“Call for contributions” to the next zine in my curated series, “Side by Side” — sparked by my rage, horror, and grief at Tuesday’s cruel and sadistic sentencing of 30 years for my beloved friend @free.des.revol and 50-100 years for other Prairieland defendants.
What the fuck / fuck the state / fuck the prisons and police!
I was so utterly heartbroken when the sentences came down, I felt powerless that day. Then I realized that so many of us were instantly springing into motion—and already had been. Rather than powerless, first and foremost, we checked in on each other, sending messages of love and solidarity, especially to the defendants’ families and friends. Then we tirelessly leaped into all the many tasks of doing anti-repression “work,” as voluntary labors of love, that we anarchists do particularly well.
Yesterday, when the sentences hit me even harder, having sunk in, I realized that we anarchists, especially those with deep experience doing anti-repression and prisoner solidarity, have a responsibility. It’s our duty to share the many hard-won lessons, our best anti-repression tools and tactics, especially for those new to state repression, so as to better aid them in making good decisions and keep more of us out of harm’s way, or at a minimum, not let anyone feel alone when repression hits.
Collective defense doesn’t start when the indictments come down; it is a daily practice, particularly under fascism. It’s what keeps people from cooperating with the state and cops, and it’s what teaches people, as second nature, to have each others’ sides and backs. It’s what helps ward off despair and sustain our resolve. And so much more.
SO, in honor of the noncooperating Prairieland defendants, being used as fodder for a death machine intent on making “antifascism” seem wrong and quelling all resistance, send me stories of the good/caring/effective tools and tactics you’ve used when doing anti-repression work.
Length: 80 to 250 words, prose!
Due: by July 4 (on the one-year anniversary of “fuck the government that fucked over our comrades on July 4, 2025”)
Email to: cbmilstein [at] yahoo {dot} com
(photo: tag seen in Exarcheia)
Also at:
