Two writings by anarchist prisoner John Paul Wootton. The first writing is his thoughts on the injustice system and the use of prisons by the state which realistically culminates in a complete waste of time to what the claim of why prisons are used, i.e. to “rehabilitate” people that commit “crimes” to make them “better and functional members of society”.
John Paul’s second writing is a reflection on why he became vegan and why he will remain vegan. John Paul is still struggling in the prison system to gain full rights to living a more vegan life in prison.
John Paul has been imprisoned with his co-accused Brendan McConville for the last 10 years. Both men have been falsely convicted of the shooting dead of a cop in Craigavon, Ireland in 2009. Ever since the two have been fighting the injustice imposed on them by the British colonial system.
For more information on John Paul Wootton and the case of the Craigavon 2 see this previous article.
To send letters and support to John Paul Wootton or Brendan McConville the prison address is:
[NAME]
HM Prison Maghaberry
17 Old Road,
Lisburn BT28 2PT, UK
– Continue reading
Comments Off on Northern Ireland: Writings and reflections by anarchist prisoner John Paul Wootton | tags: Craigavon 2, Ireland, John Paul Wootton, Letter, UK | posted in Prisoner News
Comrade Malik Speaks! This Also Means That I Am an AntiFascist! Expect Us!
Revolutionary Greetings Comrades!
By now the word has gotten out that I’ve left the New Afrikan Black Panther Party-prison chapter and embraced Anarchism. This is a tough time but as J. Cole raps in his song “Middle Child,” he says: “Everything Grows, its destined to change!” I have changed!
I am still holding on to my belief in Eco-Socialism. Plain and simple, climate change is real and not a hoax. Think many of ya’ll who have felt these unusually hot temps recently can attest that something is most certainly going on and I can guarantee you that these imperialist multi-national corporations that deal in fossil fuels have no interest in saving our beautiful planet or ensuring that the humyn species is able to survive– they just don’t care so we have to make them care! But that is not why I am communicating with you today!
I am here to confront that fascist and white supremacist in the Oval Office in Washington, DC. The man who has unleashed these Neo-Nazi haters masquerading as so-called ‘patriots’ who are chanting “send her back” and attacking unsuspecting wimmin and children of color! Continue reading
Comments Off on USA: Letter from imprisoned anarchist comrade Keith ‘Malik’ Washington | tags: Anti-Prison, Antifa, Keith Malik Washington, Letter, New Afrikan Black Panther Party – Prison Chapter, Racism, USA | posted in Interview with comrade/communique
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For folks who are unaware Eric is an anarchist and anti-fascist prisoner who was sentenced to 10 years for an attempted arson, an action in solidarity with the Ferguson uprising in Kansas city. Throwing two Molotov cocktails into a state representatives office at night time. He has since remained outspoken against the prison system. Exposing abuses and standing tall in the face of constant attacks and oppression.
In august of last year Eric was dragged into a broom closet and attacked by Lt Wilcox at FCI Florence. Attacked because he is an anarchist and anti-fascist. It was timed to line up with the surgery for his wifes cancer. He was subsequently tortured and abused and never checked out medically despite being kicked in the head for 5 plus minutes. And tied to a 4 point restraint for 8 hours, having to urinate himself resulting in nerve damage to his wrists.
Since the indictment was filed (in may but conveniently they wait for the painful anniversary to serve indictment) he has been attacked twice at the orchestration of the BOP. Once being blatantly led into a fenced in area where a fash was waiting to attack while the guards watched and by putting someone who was known to have attacked the last cellmates in his cell. Not even talking about all of the other attempts.
Since the attack he was unable to see or talk to his family for a year, kept in segregation, not allowed even the most basic needs as the right to read a book, have a photo. Denied medical care as he begged for help August 1st, the day before his birthday. His words coming out in slurs because the whole left side of his body… paralyzed. Cognitive and confusion. 29 days without a scan, 29 days… every day further from the potential ability to minimize potentially life changing damage. Being held under the custody of the bop while fighting a bop case. Being held in a prison in which an adult man threatened their daughter 2 years before, a man who had access. A prison where this man still works. A prison where guards currently fuck with him by asking where his daughters go to school over and over. Despite the fact the BOP has attempted to attack and intimidate, orchestrating these attack by use of white supremacists. Continue reading
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Behind the walls, August 6, 2019
It was never the hammers in the trunk of the car, as much as the new world in the heart, that scares them and that is why I write today from a cell.
After being arrested in Paris on the eve of May 1 and spending three months in detention, orchestrated by the hunting grounds, the prosecutor who accuses, the judge who questions and the press that condemns, the possibility of my release has been canceled by the prosecutor because he thinks there is a risk of recidivism and because of my determination not to give up. They expect me to say that I accept that violence belongs to them, to condemn before their pressure the actions of comrades and the riots. They ask me about what I have in my head, and if I refuse to answer it is due to what lives in my heart.
The prosecutor explains that the guarantees offered for my release on “liberty” under judicial control do not ensure an environment that could “de-radicalize me” and that is why I must remain in prison.
And I wonder how it is that this being the place where the massacres of the State and its servants, of capitalism and its ravages so clearly manifest, how is it that one of the visible faces of its violence could make me stop dreaming of its complete destruction.
Continue reading
Comments Off on France : Letter from Anarchist Prisoner Embers, Imprisoned Since May Day in Paris | tags: Embers, france, May Day, Paris | posted in Interview with comrade/communique
Tom Manning’s death on July 30 has me in the grip of an emotional riptide. I feel like part of me died with him.
Tom was imprisoned at USP-Hazelton, WV at the time of his death. The ostensible cause of death, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, was a heart attack.
I received Tom’s last letter on July 15. He wrote that he was in dire circumstances, his medical needs treated with deliberate indifference, delays in receiving necessary medication, his body weak from lack of oxygen. Supporters scrambled to get a lawyer in to see him, but death arrived first.
Tom battled the Bureau of Prisons’ criminal negligence of his medical needs for the past 10 years, beginning when he almost died from an untreated knee infection while at USP-Coleman, FL. As a result of that infection, most of his knee was surgically removed and he was wheelchair bound for the rest of his days.
But he was not through fighting.
When he arrived at FMC-Butner, NC for further medical treatment he was kept in solitary confinement under abysmal conditions for 3 years. Much-needed knee and shoulder surgeries were repeatedly delayed until pressure from Tom’s supporters forced the BOP to act. But the surgeries came too late, and combined with the lack of necessary rehab insured that Tom remained in a wheelchair.
Tom always had the warrior spirit, right to his last breath. Many more like him, and the ruling class would tremble. The ache in my heart over his passing will be forever.
Continue reading
Comments Off on USA: Statement on Passing of Tom Manning by Former Political Prisoner Ray Luc Levasseur | tags: Jaan Laaman, Ray Luc Levasseur, Tom Manning, USA | posted in Interview with comrade/communique, Prisoner News
We learn of the transfer, which took place on July 30th, of the anarchist Natascia Savio from the prison of L’Aquila to that of Piacenza. Natascia was arrested on May 21st 2019 in the context of the repressive operation “Prometeo” (“Prometheus”) along with two other comrades, Robert e Giuseppe. The last two have also recently been transferred further, respectively to the prisons of Bancali (Sassari, in Sardinia) and Rossano Calabro (province of Cosenza).
We recall that the main accusation against the comrades is of “attack with the purpose of terrorism or subversion”, as they are held responsible for sending three bomb packages arrived in June 2017 to the public prosecutors Rinaudo (prosecutor in several trials against the antagonist movement and the anarchists) and Sparagna (prosecutor in the trial for the “Scripta Manent” operation) and Santi Consolo, at the time director of the DAP (“Department of Penitentiary Administration”) in Rome. They are not accused of any “associative” crime (such as articles 270 or 270bis, penal code).
Following the transfer of Natascia to the prison of Piacenza, only the anarchist comrade Anna Beniamino (arrested in September 2016 for the “Scripta Manent” operation and sentenced to 17 years in prison in April this year) remains detained in the section AS2 of L’Aquila, a section against which the anarchist prisoners held there carried out the hunger strike from 29 May until the very last days of June, which were also joined by other comrades in other prisons.
Here the addresses of those arrested for the “Prometeo” operation:
Natascia Savio
C. C. di Piacenza
strada delle Novate 65
29122 Piacenza
Robert Firozpoor
C. C. di Sassari – Bancali
strada provinciale 56, n. 4
Località Bancali
07100 Sassari
Giuseppe Bruna
C. R. di Rossano Calabro
Contrada Ciminata snc
87064 Corigliano-Rossano (Cs)
Comments Off on Italy: ‘Operation Prometheus’ – Anarchist Comrade Natascia Transferred to Piacenza Prison | tags: anarchist prisoners, giuseppe bruna, Italy, natascia savio, operation prometheus, Repression, robert firozpoor | posted in Prisoner News
To act in solidarity is completely up to the interpretation of an individual or collective. One could write a letter or visit a prisoner. Others could hold an event for prisoner awareness or a benefit gig. But then there are also the lone wolves who creep around in the darkness of night, lighting up the night sky with flames of rage and solidarity. No matter what act of solidarity is done, it’s completely up to the expression of the rebel individual or collective. The point is to show the anarchist fighters encaged in the belly of the beast that they are not alone, we haven’t forgotten them.
THE SOCIAL WAR AGAINST TECHNO-INDUSTRIAL CIVILIZATION CONTINUES
SOLIDARITY WITH ALL IMPRISONED ANARCHISTS
SOLIDARITY WITH ALL ANARCHIST FIGHTERS
Green Anarchy Ireland
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Alfredo, from the prison of Ferrara, asks for this short communiqué to be circulated, excusing himself for not having done so earlier but he was completely isolated in the hospital. He sends a hug to everyone.
Prison of Ferrara, 14/07/2019
“I give you the tragicomic news that after 5 hours’ operation my bloody gall bladder has abandoned us (July 8) due to the hunger strike. Excuse me but I still can’t answer your many letters decently. But count on my answers. The only positive thing is that I have lost 21 kg.
Keep on writing to me.
Sure that the struggle in solidarity with the comrades proceeds ever more effectively.”
Alfredo
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Translated by Act for freedom now!
Comments Off on Italy: Communique of Alfredo Cospito from the prison of Ferrara | tags: Alfredo Cospito, Ferrara, Hunger Strike, Italy | posted in Interview with comrade/communique
22/07/2019
Awaiting further information, we are publishing some of the sentences (news received via text message) for the 28 comrades accused in Operation Panico.
None acquitted
Salvatore Vespertino Ghespe 9 years
Giovanni Ghezzi Giova 9 years, 10 months and 15 days
Pierloreto Fallanca Paska 9 years and 10 months
For all the others the sentences range from one month to 6 years.
Fire to the prisons and the courts
Freedom to everyone
Translated by Act for freedom now!
Comments Off on Italy: ”Operation Panico” Sentences | tags: Giovanni Ghezzi Giova, Italy, Operation Panico, Pierloreto Fallanca Paska, Salvatore Vespertino Ghespe | posted in Prisoner News
SOLIDARITY WITH DINOS GIAGTZOGLOU
αλληλεγγύη
Anarchist Dinos Giagtzoglou was arrested in central Athens on 28 October 2017, one of Greece’s national days, in an ambush by anti-terrorist police forces as he left a safe house-hideout rented by him under a false name, carrying weaponry.
Initially he got imprisoned in the prison of Larissa, a city 355 km from Athens, with the aim of isolating him from his comrades, family and friends, making the talks with the lawyer extremely difficult and preparing for his trial almost impossible since the case files contain thousands of pages in digital format.
On 21 February 2018, he was transferred back to Athens for a pending trial about an old arrest in clashes with the riot police in the context of a general strike against the Greek government’s austerity economic measures in May 2011. After the postponement of this trial he began a hunger strike demanding to be typically transferred to Korydallos prison, close to his place of residence.
In the dawn of 24 February, as he was temporarily in Korydallos prison for this trial and conducting a hunger strike, a group of prison guards along with police special forces clenched the bedridden comrade for the strike to transfer him again to the Larissa prison. As an immediate response, an upheaval broke out among the other prisoners with the occupation of almost all the sections of the prison, the representative of the Ministry of Justice asked for a meeting, for the immediate return of Dinos to the Korydallos prison. The protests are spread in the prisons of Malandrino and Chania and a representative of the Ministry of Justice meets the representatives of the prisoners of the Korydallos prison.
Comments Off on Greece: Solidarity with Dinos Giagtzoglou | tags: Athens, Greece, International Solidarity, Konstantinos Yigtzoglou, Korydallos Prison | posted in Prisoner News
