The Final Straw Radio

Jewish Anti-Zionist in Palestine + Antifascists Repressed in Budapest This week's show features four segments: an announcement from IGD Podcast; an anti-Zionist Jewish voice from Palestine; an interview of two anti-repression activists on the harassment of two antifascist activists in Budapest, Hungary; Sean Swain's segment. Reflections of an Jewish Anti-Zionist from Palestine First up, we’re featuring the voice of a Jewish anti-Zionist anarchist living in lands occupied by the Israeli state. We speak about some of his experiences of trying to resist the ongoing war against Palestinians, collaboration with Palestinian comrades against the occupation, the silencing of dissent during the escalation by the Israeli state and other topics. [ 00:07:28 - 00:50:13 ] Transcript PDF (Unimposed) Zine (Imposed PDF) For a very thoughtful series of podcasts about the situation in Palestine, check out the two recent episodes of the Its Going Down podcast (1st and 2nd). Palestinian Social Media Suggestions: Basel Adra: https://instagram.com/basilaladraa Ali Awad: https://instagram.com/ali_awad98 Sami H Huraini: https://instagram.com/samihuraini Youth of Sumud: https://instagram.com/youthofsumud Awdah Hathaleen: https://instagram.com/awdah.hathaleen Antifascists Repressed in Budapest Following this, you’ll hear a segment by A-Radio Berlin (a co-member of the Channel Zero Network as well as the A-Radio Network with The Final Straw) about repression of antifascists recently under the far right Hungarian administration of Victor Orban. This also appeared in the November 2023 episode of Bad News, the monthly English-language podcast of the A-Radio Network. [ 00:52:10 - 01:05:53 ] Further links https://budapest-solidarity.net/ https://www.basc.news/ Sean Swain Sean Swain's segment this week airs at [ 01:05:57 ] . ... . .. Featured Tracks: We Roll (Instrumental) by Pete Rock from We Roll Until Palestine Is Free by Angelic Upstarts from Bullingdon Bastards

Thomas Meyer-Falk is Free! We’re sharing here a recent conversation that I had with Thomas Meyer-Falk, an anarchist who just finished a 27 year prison stint in Germany to speak about his life, his incarceration and his hopes now that he’s out. Thomas was involved in a bank robbery in 1996 as a young RASH anarchist skinhead who hoped to fund above ground and underground leftist organizing and continued to be incarcerated for the threats he made upon his capture. While inside he toned it down a bit, became a jailhouse lawyer of sorts and built connections with publishing projects, support groups and a radio station on the outside. Transcript PDF (Unimposed) Zine (Imposed PDF) He’s now out and working at that radio station in Freiberg, RDL, and hopes to be come involved in helping immigrants navigate the legal system in Germany. You can find his blog, mostly in German, at https://freedomforthomas.wordpress.com. You can also find some of his writings in Fire Ant Journal. Announcement Fundraiser for Zolo Azania A quick reminder, there’s a fundraising effort ongoing to help former Black Liberation Fighter and political prisoner, Zolo Agona Azania (who we’ve featured a couple of times on this show) could use some support. Since he’s been out of prison after 35 years inside, he’s been an active community organizer on projects including re-entry for formerly incarcerated folks and offering pro bono legal help to folks still behind bars. He’s in need of some support with car repair payments to help him keep his wage job and keep doing his support work. You can donate to him on cashapp via the handle $ZoloAzania5, on zelle using azaniazolo5 at gmail dot com or on venmo using @zolo-azania To find more anti-repression fundraisers needing support and boosting, check out the column on ItsGoingDown.Org called In Contempt, where you can also find info on prisoners who’ve just been moved, have upcoming birthdays or who are in need of other help. . ... . .. Featured Track: Hetzjagd (Auf Nazis!) by Alec Empire ( of Atari Teenage Riot) from Riot Beats comp

Mr. Block's Past and Legacy (with Sean Carleton and Iain McIntyre) This week, Ian talks to Sean Carleton of Graphic History Collective and Labor historian and activist Iain McIntyre about the recent release of Mr. Block: The Subversive Comics and Writings of Ernest Riebe by PM Press. After some background on their respective projects, they talk about the legacy of the IWW cartoonist, the origins and process of putting the book together, and what aspects of his work are still relevant today. Here’s a hint: just about all of them are. Transcript PDF (Unimposed) Zine (Imposed PDF) . ... . .. Featured Track: Mr. Block performed by Utah Philips from Rebel Voices: Songs of the Industrial Workers of the World Beware The Friendly Stranger by Boards Of Canada from Alpha and Omega

This week on The Final Straw, we’re excited to share a panel discussion recorded at Firestorm Books entitled Against Genocide: A Palestinian Solidarity Panel, recorded on Sunday, October 22nd 2023. Transcription PDF (Unimposed) Zine (Imposed PDF) From the event description: “With the "iron-clad" support of the United States and other Western powers, Israel has made explicit its plan for the systematic destruction of Gaza and the Palestinian people. At this event, participants—including Palestinian and Jewish activists—will discuss the history of the occupation and the present campaign of dehumanization that's paving the way to genocide. We'll also explore the radical solidarities that are necessary to stop the assault on Gaza and secure a just peace. This event is a fundraiser for The Hebron International Resource Network (HIRN), an organization based in the West Bank that is working to house Gazan workers deported to the West Bank by Israeli forces. Please consider bringing a cash donation! Firestorm will additionally be donating the net proceeds from all sales in-store and online. Art by Heba Zagout, Palestinian artist killed with her two young children in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza on Friday, October 13.” Zines suggested by Milstein Inexorable Links by Zara from Interviews With Radical Palestinian Women Tkhines For A Free Palestine Kaddish For The Soul of Judaism: Genocide In Palestine Three Perspectives on Zionism, Jewishness, Class, and Liberation Jewish Currents Israel-Palestine Explainer Sean's Segment We're linking here to Sean Swain's most recent segment on the history of violence before the most recent escalation of war on the people of Gaza coming from the state of Israel. Announcement Support Former Political Prisoner Zolo Azania Former Black political prisoner and friend to many of us, Zolo Azania, needs our financial assistance to pay for important repairs on his car. He uses his car to drive to work. Details below. Please be generous. Zolo recently had a new transmission installed in his car along with other necessary repairs. The total bill came out to $4,659.51. He had put aside $1,200 for car repairs, therefore he needs another $3,459.51 in order to reclaim his car. After spending nearly 37 years in Indiana prisons, Zolo has been free for nearly 7 years now. After facing many challenges on the outside, we’re very happy to say Zolo now owns a house! Of course he needs to pay a mortgage and pay for repairs and upkeep on the house. After working 5 years at low paying jobs, Zolo was recently able to obtain a better paying job with benefits. This job requires a commute which is difficult on public transportation. Zolo would like to avoid excessive charges for the dealership to store his car. If Zolo cannot pay this repair bill he risks losing his car altogether. Zolo appreciates any donation but please be as generous as you can. You can send donations to him via Zelle, Venmo or Cash App ($ZoloAzania5). His accounts are under “Zolo Azania” Bad News #72 Online Now! You can find the October 2023 episode of the English-language BAD News: Angry Voices From Around The World podcast produced by the A-Radio Network online now, featuring a short version of our interview about the December 8th case in France, updates from Greece by way of the comrades in Thessaloniki at 1431AM Free Social Radio, and Frequenz-A about the about the Karl Helga Wagenplatz in Leipzig, which is under the threat of ever-present forces of gentrification.

This week on the show, we’re featuring an interview I did recently with Sona, an anarcha-feminist from Yerevan, Armenia, about her experience of anarchism and some of the solidarity efforts related to supporting Armenians expelled from Nagorno-Karabakh, an Armenian enclave within the borders of the neighboring country of Azerbaijan. Recent crimethInc articles: Anarchist Voices from Armenia and Azerbaijan: On the Violence in Nagorno-Karabakh Solidarity among the Displaced: How Russian Anarchists in Exile Supported Armenian Refugee Squatters From crimethInc "Anarchist Voices..." Article: a list of NGOs to support refugees in Armenia: The space Letters and Numbers and the Armenian Food Bank have opened a humanitarian aid collection point. Please bring non-perishable food items and clothing to St. Tumanyan, 35G, Yerevan. Volunteer fund for helping victims of the war “Ethos” St. Khorenatsi 30, Yerevan. Sasha Manakina’s collection can be found at this link. Sasha is one of the heroines of the new zine Alarm! The Viva Charitable Foundation has been providing medicine, rehabilitating the wounded, and helping Artsakh since 2016. Announcement Support for Jorge Yorch Esquivel From his support site: We call for solidarity with our comrade Jorge Esquivel, Yorch, to demand his immediate release and the dismissal of charges against him. Attending the rally during their next hearing on Monday, October 23. The appointment is at 9 a.m. in front of the Orient Prison Organized to make noise and agitation Spread your case Go, call or write to nearby Mexican embassies and consulates to demand their freedom Or any way they like to stand in solidarity so that we can rip our comrade from the clutches of the state and its prisons. Yorch is imprisoned for crimes fabricated against him as part of a montage that seeks to criminalize the Che Squat / Okupache and its members. He has been held hostage by the Mexican state in Mexico City's East Reclusion for more than 10 months. . ... . .. Featured Track: Wishing (instrumental) by Pete Rock from My Own Worst Enemy (Instrumentals)

This week on the show, we’re featuring an interview with 3 activists involved in the Emergency Committee for Rojava about recent developments in Rojava, escalation of violence from the Turkish state and the KDP party-led Kurdish Regional Government in Iraq, experiences of recent visits to the region, updates on the US relationship to aggressive regimes in the region and other topics. If you are listening to the radio edition of this show, check out the podcast for another half hour of discussion on developments in the economic, ecological and gender parity elements of the Rojava revolution. Transcript PDF (Unimposed) Zine (Imposed PDF) Links XTwitterX: https://x.com/defendrojava FedBook: https://www.facebook.com/defendrojava Instagram: https://instagram.com/defendrojava TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@defendrojava Take action against the US complicity in Turkey’s war on NES: https://www.defendrojava.org/call-congress On the latest attacks: https://www.syriandemocratictimes.com/2023/10/10/turkey-devastates-a-region-already-suffering/ A recent article about the Rojava revolution: https://www.truthdig.com/articles/rojavas-improvised-revolution/ Announcements Midweek Release on the December 8th Affair in France If you didn’t hear, we released a podcast in the middle of last week with anarchists involved in anti-repression in France concerning the conspiracy case known as the December 8th Affair, where the French state surveilled and arrested a YPG veteran who goes by the name Libre Flot, as well as comrades and acquaintances on the accusation of building a terror network following the Movement for Black Lives uprisings of 2020. Support for Palestinians If you’re looking for a way to support folks in or from Palestine during the unprecedented and genocidal violence of the Israeli settler state one non-profit we’ve heard is good for distributing funds to people in need is Hebron International Network, which can be found at https://www.nonviolenceinternational.net/donate_hirn . Surely there are more out there, but be careful to vet where you send money due to precedent set by the US government of pursuing charges against nonprofits funding people in Palestine by claiming they’re supporting terrorists, even when they aren’t, as in the case of the Holy Land Five. Michael Kimble Anarchist prisoner Michael Kimble is fundraising right now to help cover legal costs as he attempts to gain freedom from prison after decades behind bars. You can find more info at his support site, anarchylive.noblogs.org and make donations via the link at fundly.com/help-michael-kimble-hire-a-new-attorney . … . .. Featured Track: Sekvano by Awazê Ciya

December 8th Affair Trial in France is Under Way Hey listeners, this mid-week release features the words of anarchists involved in or doing support for the December 8th Affair in France, in which 9 people were arrested at the end of 2020, following Movement for Black Lives protests took place around the world to challenge police impunity and racism. The French state is asserting, based on some pretty flimsy arguments, that 7 radical and anarchist folks were a part of a conspiracy to engage in terrorism based on their common connection to an activist recently returned from the supporting the YPG’s fight against Daesh or ISIS in Rojava. This activist goes by the name Libre Flot, or Free Flow, and he shares some words here as well. Transcript PDF (Unimposed) Zine (Imposed PDF) The court case runs from October 3rd until 27th and can use international solidairty demonstrations, support for those defending themselves, and more that you can find information below: Support Site: https://solidaritytodecember8.wordpress.com/category/english/ Fundraising for Legal Fees: https://www.cotizup.com/soutien-8-12 Zine sharing Libre Flot's experiences in hunger strike: https://solidaritytodecember8.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/letter_a5_print-a4_045132-1.pdf Zine introduction to the case: https://solidaritytodecember8.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/what-is-the-december-8-affair.pdf . ... . .. Featured Track: Beef by Pete Rock from Soul Survivor Two (Instrumental)

This week we’re sharing a recent interview with Elia J. Ayoub, host of The Fire These Times podcast to talk a bit about #solarpunk. Elia J. was on the show with Leila Al-Shami some years ago to speak about revolution and civil war in Syria, uprisings in Lebanon and Iraq. Transcript PDF (Unimposed) Zine (Imposed PDF) For the hour, we speak about the importance of radical imagination, the artistic genre known as solar punk, technology and it's role in societies based on pleasure and leisure, utopian movements of the past and the decentering of the imperial cores in an anti-imperialist visioning. Sumoud-washing article on Kohl journal Announcement Legal Fees Fundraiser On October 9th, join comrades for a youtube stream to help fundraise for our incarcerated comrade and homie GZ's legal fees. This is a great way to participate in Indigenous Peoples Day from home- the stream content will being centered on connecting between decolonization and abolition, featuring dialogue and performances by artists and MCs including Bigg Villainus and Ant from Savage Fam, as well as FD Signifier, and poetry by GZ. Stay tuned for more info and the full schedule, and please help us boost this and circulate the fundraiser: https://tinyurl.com/gzlegalfund . ... . .. Featured Track: Mercy, Mercy, Mercy by Cannonball Adderley from Rock Instrumental Classics, Vol 4: Soul

Ian speaks with journalist Shea Hennum about their article on #comicsbrokeme, in which workers in the comics industry shared their stories of tight deadlines, unreasonable workloads, and low pay following the death of cartoonist Ian McGinty. For the article, which appeared at solrad.co, they applied an analysis that synthesized communist and anarchist traditions in order to identify a multitude of sites of political struggle, challenge systems of domination and violence, and chart possible ways forward, similar to analysis applied in the movement to abolish the Prison Industrial Complex. They discuss past efforts to organize within the comic book industry as well as current organization efforts, such as the formation of the United Workers of Seven Seas, a union of workers at Seven Seas Entertainment, Comic Book Workers United, a union of workers at Image Comics, and Cartoonist Cooperative, a cohort of cartoonists committed to mutual promotion, skill and info sharing, and efforts to make industry wages and practices more transparent. They also discuss possible ways for comic book readers to offer support. Further reading and archived documents referred to in the chat: Solrad article: https://solrad.co/comicsbrokeme-shea-hennum-on-what-is-to-be-done Comics Guild Meeting Report May 1978: https://thefinalstrawradio.noblogs.org/files/2023/09/Comics-Creators-Guild.pdf United Workers of Seven Seas: https://www.uw7s.com Comic Book Workers United: https://www.cbwupdx.com Cartoonist Cooperative: https://cartoonist.coop

Stop Cop City Movement RICO Indictments (with Matt Scott of ACPC) This week, we’re featuring an interview with Matt Scott of the Atlanta Community Press Collective update us on the movement to Stop Cop City in light of the recent indictment of 61 people on Racketeering charges by the state of Georgia at the end of August and the legal shenanigans of the city to block a public referendum on the police training center that would destroy the south Atlanta forest and river. We'll also hear about recent non-violent civil disobediences and the call for a mass action on November 13th, 2023 (with a multi-city info-tour in the buildup). Transcript PDF (Unimposed) – pending Zine (Imposed PDF) – pending Follow ACPC: website: https://ATLPressCollective.com XTwitterX: @Atlanta_Press Instagram: @ATLPressCollective Mastodon: @Atlanta_Press/@kolektiva.social Tax Deductible Donations: Open Collective page Other DTF / Stop Cop City Movement Media: Cop City Vote: website & XTwitterX Defend The Atlanta Forest: website , XTwitterX, Instascam, Fedbook Block Cop City website Then, you’ll hear a segment by anarchist prisoner, Sean Swain on alien abductions. Belarusian and Ukrainian Anarchist Perspectives We released a recording of a panel from St-Imier, Switzerland, this July where Belarusian and Ukrainian anarchists talked about their experiences in the last few years since the uprising against Lukashenko and the escalation in the Russian invasion. You can check it out at our website or in our podcast stream: https://thefinalstrawradio.noblogs.org/post/2023/09/13/ukrainian-belarusian-perspectives-on-resisting-russian-invasion/ . ... . .. Featured Track: They Want Efx (instrumental) by Das efx