Apr 29, 19
Filed under: Announcement, Political Prisoners, Publication
Inspired by the spirit of the Political Prisoners Birthday crew, here’s a short listing of some rebel prisoners who have upcoming birthdays in May.
For an introduction on how to write to prisoners and some things to do and not to do, go here. If you have the time, please also check IWOC’s listing of prisoners facing retaliation for prison strike-related organizing.
Xinachtli (Alvaro Luna Hernandez)
Xinachtli (Nahuatl, meaning “seed”) is a community organizer from Texas. Police informants were used to monitor Xinachtli’s organizing activities in the barrio. They were told Xinachtli was “typing legal papers,” “had many books” and was working on police brutality cases in Alpine. The police knew of Xinachtli’s history of community-based organizing and his legal skills. Xinachtli was recognized nationally and internationally as the national coordinator of the Ricardo Aldape Guerra Defense Committee, which led the struggle to free Mexican national Aldape Guerra from Texas’ death row after being framed by Houston police for allegedly killing a cop. Xinachtli’s human rights work was recognized in Italy, France, Spain, Switzerland, Mexico and other countries. He was sentenced in Odessa, Texas on June 2-9, 1997 to 50 years in prison for defending himself by disarming a police officer drawing a weapon on him. The trial evidence clearly showed Xinachtli was the victim of witch hunts and a police-orchestrated conspiracy to frame or eliminate him.
Birthday: May 12
Address:
Alvaro Luna Hernandez #255735
James V Allred Unit
2101 FM 369 North
Iowa Park, TX 76367
Abednego Baynes
A former Vaughn 17 defendant. Baynes was found innocent of all charges in relation to the uprising, but he has still been punished with a move out of state, and deserves respect and support for staying in solidarity with his codefendants throughout the process and refusing to cooperate with the prosecution.
Birthday: May 20
Address:
Smart Communications/PADOC
Abednego Baynes, NT0594
SCI Frackville
PO Box 33028
St Petersburg, FL 33733
Abednego Baynes, NT0594
SCI Frackville
PO Box 33028
St Petersburg, FL 33733
Dzmitry Paliyenka
Dzmitry Paliyenka is an anarchist from Belarus who has faced serious state repression. He was recently released from prison after serving a three-year sentence for assaulting a police officer during a demonstration, but has been taken back into custody and is currently held awaiting trial on charges related to anti-police graffiti.
Birthday: May 26
Address:
You can use this handy form from ABC Belarus who can translate your message for you, or email it via belarus_abc(AT)riseup.net or send mail in Russian or Belarussian to:
You can use this handy form from ABC Belarus who can translate your message for you, or email it via belarus_abc(AT)riseup.net or send mail in Russian or Belarussian to:
220050 Minsk, ul. Volodarskogo, 2, SIZO-1
Belarus
Polienko Dmitry Aleksandrovich
Belarus
Polienko Dmitry Aleksandrovich
Kojo Bomani Sababu (Grailing Brown)
Kojo Bomani Sababu is a New Afrikan Prisoner of War serving a 55 year sentence. Kojo was captured on December 19th 1975 along with anarchist Ojore Lutalo during a bank expropriation. He was subsequently charged with conspiracy for an alleged plan to use rockets, hand grenades and a helicopter in an attempt to free Puerto Rican Prisoner of War Oscar Lopez Rivera from the federal prison where he was serving.
Birthday: May 27
Address:
Grailing Brown
#39384-066
USP Canaan
P.O. Box 300
Waymart, PA 18472
USP Canaan
P.O. Box 300
Waymart, PA 18472
Bomani Shakur (Keith LaMar)
Bomani Shakur is on death row awaiting execution after being convicted of involvement in the 1993 Lucasville Uprising. He turns 50 this year, and his friends are organizing a fund to get him a surprise birthday present that you can donate to here.
Birthday: May 31
Address:
Keith LaMar, #317117
OSP
878 Coitsville-Hubbard Road
Youngstown, OH 4450
Doug Wright
One of the Cleveland 4, entrapped in an FBI sting operation aiming to undermine the Occupy movement.
Birthday: May 31
Address:
Doug Wright #57973-060
USP Victorville
P.O. BOX 3900
ADELANTO, CA 92301