Episodes
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A recent conversation we had with the Ben Lorber and Shane Burley, co-authors of the recently published book, Safety Through Solidarity: A Radical Guide to Fighting Antisemitism. For the hour we discuss the roots of antisemitism in the West, pushing back on Zionism in the midst of the genocidal war on Palestinians, a rebirth of Bundism and addressing antisemitism in left spaces. I definitely recommend this book to folks and hope you enjoy the chat! And as always, thanks for supporting this project.
If you're a non-Pacifica station looking for this weeks 58 minute radio show, you can find it here. We're hoping Archive.Org will be back online and allow us to upload files there soon.
Past interviews with Shane: Fascism Today Why We Fight. … . ..
Featured Track: Daloit Politsey by Isabel Frey In Ale Gasn = In Every Street / Hey, Hey, Daloy Politsey! = Hey, Hey Down With The Police! featuring Zalmen Mlotek, Adrienne Cooper, Dan Rous with The New Yiddish Chorale and The Workmen's Circle Chorus from In Love and In Struggle: The Musical Legacy of the Jewish Labor Bund -
This week we’re sharing a discussion recorded some months back in the pacific northwest featuring former political prisoners Eric King, who went in for actions in solidarity with the Ferguson Uprising in 2014, and Jake Conroy, who was convicted for coordinating successful anti-vivisection divestment campaigns against Huntington Life Sciences as one of the SHAC7. They are joined by Eric’s co-author of Rattling The Cages, Josh Davidson. We hope you appreciate the wisdom and passion of the discussion.
For any non-Pacifica stations, Archive.Org is still read-only so here's a copy of the 58 minute radio file. Transcript PDF (Unimposed) Zine (Imposed PDF)You can find Jake’s youtube channel The Cranky Vegan for a long-running and ongoing commentary on animal liberation topics. And you can follow Eric’s panels with other former prisoners and supporters on the instagram for Rattling The Cages and past media and articles by and about Eric (including past interviews we’ve done with or about him) at SupportEricKing.org and find more from Josh at linktr.ee/JoshDavidson..
Prior interviews:
With/about Eric With Josh Jake Conroy at ACAB2024: audio Jake's former co-defendant, Josh Harper on the movie about their case, " Animal People"There are two upcoming Firestorm Books political prisoner panel talks in November, both of which you won't want to miss.
Saturday, Nov. 9th, 7:00pm – 8:30pm ET, Eric King will be talking with Jason and Jeremy Hammond. Register now! Saturday, Nov. 23, 7:00pm – 8:30pm ET, Eric will be talking with Linda Evans, Laura Whitehorn, and Nicole Kissane. Register now!A few other things (per Josh):
BPP/BLA comrade and former NY Panther 21 defendant Dhoruba bin Wahad needs our support. Help if you can! The 2025 Certain Days: Freedom for Political Prisoners calendar is now available, and it's beautiful. Get one or 100 today! If you missed the last panel talk with Eric, Jake Conroy, and Claude Marks – or any of the previous 6 Firestorm Books panel talks – watch them here. Don't stop talking about Gaza, genocide, and US imperialism. Long live all those dying every day for Palestine.. ... . ..
Featured Track: Walking Is Still Honest by Against Me! from Crimes As Forgiven By... -
Missing episodes?
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This week on The Final Straw Radio, you’ll hear three interviews interviews relating to community needs and recovering concerning Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina.
If you're a non-Pacifica radio station airing the show, here's a link for the 58 minute radio edition while Archive.Org continues to be down due to hacker attacks.
First up, you’ll hear Jen Hampton of the WNC Tenants Network about the re-opening of eviction courts in Buncombe County and conditions of housing in an already difficulty place to live.
Then, Bruce and G talk from the Asheville Community Bail Fund speak about conditions in the local jail during and after this unnatural disaster.
Finally, Yousef of the Palestinian and Arab-led Sumud Collective speaks about his experience of the storm and recovery work in the region in an interview recorded a couple of weeks ago.
Other links from Jen: Short term rental rules for Asheville: https://www.ashevillenc.gov/news/asheville-homestay-and-short-term-rental-update-regulation-changes-and-active-enforcement/ Just Economics https://www.justeconomicswnc.org/ FEMA: https://DisasterAssistance.Gov 1-800-631-3362 Eblin Charities: https://www.eblencharities.org/ Pisgah Legal Services: https://www.pisgahlegal.org/ NC Legal Aid: https://legalaidnc.org/ WNC Tenants Network: https://bit.ly/WNCTenantsNetwork NC Tenants Union: https://nctenantsunion.org/. ... . ..
Featured Track: Reflections by The Supremes from Gold -
This week on the show we’re featuring two inteviews. First up, you’ll hear from Freeway, a houseless activist in Oakland, CA, about the recent series of sweeps of homeless being promoted by Governor Gavin Newsom. Freeway has been a member of Wood Street Commons and is now a member of Oakland Homeless Union (IG or donate). Then, Janet of Rural Organizing and Resilience (IG or donate) in Madison County, speaks about post-Hurricane Helene organizing and disaster preparedness in the mountains of Western North Carolina. More and links to be added soon.
If you're a non-Pacifica station airing our show and need access to the episode, you can find a radio-friendly version here until Archive.Org is restored following a DDOS attack
Other groups mentioned by Janet of ROAR include: Holler Harm Reduction PODER Emma Appalachian Medical Solidarity Asheville Tool Library Asheville Repair Clinic Another Gulf is Possible Bulboncha Liberation Radio Announcement Phone Zap for Buncombe County JailMembers of the Asheville Community Bail Fund have announced a phone zap concerning conditions in the Buncombe County Detention Facility where reports are coming out of a lack of clean water, irregular bathroom breaks and other lack of access are leading to calls for those in the jail to be released or transferred to a facility with more humane conditions.
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Featured Track: I Wanna Know If It's Good To You by Funkadellic from Free Your Mind... And Your Ass Will Follow -
Over the first weekend of October, 2024, there was a deluge from two storms (including level 4 Hurricane Helene) descended on southern Appalachia, mostly on the eastern side which includes Asheville and other parts of western NC, eastern TN, south eastern Ohio, and northern Georgia. At the point of this recording there are over 200 known dead and hundreds missing, portions of the region continue to be without electricity or cellular service, and where the toxic mud and water linger and separate people from medical and community care. This episode, we’re speaking with three people who’ve lived in the region and have been helping other residents distribute storm relief. If you’re listening to this on the radio, please consider checking out the podcast for an additional half an hour of experience.
Transcripts Chris Margaret PDF (Unimposed) - pending Zine (Imposed PDF) - pendingGroups worth following doing work on the ground include:
Mutual Aid Disaster Relief Appalachian Medical Solidarity Hood Huggers Rural Organizing And Resilience. ... . ..
Featured Tracks: 500 Year Flood by Adam Pope Day 3 on Pigeon River by Sarah Howell -
This week, you’ll hear my conversation with Mutt, editor of a new and incomplete Black Autonomy Reader, contributor to Muntjac Magazine, Organise Magazine and Seditionist Distro. We speak about Black Anarchism, intellectual property, community self-defense in response to the racist riots that spread around the UK in August of 2024 as well as other topics. And keep an ear out for an interview on the ItsGoingDown podcast with Mutt as well.
Transcript PDF (Unimposed) Zine (Imposed PDF). ... . ..
Featured Track: No Agreement by Fela Kuti and Africa 70 from No Agreement -
This week on the final straw we’re featuring a conversation with Tom and Miriam of the International Solidarity Movement, a Palestinian-led network of activists standing in solidarity with Palestinians on the ground in the occupied territories. For the hour we talk about the organization, its history, what got these folks involved, the recent and tragic murder of Ayşenur Eygi in Beita in the West Bank which Miriam witnessed, and how conditions have changed as the war by the Israeli settler state has expanded.
Transcript PDF (Unimposed) Zine (Imposed PDF)To hear our prior conversation with Tom about the uprising in Bristol, check out this interview.
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Featured Track: Long Live Palestine pt1 by Lowekey from Long Live Palestine Parts 1 & 2 (single) -
This week, we’re sharing Ian’s talk with Samm Deighan, co-editor of Revolution in 35 MM: Political Violence and Resistance in Cinema from the Arthouse to Grindhouse, 1960-1990, out 9/24/24 from PM Press. Among other things, they discuss the origins of the book, the benefits and limitations of genre storytelling, the forces that shape movie funding, and where to watch some of the films discussed.
Transcript PDF (Unimposed) Zine (Imposed PDF). ... . ..
Featured Tracks: Guns of Navaronne by The Skatalites from Studio One Story 5-45 by Gang of Four from Entertainment! -
This week, we’re featuring two conversations relating to the so-called Green Border in Podlaskie region of eastern Poland, on the Belarus border concerning topics of migration, repression, militarization, nationalism and solidarity among residents and people on the move into Fortress Europe.
Transcript H5Poland Podlaskie PDF (Unimposed) Zine (Imposed PDF)First up, you’ll hear Alex, a member of the feminist anti-repression group, Szpila Collective, about the H5Poland case of 5 activists facing charges for aiding people in need in what could be a landmark case in Poland and Europe. More at Szpila.BlackBlogs.Org or on Mastodon: @[email protected] [ 00:01:34 - 00:15:08]
Then, you’ll find a chat with an anarchist who grew up in this border region and returned in adulthood and whose affinity group does solidarity with people on the move through the Białowieża forest. [00:19:58 - 01:32:18]
To hear past interviews about this border, check out our chat with two folks from Grupa Granica, or other chats where we've covered / carried chat about the border at Calais, the Mediterranean, the Balkan Route, Australia or the US / Mexico border.
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Featured Track: Help4Dunkerqe by Ratajkovsky -
“Solidarity, Spirituality and Liberatory Promise on a Turtle’s Back” with Ashanti Omowali Alston
This week, we’re sharing words from anarchist, author, organizer and former participant in the Black Panther and Black Liberation Army, Ashanti Omowali Alston, in the key note address at the 2024 Another Carolina Anarchist Bookfair in so-called Asheville. The presentation was entitled “Solidarity, Spirituality and Liberatory Promise on a Turtle’s Back”. You can support Ashanti's GoFundMe here.
Transcript PDF (Unimposed) Zine (Imposed PDF)From the ACAB website:
Trusting in solidarity, the mysterium of spirituality, and a promise from god knows where—a “where” that at this historical moment, might just be Palestine. What does it mean TO BE in the midst of all this right now? RIGHT NOW!
M. Ashanti Alston is a revolutionary Black nationalist, anarchist, abolitionist, speaker, writer, elder motivator. A long-time member of The Jericho Movement, he is presently an advisory board member of the National Jericho Movement and co-founding board member of the Center for Grassroots Organizing (Vermont land project). He continues giving talks and writing inspirational analyses concerning the dismantling of the myriad oppressive regimes in which we find ourselves enmeshed.
Ashanti is one of the few former members of the Black Panther Party who identifies as an anarchist in the tradition of ancestor Kwesi Balagoon (BPP & BLA). He developed abolitionist politics in the early years of Critical Resistance. He has helped save the life of a baby pig with animal liberationists, learned depth-queer politics from being challenged, and wants to see non-ego eldership partaking through sincerely loving the younger generations who truly want to ‘CARRY IT ON.”
You can find other recordings from the 2024 ACABookfair at acabookfair.noblogs.org.
Announcement Phone Zap for Granville CI in North CarolinaPrisoners have been filing grievances at Granville CI, a prison in Butner, North Carolina, to no avail complaining about a lack of the legally mandated showers and access to the exercise yard, and are asking for phone calls and emails to demand a resumption of serving these basic needs despite any claims of understaffing:
By Joseph ''Shine White'' Stewart
How many prisoners must die and how long must we languish in solitary confinement subjected to these harsh and unconstitutional living conditions before there is a public outcry?
The deficiencies in the day-to-day operations of this prison have been longstanding/persistent and well documented. In the past I've reported on the culture of abuse, negligence and unprofessionalism here at Granville Correctional.
Over the past couple of months the conditions have only worsened. Those of us who are assigned to Restrictive Housing for Control Purposes (RHCP) are being deprived of showers, recreation, subjected to inadequate health care and other unconstitutional treatment.
Pursuant to Chapter C subsection .1205(A) of the NCDAC policy and procedure manual, prisoners assigned to RHCP will have the opportunity to shower a least three times a week.
Lately prison staff have been using the excuse that there is not enough staff to give us showers or even saying that they are too tired to do showers. As always I must maintain my integrity and be honest when reporting on these conditions. The laziness and neglect I am mentioning here doesn't apply to all the staff. Sergeant Jones, the second shift sergeant here in C-1 building, makes sure that we are afforded the opportunity to shower. However when it's not her shift or if she's not scheduled to work we're likely not to receive showers if there is a shortage of staff.
Despite being demoted to a less restrictive solitary confinement setting I've yet to be offered to exercise outside.
Pursuant to Chapter C section .1206 of NCDAC policy and process manual, prisoners assigned to RHCP shall he allowed one hour per day, five days per week to exercise outside of the cell, moreover the outdoor exercise cages should be used as the primary exercise area. During the exercise periods we are to be allowed to exercise unrestrained.
As when it is time for us to take showers the same excuse is used to deprive us of any recreational time. They don't have enough staff. As mentioned I haven't been afforded outside exercise for almost three years now despite being demoted to a lower security level.
Recreation here in C-1 building consists of us being placed in full restraints and allowed to pace up and down the tier for one hour. Lastly, custody staff are having any medical appointments cancelled claiming there isn't enough staff to escort is to the nurse's station. This includes mental health appointments as well.
Of course the foregoing isn't all that needs to be addressed, however these are the issues that my peers and I find to be the most important, thus we entreat that the reader call and demand redress for the aforementioned issues.
Warden James Williams and unit manager Eldridge Walker are responsible for promulgating the aforementioned policies and procedures and for the allowance of the aforementioned practices/customs, therefore they are the individuals who should be held accountable. Please contact these officials repeatedly:
Granville Correctional Institution warden, James Williams - 919-575-3070 (call main line and ask for warden's office)
Granville CI C-1 Unit Manager Eldridge Walker- 919-575-3070 (call main line and ask to be connected to Unit Manager Eldridge Walker)
NCDAC Dep. Director of Rehabilitation/Correctional Services Maggie Brewer - [email protected] - 919-733-2126 (call main line and ask to be connected to Brewer's office)
NADAC Internal Affairs Director Anthony Smith - 919-715-2632 [email protected]
Script for calling and emailing:
"I am (calling/emailing) to demand that prisoners being held in solitary confinement in the C-1 building be afforded the opportunity to shower and exercise outside according to NCDAC's policies and procedures and pursuant to their U.S. Constitutional rights.
I am demanding that an internal investigation be conducted at the Granville Correctional concerning the grievances being made by prisoners there and I demand warden James Williams and C-1 unit manager he held accountable for the deliberate indifference they have demonstrated."
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Featured Track: Free Your Mind... And Your Ass Will Follow (instrumental) by Funkadellic from Free Your Mind... And Your Ass Will Follow -
This week, I spoke with two members of No More Deaths, a 20 year old humanitarian organization operating in the borderlands between Mexico and the USA. We talked about the organization, the work it does, how the border has changed, the political legacy of the Republicans and Democrats in the current situation for immigrants, deaths at the border and ways to get involved in supporting people on the move.
Transcript PDF (Unimposed) Zine (Imposed PDF)Links:
https://www.humaneborders.org/ https://www.tucsonsamaritans.org/ https://linktr.ee/borderlandsreliefcollective https://borderkindness.org/ https://alotrolado.org/ https://www.hopeborder.org/ https://southtexashumanrights.org/about/ https://haitianbridgealliance.org/ https://www.instagram.com/casa_carmelita. ... . ..
Featured Track: La Frontera by Lhasa from The Living Road -
Our chat with Louis, an anarchist emergency room nurse who has just returned from a second tour doing healthcare work in Gaza and is about to leave again. During this difficult conversation, we talk about medical conditions that he encountered in Gaza, what aid is getting in and how it’s being distributed, health infrastructure and how this relates to his prior mutual aid and anti-border work in the so-called USA. You can find a prior interview with Louis from Living and Fighting blog.
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This week, we’re sharing a presentation from the 2023 Another Carolina Anarchist Bookfair in so-called Asheville, NC. From the presentation:
The Mediterranean Sea is Europe’s deadliest border. For years, non-state actors like Sea-Watch and other NGO’s have played a part in humanitarian search-and-rescue operations. In spite of legal repression and the technical challenges of maintaining a “civil fleet”, anarchists, anti-fascists, and other activists try to stop needless death at sea.
Hear a report back from a wayward American yacht-punk who spent the summer doing rotations on two different SAR (Search And Rescue) ships. We’ll discuss the general political situation, the reality of everyday operations and how you could get involved.
One case Quoyle mentioned was the Luventa Crew in Italy, they were acquitted of all charges in April of 2024!
For more audios from ACABookfair 2023, check out the site. To hear a 2023 interview we conducted with an activist with Maldusa on a similar topic, you can find it at our website.
We also have this 2016 interview by A-Radio Berlin that we aired in 2016 about conditions a No Border Camp in Greece. And here's one we conducted with an immigrant from Africa and a supporter in Germany in 2016. Also, check out this podcast called The Civil Fleet with voices of others involved in solidarity in the Mediterranean route.
Announcement Sundiata Jawanza Mail Tampering?The only publicly identified Jailhouse Lawyers Speak activist, Sundiata Jawanza, is concerned that his outgoing mail is being tampered with. If you’ve been in contact with Sundiata and haven’t heard back, please reach out to [email protected]
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This week we’re sharing audio from Dr. Mohammed Bamyeh’s presentation entitled "The No-State Solution" as recorded at the 2024 Another Carolina Anarchist Bookfair in so-called Asheville, NC. Dr. Bamyeh is a Palestinian sociologist and professor at Pitt and the author of multiple books. There is a youtube video of this chat available on the Firestorm Books channel. Shuli Branson’s current podcast is The Breakup Theory and she also authored a zine by the same title as this presentation.
Transcript PDF (Unimposed) Zine (Imposed PDF)A prior presentation of this title appeared at The Victoria Anarchist Bookfair, a discussion between Dr. Bamyeh and Dr. Uri Gordon. You can find a video or a zine of the dialogue.
Announcements SCI Fayette hunger strikeAccording to incarcerated activists in SCI-Fayette in Luzerne Township, Pennsylvania, there are plans to initiate a peaceful hunger strike starting with breakfast on August 5th, 2024, to protest lack of out-of-cell time, locked down for laundry, commissary and evening recreation time during which they can contact family and friends. More on the details in our show notes to support their hunger strike demands.
The brothers at SCI-FAYETTE are planning a peaceful resistance 2 strike all the meals beginning the morning of 8/5/2024 because administration is continuing 2 limit our time out of the cell on the unit, as if we’re in a pandemic. This is the only facility n PADOC that are doing pandemic procedures. Continues to take from us. Creating problems & hostile environment. The men are tired of being locked down for commissary, laundry & now they’re restricting are evening recreation. For most inmates that’s the only time we can contact are family & friends. We want full day room recreation (no cohorts) on every housing unit 7:45-10-30am, 1:15-3:35pm & 5:00pm-8:30pm & more seats on the housing unit 2 accommodate the seating arrangements. We need their help on the outside to call #724-364-2200 & speak up 4 us.
Administration likes to keep matters like this in-house & hope we don’t have any outside support.
Please support us?
To hear about more ongoing and recent prisoner struggles and anti-repression news, check out the monthly column on ItsGoingDown.org entitled In Contempt.
Week of Solidarity with Anarchist PrisonersAugust 23-30th is the Week of Solidarity with Anarchist Prisoners. To learn who is being supported, find propaganda and art and how to send your own updates, visit the website solidarity.international
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Featured Track: Viva Tirado (part 1) by El Chicano from Viva Tirado -
This week, we’re featuring an interview with Dominika Ożyńska (Egala Association) and Aleksandra Chrzanowska (Association for Legal Intervention [polish: Stowarzyszenie Interwencji Prawnej SIP]), two human rights activists in eastern Poland near the Belarus border who speak about the situation with the migrant route through the Białowieża forest in the midst of increased militarization on both sides of the border through this ancient forest and through the region. Both are active in the umbrella Grupa Granica, or border group, movement supporting people on the move.
Transcript PDF (Unimposed) Zine (Imposed PDF)In coming weeks we hope to feature more conversations with activists on the ground in this region and elsewhere speaking on similar topics, including locals who’ve seen social and environmental changes as tensions build between the neighboring nation-states and international alliances and how it impacts people seeking asylum and engaging their freedom of movement.
Grupa Granica (Border Group) & Related Links: GG Facebook GG on X.com GG Instagram No Borders Team Instagram No Borders Team Facebook shop without borders / https://www.sklepbezgranic.pl/ -
This week, we’re sharing audio from the presentation “Direct action abortion services in Latin America” 2023 Another Carolina Anarchist Bookfair in so-called Asheville, NC.
Thanks to the volunteers who re-recorded the presenter and audience questions where permission to share their voices was not granted and a transcription. Keep an eye out in August for our youtube video to include the slides from the actual presentation this recording was made from. Audios from the 2024 ACABookfair will be online in the near future on the bookfairs website.
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Here’s an interview with Walter of the Antifa International social media project. In 2016, this took over the running of the annual July 25th Day of Solidarity with Antifascist Prisoners that was formerly a day to show affinity with Jock Palfreeman, an Australian antifascist who was incarcerated in Bulgaria for defending some Romani people from a right wing attack in which an attacker died.
Transcript PDF (Unimposed) Zine (Imposed PDF)For the hour we talk about the day of solidarity, the associated Antifascist Defense fund, international lines of solidarity around antifascism, recent cases of repression and continuing to support cultures of resistance while comrades are behind bars.
https://linktr.ee/antifainternational The International Anti-Defence Fund blog: https://intlantifadefence.wordpress.com/ Int'l. Antifa Defence Fund donation page: https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/the-international-anti-fascist-defence-fund (shortlink: bit.ly/DefendAntifa; alternatively, fnd.us/defendantifa) July 25th: Day of Solidarity with Antifascist Prisoners blog: https://supportantifaprisoners.wordpress.com/ Donation page for #j25antifa: https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/the-international-anti-fascist-defence-fund (shortlink: tinyurl.com/supportantifaprisoners) Some other antifa resources we put up: https://deathtofascism.com/ https://www.bonfire.com/support-antifa-prisoners/ Call to plan an event: https://itsgoingdown.org/july-25th-international-day-of-solidarity-with-antifascist-prisoners/ Past interviews on July25 2016 with NYC Antifa 2021 with former Antifascist prisoner David Campbell. ... . ..
Featured Track: Rude Boys Outa Jail by Neville Staple from 2 Tone - Tribute Collection Vol. 1 (A Checkered Past) -
This week we’re featuring three segments. First up, you’ll hear a conversation I had with Asphalt, a supporter of a recent federal grand jury resister in Charleston, South Carolina. [00:04:53 - 00:36:28]
After that Cyprus Hartford, the grand jury resister, speaks for herself and reads her statement of resistance and here's her GoFundMe. [00:36:28 - 00:40:39]
Transcript PDF (Unimposed) Zine (Imposed PDF)Finally, you can find an interview that Ian did with Marisa Holmes and Molly of the Metropolitan Anarchist Coordinating Committee about their recent anarchist film festival. [00:42:32 - 01:01:29]
Transcript PDF (Unimposed) Zine (Imposed PDF)Then you'll hear Sean Swain's review of the presidential debate [01:02:06 - 01:09:16]
Past GJ Eps Steve Martinez resists NoDAPL GJ in 2021 Jeremy Hammond resists Wikileaks-related GJ in 2019 & 2020 Chelsea Manning resists Wikileaks-related GJ in 2019 Katie Yow resists NC GJ in 2017 Standing Rock GJ resistance in 2016 Jerry Koch resists NYC GJ in 2013 Resistance to GJ in Pacific Northwest in 2013 ( 1 & 2) San Francisco GJ with Ian Coldwater in 2012 Federal Grand JuriesBy way of introduction to this first segment, I’d like to remind people that none of the people speaking about grand juries here are lawyers, but we are sharing information we’ve gotten from lawyers and legal experts to the best of our abilities. I’m going to read a bit from the website NCResistsTheGrandJury.Wordpress.Com:
What is a Grand Jury?In the federal legal system, the grand jury is used to decide whether someone should be charged (“indicted”) for a serious crime. The grand jury hears evidence presented by the prosecutor: the U.S. Attorney. The grand jury uses subpoenas to gather this evidence. It can subpoena documents, physical evidence, and witnesses to testify. The “special” federal grand jury, created in 1970, can be used to investigate “possible” organized criminal activity rather than a specific crime. The California legal system also has grand juries, but it is optional whether criminal prosecutions are initiated by grand jury indictment, or by a complaint by the District Attorney and preliminary hearing before a judge.
How is a Grand Jury Different Than a Trial Jury?Unlike the “petit” jury, which is used to determine guilt in a trial, a grand jury consists of 16 to 23 jurors who are not screened for bias. The purpose of the grand jury is not to determine guilt or innocence, but to decide whether there is probable cause to prosecute someone for a felony crime. The grand jury operates in secrecy and the normal rules of evidence do not apply. The prosecutor runs the proceedings and no judge is present. Defense lawyers are not allowed to be present in the grand jury room and cannot present evidence, but may be available outside the room to consult with witnesses. The prosecutor and the grand jury members may not reveal what occurred in the grand jury room and witnesses cannot obtain a transcript of their testimony.
How Has the Grand Jury Been Used by the State?Because of their broad subpoena powers and secretive nature, grand juries have been used by the government to gather information on political movements and to disrupt those movements by causing fear and mistrust. The grand jury lends itself to being used for improper political investigation due in part to the prosecutor’s ability to question witnesses without regard for rules that prohibit irrelevant, unreliable or unlawfully obtained evidence. Those called before the grand jury may be compelled to answer any question, even those relating to lawful personal and political activities. That information has been used by the government as a basis to conduct further surveillance and disruption of political dissent. When used against political movements, the grand jury causes fear and mistrust because persons who refuse to answer questions about their First Amendment political activities, friends and associates may be jailed for the life of the grand jury: up to 18 months. If a witness asserts their Fifth Amendment right to remain silent, they may be forced to accept immunity or go to jail for contempt. Even a witness who attempts to cooperate can be jailed if minor inconsistencies are found in their testimony. Such a perjury charge may stand even when the grand jury fails to hand down any indictment for what it was ostensibly investigating.
The grand jury is a complicated and opaque process, by design. Our movements have decades of experience resisting grand juries, and there are resources available to learn more and support those who resist.
If you have been contacted by federal law enforcement, the National Lawyers Guild has a national federal defense hotline at 212-679-2811.. ... . ..
Featured Track: Setting Sun (instrumental) by The Chemical Brothers from Setting Sun -
This week, we’re sharing a conversation I had with Matthew Lyons and Xtn Alexander, editors and contributors to the book Three Way Fight: Revolutionary Politics and Antifascism, out this year from Kersplebedeb Books and PM Press. We talked about the development of the political tendency which troubles the read of both liberal capitalism and the autonomous far right from a revolutionary left libertarian perspective, some of it’s progenitors and a bit about the state of the far right today.
Transcript PDF (Unimposed) Zine (Imposed PDF) Three Way Fight Blog Chat with Matthew about Christian Nationalism and another about Lyndon LaRouche DZ Shaw’s zine (co-author J. Clark) Three Way Fight, Seven Theses on the Three Way Fight and Genealogies of Antifascism: Militancy, Critique and the Three Way Fight are among his works on the subject Antifascism Against Machismo shows up in the book, and there’s an expanded edition available from Kersplebedeb (via Burning Books in the USA) Fascism and Antifascism: A Decolonial Perspective also shows up in the book -
Shut 'Em Down 2024 + Monsour Owolabi
An interview with Courtney of the Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee & Millions For Prisoners New Mexico and Roc, communications bridge for Jailhouse Lawyers Speak and residential manager at the JLS housing center to speak about the JLS call for Shut ‘Em Down strikes inside and outside of prisons in December of 2024. We talk about abolitionism, the organizing that JLS is doing including that transitional housing project and other topics. You can find a past interview with Courtney here. [00:01:49 - 00:47:18]
JLS Transcript Monsour Owolabi Transcript PDF (Unimposed) Zine (Imposed PDF)Then, you’ll hear Monsour Owolabi, incarcerated New African political prisoner in the Ferguson Unit of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice system sharing some perspectives on inside-outside collaboration, the role of isolation in prisons as counter-insurgency and the importance of transitional housing projects. Monsour has been involved in Prison Lives Matter, the website https://www.texasletters.org/ has published his writings, and supporters have an instagram @FreeMonsourOwolabi [00:48:35 - 01:08:13]
By putting these segments together, we are not proposing any organizational overlap between Mr Owolabi and JLS.
Shout out to Marylin's Children for inspirational praxis.
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Featured Track: Remember Rockefeller at Attica by Charles Mingus from Changes One - Show more
