Archive
Illustrated Guide Version 13.1 Uploaded!
We’ve finished the latest version of the NYC ABC “Illustrated Guide to Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War” and it’s available for viewing (and download) by clicking on the tab at the top of this page. This update includes updated mini-bios, photos, and address changes for several prisoners, as well as the removal of Joseph Buddenberg (completed sentence) and Brandon Baxter (see our statement). Unfortunately, it also includes the addition of recently-imprisoned water protectors Red Fawn Fallis, Little Feather, and Michael Foster.
NYC ABC Has Withdrawn Support for Brandon Baxter of the Cleveland 4
Illustrated Guide Version 12.3 Uploaded!
We’ve finished the latest version of the NYC ABC “Illustrated Guide to Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War” and it’s available for viewing (and download) by clicking on the tab at the top of this page. This update includes updated mini-bios, photos, and address changes for several prisoners.
Illustrated Guide Version 11.1 Now Uploaded!
We’ve finished the latest version of the NYC ABC “Illustrated Guide to Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War” and it’s available for viewing (and download) by clicking on the tab at the top of this page. This update includes updated mini-bios, photos, and address changes for several prisoner.
Illustrated Guide Version 11 Now Uploaded!
We’ve finished the latest version of the NYC ABC “Illustrated Guide to Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War” and it’s available for viewing (and download) by clicking on the tab at the top of this page. This update includes updated mini-bios, photos, and address changes for several prisoner.
Letter from Brandon Baxter
NOTE: The process Brandon is pursuing, the 2255, is the same one that Eric McDavid recently won.
—
Greetings,
Please consider echoing my appeal for solidarity.
I’d like to start by thanking everyone for their solidarity to this point. I’ve lived far more comfortably and with greater support than most others in prison. To be blunt, your constant insistence that I never feel forgotten has literally saved my life. I know that if early on I had not had that reassurance I would have committed suicide. So, thank you all for carrying me, kicking and screaming, throughout this.
Today I come to you with a dire need. When I plead guilty to the charges made against me I did so out of fear and ignorance. Since then I’ve grown wiser and educated myself in the law. My appeals are exhausted, and thus I am in the process of filing a 2255 writ of post conviction relief on the grounds of ineffective assistance of counsel, which I know as a matter of fact I will win. This will remand my case back to court for trial, and I intend to fight.
I will not fight though with a puppet of the state representing me against the state. I’ve learned my lesson in trusting public defenders and court appointed attorneys. This time around I will need a hired lawyer.
This request is for two specific forms of solidarity: The time and commitment of a trustworthy lawyer bent on social justice, and for funds for a defense. I have no set figure at the moment, but imagine it to be significant. More details can be found through my support committee once figures are developed.
What we will be fighting for is pivotal. The immediate goals is physical freedom from prison – which otherwise would last another 5-6 years – and a life time of federal supervised release (probation). The long term goal is to set legal precedence which can be utilized by others in prison under similar circumstances, currently and to come, to obtain their freedom, as well as to prevent similar episodes in the future. This goal will be much more difficult to achieve, but is far from impossible. The final goal will be financial retribution for the costs of the defense itself, and for the time I’ve currently spent incarcerated, along with the psychological toll that incarceration has taken upon me. If obtained, these funds will be dedicated to reimburse all of those who have supported the Cleveland 4 to this point, and to future prisoner support endeavors.
To get in contact with my support committee, go to:
http://www.cleveland4solidarity.org, or email: cleveland4letters@gmail.com
In Love & Rage,
Brandon Baxter
BK/NY – Tuesday, January 6th – Letter-Writing Dinner For the Cleveland 4
WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, January 6th, 2015
WHERE: The Base – 1302 Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11221 (directions below)
NOTE: The Base is on the ground floor, is wheelchair accessible, and has a gender neutral toilet.
COST: Free
First: Happy New Year! If you didn’t get a chance to come to the New Year’s Eve noise demonstration we organized, expect a reportback soon. To hear nearly so many people calling out the names of comrades locked behind walls as we stood outside of the Metropolitan Correctional Center was motivating. Much of that energy still lingers, pushing us to continue the work of supporting our comrades who are still in prison. By now, you probably know that one way we do that is through every-other-week political prisoner letter-writing dinners. We’ve lost count, but this week’s dinner will be about the 195th we’ve hosted. This week we are focusing on the Cleveland 4.
The Cleveland 4 are four Occupy Cleveland activists— Brandon, Skelly, Connor, and Doug. They were arrested on April 30th, 2012, days before national May Day protests. They were accused of plotting a series of bombings, including that of an area bridge. However, the real story is that FBI informants and undercover agents had a heavy hand in creating the alleged plot, produced the explosives, and coerced the four into participating. For more information, be sure to visit cleveland4solidarity.org
We expect to see you on Tuesday. If you can’t make it, please take the time to write a letter (or send a book) to the Four:
Brandon Baxter #57972-060
FDC Oakdale
Post Office Box 5010
Oakdale, Louisiana 71463
Skelly* #57976-060
USP Tucson
Post Office Box 24550
Tucson, Arizona 85734
*Address envelope to Joshua Stafford.
Connor Stevens #57978-060
FCI McKean
Post Office Box 8000
Bradford, Pennsylvania 16701
Douglas L. Wright #57973-060
USP Coleman 1
Post Office Box 1033
Coleman, Florida 33521
Queens – Tuesday, March 5th – Joint Letter-writing with Occupy Astoria-LIC
WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, March 5th, 2013
WHERE: Redeemer Episcopal Church – 30-14 Crescent Street Astoria, New York 11106 (directions below)
COST: Free
Normally we open the announcement for our every-other-week letter-writing dinners with something scathing or silly or pop-culture referential. However, this week we’re facing good and bad news very near to us. Comrades in the northwest, refusing to cooperate with a federal grand jury, have been released. One of the Angola 3 had his conviction overturned for a third time in 40 years and might finally get free. In worse news, the Canadian government is on a witch hunt to capture and extradite U.S. citizens they hope to scapegoat for property destruction during the 2010 G20 summit in Toronto.
So, while many in this country are distracted by the latest celebrity gossip, we continue to have friends and comrades getting locked up and subpoenaed. There is still an active, international fight against the state and capital and an equally active campaign to quell it. While the wealthy and their lapdog media attempt to ignore or downplay these realities, we’re still here supporting our comrades. Part of that support includes being there for those who have been locked up. And with that comes another Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner!
This week, NYC ABC is hitting the road, linking up with comrades from Occupy Astoria-LIC. In the six years that we’ve been hosting our every-other-week events, we’ve held them in four of the five boroughs. You’re next, Staten Island!
On the suggestion of Occupy Astoria-LIC, this week we’ll be sending cards to Occupy-related folks who are currently locked up. You can learn about the cases of the following Occupy movement-related prisoners and write letters to them:
NATO 5
Cleveland 4
Eric Marquez
Jack Rusk
Pacific Northwest Grand Jury Resistor Read more…
NYC Anarchist Black Cross 