Call for an international week of solidarity with anarchists in Mexico facing repression (March 17-24, 2014)

from instintosalvaje:

 

This is a call for international solidarity with anarchists in Mexico facing repression, whether they are stuck behind the iron bars of prison cells or hiding out for their freedom.

The state of Mexico has turned its attention to the blossoming anarchist space that has been actively attacking the state’s defense apparatus, the very foundation upon which it stands. Now is the best time to draw inspiration from the anarchist space in Mexico, and to show some love to our imprisoned comrades. The history of Mexico is very rich, and cannot be summed up in a text such as this. What can be mentioned, however, are the efforts that have been made to live in conflict with the state. This call comes at a time when the anarchist space in Mexico has been actively contributing to a struggle against power and domination. Attacks on police vehicles, banks, government buildings, and other symbols of power have led the Mexican state on a hunt to persecute those who have effectively threatened their foundation of social peace.

There have been several recent instances of targeted repression of anarchists in Mexico: the arrest of Mario Tripa in 2012 and his recent re-arrest in January 2014, the ongoing detention of Mario Gonzalez, the kidnapping and incarceration of several anarchist comrades, the barring of Alfredo Bonanno from entering the country, and the torture, interrogation, and deportation of Gustavo Rodriguez. There has been a strong response to this repression by anarchists in Mexico, who have celebrated the courage of their companerxs through sustained attacks in active solidarity. Between March 17-24th, we are calling for international strength and solidarity to be shown with anarchists in Mexico facing repression. Now, at a time when the eyes of the state and their dogs have turned towards our comrades, we are urging the act to be returned in kind.

“However, even given the imminent state of control, there are still those who aren’t frightened, those who by day or by night, alone or collectively, with fire, fire-works, blockades, explosives or firearms, show that this is not the life we want, that – at least from our perspective- this system must be totally destroyed. Their damned social peace is a myth that they attempt to impose on us. Only conflict exists…It’s clear that we have to take control of our lives and our spaces; to be able to achieve it there is no other way out than Social War.”

Mario “Tripa” Lopez

[Image reads: Freedom for Amelie, Carlos, and Fallon; To the street!; Neither guilty nor innocent, only consistent!!]

Mexico, 5E: Letter from Carlos – Ai Ferri Corti with their methods of domination

from CNA México
translated from Spanish by sabotagemedia

A big hug to all comrades!

I was very pleased to learn of the gestures of support from outside to us three anarchist prisoners. We remain firm and strong despite the silly accusations made against us and intimidating comments (here, they tell us that we’ll spend much time in prison) wanting to break our identity. They aren’t successful, because we are strong and have conviction.

Today they brought us to declare, expecting us to declare ourselves innocent or guilty. On this point I want to openly make something clear, personally I do not accept either of the two positions. Guilty? Innocent? That would give legitimacy to the stupid laws of the State, which I do not recognize the authority. After all the State and its laws are just generators and regulators of privileges, injustices, exploitation and domination.

I learned something that turned my stomach, which links us with the 132 movement, #Posmesalto, and others similar. I clarify that do not in any way accept this. I do not recognize any movement of institutionalized hierarchical organization. No way!

I want to spit my hate for the prison system, I don’t know if anyone is really convinced by “reintegration”, ie, that from being imprisoned people are domesticated and go on to lead a quiet life in harmony with people and flowers around them. I’m looking for it and see only one thing KIDNAPPING, if the deprivation of liberty of a person is called kidnapping.

Through prison they want to shut down the will of those who struggle for a new world, and call violent, danger to society, terrorist, whom rebels. The only terrorist is the State, the main generator of violence, who has the monopoly of weapons, torture, and the rape of our natural rights.

It is the system domination who aggress us daily, paying us wages of misery, exploiting the workers and seeing them not as a human being but as a money making machines. It aggresses us when it destroys nature to build shopping malls, It aggresses us with it television programming, trying to mold our thoughts.

AI FERRI CORTI WITH THEIR METHODS OF DOMINATION.

Carlos López Marin.

NATO 3 Jury Selection Has Begun, 2 Charges Dropped!

Jury selection in the NATO 3 conspiracy and terrorism case began this morning and continued until the late evening. In the morning, the prosecution announced that two charges (Counts 10 and 11) had been dropped. These were both unlawful use of a weapon charges. The defendants are now heading towards trial with 9 counts instead of the 11 they have faced since they were arrested in May 2012.

Jury selection will resume in the morning. The judge also stated that the trial itself will commence with opening statements on Tuesday, January 21st, so stay tuned for more information and plan to start packing the courtroom then!

The defendants seemed to be in good spirits and engaged in the jury selection process (to the extent they can be in this thoroughly disempowering system), despite the long hours today. Please take a moment to write* them a note of solidarity today to let them know you’ve got their back!

We also still need funds for legal expenses, so please donate today and start organizing your solidarity event to support them through trial. See http://freethenato3.wordpress.com/nato-3-trial-solidarity/ for addresses, donation info, and our call-out for solidarity events.

Also, we have changed our web presence to focus specifically on supporting the NATO 3 through trial.

Website: http://freethenato3.wordpress.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FreeNATO3
Donations: https://www.wepay.com/donations/freethenato3
Email announcements: email nato-3-announce-subscribe@lists.riseup.net
Email: free.the.nato3@gmail.com

Our Facebook page will continue to have the old name until the change is processed, so make sure to stay connected to our page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Free-the-Nato5/172345546229824.

State of Exception in Hamburg

From Libcom

Over 8,000 protesters have clashed with riot police as they protested against the planned eviction of squatters from a popular social centre, and against the eviction of hundreds of people from heir homes. The largely peaceful protest erupted following a baton charge, and use of teargas, and water cannons by the police. The protesters responded by building barricades, throwing stones, fireworks, and bottles. It is reported that over 500 people has been injured, and around 150 arrests made.

The Rote Flora is an old theatre building which has been used as a social centre since 1989. The initial sale of the building to developers took place in 2001, and has sparked widespread outrage and protest. There are also wider issues relating to an old apartment building nearby, the ‘Esso houses’ that had been the home to around 300 people, until they had been evicted last week. The Esso houses are described by post-autonom, as:
Quote:

“ESSO Houses is the name of an appartment complex, inhabiting flats, a gas station, two music clubs and some other small businesses. It was evicted a week ago, after the walls shook and frightened inhabitants called the police. The Esso Houses were bought by a big investor a couple of years ago and inhabitants and supporters claim the investor lets the houses rot to eventually build new and more expensive houses at the same place.”

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NATO 3 Card Drive: We’ve Got Your Back!

The NATO 3 are scheduled to go to trial starting January 6th with jury selection. As you can imagine, this is a very stressful time for the defendants, as the state may or may not approach defendants with plea deal offers, and defendants gear up for trial with their lives on the line. They are also separated from family and loved ones during the holiday season, which is a very hard time for the incarcerated. Please mail cards (handmade or otherwise) to the NATO 3 defendants, and use the words ‘We’ve Got Your Back’ to let them know how much support they have out here as they near trial. This is an act of solidarity to keep defendants strong for trial, through our support. Here are their addresses:

Brent Betterly
#2012-0519001
PO Box 089002
Chicago IL 60608

Brian Church
#2012-0519002
PO Box 089002
Chicago IL 60608

Jared Chase
#2012-0519003
PO Box 089002
Chicago IL 60608

Please get your cards in the mail and flood the jail with words of support for the NATO 3!

Facebook Event:
https://www.facebook.com/events/188337544704269/

To donate to much needed legal defense funds:
https://www.wepay.com/donations/261042023

If you would like to make a larger tax deductible donation, 8th Day Center for Justice has graciously offered to accept tax-deductible donations for us. To make your tax-deductible donation, please send checks or money orders to:

8th Day Center for Justice
205 W. Monroe St. Suite 500
Chicago, IL 60606

Make sure to write “8th Day Center/NATO 5 Defense Fund” in the memo line!

For more info about the case: www.nato5support.wordpress.com

To contact us: nato5solidarity@gmail.com

Elsipogtog Emergency: SWN Vehicle Hits 3 Women, Highway 11 Set Ablaze

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from Native Voices United (Facebook)

Today along Highway 11 things got rough.

RCMP blocked off the road, arrests were made, there were reports of police dogs chasing people in the woods, and an SWN security vehicle hit 3 women.

An ambulance was called and 2 women were sent to the hospital; meanwhile the RCMP did nothing.

In the court house, the Judge dismissed arguments made by Melissa Augustine of behalf of all Jane Does named in the injunction, as well as arguments of other defendants, calling them “opinions.”

SWN’s injunction was thus extended until December 17.

Protestors outside of the courthouse reacted by putting blue tape over their mouths and linking arms. Someone shouted that they will go join the protestors on the highway.

Footage emerged from the road of women being assaulted and arrested by RCMP. Soon after, Highway 11 was set ablaze with flaming tires as protestors enacted their own permanent blockade.

They now ask for support, people, and supplies. The burning tires have been called “smoke signals.” Cop cars are still reported accumulating.

They need support stat.

Jeremy Hammond Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison

by Natasha Lennard / Salon

 Jeremy Hammond sketched by Molly Crabapple

Jeremy Hammond sketched by Molly Crabapple

I’m finding this post hard to type; my fingers are trembling, my pulse is racing. I’m furious. Just minutes ago hacktivist Jeremy Hammond learned his fate in a Manhattan federal court. Ten years in prison, for taking part in a hack that revealed some of the shadiest aspects of the corporate intelligence industry.

The 28-year-old pleaded guilty earlier this year to participating in the Anonymous hack of the private intelligence firm Strategic Forecasting (Stratfor). Hammond, a longtime Chicago political activist, garnered no personal financial gain from the hack; he has consistently maintained that he acted in what he believed to be the public interest. The revelations of the Stratfor hack uphold his claim: It is indeed in the public interest to know that Dow Chemicals paid a private security firm to follow and low-level harass individuals fighting for recognition and restitution for the Bhopal disaster; it is of public interest too that the Coca Cola company employed Stratfor to spy on PETA activists, that the Department of Homeland Security used the firm to spy on Occupy activities. These details all came out of the Stratfor hack. Our context is such that the intelligence firm’s activity is supported and upheld by the law, Hammond’s work to reveal it is punished with a ten year sentence.

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