Tag Archives: prisoners

5E3 : Seattle solidarity demo at Mexican consulate for the arrested comrades accused of molotov attack

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From Anarchist News

This afternoon, February 11th, there was a demonstration at the Mexican consulate in Seattle, in solidarity with Carlos Lopez and other prisoners of the Mexican state. A group of about 20 people chanted Carlos’ name as well as anti-border and anti-prison slogans, and a synopsis of the case and a statement by Carlos were read over a megaphone. There were two banners that said “Solidarity to all captured comrades” and “Solidaridad es mas fuerte que los carceles! Presxs a la calle!” We stood around and handed out leaflets to passers-by for about 15 minutes, then went inside the consulate and read Carlos’ statement again, and left and dispersed on our own accord.

Carlos is one of three people arrested on January 5th in Mexico City in relation to a firebomb attack on a Nissan Dealership and the Ministry of Communication and Transportation. Collectively known as the 5E3, they are being held on a special 40-day extension and are being investigated for sabotage, organized crime, and terrorism.

Capitalism, domination, and control are global, therefore anarchist solidarity is international as well. All prisons and borders must be destroyed, whether Mexican, Canadian, US, or any other. We feel particularly inspired by the 5E3′s resilience in the face of state repression because we have also faced intense state repression in the last year and a half in the Pacific Northwest. Much like civil contempt in the United States is used in an attempt to break us, the 40-day arraigo is a similar attempt by the Mexican state to force compliance on the part of those physically locked up as well as those who might be inspired by attacks on the state and capitalism.

Compxs, we wish you continued strength in the battles to come. With solidarity, non-cooperation with the state, and care for each other, you will get through this.

Financial support needed for jailed comrades in Mexico

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On the night of January 5th, Carlos – a comrade from Mexico, and Amelie and Fallon – two comrades from Canada, were arrested in relation to a Molotov attack on the Ministry of Communication and Transportation and a Nissan dealership in Mexico City. The three have since been held in detention and have limited contact with anyone, including their lawyer, and Amelie and Fallon have also been visited by the Canadian consulate. Though they were initially accused of property destruction, the three may now face additional charges of sabotage, organized crime, and terrorism. If these charges are brought forward, bail will not be possible and deportation for the two from Canada is highly unlikely. All three would then be held until trial without the possibility of release. The Mexican media now reports that our comrades will be held for an additional 40 days while the government continues its investigation.

These charges come at a time of intense crackdown by the Mexican state on anarchists; from attacks on demonstrations to torture of arrested comrades.

At this moment we need to rapidly raise funds to support our comrades. Not only for the legal costs and the potentially large bail amounts, but also to help cover their living expenses while in prison. In Mexico, prisoners have to pay for their own room and board and medical expenses while detained.

Go to clac-montreal.net/en/mx to donate via paypal or for information on how to give via cheque or cash.

Your support and solidarity are deeply appreciated.

Love and freedom to the 5e three*,

Prisoners to the streets,

For freedom and anarchy

Court update for Chicago Political Prisoners the NATO 3

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The NATO 3, Brent Betterly, Jared Chase, and Brian Jacob Church, are three political prisoners still at Cook County Jail awaiting trial. They have been imprisoned since the 2012 NATO Summit protests took place in Chicago.

In the past two weeks, the NATO 3 and their defense team have argued several motions in limine for the upcoming trial January 13th. These motions set the boundaries of what can be discussed by either side in front of a jury. Attorneys for the 3 used this opportunity to confront the blatant political repression and police violence at the heart of the case by pushing for strict limits on the prosecution’s ability to criminalize the defendants through inflammatory rhetoric and misinformation regarding their alleged Anarchist political beliefs.

On December 2nd, the defense argued that the over-use of the word terrorism and the labeling of the NATO 3 as supposed terrorists would strongly influence the jury to view these political prisoners as dangerous criminals without any clear factual basis. The prosecutors have already repeatedly used the term to automatically and prejudicially criminalize the defendants both in court filings and in the press.

Additionally, this trial date featured a lengthy argument over the state’s continued reference to the defendant’s Anarchist politics and their alleged participation in the so-called, “Black Bloc Group.” Defense attorney Michael Deutsche implored judge Thaddeus Wilson to prevent the prosecution from putting the politics of the defendants on trial, to distract from the inadequacy of their case and the gross police brutality and surveillance that took place during the NATO Summit protests. The defense cited the multitude of Anarchist perspectives, calling into question the very idea that there is one essentialist definition of, “Anarchism,” that could be attached to the defendant’s beliefs or that this definition of Anarchism implied the use of violence as a tactic. In regards to references to the Black Bloc, Deutsche rejected the very idea that Black Bloc is anything but the practice of wearing black in a public demonstration and couldn’t possibly demonstrate any particular organizational affiliation. Attorney Molly Armour compared the prosecution of the 3 to the Red Scares of the 1920s and 50s, forcing the defense to argue the legitimacy of their beliefs rather than the factual reality of a (non) existent plot.

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