Category: Prisoner Support

Epona Rose is a woman of trans experience who was attacked on the street in Kinlani/ Flagstaff, Arizone by a group of men while two or more watched. The men were drunk and sexually harrassing her, the attack escalated into threats of rape and then physical violence when they realized she was transgender.

Epona defended herself bravely against this attack and did not call the police. She was targeted when cops arrived and they arrested her.

She is currently being held on the men’s side of the Coconino County Jail in segregation with one hour a day out of her cell, where she has struggled to gain access to her prescribed medications.

Current bond is set for $500,000 but the support team is fiercely working to overturn such an excessive amount and the outrageous charges.

The longer Epona is in jail, the much more at risk she is exposed to as a trans woman& abolitionist.

We cannot let Epona be made an example out of demanding the basic rights of genderqueer, third gender, Two Spirit, and/or trans people to exist!

“In the year of a state of emergency, I’m still alive… I defended myself against three men. They classified me as male in here. I don’t feel safe around other men”- Epona

For her commissary, phone and potential bond, please send donations to her family’s accounts specifying the donations are for Epona.
Paypal: @brokebackwolfpack
Venmo: @brokebackwolfpack
Cashapp: $brokebackwolfpack
@freeeponarose

In 2021, Jessica Reznicek was sentenced to eight years in prison. August 11, 2023, she has served two of those years. Jessica is incarcerated at FCI Waseca.

Jessica was sentenced to prison for taking action to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline in 2016, including direct action by dismantling construction equipment and pipeline valves. Due to the court classifying Jessica as a domestic terrorist, her prison sentence was significantly extended.

Jessica is 40 years old. On their website, her support crew describes Jessica as follows: “Jessica has a deep love for nature, camping, swimming, hiking, theology, music, gardening, laughter and eco-sustainability, as well as a commitment to self-discovery through deep relationships cultivated in intentional faith-based community living.”

Right now there is a campaign going on with the aim of Jessica not being classified as a domestic terrorist, which would mean that her time in prison would be greatly shortened (by roughly halving the prison sentence).

There are several ways to support Jessica, like writing her letters.

More information about Jessica, how to support and show solidarity, as well signing the campaign, can be found on the website: http://supportjessicareznicek.com

(Jessica’s support crew can also be found on Facebook and Twitter, where information about Jessica’s case is continuously updated)

THE STATE IS THE TERRORIST – UNTIL ALL ARE FREE

People living in cages can easily get depressed, who would have thought? Prisoners are forced to live away from their social support, family/friends might not visit often, they might not get along well with cellmates. Humans are social animals, we need connection to survive. After being forced through the justice system, prisoners deserve better. One of the things we can do to help is write to them, here are the basics on how to do that!

Before you get to writing here’s some things to know:

Be aware that some prisons restrict the number of letters a prisoner can write/receive, so you won’t always get a reply. Prisoners might also not have access to stamps or envelopes (you can try sending stamps with your letter).

Letters can be read by guards before being given to the prisoner, so don’t write anything you wouldn’t want them to see. Don’t draw any imagery that could be considered “gang related” (the anarchy symbol is included in this unfortunately).

Make sure you include a return address, some prisons won’t accept letters without them (it doesn’t have to be your address). Use clean plain paper and new envelopes. Don’t glue any pictures to your letter.

When writing for the first time, try and keep it short to avoid overwhelming them. Tell them facts about yourself, who you are, what you do, etc. Let them know about your political views if you want and let them know you support their actions. Lighten things up with stories, don’t be afraid to talk about fun things you’ve done or your everyday life, prison life is boring and hearing about the outside world livens it up.

Looking for prisoners to write? The Unoffensive Animal website has a list under “Prisoner Support”. We also offer the ability to write a letter online that can be sent by us with a donation to cover the costs.

Get out there and make a new friend!

*This PDF is a good resource for extra info, and it’s also where I picked up most of these tips: https://bristolabc.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/writing-to-prisoners.pdf

Solidarity

On the 19th of June 2022, people from the Animal Freedom Movement (now Animal Rising) occupied MBR Acres. Five puppies were liberated, and people filmed the awful conditions MBR keeps thousands of dogs in before sending them off to an even worse fate. A large banner reading ‘END ANIMAL TESTING’ was displayed on the property before multiple arrests were made.

During a recent two-day trial, eight people were found guilty of aggravated trespass and have received conditional discharges or fines. It is especially interesting given that the activists who liberated the puppies during this action and later handed themselves in had their charges dropped. Clearly, MBR isn’t keen on a court case that would involve them answering awkward questions about the dogs and the legality of the conditions they keep them in. However, that isn’t stopping them from going after activists for other charges.

We hope the doggos are living their best life and the activists can cope well with the fines. At this time, we have not seen any fundraising to cover legal costs.

SOLIDARITY!

Leonard Peltier is an activist for Native American rights, almost eighty years old (78 years), who has spent more than four and a half decades in prison (46 years), in the so called USA. Some of his incarceration Leonard has been forced to spend in solitary confinement, Over the years, Leonard’s support crew has worked tirelessly for his release. According to them, there is now hope that Leonard can be released from prison in the future. 

In 1977, Leonard was convicted in highly questionable ways for a crime he did not commit, the murder of two FBI agents. Since then, Leonard has been held captive by the state, with neither the possibility of reparation for the wrongs that occurred during his trial, nor the possibility of parole.

Remember! The state is never on the same side as those who are fighting for liberation, be that human or animal liberation. How Leonard has been treated is a disgusting example of the state’s oppression of minorities, repression and revenge against activists. 

There are several ways to help Leonard, so that he hopefully can spend the last years of his life outside the prison walls, and getting the help that he needs (Leonard is unfortunately not in good health). For example, drawing attention to Leonard’s case, writing him a letter, or contributing financially to the campaign for Leonard’s release. 

UNTIL ALL ARE FREE! 

Read more about Leonard’s case, how to donate, write letters: https://www.whoisleonardpeltier.info

In March 2021 in Bristol, UK, the rage against the abuse and oppression by the police boiled up during a demonstration against a new policing bill introduced by parliament. When police attacked protesters fought back defending themselves against pepper spray, batons, shields and charges on horseback. By the end of the evening, several police vehicles had been set alight.

The ‘outrageous’ action of defending themselves caused the police to seek revenge, and they have been targeting the community ever since. Over 78 people have been arrested and 50 or more have been charged. At least 29 people have been sentenced to time in prison, with sentences ranging from just a few months to up to 14 years.

Bristol ABC has been handling the support work for all prisoners from the Kill The Bill protests. Since the beginning of their fundraiser they have managed to gather over 50k GBP, but last month they published an urgent call for support as their money reserves were dropping rapidly.

They send £50 per month to each individual prisoner currently serving time, which is used for topping up phone credits and other essential items in prison. There are twenty current prisoners, which means they use £1000 a month. They only have £2000 left in their accounts, so they are in a really dire situation.

As well as the £50 allowance, they also support released prisoners, families of prisoners and folks doing prison visits.

Please, consider sending just a few coins to Bristol ABC. We have a combined 20k people reach. If all of you send 1 coin, they would reach the 70k GBP they want to raise.

You can read more about the fundraiser, see how money is being used and donate here: 

https://www.gofundme.com/f/ktb-prisoner-support-fund

You can read about the work Bristol ABC is doing here: 

https://bristolabc.org

And you can find KTB prisoner addresses here: 

https://bristolabc.org/prisoners/

SOLIDARITY FOREVER!

Dan Baker, vegan and anarchist, has been imprisoned since 2021, but is now finally released from prison! 

Dan has been part of the International Freedom Battalion in Rojava. Dan was also active in the George Floyd uprising. In 2021, Dan was sentenced to 44 months in prison, for posting on social media about the importance of self-defense against fascists, during the January 6 riots in Washington, D.C. On July 7, 2023, Dan was finally free, and walked out of prison. 

Dan has had a hard time in prison. For example, Dan went on hunger strike, and was also attacked by fascists. Dan is now looking forward to starting a better life outside the prison walls, with friends and loved ones. 

Unfortunately, the difficulties are not over for Dan. Dan must immediately find a job and a home. Otherwise, Dan risks being forced back to prison again. 

A release fund has been set up to help Dan. It is urgent that the fundraiser quickly reaches its goal. Almost 3k of the 5k USD have already been raised, please join in and help a comrade! You can donate, and read about what Dan needs, in the links below.

Dan Bakers Release fund: https://fundrazr.com/DanBaker2023

Dan Baker – Request For Aid: https://mongoosedistro.com/2023/06/20/request-for-aid-upon-release-from-prison-by-dan-baker/

SOLIDARITY FOREVER 

June11th serves both as a day of solidarity for all long term anarchist prisoners and to fundraise funds for Marius Mason, who was sentenced to 22 years in prison for arson and is not scheduled to be released til 2027. We are happy to hear that the fundraiser for Marius Masons has reached beyond half of the set goal. 

This is good news! But there is still a bit to go before the fundraiser reach the goal of 2500$ (which is what Marius needs to get by for a year in prison). Any donations will be deeply appreciated. 

If you want to donate, you will find the fundraiser here: https://supportmariusmason.org/donate/

If you are searching for information about Marius, background on his case, prisoner support, you will find information here: https://supportmariusmason.org/

UNTIL ALL ARE FREE!

In 2019 in Quebec, Canada, folks entered a pig farm to orchestrate a blockade. Eleven people were arrested and charged with breaking and entering and impeding a police officer. As well as the blockade, they released a huge amount of footage showcasing the horrible conditions the pigs had to endure in their confinement.

After the action, the footage obtained was publicly released, causing a huge ripple effect. MAPAQ (the Ministry of Agriculture in Quebec), had never once inspected the Progreg farm in their forty years of existence. They visited the farm just a week after the occupation for the first time since the farm had opened, which made the farm lose its licence. Due to the pressure and footage from the activists they ended up losing all investors and customers, shutting down the farm for good.

Since then, the eleven activists have had a long process through their trial, where the farmer insisted that they had turned the thermostats in the breeding units down and complained about the fact that they had to close down.

All activists were found guilty and sentencing was delivered last week. From the eleven, five people received suspended sentences, and six folks received conditional discharges. They also received two years of probation and ordered to pay a 500 dollars fine to a charity of the judge’s choice, as well as 100 hours of community service.

Solidarity with all fighting against human supremacy!

We’ve received a fundraiser for a 10,000 GBP fine split between three people after a criminal damage action in Scotland.

This is Rigged demands the Scottish government to vocally oppose any new fossil fuel projects in the country. In March 2023 two people visited the Wallace monument in Srtirling and smashed the glass containing William Wallace’s sword. They were inspired by a previous action by Suffragette Ethel Moorhead, who 111 years ago used a rock that read “YOUR LIBERTIES WERE WON BY THE SWORD, RELEASE THE WOMEN WHO ARE FIGHTING FOR THEIR LIBERTIES, STOP THE FORCIBLE FEEDING, A PROTEST FROM DUBLIN” to smash the glass around the sword.

This is Rigged also used a rock to smash the glass case, which read: “YOUR LIBERTIES WERE WON BY THE SWORD, YOUR RIGHTS WERE WON BY THE SUFFRAGETTES. NO NEW OIL AND GAS. FAIR TRANSITION NOW”

This month, the two activists and a third person who did nothing else but film the action were ordered to pay a combined fine of £10,000. They are trying to raise those funds so that the burden of facing the force of the government is not simply put on them.

If you are able to, please consider donating, even if it is just a few coins. The amount of money is huge, but the fundraiser is gaining momentum and it can be achieved! If you’re unable to support economically, please share this post, or their posts in social media, so more people are able to help! Fundraiser link:

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/wallace-action-court-fines

socials:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Thisis_rigged
Instagram: @thisis.rigged
Twitter: @Thisis_Rigged

SOLIDARITY!