BK/NY – Tuesday, October 19th – A Green Scare(y) Halloween Card-Writing

WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, October 19th, 2021
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

It’s tradition for anarchists to make their own traditions. A century ago there was a full calendar of anarchist un-holidays, from honoring the Haymarket Martyrs on November Eleventh, to celebrating May Day as a workers’ holiday (also an homage of sorts to the Haymarket folks), and marking the anniversaries of the Paris Commune, the Mexican Revolution, and other events that stirred the anarchist diaspora’s collective heart.

NYC ABC has continued this tradition of DIY traditions, not to replicate the holidays of hierarchy and superstition, but to help build a revolutionary culture in which we can celebrate and hold place for our ideals (or The Ideal, as Emma Goldman would say) amidst the vicissitudes of human existence. We were able to restart one such tradition just two weeks ago, with our first in person letter writing event since March of 2020. And this coming Tuesday, we will mark another on our calendar, our annual Green Scare(Y) letter writing to earth and animal liberation prisoners.

As the recent conviction and sentencing of Jessica Reznicek unfortunately demonstrates, the corporate/state tactic of labeling those engaged in sabotage for earth and animal defense as terrorists remains in place, even as Marius Mason remains imprisoned with the same ridiculous enhancement. Since the early 1980s, public relations hacks have been working to reify the term “eco-terrorism.” By 2004, they became successful and a phrase that a decade earlier had no real meaning was now defined by the United States government and used to introduce legislation. In the face of global ecologic destruction and animal torture, those who try to end the suffering are the ones labeled terrorists.

So come join as we enact tangible solidarity by writing letters to our Green Scare comrades inside. While it can’t be said that this is a joyous occasion, it is a celebration of solidarity, and we can’t think of anything more worthwhile to celebrate than that.

Please take the time to send cards or write letters to Marius and Jessica:

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

Jessica Reznicek #19293-030
FCI Waseca
Post Office Box 1731
Waseca, Minnesota 56093

BK/NY – Tuesday, October 5th – Letter-Writing For Jessica Reznicek

WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, October 5th, 2021
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

Aaaaaand…WE. ARE. BACK. After over 18 months of virtual events in support of political prisoners and prisoners of war, NYC ABC and Page One Collective are heading back to The Base, back to in-person events, and back to serving up some hot information on the folks we support. Speaking of hot, the world is on fire–figuratively and literally, largely the result of actions taken by greedy humans in pursuit of capital expansion and exploiting everything possible in the process. So it’s fitting that in our return to political prisoner letter-writing events, we focus on Jessica Reznicek, currently serving an eight year federal prison sentence for eco-defense.

Jessica Reznicek is a 40 year old land and water defender who has worked with and lived in the Des Moines Catholic Worker Community for the last 10 years. Jessica grew up in a small town in rural Iowa.

In 2016, Jessica took a stand against the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline in Iowa. Jessica attended public comment hearings, gathered signatures for valid requests for Environmental Impact Statements, and participated in civil disobedience, hunger strikes, marches & rallies, boycotts & encampments.

When the process failed, she concluded the system was broken, and it was up to individuals to take action and protect the water. She and a fellow Catholic Worker then spent the next couple months disabling construction machinery along the pipeline route.

In early 2021, Jessica pleaded guilty to one count of Conspiracy to Damage an Energy Facility and on June 30 was designated a domestic terrorist by the court and sentenced to 8 years in prison, followed by 3 years supervised probation, and a restitution of $3,198,512.70 paid to Energy Transfer LLC. More information at supportjessicareznicek.com

If you can’t make it out, but still want to support Jessica, you can write to her at:
Jessica Reznicek #19293-030
FCI Waseca
Post Office Box 1731
Waseca, Minnesota 56093

Illustrated Guide Version 14.3 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. Unfortunately, we are adding prisoners to the guide this month–Yellow Finch Treesit eco-defense activists Wren and Acre. We are thankful to remove (take a deep breath) Carmen Trotta, Martha Hennessy, & Stephen Kelly (Kings Bay Plowshares 7); Jaan Laaman; Loren Reed; Skelly (Cleveland 4); and Water Protector Steve Martinez.

Illustrated Guide Version 14.1 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. Unfortunately, we are adding prisoners to the guide this month–Plowshares activists Clare Grady and Martha Hennessy and Water Protector Steve Martinez.

BK/NY – Tuesday, March 9th – Letter Writing To Grand Jury Resister Steve Martinez

WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing
WHEN: 7pm, Tuesday, March 9th, 2021
WHERE: YOUR HOME
COST: Free

Hey, everyone, who likes sweet and sour? Us, too! But what we’re being fed right now by the state’s lapdog–corporate media, is saccharine sweet to keep some of us placated, ultra sour to keep others of us divided, and 100% rotting us from the inside. This steady diet of nothing keeps most of us distracted from the hammer held above our heads, just out of sight, ready to fall when we step out of line. For those who refuse the distraction, who face the full brunt of state repression, NYC ABC and Page One Collective again come together to show support. Please join us this week in writing letters to water protector and grand jury resister Steve Martinez.

Steve Martinez, an Indigenous and Chicano activist who participated in the protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) on the Standing Rock reservation in North Dakota in 2016, is being held on charges of contempt of court for refusing to testify before a federal grand jury.

Steve invoked the Fifth Amendment in an effort to avoid participation in the grand jury. The Fifth Amendment protects individuals from being forced to testify against themselves in court. In a common procedure intended to coerce testimony, the judge in the case granted Steve immunity, meaning that he could no longer be charged with crimes associated with his testimony. In so doing, the judge created the conditions by which Steve could be forced to testify or jailed if he refused to do so. Steve can now be held for as long as the grand jury before which he has been called remains empaneled. For more information and resources on grand jury resistance, visit supportstevemartinez.com

Please take the time to write a letter to Steve (and share a photo of your completed envelopes with us online):
Steve Martinez
Burleigh County Detention Center
Post Office Box 2499
Bismarck, North Dakota 58502

Illustrated Guide Version 14 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. Unfortunately, we are adding prisoners to the guide this month–Plowshares activists Patrick O’Neill and Carmen Trotta. We are thankful to remove Rattler (halfway house!) and Joseph Dibee (pre-trial house arrest).

BK/NY – Tuesday, February 11th – Letter-Writing Dinner For Water Protectors

WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, February 11, 2020
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

At a recent event in support of political prisoners, we were once again reminded by elders who either have spent time behind bars themselves or have supported those who have, that supporting folks snatched up by the State is of the utmost importance for any political movement and associated communities. Throughout the history of European expansion across the globe, indigenous folks have put their bodies on the line in order to stop the spread of colonialism. This struggle has shown itself in recent years in the fight against the expansion of American capitalist and colonial powers onto indigenous land to build pipelines that threaten not only the sovereignty and autonomy of those who live there, but also the water and ecology which sustains the region. Time and time again we see repression chasing down the strength of those who fight against these forces in an effort to isolate folks and put a stop to these movements. Water protectors are no exception. With that in mind, NYC ABC will be writing to Red Fawn Fallis and Rattler (Michael Markus) for our every-other-week political prisoner letter-writing dinner.

On October 27th, 2016 Red Fawn and over 140 other water protectors were arrested on the front lines of Standing Rock during a massive police raid on a camp of resisters. Red Fawn was initially accused of firing on local cops while being arrested and charged with attempted murder but those charges have since been dropped and Red Fawn was then transferred into federal custody to face three federal charges related to possessing a firearm while being a felon. Red Fawn has been steadfast in her dedication to the struggle by putting her body on the line despite the endless attacks of the local cops and private security hired by the pipeline company and being arrested on two other occasions during her stay.  In 2018 Red Fawn took a non-cooperating plea deal in which the State dropped the charge which carried the longest sentence (10yrs-life) with the stipulation that she plead guilty to the other two charges. For more info on Red Fawn: standwithredfawn.org

Rattler’s charges stem from alleged actions that took in the previously mentioned police raid at Standing Rock on October 27th, 2016.   He was initially charged with Civil Disorder and Use of Fire to Commit a Federal Felony Offense. The latter carries a minimum of 10 years imprisonment. In 2018, Rattler took a non-cooperating plea deal in which the State dropped the Fire charge he plead guilty to the Civil Disorder charge. He was subsequently sentenced to three years in federal prison. For more info on Rattler: freerattlernodapl.com

If for whatever reason you are not able to join us, please write to Red Fawn and Rattler:
Red Fawn Fallis #16358-059
FCI Dublin
5701 8th Street–Camp Parks
Dublin, California 94568

Rattler* #06280-073
FCI Sandstone
Post Office Box 1000
Sandstone, Minnesota 55072
*Address envelope to Michael Markus

Illustrated Guide Version 14.2 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. Unfortunately, we are adding two prisoners to the guide this month–anti-racist Eric Hancock and grand jury resister Chelsea Manning. We are thankful to remove water protector Dion Ortiz (halfway house!).

Illustrated Guide Version 13.11 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. Unfortunately, we are adding one prisoner to the guide this month–Standing Rock 6 water protector Rattler.

Illustrated Guide Version 13.10 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.