Below is a translation of a call from the Free Luis Fernando Sotelo Campaign regarding an organizing meeting in Mexico City and actions that those from afar can take to support his release. Fernando is an anarchist political prisoner jailed since 2014. Following the call is a new letter from Fernando.

To the compañerxs in solidarity

Regarding Luis Fernando Sotelo Zambrano.

On February 6 of this year, the collective Los otros Abogadoz submitted a direct appeal against the latest decision of the Fourth Criminal Court of Mexico City. The appeal was again referred to the Second Collegiate Criminal Court of the First Circuit, which leaves our compañero in a state of complete powerlessness, as this was the same court that reviewed the previous appeal and denied Luis Fernando’s freedom. That ruling made clear their opinion that the criteria of Article 362 of Mexico City’s penal code [disturbing public order] is constitutional, although we know that this criminal code is utilized to politically persecute the social movement.

Thus, the solidarity lawyers have solicited the supreme court to exercise their jurisdiction and resolve Luis’ appeal and pass down a ruling that Article 362 is unconstitutional. This is essential, not only for the freedom of our compañero, but for the political-judicial struggle that for years we have undertaken against the persecution and criminalization of social protest.

In light of the above, we call on everyone, each one of the organizations, collectives and compañerxs in solidarity, to organize one last effort seeking the absolution and immediate freedom of our compañero. It has already been 3 years and 5 months that Luis Fernando has been kidnapped by the state. He has continued resisting, knowing that outside there are those that organize, resist and struggle for his freedom and for the freedom of all of the prisoners. Those of us who recognize Luis as our compañero in struggle should not only show their solidarity in a speech or banner, but with the responsibility that comes with calling ourselves compañerxs. It is the moment to connect and gather all our forces, as this is the final stage of his judicial process. It is our turn politically not to abandon him, but to accompany him. We need to apply pressure and raise our voice, so that the supreme court sees that he is not alone, that the force of the lawyers is backed with social organization.

As such, we call for:

A broad meeting for the absolute freedom of Luis Fernando Sotelo Zambrano

Thursday, March 22 at 6:00 pm in Casa Tamatz (Fray Juan de Torquemada #76.  Second floor.  Colonia Obrera.  A couple blocks from Metro Chabacano)

To generate an action plan that, accompanying the legal route, seeks to achieve the freedom of our compañero knowing that the legal recourses are depleted, that time is up and as such so are the possibilities of the absolution of our compañero.

We similarly join the call of Los otros Abogadoz, and we call for a national and international campaign of letters, emails, phone calls and statements directed to:

Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nación
Pino Suárez No. 2, Colonia Centro, Delegación Cuauhtémoc, CP 06065,
México, Ciudad de México.

E-mail: [email protected]
Facebook: @SCJNMéxico
Twitter: @SCJN

With this campaign we want to make clear the injustice with which our compañero has been treated, where [Mexico City Mayor] Miguel Angel Mancera has fabricated a case against him without any evidence. We also recognize the important of declaring the unconstitutionality of Article 362 for being an arm of repression against protest. We want the judicial officials to take account of the relevance of the matter. Since they can respond to this request at any moment, it is thus necessary to intensify this campaign in the next two weeks.

In this last step, we will not leave our compañero alone, more than ever we need to unify our voices and actions, fully committing ourselves to the ethical and political responsibility that we have in calling him our imprisoned compañero and not giving up in the struggle for the freedom of all and each of our compañerxs.

For the absolute freedom of Luis Fernando Sotelo

Let the rage unite!
Let the wind blow!
Let the storm intensify!

Free Luis Fernando Campaign

Letter from Luis Fernando Sotelo Zambrano from South Prison, Mexico City

March 18, 2018

To the individuals and compañerxs in solidarity

In the struggle for freedom from prison, there are many steps to be taken. Because of the political nature of this process, I’m often wondering of its usefulness.

The process is linked to control and social repression carried out by capitalist interests. For the governors of the state, it is a plan to continue repressing social protest, a priority to reorganize their forces to make possible the plunder of the earth—that which is glimpsed in the unending war of extermination against Indigenous peoples and dissident groups.

It is within this context that I ask everyone to engage in action.

Currently the compañeros of Los Otros Abogadoz have been working without rest in solidarity with me against the sentence I received.

On March 5, I was notified that again the appeal was assigned to the Second Collegiate Court – the same court that last time ruled in support of the constitutionality of Article 362 regarding attacks on public peace. Thus, a petition of mine currently sits in the Supreme Court of the Nation asking that they take up the appeal and resolve the issue.

I know the struggle to accompany a political prisoner is both a judicial and political struggle.  Thus, the judicial route is something that must be carried out, alongside the construction of the autonomous and free world that is sought out by each rebellious heart.

Within the petition mentioned, there is the possibility that the Supreme Court of the Nation emits a statement arguing of the social benefits of Article 362, whose framework has served to detain people in marches and mobilizations, giving rise to the criminalization of social protest.

Therefore, I’m trying to build a robust campaign, in the following 15 days, of letters, calls, emails and mobilizations, as well as whatever gesture of solidarity, intended to make visible the petition and to ask that the Supreme Court take the case.

Email: [email protected]
Facebook: @SCJNMéxico

Telephone: Luis María Aguilar Morales: 4113 1000 Ext1. 1303 Ext2. 1304 Fax. 41950913
José Ramón Cossío Días: 4113 1000 ext1. 1006 Fax 4113 1642 Direct Telephone: 4113 1006
Norma Lucía Piña Hernández: 4113 1000 Ext1. 2409

Address: Pino Suárez No. 2, Colonia Centro, Delegación Cuauhtémoc, C.P. 06065, México, Ciudad de México

Twitter: @SCJN

Let the rage unite!
Let the wind blow!
Let the storm intensify!

Luis Fernando Sotelo