New posters for July 25 International Day of Solidarity with Antifascist Prisoners

A comrade made some new posters for the July 25 International Day of Solidarity with Antifascist Prisoners. Spread the word and support our comrades!

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Get ready! The 3rd Annual July 25th International Day of Solidarity With Antifascist Prisoners Is Upon Us!

Tuesday, July 25th, marks the 3rd Annual International Day of Solidarity with Antifascist Prisoners. In the aftermath of the fiery protests against the G20—and the arrests of hundreds of comrades—we are again reminded that the embers of direct action need long-term prisoner support in order to keep the flame of resistance strong. Some forty G20 protesters remain in prison in Hamburg and need our solidarity.

Since the beginning of 2017, scores of antifascists and other revolutionaries have been arrested, and the numbers keep growing. In the Belarus and the United States alone, several hundred antifascists and anarchists have been arrested for taking part in anti-government and antifascist demonstrations. Just this month, in Belarus, Vadim Boyko, was arrested and transferred to a penal colony for a 2014 fight against right-wing hooligans, while in the US, over twenty people were arrested in Charlottesville, Virginia for defending the city against the KKK, and three people were arrested for participating in the violent demonstrations against fascists in Sacramento last year. One person, Mike Williams, a Native American organizer with the Brown Berets, is currently being held in jail on $500,000 bail.

There is something powerful in a worldwide day of solidarity, and there is still time to do something for July 25th to show support for comrades who are behind prison walls, as well as those tangled in a legal process which seeks to separate them from us in the same way. Any action—no matter how small—such as a solidarity photo, or a letter, is meaningful and appreciated. We have heard from many antifa prisoners that the letters and postcards they have received from around the world has made them feel less alone and helped them through the darkness of prison. Please see the Global Antifa Prisoner List for a list of names and current addresses.

Another way to show solidarity is to donate money. A group we recommend is the Bulgarian Prisoners Association, started by antifascist prisoner Jock Palfreeman, an Australian man serving a 20-year sentence in Bulgaria for defending two Romani men from an attack by fascist football hooligans. Jock has specifically asked supporters to donate to the association—which helps Bulgarian prisoners fight against the corrupt Bulgarian prison system and the violations and abuses they endure—for July 25th. Another good place to donate is Antifa International’s International Anti-Fascist Defense Fund, which raises funds for prisoners, as well as money for legal defense, medical costs, and family expenses for antifascists. However, there are many prisoners and defendants—local and international—who need support, and we encourage you to donate to those of your choosing.

We also encourage solidarity actions. You can show support through banner drops, literature distribution on the streets, statements of solidarity, benefit concerts, letter-writings, solidarity photos, and other more creative ways! There is also currently a week of solidarity with the hundreds of antifascist protesters arrested during anti-Trump protests at the US presidential inauguration on January 20th—who are each facing 75+ years in prison—and we encourage people to get involved.

Tweet your solidarity with the #J25antifa hashtag and remember:
Until all are free!
NO PASARAN!

Free Roman Bogdan! Free Vlad Lenko! Free Vadim Boyko! Free Dzmitry Stsyashenka! Free Jock Palfreeman! Free Aleksandr Kolchenko! Free Joel Almgren! Free Mike Williams! Drop the charges!

Posted in Call To Action, July25, Solidarity | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Sunday, July 30: Antifa Prisoner Benefit Show in Brooklyn

A benefit show for antifascist prisoners will be held at Silent Barn in Bushwick, Brooklyn on Sunday, July 30. Montreal’s anti-capitalist and anti-racist Oi/punk band Action Sédition will be playing their first U.S. show in years, along with (A)Truth and Rebuschaos from NYC. This show is part of the 3rd annual International Day of Solidarity with Antifascist Prisoners. The Facebook event is here.

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Action Sédition (Montreal) Anti-capitalist and anti-racist Oi/punk.
https://actionsedition.bandcamp.com/

 

(A)TRUTH (New York City) Antifascist anarchoi! punk
https://atruth.bandcamp.com/

 

Rebuschaos (New York City)
https://soundcloud.com/ricrudo-sorf-lopez

Proceeds will be split between NYC J20 defendants and antifascist prisoners outside the US.

The Silent Barn
603 Bushwick Ave
JMZ to Myrtle-Bway
8pm doors | all ages
$8-20 sliding scale

= = =

What is the International Day of Solidarity with Antifascist Prisoners?

The July 25 International Day of Solidarity with Antifascist Prisoners originated in 2014 as the Day of Solidarity with Jock Palfreeman, an Australian man serving a 20-year sentence in Bulgaria for defending two Romani men being attacked by fascist football hooligans. Whether acting as individuals or as part of larger organized demonstrations, this is the kind of bravery and solidarity which defines antifascist actions against the forces of hate. Since the day of solidarity last year, we have seen this spirit all over the world—in Indonesia, Czech Republic, Brazil, Poland, England, Greece, the United States, France, Syria, Australia, Japan and all points in between.

While antifascism is global, unfortunately so is state repression. In the U.S., hundreds of antifa have been arrested resisting both the Trump regime as well as Far Right street forces. In Belarus, the state continues to harshly repress the antifascist resistance. While many of these comrades are awaiting sentences, there are still many who languish in prison. We will not forget these comrades behind the prison walls!

For more information on the July 25 International Day of Solidarity with Antifascist Prisoners, see: https://nycantifa.wordpress.com/2017/06/19/antifa-prisoners-july-25-2017/

For translations of the July 25 call into German, Greek, French, Bahasa Indonesia,
Spanish, Russian, Swedish, and Finnish, see https://nycantifa.wordpress.com/global-antifa-prisoner-list/translations-antifa-prisoners-july-25-2017.

Posted in Culture, Events, July25, Music, New York City | Tagged

Tuesday, July 18th – Letter Writing Dinner for International Antifa Prisoners (Brooklyn)

cross posted from NYC Anarchist Black Cross

WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing Dinner
WHEN: 7pm sharp, Tuesday, July 18th, 2017
WHERE: The Base1302 Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11221 (directions below)

NOTE: The Base is on the ground floor, is wheelchair accessible, and has a gender neutral toilet.
COST: Free

As a response to the call for solidarity with international antifascist political prisoners, NYC ABC is focusing this week’s letter-writing dinner on those folks imprisoned for actions taken in the name of anti-fascism or anti-racism. We will have cards to sign, not to mention a delicious meal, as we’ve been known for providing for over ten years.

From NYC Antifa: The July 25 International Day of Solidarity with Antifascist Prisoners originated in 2014 as the Day of Solidarity with Jock Palfreeman, an Australian man serving a 20-year sentence in Bulgaria for defending two Romani men being attacked by fascist football hooligans. Whether acting as individuals or as part of larger organized demonstrations, this is the kind of bravery and solidarity which defines antifascist actions against the forces of hate. Since the day of solidarity last year, we have seen this spirit all over the world—in Indonesia, Czech Republic, Brazil, Poland, England, Greece, the United States, France, Syria, Australia, Japan and all points in between.

While antifascism is global, unfortunately so is state repression. In the United States, hundreds of antifa have been arrested resisting both the Trump regime as well as Far Right street forces. In Belarus, the state continues to harshly repress antifascist resistance. While many of these comrades are awaiting sentences, there are still many who languish in prison. We will not forget these comrades behind prison walls!

We call on anti-fascists worldwide to act in solidarity with antifascist prisoners. They are in there for us, and we are out here for them!

The deal, as always, is that you come bringing only yourself (and your friends and comrades), and we provide you with a delicious vegan meal, information about the prisoners as well as all of the letter-writing materials and prisoner-letter-writing info you could ever want to use in one evening. In return, you write a thoughtful letter to a political prisoner or prisoner of war of your choosing or, better yet, keep up a long-term correspondence. We’ll also provide some brief updates and pass around birthday cards for the PP/POWs whose birthdays fall in the next two weeks thanks to the PP/POW Birthday Calendar.

Directions:
Getting to The Base is simple:
From the M Train:
Central Avenue Stop: Walk east on Myrtle Avenue (away from Hart Street, toward Cedar Street). We’re about two blocks down on the south side of the street.

Knickerbocker Avenue Stop: Walk west on Myrtle Avenue (away from Harman Street, toward Himrod Street). We’re about three blocks down on the south side of the street.

From the L Train:
DeKalb Avenue Stop: Walk south on Stockholm Street (away from Wyckoff Avenue, toward Irving Avenue). We’re about four blocks down, at the intersection of Stockholm Street and Myrtle Avenue.

From the J Train:
Myrtle Avenue Stop: Transfer to the M train and follow the above directions.

Posted in Uncategorized

Antifa Journalist Gets Death Threats After Exposing Far Right Media at Hamburg G20 Protest

America is not sending its best people to Germany. A number of Far Right pseudo-journalists attempted to attend the G20 counter-protests in Hamburg, but were exposed by antifa journalist Soeren Kohlhuber. These were Lauren Southern (Canada), Luke Rudkowski and Tim Pool (U.S.), and Max Bachmann (Germany). They were later confronted by activists who were displeased by their presence. Kohlhuber received a slew of death threats in return. He’s in Hamburg right now covering the “Welcome to Hell” demonstrations, but he made time to do a short interview with NYC Antifa.

In Hamburg, Left to Right: Luke Rudkowsky, Lauren Southern, Max Bachmann, Tim Pool (Photo: Sören Kohlhuber)

The Far Right “journalists” were:

Lauren Southern, an Alt Right media figure who is working with European white nationalist Identitarian groups to block refugee boats. She had the chutzpah to wear a “Identity Europa” shirt to the demonstrations, which were so intense that the crowds overwhelmed 15,000 police.

Luke Rudkowski runs the 9/11 Truth “We Are Change” group. He frequently promotes militia leaders and antisemites like his hero David Icke. He even blamed the Denver Anarchist Black Cross for the 2012 Aurora, Colorado theater mass shooting.

Rudkowski and Southern both came to the June 10 counter-protest against the Islamophobic rally at Foley Square in downtown New York. Together, they attempted to come into the counter-protest and videotape people, but were quickly pushed out. Southern claimed she had fox urine thrown on her, and Rudkowski immediately went to the police to try and get people arrested.

Rudkowski claimed he was there as a “neutral” party but it is clear he is acting to facilitate the views of Far Right activists who are less cagey about their real views, like Southern.

Tim Pool, like Rudkowski, made his reputation as a livestreamer at Occupy Wall Street’s Zucotti Square. There the snitch attempted to livestream activists engaged what could be perceived as illegal actions. More recently he has drank the Alt Right kool-aid, too, and is now promoting their movement while also pretending to be “neutral.”

The three were also joined by a German man, Max Bachmann, who runs in right-wing conspiracy theory circles.

1) How did you find out that Lauren Southern, Tim Pool, and Luke Rudkowski were coming to the G20 protests in Hamburg? Did you see them there first, or did you have advance notice?

I walked to the rally and saw a girl with a shirt of the Far Right group “Identity Europa.” I didn’t know who she was.

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Lauren Southern sporting a “Identity Europa” t-shirt at the G20 demo. (Photo: Sören Kohlhuber)

2) After you saw this, how did you publicize it?

I warned people on Twitter, because in Germany “Identitäre” [Identitarians] and other Far Right groups take photos from antifascists and journalists for their files.

3) What happened to the them?

I heard that people attacked them—but I only heard this from Luke Rudkowski’s Youtube channel.

4) What happened to you afterward?

Luke made a Youtube video with my Twitter account and photo. After this I got a shitstorm from the Far Right, Reuters, and others. Now they are harassing me on different kinds of platforms.

For more, see Soeren Kohlhuber’s longer article on what happened (in German): “Rechte Medienaktivisten bei G20 – anschließende Kampagne gegen mich,” https://soerenkohlhuber.wordpress.com/2017/07/08/rechte-medienaktivisten-bei-g20-anschliessende-kampagne-gegen-mich.

Kohlhuber’s social media and webpage:
www.twitter.com/SoerenKohlhuber
www.facebook.com/soeren.kohlhuber
https://soerenkohlhuber.wordpress.com

Posted in Germany | 1 Comment

July 25, 2017 – Third Annual International Day of Solidarity with Antifascist Prisoners

New York City anti-fascists represent for J25!

As the third annual July 25th International Day of Solidarity with Antifascist Prisoners approaches, we find ourselves fighting the hydra of fascism and far-right ideology. While its many heads have distinct looks in different parts of the world, this beast spews the same venomous poison of nationalism and bigotry everywhere. It demonizes refugees and immigrants, stokes hatred for Muslims, and attacks LGBTQ and other oppressed groups who are fighting for liberation and their very lives.

The July 25 International Day of Solidarity with Antifascist Prisoners originated in 2014 as the Day of Solidarity with Jock Palfreeman, an Australian man serving a 20-year sentence in Bulgaria for defending two Romani men being attacked by fascist football hooligans. Whether acting as individuals or as part of larger organized demonstrations, this is the kind of bravery and solidarity which defines antifascist actions against the forces of hate. Since the day of solidarity last year, we have seen this spirit all over the world—in Indonesia, Czech Republic, Brazil, Poland, England, Greece, the United States, France, Syria, Australia, Japan and all points in between.

While antifascism is global, unfortunately so is state repression. In the U.S., hundreds of antifa have been arrested resisting both the Trump regime as well as Far Right street forces. In Belarus, the state continues to harshly repress the antifascist resistance. While many of these comrades are awaiting sentences, there are still many who languish in prison. We will not forget these comrades behind the prison walls!

We call on anti-fascists worldwide to act in solidarity with antifascist prisoners. Consider having an event or dedicating an action to them. They are in there for us, and we are out here for them!

No Pasaran!
Until All Are Free!

USE THE HASHTAG: #J25antifa

The call is now available in German, Greek, French,
Bahasa Indonesia, Spanish, Russian, Swedish, and Finnish.

Contact us if you can translate it into another language!

 

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««««««Global List of Antifascist Prisoners»»»»»»

Below is a list of global antifascist prisoners who have been sentenced. Hundreds more have been arrested but have not been convicted; we encourage local groups to support the antifascists of their choosing who are in legal trouble. If you are not donating to a specific person, a good option is to support the International Anti-Fascist Defence Fund.

Please contact us: if you know an antifa prisoner who is missing form the list (include their details, and what languages they can read); if you can help translate the call; or if you are planning an event that, so that we can help publicize it: nycantifa@riseup.net.

EUROPE

Belarus
Roman Bogdan

Roman Bogdan was arrested on April 15, 2015, as part of the long-going state repression of anti-fascists in Brest, stemming from a fight between anti-fascists and fascists on May 8, 2013. In October, Roman was sentenced to 8 years in a penal colony and must pay 3500 Euro in damages. On December 15, 2015 a regional appellate court commuted his sentence by 2 years.

He can read Russian and simple English phrases.

Address:

213010 Shklov
p. Molodezhnyj, IK-17, otryad 12
Mogilevskaya obl.
Belarus

http://abc-belarus.org/?p=6153&lang=en

Vlad Lenko

Vlad Lenko is an antifascist from Ivatsevichi (Brest region). He was arrested on December 27, 2014, and accused of taking part in a fight against local neo-Nazis earlier in December. Vlad was charged with group hooliganism and aggravated bodily harm, and in September 2015 was sentenced to 6 years in a penal colony.

Supporters are trying to raise money to appeal the verdict, which they hope will reduce his sentence by half. They also need to collect 1000 Euro to pay damages ordered by the court.

Fundraising WebMoney:
$ Z418615316084
€ E146518161935

He can read Russian and simple English phrases.

Address:
Lenko Vlad Igorevich
211300 Vitebskaya obl.
Vitebskiy rajon, Vitba, IK-3
BELARUS

http://abc-belarus.org/?p=6240&lang=en

Maxim Yahnieshka

Maxim Yahnieshka was arrested after a fight on April 1st, 2015, where he was hospitalized in a fight with right-wing hooligans. Cops were called by hospital staff, and Maxim refused to name his attackers to police. After obtaining surveillance camera footage, the police identified the right-wing hooligans and had them accuse Maxim of prior conflicts. On September 7, 2016 he was sentenced to 3 years of custodial restraint for malicious bodily harm, theft of a hat, property destruction, and threatening to kill right-wing hooligans. Appeals to a higher court in November left his sentence unchanged, and on December 12, 2016 he was transferred to an open-type penitentiary institution.

ABC Belarus encourages supporters to help Maxim’s family cover the costs associated with his imprisonment. The “open-type” penitentiary institution requires Maxim to pay for food and other services out of his own pocket. His costs are primarily shouldered by his parents, who are themselves in a terrible financial situation.

If you feel like supporting Maxim, please send money through ABC Belarus:
– PayPal belarus_abc@riseup.net
– Bitcoin 1CcxWEswKjXZgXQCds5KcHfemzrAASVbuv
– bank account
Account Holder: VpKK e.V.
IBAN: DE 4085 0205 0000 0361 5700
BIC: BFSWDE33DRE
Bank für Sozialwirtschaft
Note: Donation ABC-B
Please make the Note as stated above!

He can read Russian and simple English phrases.

Address:
Maxim Yahnieshka
IUOT No. 7
225140, Pruzhanski r-n, d. Kuplino
BELARUS

https://abc-belarus.org/?p=7161&lang=en#more-716

Bulgaria
Jock Palfreeman

Jock Palfreeman is an Australian anti-fascist political prisoner serving a twenty-year prison sentence in Bulgaria for the rather mysterious death of a neo-Nazi football hooligan who was part of a group attacking two Romani men in Sofia, Bulgaria in 2007. Jock came to the aid of the Romani, and quickly found himself the focus of the attack. Bulgarian authorities did everything they could to ensure that Jock did not receive a fair trial, and after his sentencing have refused–in contravention of their own treaties–to transfer him to Australia to serve the rest of his time closer to his family.

Jock recently wrote that, “Although I do not want people to forget that I continue to stay incarcerated for defending a Roma man being brutally beaten by 15 neo-nazis, this July 25th 2017 I request that as many people as possible can organize solidarity funds for our prisoners’ union here, the Bulgarian Prisoners’ Association (BPRA).” He also asks that people write  to government officials and request that they meet with BPRA representatives.

He can read English and Bulgarian.

Address:
Jock Palfreeman
Sofia Central Prison
21 General Stoletov Boulevard
Sofia 1309, BULGARIA

http://www.brightonabc.org.uk/jock.html

Russia
Aleksandr Kolchenko

Aleksandr  Kolchenko was arrested in Crimea on May 17, 2014, along with several others, and accused by Russian authorities of participation in a “terrorist group” which planned explosions near the Eternal Fire memorial and the Lenin monument in Simferopol, as well as having sabotaged railway tracks and electricity lines. Aleksandr is also alleged to have carried out two arson attacks in April: against the headquarters of the Russian Unity-Party, and the Russian Community of Crimea. He was transferred to Moscow and is being kept in draconian conditions. His lawyers are under a gag order, and have been refused elementary rights to defend him. He faces fifteen-to-twenty years in a labor camp.

Russian authorities claim that Aleksandr is a member of Right Sektor, a Ukrainian ultra-right nationalist organization, but he has no connection to the group—a fact confirmed by relatives and friends. Moreover, Aleksandr is an antifascist and anarchist who consistently opposed nationalistic movements in Crimea and faced constant fascist attacks for his activism. For example, after a film screening about murdered anti-fascist journalist Anastasiya Baburova, he was attacked by thirty Nazis with knives.

Since this case is highly political, Aleksandr’s legal costs are high, around 850 euro per month. The investigation has created a heavy financial strain on local ABC groups, and there is a call for financial support and information distribution. You can make donations via PayPal to abc-msk@riseup.net or using a bank account (write to the same e-mail address for details).

Address:
Kolchenko Aleksandru Aleksandrovichu, 1989 g.r.
456612
Chelyabinskaya obl, Kopeisk,
ul.Kemerovskaya, 20,
IK-6, otryad 4
RUSSIA

Please note: Moscow ABC advises that letters in English are seldom accepted in Russian prisons, so please write only in Russian (try using a translation program), or just send photos and postcards.

http://avtonom.org/en/news/repressions-against-crimean-activists-political-context
http://wiki.avtonom.org/en/index.php/Aleksandr_Kolchenko

Sweden
Joel Almgren

Joel Almgren was sentenced to five years and six months for defending a local community-organized anti-racist demonstration in Stockholm against a brutal Nazi attack on December 15, 2013. The peaceful protest—against fascist assaults on local anti-racists and the dissemination of Nazi propaganda in area schools—was attacked with knives, sticks, and glass bottles by the most militant Nazi group in Sweden. Anti-fascists at the scene defended the demonstration from the attack and many were injured themselves.

Joel has over 4080 USD in fines, and his supporters are asking for help raising the money.

To donate from a non-swedish bank account:
IBAN: SE0680000832799438650120
Bic: SWEDSESS

He can read Swedish and English.

Address:
Joel Almgren
KVA Tidaholm
Skogsholmvägen
522 85 Tidaholm
SWEDEN

http://www.fanggruppen.com/write-to-prisoners-1/
https://www.facebook.com/freejoel

NORTH AMERICA

United States
Dane Powell

Powell is the first person sentenced of the over 200 people arrested for the January 20, 2017 demonstration against Donald Trump’s inauguration – #DisruptJ20. On July 7th, he was sentenced to 4 months in prison. Dane is a father, veteran, water protector, and active community member.

He can read English.

Address:
Dane Powell, DCDC #358 530
DC Jail
1901 D Street, SE
Washington, DC 20003
USA
http://www.dclegalposse.org/support-our-comrade-in-prison/

Posted in Call To Action, July25, Solidarity | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

Saturday June 10: Noise Against Islamophobia in NYC!

NYC Antifa endorses MACC’s call for a noise demonstration this Saturday morning, June 10 in Foley Square. We will drown out the Islamophobic prattle from a hodge podge of Far Right mouth breathers who seek to spread their lies about Muslims in order to recruit for their movement of bigotry and intolerance. The NYC event is just one of dozens being held across the country.

Those slated to appear include racist hipster Gavin McInnes, leader of the Proud Boys; the vice president of the New York state Oath Keepers, a right-wing paramilitary; and members of ACT for America, an Islamophobic group which has Trump’s ear, and which is sponsoring the national demonstrations.

Please come with the loudest noise maker you can find and join us at 10AM!

No Platform for Fascism:
Noise-Demo against Hate!

Saturday, June 10
10 AM—2 PM

Foley Square, 111 Worth St, New York

Join us to make noise and drown out hate at Foley Square! Bring noisemakers of all kinds!

Bigots, Racists, Fascists out of NYC!

America’s proto-fascists have issued a national call for a “March against Sharia” on June 10th. In NYC, this thinly veiled racist rally will be taking place at Foley Square from 10AM – 2PM featuring such infamous bigots as Gavin McInnes of the Proud Boys and Frank Morganthaler of the Oathkeepers. We at the Metropolitan Anarchist Coordinating Council (MACC) are taking this opportunity to announce a new campaign, No Platform for Fascism, which will seek not only to confront far-right organizations in the streets but will also pressure businesses like Squarespace that give them a mouthpiece and profit off of their hateful ideologies. We call on all of those in the broader anti-fascist movement to join us as we inaugurate this campaign with a counter-noise demonstration at Foley Square starting at 10 AM. We encourage all organizations allied with immigrants and the oppressed to use this campaign and to call their own parallel events. Together we can shut it down and show that racist movements have no place in our city!

To be clear, this rally for Christian supremacy has nothing to do with the First Amendment and everything to do with promoting terrorism against minorities. In the last week two people lost their lives in Portland (Ricky Best and Taliesin Namkai-Meche), knifed to death after attempting to defend a Muslim woman from a known white supremacist spewing hate speech on the light-rail. This isn’t an isolated event. America’s own law enforcement organs state that the vast majority of fatal attacks on U.S. soil are carried out by white supremacists. We at MACC believe that the atmosphere of fear that the Trump administration and the far-right are cultivating in marginalized communities is an extreme form of a systemic violence that has long existed in the United States – precisely calibrated to deny these communities anything like “free speech” or a voice in the public sphere.

How can you expect the Muslim community to engage in dialogue, if being visible means the constant threat of attack, murder, deportation, or imprisonment? And how can the Islamophobic movement wrap themselves in the mantle of free speech and women’s rights when they recently beat a young woman at their rally at CUNY, where they were trying to prevent a moderate Muslim leader from speaking?

The anarchist and anti-fascist movement understands that we must fight both neoliberal terror and fascist terror wherever it arises if we are to create a new radically democratic and radically pluralistic society. A society in which all voices have a say in their political lives.

Anti-fascists to the streets June 10th! No Platform for Fascism!

Posted in Call To Action, New York City, United States | Tagged , , , ,

A New Year’s Update on Antifascist Prisoners

13669088_1009082462538060_5988014648065168917_n12017 promises to be a busy year for antifascists around the world. We will continue the fight against fascism and the far right, and oppose—in every way possible—their relentless campaigns of bigotry against refugees and immigrants, Muslims, Jews, LGBTQ, and people of color. The new year seems like a good time to remind everyone of the many antifascist prisoners around the world, not simply because solidarity is the cornerstone of our various movements, but because it may very well be any one of us behind bars.

Since our last update in July, many more antifascists are in need of solidarity. Maxim Yahnieshka from Belarus was arrested in 2015 after being hospitalized by right-wing hooligans and was recently sentenced to three years in prison. In Sweden, some of the Kungsan 15 have begun serving their sentences, ranging 4-12 months, for an enormous demonstration against a neo-nazi Swedish political party in 2014. Olle Smedberg is one on those who would like to receive letters from the public. We are also overjoyed that two antifascists, Dzmitry Stsyashenka from Belarus, and Michelle Smith from England, were released in November 2016 and could ring in the new year with their friends and family.

Please do not wait for July 25th, the International Day of Solidarity with Antifascist Prisoners, to show your solidarity with these new prisoners, or those who have been on the Global Antifa Prisoner List since the beginning. A card or letter is an easy way to support comrades who are separated from us by concrete blocks and steel bars. To show how much your solidarity matters, please see the letter below, sent to NYC Anarchist Black Cross by antifa prisoner, Alexey Sutuga, after their #J25 event last year. Help us make sure that 2017 really lives up to slogan, “They are in there for us, and we are out here for them!”

NO PASARAN!!
Until all are free!

alexeysutuga.png

During the week of solidarity with international antifa prisoners, NYC ABC sent a card to Alexey Sutuga, a Russian antifascist, who wrote back. The note says: “Hello My Friends, I received your letter of solidarity. Before this, I received another one last fall. I was very glad. I didn’t expect that you would be interested in my fate. Although it really couldn’t be any other way for either of us. We’re all united, and that is one thing we have in common no matter where we live. I don’t know many people from the US. (But a big hello to Freddy from Madball NYC). This is why it’s so good that I have new friends. I’ll be happy to stay in touch. Best of luck with everything. Stay strong, brothers, and take care of yourselves.”

 

Posted in July25, Russia | Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Alt-Right Bonus Dox: New York’s Racist Heathens

ALT-RIGHT SERIES BONUS DOX!
Meet New York’s Racist Heathens

Heathens are modern pagans who worship the ancient Norse gods. There is nothing wrong with this of course—but some take Heathenry in a racialist direction, believing that it is a faith only for whites, and seek to build coalitions with political White Nationalists. Anti-racist Heathen groups like Heathens United, Circle Ansuz, and Patheos have denounced this renegade strain, which centers on Stephen McNallen’s Asatru Folk Assembly. They have railed against multiculturalism, Latino immigration, and non-binary gender identity.

Despite the many heathens that criticize and fight against these fascistic sub-groups, racist heathenry has deep roots in the neo-folk and occult scenes, as well as in National Socialist Black Metal (NSBM), a racist and anti-Semitic form of metal. Unfortunately, a common trend in these scenes is that criticism of fellow musicians, no matter what their political affiliations or beliefs, is considered impolite and akin to censorship. We hope that with the obvious uptick in white nationalist organizing, the taboo on rejecting fascist sympathy will be smashed.

Here are a few examples in the New York area:

screen-shot-2016-11-05-at-4-47-35-pm

Earlier this year Idavox put out an alert about a Nazi Black Metal show happening at the Diamond Club in Ronkokoma, New York. The show was set up by Wolftyr Productions, a NSBM label run by Paul Guhring (aka Paul Tyrinn aka Bobby Dokken). Guhring is an organizer of Heathen Circle, an “art community dedicated to promoting pan-European heritage among the people of its descent worldwide.” Their main project seems to be putting out a zine that praises fascist philosophers, musicians, and racist gangs like the Wolves of Vinland and Soldiers of Odin.

Wolftyr set up a similar show earlier this year at Lucky 13 Bar in Brooklyn with Witchblood, a band that uses the neo-Nazi “Black Sun” symbol in their album art. Wolftyr’s online store also sells books by fascist philosopher Julius Evola, and the white nationalist publication Tyr.  

Paul also sings for Grafvolluth, a self-described NSBM band. The band features Erik Proft, who is involved with the National Anarchist movement, playing music with  National Anarchist founder Troy Southgate. Proft also performs in BELIEVER/LAW, Kama Rupa, and Blood and Sun (with Nazi cosplayer Luke Tromiczak), and is connected to the neo-Nazi music distro “Vanguard Productions” on Facebook. Most recently, Grafvolluth contributed to a tribute album of Polish Nazi band Graveland and a split with Slavecrushing Tyrant.

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Ticket for a Graveland show in last year in Italy

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Wolftyr and Heathen Circle promote Polish Nazi bands like Graveland

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Paul singing for Grafvolluth, with Erik Proft on guitar

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PA Nazi Metal band Wotenorden, promoted by Wolftyr

Another racist tied to the Heathen scene, Stuart Sudekum—a former editor of the pro-fascist blog Heathen Harvest—is still at it in Bushwick. As NYC Antifa previously reported, Sudekum distributes Michael Moynihan’s Tyr  in New York City, and gives classes on tarot card readings at Bushwick’s Tarot Society. Working with Heathen Harvest, Sudekum promoted numerous fascist projects, and started anti-Semitic threads

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Albo and Stuart Sudekum

in their now deleted politics message board. In one, he says he wishes Brooklyn’s Jews “would all buy a one way ticket to Israel…”

Although Sudekum is less politically open these days, he’s still involved in Third Positionist groupings like Attack the System and the National Anarchists—as well as being tight with Counter- Currents’ James O’Meara, National Anarchist organizer Donald Pomeroy, and Blood and Sun’s Luke Tromiczak.

UPDATE 12/31/2016: Both Bushwick occult spaces that hosted Sudekum have dropped his Tarot Reading classes, stating they don’t support his politics.  

Connecting the threads, thanks to the work of the Twin Cities GDC Luke Tromiczak‘s Blood and Sun recently had his entire midwest tour cancelled. In a Facebook post, Luke claimed that not only is he not a fascist, but has a liberal mindset, and would be sickened to even sit next to a racist. Unfortunately there’s a lot of photos of him doing just that.

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Tromiczak performing at a Death in June concert at Home Sweet Home. For those keeping score, the Black Sun and SS Totenkopf are not “pre-Third Reich religious symbols”

We also found this interview where he promotes neo-Volkisch movements and insults Jewish people. His Black Metal label Antitheist Disseminations was working with Nazi bands and labels as recently as 2013. Many of his fans believed his empty defense, but the venues did not. All three cancelled his performances.

If you have any more information about racist Heathens, NSBM bands, or any other fascists in the New York area please email FascismWatchNYC@gmail.com

Posted in New York state, United States

Brooklyn Commons Boycott – No Collaboration with the Far Right

CALL TO BOYCOTT THE BROOKLYN COMMONS:
NO COLLABORATION WITH THE FAR RIGHT

safe-space-copyThe Brooklyn Commons is a “progressive” space in downtown Brooklyn, whose sole owner—heiress Melissa Ennen—has changed their mission statement to allow Far Right groups to use the space. This new policy follows a speaking engagement in September 2016 by Christopher Bollyn, an anti-semite with a long history in neo-Nazi circles.

NYC Antifa has always supported the use of boycotts to make it clear that spaces which host racist, fascist, and bigoted speakers will not be tolerated in our city. Therefore, we have signed the Common Decency call to boycott the Brooklyn Commons café and speaking area. The boycott will be active until Ennen changes the space’s policy to prevent Far Right speakers and activists from using it. (However, this is not a boycott of the projects that rent space from the Brooklyn Commons.)

There is no community control or accountability at the misnamed Brooklyn Commons. Ennen privately controls one of the most scarce resources in NYC—which she has access to because of her family’s wealth—and is using it to provide direct support for the Far Right. NYC Antifa opposes all “progressive,” radical, and countercultural projects that collaborate with the Far Right, including allowing them to use space, and we oppose normalizing this behavior.

The complete boycott call and full list of signatures is available at the Common Decency website. We ask other groups to also sign on to the boycott call.

Posted in Call To Action, New York City, United States | 1 Comment