Antifascist Prisoner Support

Supporting our comrades on the inside is a key part of antifascism. This page is updated frequently!

 

Spain
Rodrigo Lanza

Rodrigo Lanza is an antifascist from Chile who is living in Zaragoza, Spain. In December of 2017, Rodrigo was out with friends at a bar when they were approached by a man who began insulting Rodrigo, calling him “sudaka” (a derogatory term for Latin Americans) and telling him to go back to his country. As Rodrigo attempted to leave the bar, Victor Lainez, a member of the fascist Falange group with many friends in the local fascist scene, pulled a knife. Rodrigo defended himself and in the ensuing fight, Lainez was killed.

Occurring during the movement for Catalan independence and the accompanying resurgence of hardcore Spanish nationalism, the press worked overtime to vilify Rodrigo as a ‘foreigner,’ squatter, and former political prisoner. They claimed that Lainez was attacked at random for wearing Spanish flag suspenders, and built a bogus narrative of an innocent Spanish citizen murdered simply for showing support for his country.

Rodrigo will soon go to trial and faces 25 years in prison, a 150,000 fine, as well as expulsion from Spain.

https://itsgoingdown.org/spanish-media-side-fascist-former-political-prisoner-arrested-hate-crime/

Update:

On November 15th, 2019 Rodrigo Lanza was convicted of reckless homicide after a week long trial. If he would’ve been convicted of murder he could have faced as much as 25 years, but instead on November 26th he was sentenced to 5 years. After already serving 2 years by the time of the trial Rodrigo could be out as early as June of 2020.

Update** After Rodrigo’s first trial the government petitioned for a retrial which they were granted and started on 9/8/2020. On 9/17/2020 the jury came back with a verdict after the 2nd trial was over that was ” guilty of murder” and the prosecutor asked for a sentence of 20 years. Sentencing is forthcoming. For a recap of the trial and analysis around the verdict, check out this aticle –

El jurado considera a Rodrigo Lanza culpable de “asesinato”

The gravity of the verdict that the jury came back with after the second trial was over cannot be overstated. Rodrigo Lanza has already been in prison for nearly 3 years while he’s been dealing with the case and could possibly be in prison for another 20. Let Rodrigo know just how much support he has from all over the world!

**Update Rodrigo Lanza did in fact get sentenced to the 20 years the government was requesting.

letters of support can be sent to:

Rodrigo Lanza Huidobro Centro Penitenciario De Zuera Autovía A-23, Km 328 CP 50800, Zaragoza Spain
 
 
Pablo Hasel
 

Pablo Hasel is an antifascist rapper from Lleida and on 2/12/2021 he was indicted on “inciting terrorism” charges due to lyrics he put out as an artist that are against cops and the crown. Pablo was given a 2 years and 9 months sentence after being convicted of these absurd charges. For an entire week after Pablo was captured on 2/16 an uprising erupted in cities across Spain in response to his arrest. The uprising was an absolute force against repression and fascism and demonstrated exactly what is possible.

Here’s the Twitter handle for Pablo Hasel’s support team and here’s the website with poems and articles Pablo has written while in prison so far.

To send messages of suppot and solidarity, here’s Pablo Hasel’s prison address:

Pablo Rivadulla Duró  Centro Penitenciario De Ponent C/Victoria Kent s/N 25071 Lleida Modulo 7

 

 

**Update** Aleksandr was released on 9/7/2019 !!

 

Network 

There are 10 individuals being held in what’s come to be known as the the ” Network ” case. Currently 7 are  held in Penza who were given atrocious sentences on February 10th, 2020 and their sentences range from 6 to 18 years. The other 3 are being held in St. Petersburg and will be sentenced in the near future. There is a very thorough support site for these 10 anti fascists being held in captivity there in Russian complete with info on the case, bios for each indivual and ways you can support the brave indivulas who have endured so much already. Here is that support site , and the following is from that site:

“On the eve of the presidential election and the World Cup repressions began in Russia. Activists are being kidnapped, beaten up, electrocuted, forced to sign and learn investigative evidence, in which law enforcement investigation interested, by heart. Besides tortures and battery, detainees are threatened to be imprisoned for long time: secret services incriminate participation in mythical terrorist organization called “Network”. ”

 

Italy

There was a wave of repression leading to 30 arrests in the area of Florence in the summer of 2017 after a rise of anarchist actions in that area over the previous year and a half. Three of those arrests were that of Ghespe, Giovanni, and Paska accused of placing a bomb at a fascist bookstore and meeting place in Florence. When a cop went to inspect the device it exploded and he was injured in the blast. The bookstore is called “Il Bargello” and is owned by the fascist group Casa Pound.

 Unfortunately in July of 2019 these three comrades were convicted of the action at the fascist bookstore and sentences were recommended by the government but they are still awaiting a formal sentencing hearing. Paska, Giovanni, and Ghespe are on house arrest while they wait.

 

Check out the support site, here or the site for the Anarchist Black Cross chapter in Italy for updates.