Phoenix Anarchist Coalition: Sending Solidarity Through the Barbed Wire and Bars of Hell

Phoenix Anarchist Coalition: Sending Solidarity Through the Barbed Wire and Bars of Hell

The Phoenix Anarchist Coalition (PAC) political prisoner (PP) support program has been providing financial support for prisoners for five years now, lending support and keeping in contact with the prisoners and their families throughout their incarceration. The PP program began by supporting Richard Williams, a member of the United Freedom Front (UFF), a revolutionary underground organization that carried out armed struggle in support of oppressed people in South Africa, central and south America, as well as in solidarity with the internal displaced colonies within the United States.

PAC supported Richard for four years, from 2001 until his death in late 2005. Richard was serving a life sentence and had been struggling with a number of health problems, two of the worst were caused by his incarceration. A few PAC members had formed close relationships with Richard over the years of letter writing and support, his death was of great loss, not only to PAC, and Richard’s family, friends, and comrades, but to the movement as a whole. Richard, who was a real revolutionary, not only fought alongside and for the people, but lived and died true to his convictions, and never turned his back on the struggle.

PAC has also supported the following prisoners:

Sherman Austin (2003-2004); an anarchist from Los Angeles, Sherman was incarcerated in a federal prison in Arizona for six months. Sherman was convicted of distributing information for bombmaking through his Raise the Fist website, he was released in July 2004. PAC provided monthly financial assistance for Sherman and his mother.

Laro Nico (2003-2006); a member of Phoenix Copwatch, Laro was incarcerated in a county jail for a few months in 2003, and for sixteen months in a federal jail from late 2004, until his release in April 2006. Laro took a plea bargain in November 2004 for possession of an automatic assault rifle, after a very public arrest and lead up to his trial, in which the state was accused of pursuing Laro with a political agenda, which even the judge noted with concern before his sentencing. PAC supported Laro and his family financially for three years, in addition to PAC members spending time with his family, taking care of his kids, and doing chores and household duties around the Nicol house.

PAC now supports two political prisoners:

Matthew Lamont (2006); an anarchist from Los Angeles, Matt was incarcerated in a California state prison from Februrary until June of this year. Matt was on parole after serving time in a state prison in 2003, he was convicted of plotting to attack a southern California Nazi meeting with fire bombs. Matt was released from prison on parole, but was arrested on an alleged parole violation, and also accused of plotting to blow up Big Bear Dam, an allegation he says is not true. PAC is supporting Matt and his partner with monthly financial assistance, even after his release, as the couple had both lost their jobs since his arrest in February, and are getting back on their feet.

Rod Coronado (2006); an anarchist eco-warrior from southern Arizona, Rod was incarcerated in a federal prison in Arizona in August of this year, he is serving an eight month federal sentence. Rod was convicted of sabotaging a state Fish and Game hunt for wild mountain lions in Sabino Canyon, in southern Arizona. PAC provides monthly financial assistance for Rod. While he is serving his federal sentence, he still faces charges for three other crimes:

From Supportrod.org
State Mountain Lion Case
The State of Arizona has filed charges regarding the same incident as the Federal mountain lion case that he is currently serving time for. This case hasn't gone to trial yet.

Federal San Diego Case
Rod was arrested for giving a speech at the Hillcrest LGBT center in San Diego on August 1, 2003. He wasn't arrested until 2 1/2 years later. The FBI argues that he disseminated "information relating to explosives, destructive devices or weapons of mass destruction."

Eagle Feather Case When the FBI, ATF and Pima County Sheriffs raided Rod's house a while ago, they confiscated some feathers that came from an eagle. It is against the law for someone to own these feathers unless they are a native person using them for religious purposes. Rod Coronado is a native Yaqui who is deeply connected to his cultural and religious background.

Rod can be contacted at the address below:
Rodney Coronado #03895000
FCC Florence
PO Box 6900
Florence, AZ 85232

Most recently, PAC raised $50 at an anarchist picnic for SHAC 7 defendant Andy Stepanian, an animal rights activist facing three years in prison stemming from his conviction of “Conspiracy to violate the Animal Enterprise Protection Act.” PAC will continue to support Matthew and Rod, and we will also continue to support our brothers and sisters who find themselves in the clutches of the state.

In revolutionary solidarity,
Phoenix Anarchist Coalition
October 2006

www.phoenixanarchist.org
www.supportrod.org