The Final Straw Radio Michael DeForge on Art and Organizing + Xinacthli Medical Emergency
This week we're sharing Ian's talk with cartoonist Michael DeForge about the intersection of organizing and art. The conversation touches on Michael's recent organizing efforts in solidarity with Mskwaasin Agnew, who was among those detained by Israel as part of the Flotilla to bring aid to Gaza. They also discuss the good and bad of instructive political stories and Michael shares details about his upcoming collection ("All The Cameras In My Room") from Drawn and Quarterly, scheduled for release in early 2026.
Links:
- Bluesky: @michaeldeforge.bsky.social
- Instagram:@michaeldeforgecomics
- website:michael-deforge.com
- patreon.com/cw/michaeldeforge
- https://www.noarmsinthearts.com/
But first we're sharing an interview that Outlaw Podcast did with Jazz from the support crew for Xinacthli. Xinacthli is a Chicano anarchist who's been serving a 50 year sentence since 1996 for aggravated assault, and now, nearly 30 years into his sentence (22 of which have been in solitary confinement according to his support website) is suffering accumulated health issues. During a collapse of his health, he was moved to the infirmary but he's been denied any treatment, diagnosis or access to his medical care. While in infirmary, he had personal items from his cell thrown away, including his commissary card The demands for Xinacthli are simple and you can find the numbers and links in our show notes:
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Call to put pressure for his demands on TDCJ and McCConnell unit.
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We are asking organizations to sign our demand letter to TDCJ. Link can be found in our bio or tinyurl.com/xsupportletter
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Join us on December 13 to protest in Austin, Texas.
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Donate to the campaign to support legal expenses.
WHAT YOU CAN DO NO. 1: PHONE AND EMAIL BLAST
- Call the McConnell Unit to demand they give X access to commissary and his medical records IMMEDIATELY. McConnell Unit: (361) 362-2300
- Call TDCJ Health Services to demand X receive his medical records and is transfered to a hospital for treatment IMMEDIATELY. TDCJ Health Services: (936) 437-4271
- Call or email TDCJ State Classification Committee to demand they reclassify X so he can be transferred to a medical facility. TDCJ SCC: (936) 437-6231 classify@tdcj.texas.gov
Phone blast signup: https://bit.ly/xphoneblast
If you're on instagram, you can learn more about Xinacthli's condition and how to get involved via his site @FreeXinacthliNow and if you can hear our conversation from 2024 with Xinacthli or a recording of him speaking about his arrest from 2010.
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Featured Track:Slip by Autechre from Amber