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This week, you’ll hear our chat with David “Mac” Marquis, one of the editors and contributors to the recently published new book out from University of Georgia Press. We talk about prison books projects, what they say about conditions inside, some of the value of this inside-outside organizing and what you can expect to find in the book.
This week you’ll hear from James "Jay" Ward, a long-time abolitionist who has been incarcerated in Ohio for over half his life, since he was 15. Over the years, he has participated in the national prison strike of 2018, various hunger strikes, and other movements against the abuse and mistreatment of incarcerated people. One of his major political goals is to educate the public about the struggles he and other prisoners face to create systemic change. Without a sentence reduction, Jay will likely spend the next 25 years in prison as well. Jay is currently raising funds to pursue post-conviction relief so that he can reunite with friends and family and begin a new life on the outside. Despite Jay’s best efforts, he was not able to visit his mother before she died of an illness in 2022. He would like the chance to spend time with his father, who is also in poor health, before he passes. JAY'S LINKS: __ __ His mailing address is: James Ward A571461 P.O. Box 788 Mansfield, OH 44901
This week, we’re sharing an interview with Xinachtli, an anarcho-communist Chicano political prisoner held in the McConnell Unit of the Texas prison system. Xinachtli, whose name is Nahuatl for “seed” is also known by his state name of Alvaro Luna Hernandez. Xinachtli spoke to us recently about his views on the white supremacist, colonial system of the so-called USA, the legacy of genocide of indigenous peoples in the southwest of Turtle Island, his jailhouse lawyering and his upcoming parole bid. FROM OUR PRIOR INTERVIEW INTRO: * > Xinachtli is serving a 50 year sentence since 1996 in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for aggravated assault on a Sheriff in Alpine, Texas. The Sheriff was serving a warrant for Xinachtli’s re-arreast at Xinachtli’s home. When questioned on the nature of the warrant, the Sheriff pulled a gun and Xinachtli was able to disarm him and make an escape without harming the Sheriff significantly. > > After a few days of man-hunt, his mothers house was surrounded by numerous local, state and federal law enforcement agencies and the house was beseiged. It was only a 9-1-1 call from Xinacthli made stating that he was not being allowed to surrender that caused the troops to stand down and he allowed himself to be taken into state custody. > > The grounds for the arrest warrant have since been overturned, but based on the post-facto word of the Sheriff that Xinachtli had pointed the gun at him, Xinachtli was sentenced to 50 years. He’s been determined to be a political prisoner based on his participation in multiple cases against abuse by prison officials and police, his jailhouse lawyering, advocacy for Latinx and other marginalized people in Texas and his political stance that the US and state governments occupying the Southwest of Turtle Island is a racist and illegitimate regime. XINACHTLI LINKS: __ __ A FEW NOTES FROM XINACTHLI'S SUPPORT TEAM: Xinachtli’s support team is undergoing a transition and expansion, atm, which is why the ways to donate aren’t more formal. Per Xinachtli’s request, donations would go to: fundraising materials, commissary, potential podcast (if the institution approves), movement building, some core team needs, jailhouse lawyer work, and for post-release support if he gets out. If you want to donate a larger amount or have any questions prior to donating, please contact:-2024xinachtlifreedomcampaign ( at) gmail.com (preferred) or via +1 (773) 688-4329 When donating PLEASE write as a message: “X”, “Xinachtli” or an emoji that has some type of “X” in it. __ __ . ... . .. FEATURED TRACK: __ __
As a mid-week special, we’re releasing a conversation we had last weekend with Hani Almadhoun, a Palestinian-American journalist from Gaza and living in Virginia. Mr Almadhoun is also Director of Philanthropy at UNRWA USA, an independent charity to support the UN organization by the same name. In the chat, he speaks about conditions generally and for his family specifically in Gaza as well as the soup kitchen that his brother founded in north Gaza (https://www.gofundme.com/f/Hot-meals-in-gaza-daily , on Instagram at @GazaSoupKitchen ). Hani Almadoun on: __ __
This week, we’re featuring four segments. First up, you’ll hear a chat with organizers of the 2024 Heart of the Valley Anticapitalist Bookfair https://hotvbookfair.noblogs.org/ which ran its first iteration in Corvallis, Oregon from January 19-21st. A zine of their experiences will appear on that blog soon. [ -> 00:24:18 ] Then, you’ll hear a brief segment updating listeners on the conspiracy case against six anarchists and antifascists in Russia known as the Tyumen case (for where it initiated). The six anarchists, some of whom barely knew each other, were tortured into confessions of conspiracy to further anarchist ideology and damage the Russian war machine. [ 00:24:34 - 00:32:53 ] __ __ Following this, we spoke with Aster, a European anarchist involved in the counter-surveillance and anti-repression project known as the No Trace Project which works to share information about known methods and cases of state surveillance. The project does this in order to improve and expand our collective knowledge, tools and abilities at evading state crackdowns as we organize and act. This interview was conducted via encrypted messages and Aster's portion is being read by an unrelated volunteer. [ 00:35:47 - 01:05:18 ] __ __ If you plan to visit their site, we suggest at least running a VPN (riseup.net has a free one https://riseup.net/en/vpn) and using an anonymized browser. One method is to download the tor browser (find your device/operating system at ssd.eff.org https://ssd.eff.org/#index for some tips) and visit the NoTrace Project tor address. Their website can also be found at https://NoTrace.How Finally, you’ll hear Sean Swain’s reading of names of people killed by cops in the USA during October of 2023. [ 01:09:50 ] TYUMEN LINKS __ __ . ... . .. FEATURED TRACKS: __ __
IMPRISONED ANARCHIST TOBY SHONE This week, we’re sharing audio from anarchist prisoner in the UK, Toby Shone. Toby was arrested in November of 2020 after a car chase and during 5 simultaneous raids on residences in the Forest of Dean outside of Bristol. Toby was accused of being responsible for the insurrectionary counter-info anarchist site 325.NoState.Net as well as participation in the Informal Anarchist Federation – International Revolutionary Front, authoring communiques on behalf of IAF-IRF & the Earth Liberation Front, funding terrorism and being involved in the sabotage of a cellphone tower and having information on explosives. This raid and the case were brought in conjunction with the attempted linking of a diverse array of UK anarchist projects with terrorist charges via Operation Adream, which Toby understands to be conducted in conjunction with intelligence services from the Netherlands and German. The court failed to convict Toby Shone on these charges and only succeeded in convicting him of having and distributing hallucinagens and got 3 years, 9 months. Toby was then re-arressted while out on probation for having a cellphone and attending a prisoner support event. You’ll hear two audios from Toby, first him explaining his conviction and situation during his first incarceration, and then you’ll hear Toby recently answer a few of our questions and updating listeners about his recent re-imprisonment in HMP Garth, far away from his supporters in the Bristol area. Much thanks to Brighton Anarchist Black Cross for supporting Toby and this conversation. More information at https://brightonabc.org.uk. Brighton ABC and Tobys supporters have noted that he’s been receiving pretty spotty treatment for his cancer and not getting a healthy vegan diet and so has lost some weight of recent. Tobys mail, including letters and books haven’t been making their way to him at HMP Garth. It’s requested that supporters consider writing Toby a postcard, letter or email to help him through these next 8 months or so before his scheduled release and to inform his crew at forestcase (at) riseup.net of the mailing so they have a record in case it doesn’t get to Toby. Notably at that website you’ll see information about an upcoming International Anti-Repression Gathering happening in Brighton from March 30-31st. There’s information about signing up for the event at Brighton ABC’s website. ARGENTINIAN ANTIFASCIST ON RESISTING MILEI AND RED GYM, LA CULTURA DEL BARRIO Then, we were able to get an interview with Nicholas of Buenos Aires, Argentina to catch up on what’s been happening since the presidential election of libertarian capitalist Javier Milei. Milei’s presidentialcampaign was highlighted by his claims to subvert the status quo of Peronism - a socially liberal form of democracy with decades of complicated contexts in the 20th century. He’s claimed to be an “anarcho-capitalist,” although his policies since election have been nothing short of classic neoliberalism: cuts to social welfare, hamstringing of labor union’s rights to strike and picket, and doing away with common regulations of capital. While Americans have sought to understand Milei by comparing him to former U.S. President Trump, Nicholas outlines how this comparison falls short. We also talk about the role of organized anti-fascists in expecting continued clashes with the police, the social space & boxing gym La Cultura Del Barrio, and how the call for a general strike by mainstream labor unions in Argentina largely fell flat. __ __ __ A COUPLE OF BRIEF ANNOUNCEMENTS… ANDREW BUSHNELL MEMORIAL IN ASHEVILLE For folks who hear this in time, you’re invited to mourn the death of Aaron Bushnell, anarchist and US soldier who self-immolated on February 25th in front of the Israeli Embassy in DC in protest of the US complicity in and arming of the Israeli genocidal war on Palestinians. This gathering will happen at 6:30pm on Sunday, February 3rd by the Craven Street Bridge over the French Broad River in Asheville. KEVIN “RASHID” JOHNSON IN DIRE HEALTH SITUATION Rashid, minister of Defense of the Intercommunal Black Panther Party has surpassed the 70th day of his hunger strike demanding transfer to a lower security medical facility near where he can receive comprehensive treatment for his prostate cancer and is suffering dire medical consequences as his organs begin to shut down. You can hear an interview we did with Shupavu wa Kirima of the IRBPP on the earlier stages of this hunger strike in our January 21st, 2024 episode at our website, which is also transcribed there. There is a sample script and some numbers to call in our show notes for folks who can call the Virginia government to advocate for Rashid’s life. They are asking folks to keep calling, urgently. Here's a sample script and numbers to use and to share/post etc: * > "I am calling with grave concern about the status of Kevin 'Rashid' Johnson who is participating in the Red Onion State Prison hunger strike. He must be allowed to remain close to the medical facility where he accesses treatment for his prostate cancer and congestive heart failure. Please move him back to Sussex I or Buckingham. Additionally, the use of solitary confinement in the state of Virginia is cruel and illegal. I am demanding an end to the use of this practice inside your prisons. We are watching the strike and we will not stop calling until the striker’s demands are met. Thank you." The contact info is as follows: __ __ __ __ __ __ MUMIA ABU-JAMAL DETERIORATING HEALTH Mumia underwent a DOUBLE BYPASS HEART SURGERY on April 19, 2021. His doctor PRESCRIBED A CARDIAC DIET AND REGULAR EXERCISE for recovery. To date, almost 3 years later, the prison has failed to provide Mumia the required cardiac diet and opportunities for exercise. More on this, including places you can donate to his legal and medical defense fund and who to express your concern for Mumia’s life and safety can be found at PrisonRadio.Org * > Please call and write these prison officials. > > 1) SUPERINTENDENT, BERNADETTE MASON: 570-773-2158 > Email: bmason@pa.gov > > SCI Mahanoy PA Department of Corrections, 301 Grey Line Drive, Frackville, PA 17931 > > 2) SECRETARY OF PA DEPT OF CORRECTIONS, LAUREL HARRY: 717-728-4109 > Email: ra-crpadocsecretary@pa.gov > Message this form: py-forms-prod.powerappsportals.us/DOCContactUs/ > > 1920 Technology Parkway | Mechanicsburg, PA 17050 > > 3) ACTING DEPUTY SECRETARY EASTERN REGION, MORRIS HOUSER 717- 728-4122 ext. 4123 > > Email: mhouser@pa.gov > > SAMPLE SCRIPT (CAN ALSO USE FOR LETTERS AND EMAILS): > > I am calling because Mumia Abu-Jamal #AM 8335 and other incarcerated elders diagnosed with heart disease are being prevented by the prison from getting what they medically require for their health. > > MUMIA ABU-JAMAL #AM 8335 had double bypass heart surgery. He needs: > > 1) A CARDIAC DIET three times a day that includes fresh vegetables and fruit, whole grains, legumes, and limited sugar, salt, and highly processed foods; > > 2) He must have access to do sufficient cardiac rehab every day. Thank You. > > Cc: your letter to info@prisonradio.org https://bit.ly/mumia-fund https://www.bit.ly/mumia-action LEONARD PELTIER MUST BE FREED! Elder political prisoner of Lakota, Dakota and Anishinaabe descent, Leonard Peltier, has been in prison for roughly 47 years and at nearly 80 years old after this long behind bars, his physical health is ailing. His supporters are asking people of conscience to contact US senators and representatives to appeal for medical care for his eyesight and other medical needs, including access to a wheelchair. There are lots of backgrounds on his case, but you also can hear a February 17th, 2019 interview we conducted with Paulette D’Auteuil on his case. * > SAMPLE SCRIPT > > “Hello, I'm calling about immediate medical care needed for Leonard Peltier, a 79 year-old federal prisoner. His prisoner number is 89637- 132, and he's in USP Coleman 1. > > We need Sen/Rep _____'s assistance. > > 1) First, Leonard must see an eye specialist without further delay, as his loss of vision poses serious risk of him falling, and he depends on other prisoners to perform basic life activities. > > 2) Second, Leonard is in constant pain and has multiple severe health conditions requiring immediate and ongoing medical care. > > I am asking (Sen/Rep) to request an immediate transfer for Leonard Peltier to the Federal Medical Prison Facility in Rochester > > Minnesota (FCI Rochester) where he can get treatment for all of his medical conditions. > > I also urge the Sen/Rep to advocate for elder Leonard Peltier's release so he can receive healthcare outside of prison and be with loved ones and community. Aside from Leonard Peltier being innocent of any crime, immediate release is proper and humane given his advanced age and medical conditions. Thank You." . ... . .. 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An interview with Joan Braune https://joanbraune.com/, author of out this year from Routledge. In this chat we talk about understanding fascism and fascists, motivations and deterrents, the framework of “deradicalization”, the role of former fascists in education around fascism and the importance of fostering antifascist movements. __ __
First up, Ian chats with Tasha of Project Mayday, a harm reduction project operating in so-called West Virginia. They discuss harm reduction strategies and the political framework of their approach to mutual aid. The conversation also touches upon co-existing in the public health and non-profit space without compromising their radical values and some of the many ways that drug policy and pharmaceutical marketing affect people who use drugs. Listeners can contact Project Mayday at the links below and should watch those spaces for news about the benefit show coming up on April 28th. Then, I spoke with Toby from Appalachians Against Pipelines and Madeline Ffitch, an activist recently arrested for locking down to a drill threatening to move the Mountain Valley Pipeline through Peters Mountain at Jefferson National Forest. We talked about the recent days of solidarity, direct actions against the MVP, repression of activists and related topics. PROJECT MAYDAY LINKS __ __ APPALACHIANS AGAINST PIPELINES LINKS __ __ . ... . .. FEATURED TRACK: __ __
We’re sharing a recent chat with Andrew Lee (instagram / tiktok), author of the book Defying Displacement: Urban Recomposition and Social War, released by AK Press on February 6th 2024. Andrew and I talk about gentrification, speculation and financialization of houses, the destruction of communities by racial capitalism and the state, and some methods used to fight back and stay put. Andrew shouts out Decolonize Philly https://www.instagram.com/decolonizephilly/ as a project to pay attention to. HOUSECLEANING Weekly, we work to bring you and our wider audience, including over the radio waves, conversations that you won’t hear many other places. And we operate at a minimal cost, paying for transcription, printing, mailing, web hosting to make sure that information is easier translatable and accessible, including to our comrades behind bars. The most regular way that we fund that is from the patreon. Our patreon is currently below supporting our monthly operating costs of around $500, so we’re asking folks on the fence of supporting this project https://thefinalstrawradio.noblogs.org/donate/ who have a patreon https://patreon.com/tfsr account to kick in and help at $3 or more a month. If you don’t have a patreon, we do have a liberapay you can psuedonymously kick us money from or set up a recurring payment from paypal and we also can take money via venmo or stripe. If you haven’t supported us before or haven’t for a while now and can afford to, we’d really appreciate the help. And if you’re already supporting us or have in the past in various ways, thank you. . ... . .. FEATURED TRACK: __ __
This week on the show, we’re starting out with an interview with Lo and Meghan, two supporters of Jewish independent journalist, artist and antifascist leftist from Albany, NY, Alex Stokes Contompasis. Alex is serving a 20 year sentence for defending himself and 3 other community members attacked by Proud Boys and Oath Keepers at the New York state capital on January 6th, 2021. For the hour, we speak with Lo and Meghan, two friends and supporters of Alex who talk about Alex’s media work, the politically-charged court case and his ongoing appeal. More on his case can be found at FreeAlexStokes.Com, you can order his artwork https://freealexstokes.com/supportstore to support his case there as well. They mentioned getting support & attention from the International Anti-Fascist Defence Fund. Then, you’ll hear an interview from our comrades at Frequenz-A in so-called Germany with a recent interview of Anya of the grassroots group called Solidarity Zone that offers legal, media and other support to people facing charges for anti-war direct actions inside of Russia to speak about their work and the case of Ruslan Siddiqui, an anarchist who does not deny railway sabotage against the Russian war efforts in Ukraine. This first aired on episode 75 of B(A)D News: Angry Voices From Around The World from the A-Radio Network. SOLIDARITY ZONE LINKS __ __ Finally, you’ll hear Sean Swain reading from an incomplete list of people killed by law enforcement in the USA during the month of April 2023. ANNOUNCEMENTS RED ONION HUNGER STRIKE PHONE ZAP The saga at Red Onion continues, with more than 30 participants. Participants are asking supporters to call the Governor and the Virginia Department of Corrections to demand that the Red Onion follows state restrictions on solitary confinement. Kevin "Rashid" Johnson is additionally requesting his treatment for congestive heart failure and prostate cancer that he be moved from Red Onion to a facility like Sussex I or Buckingham that are near to large medical facilities. You can hear a recent interview we had with a comrade of Rashid and see a roundtable of comrades of Rashid on Black Power Media https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0SFOGV9gl0 recently talking about his situation. Here's a social media post with all of the pertinent information: https://kolektiva.social/@BlueRidgeABC/111868911724769356 __ __ Sample script: I am calling in support of the hunger strikers at Red Onion State Prison. I am concerned about the serious health effects of long-term solitary confinement and other illegal and brutal methods of confinement including sensory deprivation. Please end the use of these practices. I am also seriously concerned for the health of Kevin ‘Rashid’ Johnson, as he is being prevented from accessing care for his health conditions. Please move him back to Sussex I or to Buckinghm, near a major medical facility, so that he can resume cancer and cardiac treatment. Thank you. SUPPORT GUARANI M'BYA IN BRAZIL from FireFund.Net https://www.firefund.net/cuapi2: * > This campaign aims to support two native land in São Paulo south and also, others in state interior and coastal zones. > Our goals is to restore and expand the prayer house (Opy’i) and communal kitchen, plant native trees and subsistence foodsuch as corn, rice, potato and others, distribute water and generate clean energy collected from surrounding rivers, support the cerimonies, and other constructions such as houses and other demands that the comunitie brings to us. > Also carry out the construction of ecological bathrooms and support the school located in the land. These are some of the missions and commitments we have to native people here in São Paulo. . ... . .. FEATURED TRACKS: __ __
This week, we're featuring a conversation with Mohammad Hureini (twitter https://twitter.com/mohammadhureini / instagram), a young activist from Masafer Yatta, an area in the hills south of Hebron in the occupied West Bank in Palestine. Mohammad is a member of a non-violent group called Youth of Sumud https://youthofsumud.org that struggles to hold on to the sites and lives of Palestinian villages despite displacement by the Israeli military occupation as well as the illegal zionist settlements (like the neighboring Havat Ma’on) and their routine violence and impunity. For the hour, Mohammad speaks about the work of Youth of Sumud, their recent report co-published with The Good Shepherd on increased settler violence entitled , the South African genocide case against Israel in the International Court of Justice and other topics. A transcript of this interview will be available soon, a podcast version of this is available at our website. Al-Addameer's recent publication on prisons and repression of Palestinians since October 7th, 2023: https://addameer.org/media/5262 ORGANIZATIONS MOHAMMAD NAMES DOING ON THE GROUND SUPPORT: __ __ __ RECENT INTERVIEWS ABOUT THE CONFLICT IN PALESTINE __ __ ANNOUNCEMENTS B(A)D NEWS #75 IS OUT! Check out the January 2024 episode featuring updates on support for antifascists facing charges in Budapest from February 11, 2023; reflections from an Autonomist on the '80s-'90s journal "Radikal"; a portion of our interview with Israeli refuser Yuval Dag; and an interview from Solidarity Zones on the case of accused Russian war sabateur, Ruslan Siddiqui . ... . .. FEATURED TRACK: __ __
This week on the show, we’re featuring three segments. First up, you’ll hear an interview with Shupavu wa Kirima, General Secretary of the Revolutionary Intercommunal Black Panther Party, comes on to talk to us about the ongoing hunger strike among prisoners at Red Onion State Prison in Virginia protesting the abuse of solitary confinement and the medical status of hunger striker Kevin “Rashid https://thefinalstrawradio.noblogs.org/post/category/rashid/” Johnson. More at https://RashidMod.Com [00:01:18 - 00:25:47] Then, Yuval Dag, an Israeli anarchist member of Mesarvot recently imprisoned for publicly refusing conscription, talks about draft refusal, opposing the war on Palestinians and the occupation and undoing zionist ideology. More at https://linktr.ee/meaarvot [00:27:31 - 01:06:13] Finally, you'll hear Sean Swain reading the names of people killed by US law enforcement during February 2023 [01:06:15 - 01:12:02] CALL-IN / EMAILS FOR RED ONION HUNGER STRIKERS WHO TO CONTACT: VADOC~ Central Administration; USPS— P.O. Box 26963 Richmond, VA 23261 __ __ Virginia DOC ~ Director, Chadwick S Dotson, __ __ VADOC ~Central Administration Rose L. Durbin, Phone~804-887-7921 Email: Rose.Durbin@vadoc.virgina.gov Beth Cabell, Division of Institutions beth.cabell@vadoc.virginia.gov (804)834-9967 tel:+18048349967 Gov. Glenn Youngkin (804)786-2211 tel:+18047862211 glenn.youngkin@governor.virginia.gov RED ONION HUNGER STRIKE PARTICIPANTS LAST WE HEARD: __ __ . ... . .. FEATURED TRACK: __ __
Sean Swain is an anarchist prisoner who's serving an indeterminate sentence in Ohio for a self-defense killing. Sean has authored 3 books (one co-authored with Travis Washington) and released an album of his music (with collaboration of a number of artists) while behind bars. Sean is also a dear friend and collaborator on The Final Straw for 10 years, now. We’re sharing here a conversation Bursts had with Sean Swain to mark the 10th anniversary of Sean's (mostly) regular segments on the show, . __ __ The show notes will be chock full of links to segments and articles worth checking out, but you can find a full rundown of Sean’s audios on the first link labeled “You Are The Resistance”, our first interview with him about the Army of the 12 Monkeys linked in the first paragraph and a whole bunch more writings and audio at SeanSwain.Org https://seanswain.noblogs.org/ and at our website. You can find contact info there to reach out to Sean if you want to strike up a conversation. LINKS TO MATERIALS AS THEY COME UP IN THE CONVERSATION: __ __ OTHER INTERVIEWS WITH SEAN SWAIN __ __ CELEBRITIES READING SEAN SWAIN’S SEGMENTS: __ __
This week on the show, you’ll hear Kazi Toure. Kazi is a former political prisoner from the Ohio 7 case and founding member of the Boston chapter of The National Jericho Movement. For the hour, Kazi and I talk about the history of Jericho Movement, supporting political prisoners and support for post-release and aging prisoners. You can find recent updates from the group at @OfficialJerichoBoston on Instagram. KAZI’S APPEARANCES HERE BEFORE: __ __ OTHER INTERVIEWS REFERENCED: __ __ Then, Sean Swain’s segment begins the annual tradition of reading the names of people killed by the police in the USA during the prior year. Stay tuned mid-week for a release of a 10 year anniversary chat with Sean about his life since he began participating in TFSR [00:55:58] ANNOUNCEMENTS POST-RELEASE FUNDRAISER FOR MWALIMU SHAKUR Formerly incarcerated New Afrikan revolutionary activist Mwalimu Shakur has been released from prison after 20 years, Mwalimu was featured on this show twice talking about his organizing work. If you’d like to contribute to his post-release fund, consider donating to our paypal https://paypal.me/tfsr or venmo linked at our website or via this cashapp with in the memo. You can find his former appearances on the show here. HUNGER STRIKES GROW MORE DIRE AT RED ONION PRISON Several Virginia prisoners began a hunger strike on Tuesday, December 26 at Red Onion State Prison, protesting the continued use of long-term solitary confinement at the institution. Despite critical concern, outcry from the public and prisoner populations in the state, incarcerated people are still subjected to this brutal practice which has been renamed “restorative housing” since July 1, 2023 when measures were passed to limit its use in the state. Leading these prisoners in this effort is longtime prison activist, revolutionary writer and artist, Kevin “Rashid” Johnson. Rashid has stated that no one will take any food at all until demands are met. Some of the strike participants have underlying health concerns that make the undertaking of such a demonstration particularly risky. Rashid, himself, is recovering from multiple rounds of radiation to treat prostate cancer as well as suffering from untreated heart disease/congestive heart failure. This is why the public’s support is especially needed. We are asking that calls, emails, and letters be sent to the Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) officials as well as Virginia governor Glenn Youngkin’s office voicing support for the strikers and condemnation for the inhumane use of long-term solitary confinement/restorative housing. PLEASE EVERY DAY THIS WEEK: call and email the following people demanding that the hunger strikers demands be met (end long term solitary confinement) and Rashid receive the medical care he has been denied for months, and that he be transferred immediately. If the latter is not an option, then demand an interstate compact transfer take place immediately. __ __ __ __ ** Demand that the Governor intervene on Rashid’s behalf and that an internal investigation be conducted immediately that would reveal why there were documents removed from his medical jacket and why his referrals to outside medical care were canceled. Joka Jeupe Mkali, AKA Komrade Shine White, who put out this call to action, said "Death is inevitable, but it mustn't be at the hands of some racist dogs. Rashid walks in shoes that cannot be filled, thus we must keep him walking in them as long as possible." Thank you for all you do to help prison rebels keep walking! Red Onion Hunger Strike Participants: __ __ PHONE ZAP FOR AARON ISBY-ISRAEL AT PLAINFIELD CF IN INDIANA Aaron Isby has been facing increased harassment Plainfield the last few weeks. Details and the support script are available at IDOCWatch. Here’s who to contact: Please call Plainfield CF and IDOC HQ, and email the Ombusdan and the Governor and demand that the harassment against Mr. Isby cease immediately and that he be provided full access to the law library in accordance with law and policy! Call IDOC HQ: (317) 232-5711 ext. 0 ext. 1 Call Plainfield CF: (317) 839-2513 ext. 7 ext. 9 Email the Ombudsman Bureau: idoa@ombud.in.gov Call & Email the Governor: https://www.in.gov/gov/ask-eric/ . ... . .. FEATURED TRACK: __ __
We’re joined again by podcaster, writer and activist Joey Ayoub. Joey, who is a Lebanese Palestinian living in Europe, co-hosts a podcast called The Fire These Times which is soon to be a part of the From The Periphery podcast network. For the hour we speak about the Israeli war on Palestinians, US policies in the SWANA region and the possibilities of war expanding to neighboring states, conspiracy thinking in the early days of these massacres, European state approaches to massacres in the Occupied Territories and other subjects. __ __ ANNOUNCEMENTS FUNDRAISER FOR DARYLE LAMONT JENKINS Supporters of antifascist activist Daryle Lamont Jenkins are raising funds for DLJ after a recent visit to the hospital. You can learn more and kick in some funds at GoFund.Me/e40da8b8 or check the link in our show notes. NEW EPISODE OF B(A)D NEWS The latest episode of the monthly podcast from the A-Radio Network is available, featuring stories from: __ __ HUNGER STRIKE AT RED ONION EXPANDS The hunger strike that began on December 26th at the infamous Red Onion State Prison in Virginia has doubled in size as of a few days ago with participation of 7 more imprisoned resisters protesting abuse by isolation despite Virginia policy and international human rights law. There is a rundown of the hunger strike and conditions at Red Onion available at RashidMod.Com and supporters are requesting that people call or email VDOC officials to end this cruel and unlawful use of segregation. Newly joined the strike: __ __ WHO TO CONTACT: VADOC~ Central Administration; USPS— P.O. Box 26963 Richmond, VA 23261 __ __ Virginia DOC ~ Director, Chadwick S Dotson, __ __ VADOC ~Central Administration Rose L. Durbin, Phone~804-887-7921 Email: Rose.Durbin@vadoc.virgina.gov Beth Cabell, Division of Institutions beth.cabell@vadoc.virginia.gov (804)834-9967 tel:+18048349967 Gov. Glenn Youngkin (804)786-2211 tel:+18047862211 glenn.youngkin@governor.virginia.gov . ... . .. FEATURED TRACK: __ __
This week on the show, you’ll hear part of our conversation with Eric King and Josh Davidson. Josh has been on a few times to talk about collaborative inside-outside projects he works on such as the Certain Days https://certaindays.org calendar, the greeting cards he helped make of Indigenous political prisoner Oso Blanco’s artwork to benefit Zapatista schools in Chiapas, and the Rattling The Cages book that he co-edited with Eric King. Eric was just released in December 2023 into a halfway house in Colorado after nearly 10 years in Federal prisons across the country. Eric is an anarchist who was incarcerated for an attempt to molotov the office of a Democratic Party official in Kansas City in solidarity with the then-going Ferguson Uprising following the murder of Michael Brown by police there. An antifascist and antiracist, Eric was moved around a lot during the 10 years he was inside and pitted against nazi prisoners in fight scenarios in a few instances, and near the end of his bid he was accused of assaulting an officer and successfully defending himself from a possible 20 year addition to his time inside but suffered intense isolation, insecurity, mail / phone and visitation blocks, moves across the country and physical restraint, ending up at the federal prison system’s most intense prison, the supermax ADX in Florence, CO. For the hour, the guests speak about prisoner support, putting the book together, the implications and effects of long term isolation related topics. You can find more of Erics thoughts and updates at SupportEricKing.Org https://supportericking.org and similarly named social media accounts. __ __ ANNOUNCEMENT HUNGER STRIKE AT RED ONION STATE PRISON (VA) Prisoners at the Red Onion State Prison in Virginia have been on hunger strike since December 26th against the illegal and cruel use of solitary confinement at the facility in spite of procedures put into place last summer by the Virginia government. Here’re some words from the support site for Minister of Defense of the Revolutionary Intercommunal Black Panther Party, Kevin "Rashid" Johnson. From rashidmod.com https://rashidmod.com/?p=3539 : * > “On Tuesday, December 26, 2023, several prisoners confined at Virginia’s Red Onion State Prison began a hunger strike to protest the continued use of long-term solitary confinement within the institution.Despite critical concern, outcry from the public and prisoner populations in the state, incarcerated people are still subjected to this brutal practice which has been renamed “restorative housing” since July 1, 2023 when measures were passed to limit its use in the state. * > Leading these prisoners in this effort is longtime prison activist, revolutionary writer and artist, Kevin “Rashid” Johnson. Rashid has stated that no one will take any food at all until demands are met. Some of the strike participants have underlying health concerns that make the undertaking of such a demonstration particularly risky. Rashid, himself, is recovering from multiple rounds of radiation to treat prostate cancer as well as suffering from untreated heart disease/congestive heart failure. This is why the public’s support is especially needed. We are asking that calls, emails, and letters be sent to the Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) officials as well as Virginia governor Glenn Youngkin’s office voicing support for the strikers and condemnation for the inhumane use of long-term solitary confinement/restorative housing.” > RED ONION HUNGER STRIKE PARTICIPANTS: > __ > > __ > WHO TO CONTACT: > > VADOC~ Central Administration; USPS— > P.O. Box 26963 > Richmond, VA 23261 > __ > > __ > > __ > > __ > VADOC ~Central Administration > > Rose L. Durbin, Phone~804-887-7921 > Email: Rose.Durbin@vadoc.virgina.gov > > Beth Cabell, Division of Institutions > beth.cabell@vadoc.virginia.gov > (804)834-9967 tel:+18048349967 > > Gov. Glenn Youngkin > (804)786-2211 tel:+18047862211 > glenn.youngkin@governor.virginia.gov . ... . .. FEATURED TRACKS: __ __
On this episode, Ian spoke with Adam Shapiro, Co-editor of , a comics anthology released as part of the Cypher Zine https://www.cypherzine.org/ project (@cypher_comics https://instagram.com/cypher_comics on Instagram) and published by Radix Media. The book pairs artists and activists to create narratives around the defense of women and sex workers around the globe. Among other topics, the conversation touches on the process of matching local artists with the activists on the ground, notions of human rights defense (as defined by UN guidelines) as it relates to autonomous, self-directed struggle. They also speak about the strengths and limitations of NGO-led initiatives, and the effects of emergent disasters on long-term organizing initiatives. But first, a Sean Swain shares his book reviews of 2023. . ... . .. FEATURED TRACK: __ __
This week, we dig into the pre-trial hearings and jury selection for Ayla King, Stop Cop City movement's first and only co-defendant so far to be granted a speedy trial. We're joined by Silver, an on-the-ground correspondent among many in Atlanta focused on supporting the collective defense against the State of Georgia's RICO indictment. Stay tuned for future coverage of the trials as they unfold. We will be focusing on the pretrial proceedings of defendant Ayla King, who has bravely flexed their right to a speedy trial and whose case we will be following more in-depth when opening arguments begin on January 10th. To help us unpack some of the media and legal intricacies in this case we will hear from Jewel, a North Carolina based lawyer (member of NLG Mass Defense) followed by an interview with Matt from Atlanta Community Press Collective https://atlpresscollective.com/. Jewel will help us understand some of the strategy of exercising a right to speedy trial while Matt will speak as one of the only members of local media to actively cover jury selection. First, some background to this case for listeners less familiar: __ __ ANNOUNCEMENT NOISE DEMO ON NYE AT BUNCOMBE JAIL If you’re around Asheville on Sunday, December 31st, you’re invited by a coalition of abolitionist crews to attend the New Years Noise Demo, gathering at 7pm at the ampitheater at 630 Pack Square and to bring things for making some noise. The Asheville Community Bail Fund will be selling Certain Days Calendars and folks will also be bailing out and welcoming folks to start their new year outside the walls of the Buncombe County Detention Center. It’s a great event to meet folks and learn about local projects dreaming of and working towards a future without prisons! More at Blue Ridge ABC’s website. If you’re in another area of Turtle Island, you can scan your social media for noise demos to participate in or make one up yourself. Often there’s a list of things to get involved in available at ItsGoingDown.Org ANTICAPITALIST BOOKFAIR IN SMALL TOWN OREGON If you’re in the Corvallis, Oregon area in early January, the folks organizing the Heart of the Valley Anti-Capitalist Bookfair have announced their programming and entertainment schedule for events January 19th to 21st. A few of our past guests on The Final Straw are listed there if you want to brush up on the topics. More info at Hotvbookfair.noblogs.org ERIC KING IN HALFWAY HOUSE Anarchist and antifascist prisoner, Eric King, has been released to a halfway house as he finishes the last portion of his nearly-decade-long incarceration. You can donate to his post-release fundraiser via his GoFundMe, read updates and words from Eric at SupportEricKing.org or on Instagram
This week on the show, you’ll hear an interview with Lala an anarchafeminist in the Azerbaijani group Feminist Peace Collective about the recent war against and expulsion of ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh, about the Aliyev regime and patriotic elements in Azerbaijan’s reaction against anti-militarist voices, conspiracy theories and real critiques of non-profit NGO’s versus grassroots lgbtq+ and feminist organizing, and other topics. You can learn more about Lala’s group at FeministPeaceCollective.Com. On December 19th at 8pm Caucasus time / UTC+4 (or 11am Eastern Standard or 8am Pacific Standard time) Feminist Peace Collective is hosting an online discussion with Dr. Chiara Bottici via zoom called “Anarchafeminism in troubled times” and with a focus on antifeminist and anti-queer backlash and war in the South Caucasus, central Asia, Turkey and Russia. There’s a registration link here. SEAN SWAIN Sean’s segment starts at [ 01:06:24 ] ANNOUNCEMENTS FUNDRAISER FOR EMERGENCY COMMITTEE FOR ROJAVA There’s a GoFundMe fundraiser for the guests of our October 15th interview, the Emergency Committee for Rojava including some thank-you gifts. More details at https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-emergency-committee-for-rojava-2023 . ... . .. FEATURED TRACK: __ __
This week, we checked back in with folks involved in the struggle to block the Mountain Valley Pipeline, a 303 mile so-called natural gas pipeline proposed to bring fracked gas from the Marcellus and Utica shale formations across parts of West Virginia and Virginia with an extension into North Carolina. Since a chat with activists we had in July, there have been nearly weekly actions to block the expansion of the pipeline across waterways and carsed terraine, endangering water tables and ecosystems around central Appalachia. We talk about this proposed project, the damage that’s been done and continues to be spread, the increasing belligerence of the men employed in the destruction and the ramping up legal repression facing activists and community members. You can learn more by checking out StopMVP.org https://stopmvp.org or follow the social media accounts AppalachiansAgainstPipelines https://www.aapsolidarity.org/ or POWHR https://powhr.org/. Support of the movement can also be offered up at Appalachian Legal Support Fund. And you can find out about companies involved in the MVP here. Check out our past interviews about the MVP here. ANNOUNCEMENTS VEHICLE FOR CHICO MENDES REFORESTATION PROJECT From their GoFundMe: * > Proyecto de Reforestación Chico Mendes (Chico Mendes Reforestation Project) is a community-run nonprofit based in the Guatemalan highland village of Pachaj. What began as three friends planting trees on the weekends in 1998 has grown into a family of over 3600 local students and more than 1000 international volunteers who have worked with the project since. With each tree planted, soil bag filled, and weed cleared, we are proving that small steps of change today are what shape the future... > > ... > > However, Chico Mendes is facing major challenges once again. The recent 30+ days of disruptions stemming from state push-back in recognizing newly-elected President Arévalo has led to the cancellation of two major international, collaborative projects with universities, resulting in 24,000 unplanted trees. With groups unable to come to us, we need to replant all by ourselves. But with less hands available and a mountainous terrain prone to landslides that poses a significant challenge to the replanting process, we are struggling to meet our goals. This is why we are seeking to fundraise for a four-wheel-drive truck to assist the Chico Mendes team in carrying more trees through mountainous terrain to get on track with our replanting mission. > > This is a labor of love. People are taking lower salaries so that everyone has some to go around and sometimes, work is done out of the goodness of one's heart rather than payment, but we need your help. This vehicle would directly help our community sow the seeds of environmental and Indigenous justice. Check out the GFM link above and if you can throw them some dollars, they'd appreciate it much. . .... . .. FEATURED TRACKS: __ __
SARA AND JOSH ON CERTAIN DAYS CALENDAR This week on the show, Ian talks to Sara and Josh, organizers from the Certain Days Collective on the publication of this year’s certain days calendar. The two discuss the creative and administrative processes involved in producing one of the most consistent projects in the abolition space. They also discuss the past, present, and future of the project and the constant need to balance short term emergent issues against the long term abolition project. [ 00:02:37 - 00:33:14] You can learn more at CertainDays.org https://certaindays.org/, find them on a bunch of social media platforms, and order calendars for deliver in Canada via LeftWingBooks.Net or in the USA via BurningBooks.Com and you can find our past conversations with Josh by searching Josh Davidson on our website, including a recent interview about Rattling The Cages. DIRECT DEMOCRACY THROUGHOUT HUMAN HISTORY Then, you’ll hear we’ll be sharing a presentation by Dr. Modibo Kadalie recorded at the 2023 Another Carolina Anarchist Bookfair https://acabookfair.noblogs.org/ in so-called Asheville. Modibo is joined by his friend Andrew Zonneveld of On Our Own Authority Books and they share a new bookstore and community space in Stone Mountain, Georgia, known as Community Books. [ 00:34:32- 01:32:30 ] From the presentation description: * > "A scholar-activist with over 60 years of experience in the Civil Rights, Black Power, Pan-African, and Social Ecology movements will discuss the role of critical historiography in the study and documentation of directly democratic communities across human history. Modibo Kadalie’s presentation will touch on ideas discussed in his two most recent books, and . Dr. Kadalie will also discuss his upcoming book, tentatively titled .” SEAN SWAIN Sean https://seanswain.noblogs.org's segment on destabilizing the economy with flash mobs can be heard from [ 01:32:32 - 01:40:28 ] . ... . .. FEATURED TRACK: __ __
JEWISH ANTI-ZIONIST IN PALESTINE + ANTIFASCISTS REPRESSED IN BUDAPEST [caption id="attachment_6854" align="alignleft" width="300"] Download This Episode[/caption] This week's show features four segments: an announcement from IGD Podcast; an anti-Zionist Jewish voice from Palestine; an interview of two anti-repression activists on the harassment of two antifascist activists in Budapest, Hungary; Sean Swain's segment. https://traffic.libsyn.com/thefinalstrawradio/tfsrpodcast-20231119-AntiZionistBudapest.mp3 REFLECTIONS OF AN JEWISH ANTI-ZIONIST FROM PALESTINE First up, we’re featuring the voice of a Jewish anti-Zionist anarchist living in lands occupied by the Israeli state. We speak about some of his experiences of trying to resist the ongoing war against Palestinians, collaboration with Palestinian comrades against the occupation, the silencing of dissent during the escalation by the Israeli state and other topics. [ 00:07:28 - 00:50:13 ] For a very thoughtful series of podcasts about the situation in Palestine, check out the two recent episodes of the Its Going Down podcast (1st and 2nd). PALESTINIAN SOCIAL MEDIA SUGGESTIONS: __ __ ANTIFASCISTS REPRESSED IN BUDAPEST Following this, you’ll hear a segment by A-Radio Berlin (a co-member of the Channel Zero Network as well as the A-Radio Network with The Final Straw) about repression of antifascists recently under the far right Hungarian administration of Victor Orban. This also appeared in the November 2023 episode of Bad News, the monthly English-language podcast of the A-Radio Network. [ 00:52:10 - 01:05:53 ] FURTHER LINKS __ __ SEAN SWAIN Sean Swain's segment this week airs at [ 01:05:57 ] . ... . .. FEATURED TRACKS: __ __
THOMAS MEYER-FALK IS FREE! We’re sharing here a recent conversation that I had with Thomas Meyer-Falk, an anarchist who just finished a 27 year prison stint in Germany to speak about his life, his incarceration and his hopes now that he’s out. Thomas was involved in a bank robbery in 1996 as a young RASH anarchist skinhead who hoped to fund above ground and underground leftist organizing and continued to be incarcerated for the threats he made upon his capture. While inside he toned it down a bit, became a jailhouse lawyer of sorts and built connections with publishing projects, support groups and a radio station on the outside. He’s now out and working at that radio station in Freiberg, RDL https://rdl.de/sendung/ausbruch-die-antirepressionswelle, and hopes to be come involved in helping immigrants navigate the legal system in Germany. You can find his blog, mostly in German, at https://freedomforthomas.wordpress.com. You can also find some of his writings in Fire Ant Journal. ANNOUNCEMENT FUNDRAISER FOR ZOLO AZANIA A quick reminder, there’s a fundraising effort ongoing to help former Black Liberation Fighter and political prisoner, Zolo Agona Azania (who we’ve featured a couple of times on this show) could use some support. Since he’s been out of prison after 35 years inside, he’s been an active community organizer on projects including re-entry for formerly incarcerated folks and offering pro bono legal help to folks still behind bars. He’s in need of some support with car repair payments to help him keep his wage job and keep doing his support work. You can donate to him on cashapp via the handle $ZoloAzania5, on zelle using azaniazolo5 at gmail dot com or on venmo using @zolo-azania To find more anti-repression fundraisers needing support and boosting, check out the column on ItsGoingDown.Org called In Contempt, where you can also find info on prisoners who’ve just been moved, have upcoming birthdays or who are in need of other help. . ... . .. FEATURED TRACK: __ __
MR. BLOCK'S PAST AND LEGACY (WITH SEAN CARLETON AND IAIN MCINTYRE) This week, Ian talks to Sean Carleton of Graphic History Collective and Labor historian and activist Iain McIntyre about the recent release of by PM Press. After some background on their respective projects, they talk about the legacy of the IWW cartoonist, the origins and process of putting the book together, and what aspects of his work are still relevant today. Here’s a hint: just about all of them are. __ __ . ... . .. FEATURED TRACK: __ __
This week on The Final Straw, we’re excited to share a panel discussion recorded at Firestorm Books entitled , recorded on Sunday, October 22nd 2023. __ __ From the event description: * > “With the "iron-clad" support of the United States and other Western powers, Israel has made explicit its plan for the systematic destruction of Gaza and the Palestinian people. At this event, participants—including Palestinian and Jewish activists—will discuss the history of the occupation and the present campaign of dehumanization that's paving the way to genocide. We'll also explore the radical solidarities that are necessary to stop the assault on Gaza and secure a just peace. > > This event is a fundraiser for THE HEBRON INTERNATIONAL RESOURCE NETWORK (HIRN), an organization based in the West Bank that is working to house Gazan workers deported to the West Bank by Israeli forces. Please consider bringing a cash donation! Firestorm will additionally be donating the net proceeds from all sales in-store and online. ZINES SUGGESTED BY MILSTEIN __ __ SEAN'S SEGMENT We're linking here to Sean Swain's most recent segment on the history of violence before the most recent escalation of war on the people of Gaza coming from the state of Israel. ANNOUNCEMENT SUPPORT FORMER POLITICAL PRISONER ZOLO AZANIA * > Former Black political prisoner and friend to many of us, Zolo Azania, needs our financial assistance to pay for important repairs on his car. He uses his car to drive to work. Details below. Please be generous. > > Zolo recently had a new transmission installed in his car along with other necessary repairs. The total bill came out to $4,659.51. He had put aside $1,200 for car repairs, therefore he needs another $3,459.51 in order to reclaim his car. > > After spending nearly 37 years in Indiana prisons, Zolo has been free for nearly 7 years now. After facing many challenges on the outside, we’re very happy to say Zolo now owns a house! Of course he needs to pay a mortgage and pay for repairs and upkeep on the house. After working 5 years at low paying jobs, Zolo was recently able to obtain a better paying job with benefits. This job requires a commute which is difficult on public transportation. > > Zolo would like to avoid excessive charges for the dealership to store his car. If Zolo cannot pay this repair bill he risks losing his car altogether. > > Zolo appreciates any donation but please be as generous as you can. > > You can send donations to him via Zelle, Venmo or Cash App ($ZoloAzania5). His accounts are under “Zolo Azania” BAD NEWS #72 ONLINE NOW! You can find the October 2023 episode of the English-language BAD News: Angry Voices From Around The World podcast produced by the A-Radio Network online now, featuring a short version of our interview about the December 8th case in France, updates from Greece by way of the comrades in Thessaloniki at 1431AM Free Social Radio, and Frequenz-A about the about the Karl Helga Wagenplatz in Leipzig, which is under the threat of ever-present forces of gentrification.
This week on the show, we’re featuring an interview I did recently with Sona, an anarcha-feminist from Yerevan, Armenia, about her experience of anarchism and some of the solidarity efforts related to supporting Armenians expelled from Nagorno-Karabakh, an Armenian enclave within the borders of the neighboring country of Azerbaijan. RECENT CRIMETHINC ARTICLES: __ __ FROM CRIMETHINC "ANARCHIST VOICES..." ARTICLE: a list of NGOs to support refugees in Armenia: __ __ ANNOUNCEMENT SUPPORT FOR JORGE YORCH ESQUIVEL From his support site: We call for solidarity with our comrade Jorge Esquivel, Yorch, to demand his immediate release and the dismissal of charges against him. __ __ Yorch is imprisoned for crimes fabricated against him as part of a montage that seeks to criminalize the Che Squat / Okupache and its members. He has been held hostage by the Mexican state in Mexico City's East Reclusion for more than 10 months. . ... . .. FEATURED TRACK: __ __
This week on the show, we’re featuring an interview with 3 activists involved in the Emergency Committee for Rojava about recent developments in Rojava, escalation of violence from the Turkish state and the KDP party-led Kurdish Regional Government in Iraq, experiences of recent visits to the region, updates on the US relationship to aggressive regimes in the region and other topics. If you are listening to the radio edition of this show, check out the podcast for another half hour of discussion on developments in the economic, ecological and gender parity elements of the Rojava revolution. LINKS __ __ ANNOUNCEMENTS MIDWEEK RELEASE ON THE DECEMBER 8TH AFFAIR IN FRANCE If you didn’t hear, we released a podcast in the middle of last week with anarchists involved in anti-repression in France concerning the conspiracy case known as the December 8th Affair, where the French state surveilled and arrested a YPG veteran who goes by the name Libre Flot, as well as comrades and acquaintances on the accusation of building a terror network following the Movement for Black Lives uprisings of 2020. SUPPORT FOR PALESTINIANS If you’re looking for a way to support folks in or from Palestine during the unprecedented and genocidal violence of the Israeli settler state one non-profit we’ve heard is good for distributing funds to people in need is Hebron International Network, which can be found at https://www.nonviolenceinternational.net/donate_hirn . Surely there are more out there, but be careful to vet where you send money due to precedent set by the US government of pursuing charges against nonprofits funding people in Palestine by claiming they’re supporting terrorists, even when they aren’t, as in the case of the Holy Land Five. MICHAEL KIMBLE Anarchist prisoner Michael Kimble is fundraising right now to help cover legal costs as he attempts to gain freedom from prison after decades behind bars. You can find more info at his support site, anarchylive.noblogs.org and make donations via the link at fundly.com/help-michael-kimble-hire-a-new-attonrey . … . .. FEATURED TRACK: __ __
DECEMBER 8TH AFFAIR TRIAL IN FRANCE IS UNDER WAY Hey listeners, this mid-week release features the words of anarchists involved in or doing support for the December 8th Affair in France, in which 9 people were arrested at the end of 2020, following Movement for Black Lives protests took place around the world to challenge police impunity and racism. The French state is asserting, based on some pretty flimsy arguments, that 7 radical and anarchist folks were a part of a conspiracy to engage in terrorism based on their common connection to an activist recently returned from the supporting the YPG’s fight against Daesh or ISIS in Rojava. This activist goes by the name Libre Flot, or Free Flow, and he shares some words here as well. __ __ The court case runs from October 3rd until 27th and can use international solidairty demonstrations, support for those defending themselves, and more that you can find information below: __ __ . ... . .. FEATURED TRACK: __ __
This week we’re sharing a recent interview with Joey Ayoub, host of The Fire These Times https://thefirethesetimes.com/ podcast to talk a bit about #solarpunk. Joey was on the show with Leila Al-Shami some years ago to speak about revolution and civil war in Syria, uprisings in Lebanon and Iraq. For the hour, we speak about the importance of radical imagination, the artistic genre known as solar punk, technology and it's role in societies based on pleasure and leisure, utopian movements of the past and the decentering of the imperial cores in an anti-imperialist visioning. __ __ ANNOUNCEMENT LEGAL FEES FUNDRAISER On October 9th, join comrades for a youtube stream to help fundraise for our incarcerated comrade and homie GZ's legal fees. This is a great way to participate in Indigenous Peoples Day from home- the stream content will being centered on connecting between decolonization and abolition, featuring dialogue and performances by artists and MCs including Bigg Villainus and Ant from Savage Fam, as well as FD Signifier, and poetry by GZ. Stay tuned for more info and the full schedule, and please help us boost this and circulate the fundraiser: https://tinyurl.com/gzlegalfund . ... . .. FEATURED TRACK: __ __
Ian speaks with journalist Shea Hennum about their article on #comicsbrokeme, in which workers in the comics industry shared their stories of tight deadlines, unreasonable workloads, and low pay following the death of cartoonist Ian McGinty. For the article, which appeared at solrad.co http://solrad.co/, they applied an analysis that synthesized communist and anarchist traditions in order to identify a multitude of sites of political struggle, challenge systems of domination and violence, and chart possible ways forward, similar to analysis applied in the movement to abolish the Prison Industrial Complex. They discuss past efforts to organize within the comic book industry as well as current organization efforts, such as the formation of the United Workers of Seven Seas, a union of workers at Seven Seas Entertainment, Comic Book Workers United, a union of workers at Image Comics, and Cartoonist Cooperative, a cohort of cartoonists committed to mutual promotion, skill and info sharing, and efforts to make industry wages and practices more transparent. They also discuss possible ways for comic book readers to offer support. FURTHER READING AND ARCHIVED DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO IN THE CHAT: __ __
