In Contempt #35: Repression Strikes Toronto Palestinian Solidarity Activists, Community Rallies for Victor Puertas

photo: Unicorn Riot

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!

Political Prisoner News

The Citrus County Detention Facility, a private prison run by Corecivic where the Virgin Island 3 are held, appears to have changed their mail policies, so mail for the Virgin Island 3 should now be sent to PO Box 22997, Tampa, FL, 33634.

There will be a launch event for Rattling the Cages, the new book on North American political prisoners edited by Eric King and Josh Davidson, held in Brooklyn on Sunday December 17th.

Philadelphia ABC have shared a reportback from their recent Running Down the Walls event.

Former political prisoner Ed Mead sadly passed away in November, and you can read a tribute to his life here.

The support group for former political prisoner Fidencio Aldama has released a final statement reflecting on their activities, as Fidencio has now been released.

As Eric King prepares for his upcoming release after a long and difficult sentence, he continues to write new essays, and his support group have shared an update on his situation along with an essay on the Kansas City Chiefs, as well as some words of appreciation for Eric from an ex-prisoner who knew him while inside. You can still donate to his pre-release funds here.

It’s Going Down recently interviewed anarchist political prisoner Jorge “Yorch” Esquivel, and the Fire Ant collective have just put out issue 17 of their long-running anarchist prisoner zine.

Anarchist prisoner Miguel Peralta has released a new statement on the anniversary of Ricardo Flores Magon’s death.

The Final Straw Radio recently interviewed the Certain Days collective to talk about the new edition of their prisoner solidarity calendar.

As more attention has been focused on Palestine recently, the Palestinian prisoner support network Samidoun have shared a reminder of the case of the Holy Land 5, who’ve been held for 15 years after a legally questionable trial which has been condemned by groups such as Human Rights Watch.

New York City ABC have shared the latest version of their guide to US political prisoners.

On Wednesday November 29th, an online fundraiser was held for elderly former political prisoner Sekou Odinga, and further donations for his medical costs can be made here. Former Black Liberation Army prisoner Zolo Azania has also been requesting financial help this month.

A memorial event for Ruchell Cinque Magee will be held in Oakland on December 9th.

Cop City, Uprising Defendants, and Other Ongoing Cases

A legal battle is currently ongoing in Virginia, where an injunction has been brought to try and crush opposition to the Mountain Valley Pipeline. Appalachians Against Pipelines have published a thread on the repression they’re facing here, and you can donate to their legal defense funds here. A statement from Instagram wrote:

Yesterday, another pipeline fighter who is going by the name Bear turned themselves in at the Giles County courthouse on multiple felony charges. They are currently one of five people being charged with absurd abduction felonies in connection with an action in October that stopped work for a full day on so-called Peters Mountain in the Jefferson National Forest. They are in jail with $1,000 bail.

Before turning themselves in, Bear released this statement:

“Within weeks, MVP razed an ugly scar down Peters mountain, clearing the right-of-way that had been protected for years, enabled by fraudulent permits forced into the Fiscal Responsibility Act by spineless Joe Manchin. Manchin has carried on the long history of Appalachian oppression and exploitation, but we have resisted just as long. Appalachian resistance has fought colonization, imperialism and exploitation for over 400 years.

We’re not going anywhere. These mountains are older than us, the rivers have watered life older than our species. These mountains and forests are not a luxury, but a necessity of the human spirit, and as vital to our lives as clean water and good cornbread. We cannot let MVP destroy more of Appalachia, and fuel the military industrial complex, and the terrorism of the United States. The struggles of Palestine and Appalachia are intertwined, and we, together, are strong.

Godspeed to all outlaws, indigenous communities, protectors of Weelaunee forest, queers, chainsmokers, resistors of state oppression, mad grannies, long-haired theys, and all direct activists. Our history is growing all the time.”

We see these felonies as part of an ongoing repression campaign by the state and the corporation to crush resistance to the Mountain Valley Pipeline. Weeks ago, pipeline fighters were rearrested on these same ridiculous charges in court- a wild occurrence to take place at a routine court date. In other courts, MVP has filed a series of SLAPP suits (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) in attempts to intimidate and threaten opponents. These bullshit tactics are as outrageous as this pipeline itself, and just like the MVP, these attempts to deter resistance will fail.

The struggle against Cop City continues, and a jail vigil/noise demo was held on November 13th at DeKalb County Jail after the main Block Cop City action. Unicorn Riot has published an article on Victor Puertas, a Cop City defendant who has now been held in pretrial detention for over seven months. Long-running abolitionist radio show Kite Line has also been covering the Cop City struggle.

From Unicorn Riot on the recent community gathering to support Victor:

November 12 marked Victor Puertas’ 46th birthday. But while family and friends throughout the region gathered in his hometown of Salt Lake City, Victor spent the day behind bars.

For more than seven months, Puertas has been in pretrial detention after he was arrested and charged as a “domestic terrorist” for allegedly protesting against the sprawling police training campus known as “Cop City.”

He’s one of dozens of protesters swept up in the past 11 months in what lawyers and activists have called a political effort to repress a movement against the facility. While other protesters were denied bond in the weeks following their arrests, none have been detained as long as Puertas, who’s been held for the better part of a year with no trial.

n September, while being held in an ICE detention center, Puertas was named as one of 61 defendants in a sprawling RICO case brought against the movement to stop “Cop City.”

Victor’s case serves as a particularly harsh example of the repression brought against people in the movement to stop “Cop City,” according to supporters who have organized around his case.

“In Victor’s case, and in so many others, we can clearly see the heightened targeting of people in Georgia and throughout the US for their alleged involvement in political activism,” a press release marking the November 12 event reads.

In response, a growing support network has formed around Puertas to counter what supporters say is a clear-cut example of a political imprisonment. And for months, friends, family and activists have been calling for his release.

In Wisconsin, a defendant has pleaded guilty after taking action against an anti-abortion organization’s office. At time of writing, there doesn’t seem to be any publicly organized support campaign for Hridindu Roychowdhury, but media coverage of the case is worth reading for what it reveals about how police identify suspects.

George Floyd uprising defendant Malik Muhammad is currently facing repression from prison officials who have prevented him from being able to communicate directly with his wife, readers can ring (503) 378-2453 to complain to Oregon State Penitentiary officials about his treatment. For more information on how to support Malik, go here.

 

Ant Smith, a George Floyd uprising defendant, was sentenced recently in Philadelphia to 1 year and 1 day. He has been out on bail so will probably have to go back in for about another 9 months.

Unicorn Riot has published a new report on the FBI’s labeling of anarchists, antifascists and anti-racists as violent extremists.

Following a recent gathering in support of political prisoners in Oaxaca, Mexican police arrested three indigenous land defenders. You can read a statement on the arrests from Miguel Peralta’s support group and a number of other organizations here.

Comrades in Florida are fundraising for the legal defense of Dandelion, a native Palauan transfemme activist currently held awaiting trial. You can write to her at:

Smart Communications/Putnam County (Matthew, Temael) PSCO23JBN000896, P.O. Box 9151, Seminole, FL 33775-9151

Repression Follows Actions in Solidarity with Palestine

The past few months have seen a strong wave of protest and direct action in solidarity with Palestinians, and there are already new arrests and charges coming through as a result. Three people in Massachusetts are facing charges for direct actions against the Israeli arms company Elbit Systems, while in Toronto at least 11 people are facing charges, which Toronto police appear to be treating as a “hate crime.” From Breach Media: 

On Wednesday at 5:30 a.m., Sharmeen Khan woke up to a police officer in her bedroom shining a flashlight in her face…Across the city, a half dozen other people were also having their homes raided. Front doors were broken, computers and cell phones were confiscated, and anyone present was placed in handcuffs, including the elderly, leaving disturbed and distressed families in their wake.

It’s a style of operation that one policing expert said likely cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not millions, and is usually reserved for “gun or drug” busts…But the alleged crime in this case is very different: plastering posters and splashing washable red paint onto the windows of a Toronto Indigo bookstore.

The protest against Indigo CEO Heather Reisman, who runs a foundation that supports foreigners to join Israel’s military, is being “treated as a suspected hate-motivated offence,” according to a police press release.

But lawyers and progressive Jewish organizations are decrying the arrests and charges for trying to “silence” activism in solidarity with Palestinians, who have endured Israeli bombardment in Gaza the past six weeks.

From the use of the FACE Act to charge pro-choice activists, to Hamilton Police counting themselves as a victimized group, to these latest charges, any weapon in the hands of the State will end up being used to defend the status quo, no matter how “progressively” it’s packaged. North Shore Counter-Info has published some advice for those worried about repression here.

General Prison News and Abolitionist Media Projects

New York City Anarchist Black Cross have put out the annual international call for New Year’s Eve noise demonstrations outside prisons. A noise demonstration in Brooklyn has already been called. More info here.

Kentucky anarchist prisoner Christopher Young is looking to connect with more outside supporters, as he currently has very little stable outside support. He asks for regular communication, respect, honesty, understanding, and help with accumulation of materials, fundraising for zine printing and research. Anyone who can help with any of those requests is encouraged to read out to Christopher L Young #136515, Western Kentucky Correctional Complex, 374 New Bethel Church Road, Fredonia, KY 42411.

Long-time prison organizer Kevin “Rashid” Johnson continues to face serious repression and dangerous medical neglect while he battles cancer. He has now been transferred back to the notorious Red Onion supermax prison and faces the possibility of another punitive out-of-state transfer. You can read his most recent report from Red Onion here.

The West Virginia Department of Corrections have finally released Andrew Miller, an atheist prisoner who was blocked from release because he refused to participate in religious programming, and Miller has been successful in a lawsuit meaning that other prisoners should not be placed in the same position.

In Louisiana, five teenagers held in a “youth jail” revolted and staged a group breakout attempt.

Mongoose Distro has published two new writings by Virginia anarchist prisoner David Annarelli, “Contraband and Collective Punishment” and “The Tools are Laid Out on the Table.”

IDOC Watch continues to report on conditions inside the Indiana prison system, including stabbings and medical neglect at Indiana State Prison.

The Prison Lives Matter project recently shared writing from Kenjuan Congo Jr on the issue of elderly prisoners. The From Embers podcast has interviewed the authors of a book on unionizing prison labor, and Molotov Now! has just broadcast an interview with the Campaign to Fight Toxic Prisons on fighting prison construction in Eastern Kentucky.

The Barton Prisoner Solidarity Project are holding a fundraiser show in Hamilton on Friday December 1st, and you can also donate to them online here.

ABO Comix have released their latest queer prisoner’s comix anthology, and are also fundraising to be able to support their contributors’ commissary funds.

International

In Palestine, the truce agreed in late November led to the freeing of at least 150 Palestinian political prisoners, and the Palestinian Feminist Collective has shared details of some of the women prisoners who were released.

In Santiago, Chile, anarchists Monica Caballero and Francisco Solar have been found guilty on a number of charges. Their sentencing hearing is expected in early December. You can read their final statements to the court here. A new mural has been painted in solidarity with Monica and Francisco in Crete, Greece.

In the UK, trans prisoner Sarah Jane Baker, who is being held in a men’s prison despite being found not guilty of the offense she was arrested for, is reportedly facing treatment that amounts to forced medical detransition. Anarchist prisoner Toby Shone has had his mail restricted, although he is still able to receive messages sent through emailaprisoner.com. The UK has also seen a number of trials and sentences connected to the Palestine Action campaign, such as Mike Lynch-White, who is serving a 23 month sentence for taking actions against a weapons factory. You can donate to help support Mike here, and donate to the main Palestine Action legal fund here, as they continue to face a number of upcoming trials.

The Final Straw recently recorded an interview with Thomas Meyer-Falk, an anarchist ex-prisoner who’s just been released after 27 years in German prisons. The German state has also seen a major police operation against the Palestinian solidarity movement, following on from the criminalisation of the prisoner support group Samidoun.

In Greece, anarchist prisoner Pola Roupa has just been released from prison after serving a total of 13 and a half years.

ABC Belarus have published their latest round-up of news about anarchist and antifascist political prisoners in Belarus.

In Russia, the support team for the antifascists arrested in the Tyumen case have published a report of the last two months. You can donate to their legal costs here, and read more about the defendants here. Tyumen defendant Danil Chertykov has written a new open letter, which is translated and published here.

In Slovakia, long-time animal liberation prisoner Ladislav Kuc is due to be released soon, you can read more and find out how to donate to his release fund here.

The Final Straw recently broadcast an interview discussing the current case against antifascists in Hungary, where other European states such as Germany are helping the far-right Orban government’s crackdown. There are two solidarity sites for the Budapest defendants, Free the Budapest 2 and Budapest Antifascist Solidarity Committee.

In Italy, anarchist prisoner Alfredo Cospito has launched a new appeal against his sentence.

Indonesian anarchist prisoner Bima is fundraising for help to enable him to continue writing.

Atlanta Forest Defendants

According to Unoffensive Animal, the current list of Atlanta Forest/Cop City defendants is:

People who can accept any letter type or length:

• pen and marker only
• mail is scanned digitally to jail
• mail takes about 3 weeks to arrive

Victor

ADDRESS:

VICTOR PUERTAS
095610252
6B 215B
P.O Box 248
Lumpkin GA 31815 USA

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:

Tyre Means 49981-086
USP Atwater
P.O. Box 019001
Atwater, CA 95301

Kelly Jackson 50288-086
FCI Phoenix
Federal Correctional Institution
37910 N. 45th Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85086

Margaret Channon 49955-086
FCI Tallahassee (according to BOP locator info at time of writing)
P.O. Box 5000
Tallahassee, FL 32314

Gavaughn Streeter #19203494
Columbia River Correctional Institution
9111 NE Sunderland Ave
Portland, OR 97211

You can donate to Gavaughn’s post-release fundraiser here.

Malik Muhammad #23935744
Oregon State Penitentiary
2605 State Street
Salem, OR 97310

Cyan Waters Bass #23905849
Oregon State Correctional Institution
3405 Deer Park Drive SE
Salem, Oregon 97310

Montez Lee 22429-041
FCI Ray Brook
Federal Correctional Institution
PO Box 900
Ray Brook, NY 12977

Matthew White #21434-041
FCI Terre Haute
Federal Correctional Institution
P.O. BOX 33
Terre Haute, IN 47808

Matthew Rupert #55013-424
USP McCreary
P.O. Box 3000
Pine Knot, KY 42635

José Felan #54146-380
FCI Terre Haute
Federal Correctional Institution
P.O. Box 33
Terre Haute, IN  47808

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

Andrew Augustyniak-Duncan
Smart Communications/PA DOC
Andrew Duncan-Augustyniak / QN9211
SCI Rockview
PO Box 33028
St Petersburg, Florida 33733

Ellie Brett 14822509
FCI Petersburg Medium
Federal Correctional Institution
P.O. Box 1000
Petersburg, VA 23804

John Wade 14762509
FCI Beckley
Federal Correctional Institution
P.O. Box 350
General & Legal Mail
Beaver, WV 25813

Alvin Joseph 1002016959
Hays State Prison
PO Box 668
Trion, GA 30753

Richard Hunsinger 16066-509
FCI Forrest City Low
P.O. Box 9000
Forrest City, AR 72335

Diego Vargas 55070-424
FCI Allenwood Medium
PO Box 2000
White Deer, PA 17887

Howard Eugene Nall #586907
Newberry Correctional Facility
13747 E. County Road 428
Newberry, MI 49868

T’Andre Buchanan 67637-060
Milan FCI
PO Box 1000
Milan, MI 48160

Upcoming Birthdays

Ellie Brett

Ellie Brett is a George Floyd Uprising prisoner from Georgia, convicted of charges related to vandalism of government property and police cars. You can read a short statement from him here.

The Federal system uses Corrlinks, a system where a prisoner must send a request to connect to someone on the outside before they can exchange emails, so if you’re not already connected to John then you’re best off just sending him a card or a letter.

Birthday: December 1

Address:

Ellie Brett 14822509
FCI Petersburg Medium
Federal Correctional Institution
P.O. Box 1000
Petersburg, VA 23804

Kevin “Rashid” Johnson

Rashid has been an outspoken revolutionary prisoner for years and is highly active with the New Afrikan Black Panther Party and the Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee, facing harsh repression for his organizing and position as one of the public faces of the prison strike movement. He is currently fighting for adequate medical treatment after being diagnosed with cancer, and as noted above he may be facing an interstate transfer.

Virginia uses Jpay, so you can send him a message by going to jpay.com, clicking “inmate search”, then selecting “State: Virginia, Inmate ID: 1007485,” although Rashid’s access to mail including JPays may well be censored.

Birthday: December 3

Address:

Kevin “Rashid” Johnson #1007485
Red Onion State Prison
10800 H. Jack Rose Hwy.
Pound, VA 24279

Fred “Muhammad” Burton

Fred Burton is one of the Philly 5, a group of men accused of an alleged attack on a police station that left one officer killed. He was sentenced to a life term for murder. Burton has maintained his innocence since his arrest. His preferred name is Muhammad, but envelopes should be addressed to Fred Burton.

Pennsylvania uses Connect Network/GTL, so you can contact him online by going to connectnetwork.com, selecting “Add a facility,” choosing “State: Pennsylvania, Facility: Pennsylvania Department of Corrections”, going into the “messaging” service, and then adding him as a contact by searching his name or “AF3896”.

Birthday: December 15

Address:

Smart Communications/PA DOC
Fred Burton
AF3896
SCI Somerset
Post Office Box 33028
St Petersburg, Florida
33733

Alejandro Rodriguez-Ortiz

A former Vaughn 17 defendant. While the state has now dropped its attempts to criminalize Alejandro in relation to the uprising, all Vaughn-related prisoners continue to be targets for retaliation. Years later, these prisoners are still being abused for staying in solidarity with one another against the state.

Pennsylvania uses Connect Network/GTL, so you can contact him online by going to connectnetwork.com, selecting “Add a facility”, choosing “State: Pennsylvania, Facility: Pennsylvania Department of Corrections”, going into the “messaging” service, and then adding him as a contact by searching his name or “NW2883”.

Birthday: December 17

Address:

Smart Communications/PADOC
Alejandro Rodriguez-Ortiz, NW2883
SCI Rockview
PO Box 33028
St Petersburg, FL 33733

Julio A. Zuniga

Julio “Comrade Z” Zuniga is an anarchist prisoner, writer, artist, and IWW/IWOC member held in Texas. You can see some of his work at his instagram page, and check Mongoose Distro for some of his writings.

Birthday: December 23

Address:

Note: Texas prisons banned all greeting cards and postcards, although this policy may have changed as a result of the move to a fully digital mail system. Texas now uses Securus, so you can send him a message by creating an account at securustech.online, clicking “emessaging – launch account”, then searching his name while selecting “State: Texas, Inmate ID: 1961551”. Or to send him a letter on standard white paper that complies with Texas restrictions, write to:

TDCJ
Julio A. Zuniga #1961551
PO Box 660400
Dallas, TX 75266-0400

Casey Brezik

Anarchist prisoner serving time in Missouri.

Missouri uses Securus, so you should be able to send him a message by going to securustech.online, clicking “inmate search”, then selecting “State: Missouri, Inmate ID: 1154765”.

Birthday: December 30

Address:

Casey Brezik
Daviess/Dekalb County Regional Jail
102 Meadows Lane
Pattonsburg, Missouri 64670

Noah “Comrade Kado” Coffin

Anarchist prisoner and artist being held in long-term solitary confinement in Texas, and regular contributor to the Fire Ant zine. Noah now has an instagram page you can check out here, and his writings are published by Mongoose Distro. He was approved for parole in November 2022, but has not yet been released due to the lack of pre-release programming.

Birthday: December 30

Address:

Note: Texas prisons banned all greeting cards and postcards, although this policy may have changed as a result of the move to a fully digital mail system. Texas now uses Securus, so you can send him a message by creating an account at securustech.online, clicking “emessaging – launch account”, then searching his name while selecting “State: Texas, Inmate ID: 1795167”. Or to send him a letter on standard white paper that complies with Texas restrictions, write to:

TDCJ
Noah Coffin #1795167
PO Box 660400
Dallas, TX 75266-0400

You can also write to the Fire Ant Collective, who’ve set up a fund to support him, at:

Noah Coffin Fund
c/o Fire Ant
PO Box 164
Harmony, ME 04942

Jonathan Rodriguez

A former Vaughn 17 defendant. While the state has now dropped its attempts to criminalize Jonathan in relation to the uprising, all Vaughn-related prisoners continue to be targets for retaliation. Years later, these prisoners are still being abused for staying in solidarity with one another against the state.

Pennsylvania uses Connect Network/GTL, so you can contact him online by going to connectnetwork.com, selecting “Add a facility”, choosing “State: Pennsylvania, Facility: Pennsylvania Department of Corrections”, going into the “messaging” service, and then adding him as a contact by searching his name or “NU0434”.

Birthday: December 31

Address:

Smart Communications / PA DOC
Jonathan Rodriguez – NU0434
SCI Rockview
PO Box 33028
St. Petersburg, FL, 33733