May 1st – May Day letter-writing for Anarchist Prisoners

WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing
WHEN: May 1st, 2023
WHERE: your home (or wherever you happen to be)
COST: Free

“Give flowers to the rebels who failed,
Their sight fixed upon the break of dawn,
To the bold rebel who fights and works
To the far-seeing poet who sings and dies”
from Primo Maggio (The First of May),
by Pietro Gori, 1890

May Day is historically an anarchist holiday, which honors the date called for a nation-wide general strike for the 8 hour day work day in 1886. The tumultuous days that followed in the mid-western states resulted in multiple skirmishes and several casualties on both sides, and ultimately led to the railroaded conviction of 8 known anarchists from the Chicago scene. On November 11th, 1887, four anarchists were hanged—Albert Parsons, August Spies, George Engel, Adolph Fischer; Louis Lingg took his own life the night before to deny the state the satisfaction. Their sacrifice became symbolic of the sacrifices, struggles, and victories of anarchists the world over who have given their time, energy, and risked their lived and freedom for the Beautiful Ideal.

So this May Day NYC ABC is asking you to write letters to some anarchists and comrades currently held in U.S. prisons. Please drop them a line or send a card to let them know you are thinking of them. (Note: the addresses below are correct to the best of our knowledge as of the time of this posting, though in some cases links to info about their cases does not reflect this; ie, Casey’s address has changed due to new digitized mail protocols.)

Gage Halupowski #21894460
South Fork Forest Camp
48300 Wilson River Highway
Tillamook, Oregon 97141-9799

Alexander Contompasis 22-B-5028
Upstate Correctional Facility
Post Office Box 2001
Malone, New York 12953

Benjamin Varela #434577
Stafford Creek Corrections Center
191 Constantine Way
Aberdeen, Washington 98520

Eric King #27090-045
USP Florence ADMAX
Post Office Box 8500
Florence, Colorado 81226

Daniel Baker #25765-509
FCI Memphis
Post Office Box 34550
Memphis, Tennessee 38184

Marius Mason* #04672-061
FCI Danbury
Route 37
Danbury, Connecticut 06811
*Address envelope to Marie (Marius) Mason.

Xinachtli* #255735
W.G. McConnell Unit
3001 Emily Drive
Beeville, Texas 78102
*Address envelope to Alvaro Hernández

Casey Brezik #1154765
c/o Digital Mail Center- Missouri DOC
Post Office Box 25678
Tampa, Florida 33622-5678

Bill Dunne #10916-086
FCI Victorville Medium I
Post Office Box 3725
Adelanto, California 92301

Tuesday, January 24th – Letter Writing for Alex Stokes

WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing
WHEN: Tuesday, January 24th, 2023
WHERE: from wherever you happen to be
COST: Free

We are living in a time in which there is more to keep up with than is seemingly possible, both in terms of repression, but also resistance. As everyone reading this probably knows, forest defender Tortuguita was shot and killed in a raid by multiple armed police forces just days ago, on January 18th. There have also been several more arrests, with ‘terrorism’ charges being levied at even more protestors opposing Cop City. As horrific as this repression is, it points to the serious challenge posed to the Cop City project by the Forest Defenders, and the strength of the intersectional movements supporting them.

This brings to mind other recent episodes of heavy repression against those resisting oppression and fighting; the abolitionist uprising following the murder of George Floyd in the summer of 2020, and the anti-fascist resistance surrounding the attempted coup of January 2021. Fortunately, good people did what they could to help expose the murderous nature of racial policing in the United States in the former, and to help defend their communities against fascist violence in the latter. Unfortunately though, good comrades are being locked behind bars for both, sometimes with brutally long prison sentences.

One of these is Alex Stokes, who we are asking everyone to write to this week. From Alex’s support site:
On January 6, 2021, protestors gathered outside the New York State Capitol in Albany, NY in support of the Stop the Steal rally in Washington DC. A handful of counter protesters spoke out against them and a melee broke out after a Proud Boy tased a Black man in the neck. Alex was watching from the sidelines and ran to help others. Police did not intervene until the violence had ended and ultimately arrested three Black activists. Alex was charged with several violent felonies. The Proud Boys that engaged in the violence were not arrested at the scene.

Alex’s family and friends maintain that he was railroaded by the system. He was a journalist under a court-ordered gag-order for over a year. His previous work and experience with dangerous hate groups were inadmissible for his defense, but the prosecution picked apart his social media accounts and portrayed his actions as premeditated. He was found guilty on all charges and sentenced to 20 years in prison, despite the fact that no one died and neither of the victims received life-altering injuries.

In addition to being a journalist and an activist, Alex is also a talented artist with an interest in graphic novels if anyone wants to send him some reading material. There is also a donation page set up to help with Alex’s legal bills to help overturn the horrendously long sentence he is serving. More information at freealexstokes.com

NYC ABC is asking you to please help send Alex some love and solidarity. Write him a letter!
(As always, please refer to the “Write a Letter” section if it’s your first time writing someone inside.

Please take the time to write a letter to Alex (and share a photo of your completed envelopes with us online):
Alexander Contompasis 22-B-5028
Upstate Correctional Facility
Post Office Box 2001
Malone, New York 12953