.

Joseph Berger, age 31, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, attended a protest of Drag Queen Story Hour at the Exeter Community Library in Reading, Pennsylvania, in February 2019, where he shouted obscenities at the families who had brought their children for the event, accusing them of being pedophiles.

In April 2019, he attended a show by Horna, a neo-Nazi black metal band.

In August 2019, Berger attended a Philadelphia Public Library talk by former Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, where he screamed “Fuck you, you anti-white piece of shit! You will not replace us!” before fleeing the building.

Berger also hosts Alt-Right Armory, a podcast on Spreaker, where he disseminates antisemitic conspiracy theories and teaches the far-Right about guns.

Berger worked as a security guard at a water park in northeast Pennsylvania, but is currently laid off.

Fuckin up the proudboy hangout

Submission

We would like to claim the attack on Millcreek Tavern committed in the early morning hours of Trans Day Of Remembrance. The window was smashed after Philly proudboys were allowed to set up a table with literature in the bar. This is a clear message to anyone who’s been paying attention “This is what you get when you allow fascists to openly congregate in neighborhoods where good people live and work.” I broke the window, and if you’re reading this you should too. They cost $1500 each. This action was intentionally taken on Trans Day Of Remembrance, in loving memory of an antifascist trans woman who’s body was found in the schulkyill earlier this year. She was a fucking mess and we love her. She lives on in every broken fascist/capitalist window, every American flag stolen and burned, and every girl who bums her last shot of E to someone who needs it more.
Signed-
A transsexual, and an anxious wreck, both anarchists.

Philly Socialist Statement Regarding a Comrade’s Arrest

from Facebook

Press contact: press@phillysocialists.org

Our statement regarding our comrade’s arrest:

On Sunday June 10, a comrade, ReeAnna Segin, was arrested for exercising their First Amendment rights by allegedly attempting to burn a “Blue Lives Matter” flag at the Philly Pride March. She was charged with arson, causing/risking a catastrophe, and other misdemeanors, and released from CFCF (a men’s prison) at approximately 5pm on Monday.

Several groups, including Philly Socialists and Philly for REAL Justice, helped to raise bail funds and legal support for her. We’re going to give ReeAnna some space, but we’ll let you know if she decides to make a public statement to the media. We cannot release much information at this time, but this incident highlights why cops should not be allowed at any pride parades.

As an institution, the police have no place at Pride. Police presence at Pride represents an affront to LGBTQ people and people of color, who daily face threat of unjustified, brutal violence and death at the hands of the police state. We must not forget the courageous work of trans women of color activists like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, whose actions at Stonewall against the dehumanizing systems of police oppression laid the groundwork for Pride and for the LGBT movement as a whole.

While there have been social and legal improvements for LGBT people since Stonewall, these improvements have disproportionately gone to cis white people. Trans people and queer people of color still face tremendous threats of violence from the state. Though Pride has become a celebration of all that the LGBT movement has accomplished, we cannot forget that the struggle against state oppression is far from over.

Philly Socialists stands in solidarity with all queer and trans comrades, and against the capitalist police state!

Taking Back Pride: Philly Report Back

from It’s Going Down

While LGBTQ Pride began as a riot lead by black and brown trans women, today’s Pride celebrations do nothing to address the unjust system that oppresses queer people of varying intersectional identities, namely Queer Trans People of Color (QTPOC). As of mid-June 2017, thirteen black and brown trans women have been murdered this year. Queer youths are kicked out of their homes and make up almost half of the homeless youth population across the country. Transphobia and transmisogyny run rampant in all aspects of culture. Instead of throwing bricks, burning police cars, or taking it to the streets in protest, Pride has lost its revolutionary roots and instead become an agent of the very thing that oppresses us.

On Sunday June 18th, Philadelphia Pride proved problematic as ever, starting with the sponsorship by multiple alcohol brands, big banks, and investment companies. These corporate interests do not at all represent the struggles of QTPOC, and often systemically oppress these populations further. After the corporate Pride parade, instead of an accessible community-based event, attendees were expected to pay fifteen dollars to get in to a post-celebration at Penn’s Landing, just to pay even more money for everything inside. Pride should be an inclusive celebration, but instead, if you are one of the hundreds of homeless LGBTQ youth in Philadelphia, you likely wouldn’t even be able to afford to attend.

More than ever we need a Pride that isn’t cissexist, racist, and transphobic – but Pride has been co-opted. Philadelphia’s queer community is not short of racism: the senior adviser for Philadelphia corporate Pride is a huge Trump supporter, the owner of the gay club ICandy throws around the “n-word,” and there was huge backlash when the City of Philadelphia included a black and brown stripe on the rainbow flag this year.

Realizing that something had to be done, Philly’s Equity Coalition organized an event called QTPOC Take Pride Back that aimed to start with a rally at City Hall, protest along certain areas of the corporate Pride parade, and end in a protest at Penn’s Landing. Through community organization, the event was able to draw in people from different backgrounds and give voices to the black, brown, and trans members of our community who too often are ignored during Pride. QTPOC Take Pride Back shed light on the sick injustice that Pride itself has become in exploiting queer people for money while serving the interests of the cis white gay men.

IMG_5689.JPG

QTPOC Take Pride Back started off at City Hall with a group of about 65 who gathered to listen to speakers that galvanized the crowd with their personal experiences as queer people of color. As the event progressed, police presence began to grow. First, a group of about ten bike cops were stationed on the corner, two undercover police stood on the sidewalk behind the crowd, then a police van parked nearby, and finally a counter terrorism vehicle parked behind that van. As the speakers began to conclude, a black bloc of about 20, donning militant queer branded shields and flags, descended upon the event creating a protective barrier behind the QTPOC Take Pride Back attendees. Dozens of matching flags and trans colored bandanas were passed out in solidarity with the bloc.

Shortly after the speakers finished, organizers roused the crowd to begin the march. The march from City Hall was lead by QTPOC and the bloc was in a “U” formation around the back to protect the vulnerable sections. Shields and flags were used as noise makers as several chant leaders shouting “take Pride back!” As QTPOC Take Pride Back and the bloc marched, they were immediately followed by a wave of bike cops flanking both sides attempting to disrupt the march and discourage marching. They were unsuccessful and the march cut down the middle of Broad Street. At this point, the police began their aggression towards the bloc and plain clothes protestors by riding in the streets and attempting to hit protesters with bikes.

The front of the QTPOC Take Pride Back march began to make it’s way down a side street, in order to gain access to the corporate Pride march, but was blocked by bike cops once again. After some maneuvering, the march was able to go down another side street to gain access to a section of the corporate Pride parade. Then police quickly formed a line of separation between corporate attendees and the march. On megaphones, the QTPOC Take Pride Back marshals encouraged the crowd of corporate parade attendees to realize the damage being done to the LGBTQ community and to join them in the streets in solidarity.

IMG_5727_sRGB.JPG

As the QTPOC Take Pride Back march continued on each street continued to be blocked by police. At one point a police line on a particularly isolated street began physically assaulting plain clothed QTPOC Take Pride Back marchers, using their bikes as weapons to slam people to the ground and hit people, even openly punching and grabbing trans people. Luckily, the bloc and marchers jumped to action defending targeted folks and actively resisting the police violence through the use of shields and flag poles. It should be noted that any and ALL comrades who were grabbed were successfully de-arrested and no arrests were made.

“some corporate Pride attendees were high-fiving and fist-bumping with police, the same police who 20 minutes before were smashing their bikes…”

After several kettling attempts and increased violence by police, the QTPOC Take Pride Back marchers and black bloc were separated into three sections: two were caught on cross streets and the other, representing a large number of the bloc, escaped into the corporate Pride parade, quickly followed by a line of police. Even with a guard of police, the bloc was immediately met with intense cries of support by corporate Pride attendees and many even joined in anti-cop and anti-corporate chants. However, some corporate Pride attendees dissented and were high-fiving and fist-bumping with police, the same police who 20 minutes before were smashing their bikes in to QTPOC. Once the corporate Pride parade route had finished, the black bloc to exited the march without issue.

Even though protesting outside of Penn’s Landing was no longer possible due to the amount of police violence shown toward QTPOC Take Pride Back marchers and the bloc, the goal had been fulfilled through infiltration of the corporate Pride parade, protection provided to marchers by the bloc, and bringing awareness to corporate Pride parade attendees. Afterward, a free queer picnic for the community was provided by a local Food Not Bombs chapter and other accomplices. The picnic itself embodied another portion of what LGBTQ Pride should be about: community building, support, compassion, and free access for everyone no matter income or background.

Reflecting back on June 18th, it’s apparent that only through militant resistance of the state and its corporate entities will progress be reached. Queer people must ask themselves: What would Marsha do? What would Sylvia do? What would our other Queer siblings who started the Stonewall Riots do? For every brick we grab, every body we put on the line, every pig we face, every window that gets smashed, we do so with them.

Special notation: in the days following June 18th, it became clear that the level of resistance for QTPOC Take Pride Back from the police came directly from a 9-1-1 call by a cis white gay male organizer who sought to attack the Equity Coalition. This is a stark reminder of the history that liberals have had condemning revolutionary movements across the years.

F**k You, Free Spit feat. QQQ/OHM/Duece Dagod/3Xile

From Facebook

A benefit for our unfairly imprisoned comrade, featuring some dope hip-hop and electronic artists.

A radical trans activist was beaten and arrested by police this weekend, defending all of our rights. With guns at their back and violent fascists looming, they bravely countered the bigoted march against Sharia Law. They are charged with assaulting a police officer, but that could not be further from the truth. Multiple eye witnesses watched as they were trampled by horses, pulled to the ground, and attacked by a group of officers. All this for defending the Muslim community. Bail is 100,000 dollars, they need at least 10,000 to be released. We know how much more dangerous prison can be for transgender people, and if bail can’t be posted they could be trapped in there for months before a court hearing. All proceeds go to the bail fund and getting them out. Every day they spend inside is an incredible threat to their safety. Help our friend see the sky again.

Artists:

QQQhttps://qqq-music.bandcamp.com/ (this shit just dropped yesterday and it’s DOPE AF go check it out)

O.H.Mhttps://soundcloud.com/rapperohm

Duece Dagod – https://soundcloud.com/duece_dagod23

3xiLehttps://soundcloud.com/3xiLe

TBASA [WA] – https://tbasa.bandcamp.com/album/brevity-is-its-hallmark

$5 Cover
$1 beers

[June 15 7:30 to 11:30PM at Black Magic]

Benefit Show for Let’s Get Free

from Facebook

Westboro Baptist Choir, The Bleeders (from Kutztown), The Invasive Species (release of new song/seed packet, Plus possibly one other band TBA , Poetry from Emily Abendroth, presentations from Philly prisoner’s advocates, fancy cocktail bar, This show is a benefit for Pittsburgh based Women and Trans Prisoner Defense Committee, Let’s Get Free. Come learn about what they do and support them and rock out
[May 5th 8PM to 11PM at LAVA space 4134 Lancaster Ave]

Trans prisoner letter writing

from Facebook

January 22, 2017 will be the SECOND annual Trans Prisoner Day of Action: an international day of action in solidarity with trans prisoners.
More info @ International Day of Trans Prisoner Solidarity / www.transprisoners.net

In Philly we will be holding space for a letting writing night/event jawn, centered on trans prisoners in PA. Information about specific prisoners, and their struggles inside, will be provided by Hearts on a Wire. Everyone should totally check out Hearts and read their newsletter, made by and for trans prisoners.
*Art materials and postage will also be provided.*
Please come though and:

– Send a letter/art to someone (it is lonely and any letter/art is appreciated)
– Learn about a specific trans person on the inside.
– Start a new pen pal relationship, checking in with yourself truthfully and honesty on your capacity to commit to that.
– Write another letter to an existing pen pal you have.
– Talk with others about your experience supporting trans people on the inside.
– Meet other people and talk about projects we’re involved in.

Email event organizers to get involved or suggest materials/zines to share:
cass: cass.struggle@gmail.com / Brynn Cassidy West
Letha: l.muthkimball@gmail.com / not on fb
(it’s best to email us both)

[January 22 5pm to 7pm at LAVA Space 4134 Lancaster Ave]

Black DNC Resistance March against Police Terrorism and State Repression

from Facebook

The Philadelphia Coalition for REAL Justice presents:
Black DNC Resistance March against the Capitalist & Racist Government: We Have Nothing To Lose But Our Chains!!

The Democratic Party has consistently betrayed their promises to the Black community and the 2016 presidential election is not going to be any different. The presidential election is the largest electoral process in the country, and the Black community can no longer watch a few control the lives of many. Black communities have been underfunded for centuries. Black communities are under siege with militarized police terrorism, assault and murder; public schools are underfunded and do not properly educate our children; economic development means black displacement through gentrification; prison privatization and the school to prison pipeline; raising the minimum wage to a living standard; the right to proper access of quality healthcare, food, shelter and the essential means of life; protection and inclusion of the LGBTQ community, as well, the releasing of all political prisoners and the right to self-determination and control of our communities. This can only come from the unification of our voices, understanding the intersectional connections, education and support of one another and not the democratic process.

Philadelphia is a historically Black city, as well as the birth of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Both documents have kept the Black community subjugated. The American political system was organized and created by white men who supported and upheld the enslavement of Black people. These documents continue to function under the order of white supremacy and neo-liberal reformists politics. Black liberation cannot occur in a reformist society. White supremacy must be abolished and Black liberation must become a priority.

[from 2pm July 26 to 6pm July 28 at Broad & Diamond St]

Some Posters at Pride

Submission



Philadelphians Against Police As Pride Marshals Planning Meeting

from Facebook

Between 2007 and 2013 alone, the Philadelphia Police shot 382 people and 88 of them were killed. 81% of the people shot by cops were Black. There’s no pride in racist police violence, and no place for cops at Pride, yet Philly Pride Presents has chosen to honor GOAL (Gay Officer Action Alliance) as one of this year’s Pride Grand Marshals.

As members of Philadelphia’s queer and trans communities, we are deeply concerned about the blatant disregard for Black life expressed in this decision and the impact it will have on accessibility and safety at Pride for Black and Brown queer and trans folks profiled and targeted by the police.

Sign the petition demanding that Philly Pride Presents rescind their decision to honor GOAL (https://www.change.org/p/philly-pride-presents-philadelphians-against-police-as-pride-grand-marshals-2016), and join us on May 26th as we strategize next steps that honor queer and trans resistance to racist state violence and the struggle for liberation for us all.

WHAT: Meeting to strategize next steps in response to Philly Pride Presents’ decision to honor GOAL as Pride Grand Marshals

WHEN: 6-8pm on Thursday, May 26th

WHERE: Leeway Foundation, 1315 Walnut St # 832, Philadelphia, PA 19107

We hope to see you there!

A no show doesn’t mean go home, it means go hard!!

Submission

A no show doesn’t mean go home, it means go hard!!

Rumor has it that Daryush “Roosh V” Valizadeh and his Return of the Kings have canceled their international meet-ups due to safety concerns.
Philly has no reason to stand down in light of this. It’s easy to label him and his people as benign internet trolls, but the reality is way more sinister. The Return Of Kings represents a serious rise of tradtionalist fascist movements that aim to uphold structures of sexism, racism, transphobia, and homophobia through the direct promotion of violence. Roosh V even rails against “multiculturalism” making society “unlivable”. He is a self-described advocate of trumps doctrine as well. It cannot be stressed enough that these fuckrs are not as isolated as we wish they were.

White nationalist terror attacks have been on the rise as a white nationalist figurehead has been given the mainstream spotlight through the elections.
This is directly related to the struggles of women of all backgrounds. The same forces that enable these racist attacks to occur are the ones that allow there to be attacks on women’s health centrs, and women in general. The enemy is fascism, and all systems of control that dominate everyday life. This isn’t a matter of negotation. Women being raped, while rapists speak in comfort means this is a matter of war!

To expect the state to do a damn thing is a huge mistake. The state not only protects fascists, but it is an active part of the same structure that fascists aim to strengthen. The police are not our fucking friends. They enforce the same borders bastards like Trump wish to secure even more. They have their guns directed at the same people of color that white nationalists wish to see dead. It’s already well known that 40% of police officer’s families experience domestic violence at the hands of the officer in the family. Support for policing in what is a clearly a police-state has no place in any anti-fascist movement.

The kings may not return saturday night but fascists are stepping it up all over the country with the full suport of American politics. The ideas fascists promote are everywhere and a constant part of our society. Anti-fascists waiting even a moment longer means allowing the enemy to continue dealing the cards. It means allowing them to create the stakes, and control the game.

In an age where fascism is growing stronger, it’s abou time we strengthen our own convictions and actions. Whether these rapists show or not we still need to be out there celebrating anti-fascists resistance. It’s time we step it the fuck up and show every fascist scum what happens when they even so much as mention building a platform for their movement on OUR streets in OUR city. Every Fascist, and Rapist should have fear struck into their hearts when they hear the word “PHILLY”.

SEE YOU IN THE STREETS!

we r fans of anarchy, but not prisons: a report back on the jan 22 noise demo for transes in prison

Submission

we r fans of anarchy, but not prisons: a report back on the jan 22 noise demo for transes in prison

~( ̄△ ̄~)

“Bandana on yea
I’m bout to thug it out
if a hater talking shit
go head and stomp em out
if you got a problem we can settle it tonight
meet me outside you ain’t bout that life”
-TT the Artist

♪(┌・。・)┌

In lieu of a solemn march we got turnt to club music outside the Federal Detention Center in downtown Philly. A bunch of freaky looking transes & queers danced around, some femmes without hats had their hair freeze to their head because there was no hat and it was snowing hard as shit. The confused COs got their feels hurt because we commented on their appearance; for example one mean bitch yelled “i shaved my dogs butt and taught him to walk backwards and he literally looks better than you”. Other COs milled in an out as we chanted shit like “QUIT YOUR JOB/SLIP AND FALL” and “U-G-L-Y YOU AINT GOT NO ALIBI YOU UGLY YEAH YEAH YOU UGLY”, their feelings visibly hurt and we assume most of them quit that night, and by milled in and out we mean they hurried off all quick cause we clearly made them nervous. The music was really good by the way, a couple cheap-ass speakers in plastic bags kept the morale up and totally stayed dry too! Someone said the prisoners were jamming cause they flicked lights and slammed windows to the beat, TURN UP! We were out there for mad long, like hours, and probably the prisoners hands were way tired from flicking so much lights & wailing on the windows the whole time

(╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻

here’s an itemized list of choice “rowdy” moments:
*a giant banner that features a unicorn stabbing a police thru the heart (they got hearts?) reminding us that “ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE”
*some people spray painted anti-prison slogans in bright purple on the snow face the prison
*parking lot signs and black flags turned into drums and drumsticks respectively
*the prison got a snowball makeover
*some cruisers had their detailing updated with new slogans including such favorites as “ACAB” “quit your job” & “you suck”
*when a cop finally pulled up and rolled down their window one person shouted “NO YOU CAN’T HAVE MY NUMBER’ while others behind drowned him out loudly yelling EWWWWWWWWWW until he finally gave up and drove away.
*later another cruiser pulled up to ask “what are you protesting?” which was answered: “Your bad breath” by one tall girl, then when the officer tried to intimidate her she turned away and laughed

ヽ(⌐■_■)ノ♪♬

This is the second year in a row that there’s been a noise demo at the Federal Detention Center in January, last year’s was for New Years Eve. The demo was almost entirely un-policed cause the cops were too cold to come out and be annoying, probably due to the fact that it was a TOTAL FUCKING BLIZZARD and we got that fire in our hearts (lol jk). Also a snowplow crashed into the front of the prison and everyone busted out, in solidarity. We hope we looked cute wilding out and having fun out front for the people inside because what is solidarity really?

♡*(•‧̫•⑅)♡⋆*ೃ:.✧

Any chant is the right chant if you’re sassy and mean enough,
until every CO gets “sick” and dies
until the last cop is deafened by an airhorn
weaponize your hormones, mood swing some oppressors to death?

(メ`ロ´)/ some absurdist tall girls with t-shirts on their heads and malice up their butts ψ(*`ー´)ψ

PS: The other banners said “REVENGE” and “DESTROY CIS-IETY” because that’s how we feel too.