This year, Bloomington held a week of activities leading up to June 11th:
June 2: A benefit raised $350 for Eric King, an anarchist held captive in Kansas awaiting trial for an alleged incendiary attack on a Congressman’s office.
June 6: An assembly was held to discuss prison projects and recent struggles of revolutionary prisoners and prison rebels.
June 8: A card and letter writing night for anarchist prisoners was held. A few letters were written and cards were signed for 20 anarchist prisoners in the United States.
June 9: The Pages to Prisoners Project held a 12-hour ‘packathon’ event where people responded to prisoners’ letters and put together packages of books.
June 10: A film showing of Lucio, a documentary about anarchist counterfeiter Lucio Urtubia.
June 11: A microphone demonstration was held at the town square with a dozen comrades handing out literature and holding banners. A sound system played Sean Swain’s 2015 June 11th statement, an interview with Michael Kimble, and interviews about June 11th and Sean’s recent struggles. Banners included “Free Marius Mason and All Prisoners” and “Free the Anarchist Fighters” with the names of long-term anarchist prisoners in the United States (Amazon, Bill Dunne, Rebecca Rubin, Jeremy Hammond, Jennifer Gann, Andrew Mickel, Blackjack, Michael Kimble, Sean Swain, Casey Brezik, and Marius Mason) and one awaiting trial (Eric King).
In addition, a message was painted at a swimming spot, reading “For Marius J. Mason and all imprisoned comrades: Wish you were here.”
These are all small gestures for our imprisoned comrades, gestures we hope can help break down the isolation imposed by prison. Raising funds, sending letters and books, and raising awareness about prisoners are all important. However, we must recognize them as parts of a polymorphous and combative struggle against prison society as a whole. The recent hunger strike of Greek anarchist and rebel prisoners, the successful hunger strike of Nikos Romanos, the refusal of Spanish anarchists to break beneath the weight of Operation Pandora and Operation Piñata, the wide array of attacks in solidarity with prisoners and against repression: these all offer glimpses of possibilities, of freedom and rebellion.
We send international greetings to Nataly, Juan, and Guillermo, anarchist prisoners in Chile who recently ended their hunger strike after 53 days; those facing repression in Operation Piñata and Operation Fenix; Chilean anarchist Tamara Sol, recently moved to a high security prison; Silvia, Billy, and Costa, facing charges yet again for an alleged plan to sabotage an IBM nanotechnology research center, for which they have already served years in prison; and Marco Camenisch, held captive since 1991. We also express our deepest rage at state murder of comrade Spyros Dravilas in Greece.
We will not forget that Bloomington was once home to Marius Mason and we will not cease to struggle for his freedom and the freedom of all prisoners.
Solidarity with all prison rebels!
Solidarity with all anarchist prisoners!
Solidarity with the fugitives running wild and free!
Against the state and its prisons, struggle continues…
from Anarchist News via Rififi