Trial – Dark Nights

Opening Arguments and Testimony from Alvarado Officer at Center of Prairieland Case Marks First Day of Landmark Trial Against Nine Defendants (USA)

Posted on 2026/02/25 by darknights

Testimony of Lt. Thomas Gross Undermined Government Arguments that the Noise Protest on July 4, 2025 Was an “Ambush” and “Planned Attack”

FORT WORTH, TX – Opening arguments and testimony from the Alvarado police officer at the center of the controversial Prairieland ICE Detention Center case marked the first day of trial yesterday against nine defendants. The federal government offered no new or compelling arguments in their opening statement and relied heavily on First Amendment-protected activity to make their case. However, during cross-examination, Alvarado police officer Lt. Thomas Gross revealed information that undermines the government’s narrative that the noise demonstration on July 4, 2025 was an “ambush” and that police were the targets of a “planned attack.”

During today’s proceedings, the defense team was able to cross-examine Lt. Gross, who was injured at the scene. This is the first time Gross has spoken publicly since the incident. He described a hectic scene with few details, claiming to see only a small handful of male individuals, despite multiple women defendants in the case.

On cross-examination, Lt. Gross said he spent between 2-4 hours in the hospital before being released, and could not explain why he appears to have been shot from the back despite also claiming to have been facing the person who the government alleges fired at him. Gross could not say who drew their weapon first, but he admitted drawing his weapon without any obvious threat. Gross stated that when he arrived on the scene, there was no alleged criminal activity being committed more serious than “criminal mischief.” In response to questions from defense attorney Phillip Hayes, Gross admitted that he was pointing his firearm at a fleeing person’s back, before encountering the individual holding a rifle. This testimony seemed to contradict the government’s claim that the police were ambushed.
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Jury Selection Begins Monday After Judge Declared Mistrial Last Week in Widely Watched Federal Prairieland ICE Protest Trial (USA)

Posted on 2026/02/23 by darknights

Concerns Grow Over Whether the Prairieland Defendants Can Receive a Fair Trial, Based on Severe Trial Restrictions, Prejudicial Statements at Highest Levels of Government—Press Conference Monday at 8am

FORT WORTH, TX – Nine defendants will proceed to federal trial on Monday in a widely watched case that stems from a July 4, 2025 noise demonstration in support of detained immigrants at the Prairieland ICE Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas. Following a mistrial declared last week by presiding U.S. District Court Judge Mark Pittman for a defense attorney’s attire featuring civil rights leaders, jury selection is scheduled to begin again on Monday, February 23. The trial is expected to last at least three weeks. Defendants Savanna Batten, Zachary Evetts, Autumn Hill, Meagan Morris, Maricela Rueda, Daniel “Des” Rolando Sanchez Estrada, Benjamin “Champagne” Song, Elizabeth Soto, and Ines Soto were indicted in November on a variety of charges including riot, discharging a firearm, attempted murder, material support for terrorism, and conspiracy to conceal documents.

A press conference will be held at the southeast corner of Burke Burnett Park, across the street from the courthouse, on Monday, February 23 at 8am.

Continue reading “Jury Selection Begins Monday After Judge Declared Mistrial Last Week in Widely Watched Federal Prairieland ICE Protest Trial (USA)” →

Defense Statements of Imprisoned Anarchist Comrades Naufal & Adit (Indonesia – Chaos Star)

Posted on 2026/02/18 - 2026/02/18 by darknights

LEAFLET PLEDOI

Cover – PLEDOI

Defense statement that was read by two anarchists who are defendants in last August’s riot case. They are currently awaiting the final verdict and sentencing. The plea has been printed and distributed here in Indonesia on the streets, including outside the court. The statements were also distributed at Homicide and Balcony gig (hardcore bands) in Bandung. Naufal and Adit have projected sentences of 2 years, 6 months, but it has not been confirmed yet by the judge. Adit already received 6 months for being an admin of Black Bloc Zone, he has further trials for burning a police station and for burning the Indonesian flag. Free the prisoners. Palang Hitam.

Pleidoi or defense plea of Naufal

To the Honorable Panel,

First, allow me to defend myself regarding the treatment I received from the police and the prosecutor’s legal assessment of my actions. This is a summary of the ordeal I endured from arrest to the present.

On 4 September 2025 at approximately 11 a.m., about 10 individuals approached me. They interrogated me about my actions, initially stating they would not detain me. After I admitted them, I was forced into a vehicle: my neck was choked, my head struck near the temple, I was handcuffed, and taken to Polda Jabar.

Upon arrival at the Criminal Investigation Building, I was seated on a sofa. I saw my friend Aditya with his head wrapped in duct tape. A person—identified as the Densus 88 commander—approached me, ordered me to stand, and asked, “You’re an anarchist, right?” Before I could answer, he punched my stomach hard, threw me back onto the sofa, and kicked the back of my head four times with his hard sandals. I was forced to stand with hands raised, threatened with further beatings if I lowered them.

Subsequent BAP sessions involved physical and psychological violence: head beatings with sandals, firearm threats, shouting, and intense stares. One session lasted four days and four nights without rest. I tried to correct inaccurate BAP statements—that the Molotov cocktails wrapped with firecrackers failed to ignite or cause damage, only breaking the bottles—but received threats like “If I’d seen you at the demo, I’d have killed you,” accompanied by pistol display and sandal strikes to my head. Continue reading “Defense Statements of Imprisoned Anarchist Comrades Naufal & Adit (Indonesia – Chaos Star)” →

Nine Defendants Proceed to Federal Trial Next Week in Widely Watched Prairieland ICE Detention Center Protest Case (USA)

Posted on 2026/02/13 - 2026/02/13 by darknights

Jury Selection Set to Begin Tuesday, February 17—for a Trial with Severe Public Access Restrictions, Plagued by Prejudicial Statements at Highest Levels of Government—Preceded by a Press Conference at 8:30am

FORT WORTH, TX – Nine defendants will proceed to federal trial next week in a widely watched case that stems from a July 4, 2025 noise demonstration in support of detained immigrants at the Prairieland ICE Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas. Jury selection is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, February 17, followed by the trial which is expected to last at least three weeks. Defendants Savanna Batten, Zachary Evetts, Autumn Hill, Meagan Morris, Maricela Rueda, Daniel “Des” Rolando Sanchez Estrada, Benjamin “Champagne” Song, Elizabeth Soto, and Ines Soto were indicted in November on a variety of charges including riot, discharging a firearm, attempted murder, material support for terrorism, and conspiracy to conceal documents.

A press conference will be held at the southeast corner of Burke Burnett Park, across the street from the courthouse, on Tuesday, February 17 at 8:30am.

Continue reading “Nine Defendants Proceed to Federal Trial Next Week in Widely Watched Prairieland ICE Detention Center Protest Case (USA)” →

News from the Trial of the Comrades in Bandung (Indonesia)

Posted on 2026/02/10 - 2026/02/10 by darknights

NEWS FROM THE TRIAL OF THE COMRADES IN BANDUNG

Six comrades from the Political Expression Hunting Cluster (also often referred to as the Chaos Star Case) have undergone sentencing today. The outcome of the trial is that comrades AD and MNT were sentenced by the prosecutor to 3 years in prison. Meanwhile, comrades RFK, TAP, MJF, and RS were sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison.

A few words from a letter sent by a comrade involved in the Chaos Star case:

“We are particles of an entity called disorder, which is supposed to exist within the spectrum of defiance as our wild instinct, as unique and lazy individuals!”

No one is free until everyone is free.

Going Underground/F.A.A.F

Supporters of Prairieland Defendants Release Statement Raising Serious Concerns About Actions of Judge in Upcoming Federal Trial (USA)

Posted on 2026/01/21 - 2026/01/22 by darknights

+ Defendant in Prairieland ICE Detention Center Protest Case Moves to Dismiss State Indictment in Pretrial Hearing

FORT WORTH, TX — A federal judge in the Prairieland ICE Detention Center case fined three defense lawyers five hundred dollars each last week for a mistake in a routine motion to compel discovery. In a Show Cause hearing on January 14, U.S. District Court Judge Mark Pittman admonished lawyers representing Prairieland defendant Zachary Evetts, calling the motion “frivolous.”

In response to this and other actions taken by Judge Pittman in the Prairieland case, the DFW Support Committee—a group of family and loved ones of the defendants—published a statement today. “As the Prairieland defendants’ federal trial approaches, a pattern of concerning activity by the presiding judge, Mark Pittman, has emerged,” reads the statement. “The fate of the defendants—and the result of this trial—will have enormous impacts on the legal terrain for those resisting ICE terror and the course of the rising authoritarianism in the U.S. As such, the fairness of this trial should be an acute concern for all.”

“Judge Pittman is showing a clear disdain for the defendants,” said Irina Popova, who attended the Show Cause hearing. “Zachary’s lawyer was doing his job by asking the court to make sure he gets all the relevant evidence. The judge compared him to a five-year-old child, and bullied him into agreeing that his request was frivolous, which is deeply disturbing, and forebodes an unfair trial.” Continue reading “Supporters of Prairieland Defendants Release Statement Raising Serious Concerns About Actions of Judge in Upcoming Federal Trial (USA)” →

Italia: FUORI DAL VORTICE qualche parola su una nuova operazione repressiva a Genova

Posted on 2026/01/08 - 2026/01/08 by darknights

PDF: FUORI DAL VORTICE- operazione repressiva a genova

Il 5 maggio 2024 un partecipato ed energico corteo ha attraversato le vie del centro storico di Genova in solidarietà a 8 compagne e compagni arrestati fuori dallo spazio occupato Ex Latteria. Un corteo nato per rispondere a un intervento brutale in cui i carabinieri, con uno spropositato dispiegamento di forze, l’uso di teaser e spray urticanti, hanno compiuto l’ennesimo atto di superflua repressione in cui quotidianamente è possibile imbattersi se si abbandonano le vie patinate dello shopping e ci si spinge tra chi non è perfetta- mente assimilabile dal sistema, non è conforme o esprime dissenso.
La partecipazione incondizionata, la determinazione e la rabbia di quel corteo hanno provato a ribadire l’inconciliabilità con un presente opprimente e tutti gli apparati che lo sorreggono. Continue reading “Italia: FUORI DAL VORTICE qualche parola su una nuova operazione repressiva a Genova” →

Weatherford, Texas Woman Arrested in Connection to Prairieland Case (USA)

Posted on 2026/01/08 - 2026/01/08 by darknights

Lucy Fowlkes Arrested Yesterday and Charged with Hindering Prosecution of Terrorism in What Supporters Say is an Effort to Pressure Her to Cooperate With the State

January 6, 2026

CLEBURNE, TX – Police arrested Lucy Fowlkes at her family home in Weatherford, TX, yesterday. They took her into custody at Johnson County Jail. Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation accompanied local police during the arrest on Monday evening, though she was charged under state, not federal law. Johnson County prosecutors have charged Fowlkes with Hindering the Prosecution of Terrorism and have set bond at $5 million. Similar to Daniel Estrada Sanchez, Janette Goering, and Dario Sanchez, Fowlkes is not known to have participated in the July 4, 2025 protest at the Prairieland ICE Detention Center.

Lucy Fowlkes faces charges in another ongoing case stemming from an incident at a drag brunch in 2023, where she was charged alongside Chris Guillot and Meghan Grant. In that case, authorities allege that Fowlkes and others unlawfully defended the family event from violent antagonists.

Supporters of Ms. Fowlkes say in the weeks prior to her arrest she had been approached by law enforcement encouraging her to engage in an interview regarding the July 4th protest. “The extension of this charge, ‘hindering the prosecution of terrorism’, to more and more defendants is increasingly absurd. I can only assume that this is some sort of wildly unacceptable intimidation tactic,” said Lydia Koza, friend of the defendant. Continue reading “Weatherford, Texas Woman Arrested in Connection to Prairieland Case (USA)” →

List of Detainees from the Mass Action in Bandung – August 2025 Uprising (Indonesia)

Posted on 2026/01/01 - 2026/01/01 by darknights

LIST OF DETAINEES FROM THE BANDUNG MASS ACTION

TNI Bill Cluster
Comrades MTH and MSA

Amid the roaring protests against the TNI Bill in Bandung (20-21 March 2025), [Indonesian National Armed Forces Law, which re-instates a direction of paramilitary rule in civil society], these two friends were initially just passing through on their way home. However, seeing the fiery spirit of the youth that night, they parked their motorbike and joined the demonstration. Before reaching home, they briefly stopped at CK Taman Radio because MSA could no longer hold his urge.
Unexpectedly, a month later, they were charged by the West Java Police as suspects of assault and property damage—based solely on CCTV footage from the store. After serving a one-year sentence, they are set to be released on January 3, 2026. Let us prepare to welcome their return with the highest respect!

Wrongful Arrest and Torture Cluster
Comrades Very Kurniaa Kusuma, Joy Erlando, EY, MVA, MSAG, MRA, MJM, JAR

Eight young people faced tragic circumstances. They had no intention of joining the August 30, 2025, protest, yet cruel fate implicated them in allegations of throwing objects and assaulting police officers. Their arrests were as heartbreaking as their stories: Very was picked up while buying cigarettes near the protest area, and JAR was arrested while eating fried rice. The others experienced similarly unfortunate detentions, victims of wrongful arrests at the wrong place and wrong time.
Their suffering didn’t end there. Behind bars, tales of brutal torture awaited. Reports emerged of mistreatment during arrest, transport to the police station, and intense interrogation. Attend the trials of these eight defendants, and help uphold the voice of truth until the end. Continue reading “List of Detainees from the Mass Action in Bandung – August 2025 Uprising (Indonesia)” →

$hile: After more than three months, the trial against brothers Lucas and Aldo Hernandez comes to an end

Posted on 2025/11/13 - 2025/11/13 by darknights

From: La Zarzamora

Via: Informativo Anarquista

On Monday, November 3rd, the trial against Aldo and Lucas Hernandez came to an end, with both being sentenced to 21 and 12 years in prison, respectively, after more than three months of hearings, in which the authorities attempted to use all their power to achieve an exemplary punishment for both brothers.

On July 21st of this year, amid protests and multiple solidarity actions, the lengthy trial against Aldo and Lucas Hernandez began at the Center for (In)Justice in Santiago. The prosecution, made up of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Ministry of Public Security, and the Chilean Gendarmerie, initially demanded intolerably excessive sentences, ranging from 20 years in prison for Lucas to 90 years in prison for Aldo Hernandez.

Subsequently, after the verdict was read on October 3, the prosecutors requested a sentence of 32 years and 1,100 days for Aldo and a sentence of 18 years and 800 days for Lucas, while Aldo’s defense requested a sentence of 26 years and Lucas’s defense requested a sentence of 12 years. Finally, on November 3, Aldo was sentenced to 21 years and Lucas to 12 years.

The sentences, set out in a document of more than 400 pages, referred to three incidents: 1) the attack on the General Directorate of the Gendarmerie in December 2021; 2) the raid on a residence in Loncura; and 3) the raid on a residence in La Victoria.

Aldo Hernandez was found guilty of the attack on the Gendarmerie Headquarters but acquitted of the crimes of minor injuries to prison guards and the crime of receiving stolen goods. He was also found guilty in relation to the items found in the raid on Loncura ( incident 2) but was acquitted of all the crimes he was charged with in relation to the raid on the home in La Victoria ( incident 3). Lucas, for his part, was convicted of most of the crimes related to the residence in the La Victoria neighborhood, but was acquitted of the crimes of manufacturing weapons and manufacturing explosive devices. Continue reading “$hile: After more than three months, the trial against brothers Lucas and Aldo Hernandez comes to an end” →