The following statement was made by Des following his June 23rd sentencing:
All honor and glory to Creator for another day of life, the lessons and blessing I’ve been given.
With the loudest of meows from a sad, fluffy kitty!! With a broken heart mended together with a sewing needle made from a battery and a string pulled from the elastic waistband from a jumper, reinforced with blank mail labels and a rubber band. With my head up high, teary eyes, and this broken heart full of love. I want to thank everyone for all of their support, love, and prayers as my family and I survive through this horrible injustice.
Today, July 6, marks a year since I was unjustly abducted and wrongfully imprisoned. I sit in a concrete cell with a heavy steel door as an innocent person for a crime I did not commit.
The reality is that I was arrested for being married to my wife, Mari, who has been unjustly convicted to 70 years for attending a public noise demonstration to support immigrants at the Prairieland detention center.
Despite proving that I did not have any knowledge, nor was I present, nor involved in any way in the event, I was demonized, convicted, and sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for reading and possessing my books, zines, love letters, poetry, cute keepsakes, sketchbooks, and art. These items that I owned are several years old, they’re completely legal, and have nothing to do with the events that transpired at the detention center. These books and zines range in topics, like history, social movements, political philosophy, sexual trauma, antiracism, consent, overcoming addiction, ecology, and even children’s literature. I’ve also been demonized for owning and creating art in the form of stickers, drawings, paintings, posters, clothing, and even custom tattoo designs—all images that can be considered cute, raw, critical, beautiful, empowering, satirical, and sometimes plain silly.
Even though these items were not evidence, nor relevant, nor used against anyone else, other than to sensationalize their existence to scare, influence, and persuade a jury for a verdict that benefited the prosecution, the prosecution openly lied and used misinformation to scare the jury. Nonetheless, it seems like we’re entering a time when books and art are being considered a crime and a threat to democracy—enough of a threat to give an innocent person who did not commit any crime a 30-year sentence in federal prison.
There have been many examples in history when people in power unleashed vicious campaigns using lies, deception, hate, and fearmongering. Creating scapegoats who are blamed for society’s ills, and labeling them criminals, traitors, degenerates, and terrorists. And enacting laws that allow them to criminalize, persecute, and brutalize entire communities based on their race, nationality, gender, status, disability, ideology, and religion. Any art or books that questioned or did not conform to their narrative were considered abhorrent, abominable, and dangerous. Therefore censored, hidden, burned, or destroyed, and its authors and creators were punished, imprisoned, or executed. In order to silence any dissenting opinions that threatened their narrative, power, and goals. This is why the right to free speech is not only important but fundamental and pivotal for any free society and democracy to exist and thrive.
As I watch the news, I notice a rampant amount of injustices and atrocities happening in this moment. War, displacement, blatant corruption, hate campaigns, persecution, deportations, fear, uncertainty, brutality, and a general disregard for people’s rights and ultimately their lives. Nevertheless, despite all of that, I’ve witnessed a display of beautiful acts of love, courage, kindness, solidarity, and resilience. Many people coming together to take care of each other, to work and build together. Acts of love that are admirable, inspiring, and necessary to overcome the tough challenges that we all currently face.
As a hardworking immigrant who came to this country at the age of 14, a lover of history, and not ignoring the fact that I’m currently incarcerated in what is an obvious injustice, I want to say that I’m grateful to this country and land for the opportunities and experiences it’s granted me. With all of its historical failures and achievements, with all of its flaws and virtues, with all of its dreams and limitations, with all of its promises and possibilities. I’m grateful for the experience of being exposed to an array of different cultures, different ideas, and a diverse population, simultaneously trying to figure out how to overcome conflict and division and live together. All dreaming of prosperity, equality, liberty, and the right to the pursuit of happiness. Although an oversimplification, at the end of the day we all just want to be free and happy and live in peace with those we love.
I want to give thanks to my amazing family and friends who continue to support, uplift, and hold me with so much love and tenderness. Who have given me advice, a gentle slap on the back of the head, a hug, and a shoulder to cry on. Who continue to inspire me and show me how to be a better person. To all those who have taken the time and consideration to reach out and share stories, poetry, doodles, vegan recipes, interesting facts, and kind uplifting words: Thank you for all the love! I can truly feel it even behind these walls. I can feel the energy, effort, and prayers. Thank you so much for supporting us all!! And I hope we can all meet someday and share space together.
Despite the circumstances, I’m grateful for existence, and thankful for all the experiences and people that I’ve met.
Though a bit cheesy, I want to share this with you. When I close my eyes, I try to focus on this:
I’m grateful for all of my loved ones. I’m grateful for black coffee, paper, pencil and a device to listen to the radio. I’m grateful for the green mountains, red sunsets, and smell after the rain. I’m grateful for soft snow, lake swimming, and shade under a tree. I’m grateful for hugs, tiny kisses, and cuddles. I’m grateful for a dark sense of humor, witty jokes, and tummy pain from laughter. I’m grateful for hiking trails, camping, and motorcycle rides. I’m grateful for kitties, tlacuaches, and raccoons. I’m grateful for my clients, and trusting me in the sacred process of tattooing you. I’m grateful for fundraisers and donations. I’m grateful for prisoners’ support writing night. I’m grateful for those who rescue food and cook meals to share with others. I’m grateful for mutual aid and relief work during emergencies. I’m grateful for groups that offer support and services to immigrants and refugees in the inner city and out in the desert. I’m grateful for people who take care of animals, and help them when they’re being harmed, injured, or in need of a home. I’m grateful for farmers, garden fairies, and tree huggers. I’m grateful for herbalists, their remedies, and the sacred relationships to plants. I’m grateful for our animal and plant friends, and their lessons if we just stop, look, and listen. I’m grateful for the children with their honesty, curiosity, and imagination who remind us of the importance of play. I’m grateful for the students’ energy, passion, and zeal, and their vision for a better world. I’m grateful for the teachers who go above and beyond for their students. I’m grateful for the educators who took me under their wing and mentored me. I’m grateful for the nurses, street medics, public defenders, movement lawyers, and legal support teams. I’m grateful and want to give thanks to the women/queer homies who do all the heavy lifting at home and in our communities. I’m grateful for our parents, elders, and mentors who care about us, and continue to give us guidance and inspiration. I’m grateful for the abolitionists, academic professors, and honest journalists. I’m grateful for the vegan potlucks and all the deli vegan nomz. I’m grateful for the nerds, cosplayers, and dweebs. I’m grateful for shoulder rubs and hand massages. I’m grateful for the temazcal, el copal, and drum. I’m grateful for the genuine smile from a stranger. I’m grateful for the megaphone, powerful chants, and street cheerleading. I’m grateful for big butts and thicc thighs haha. I’m grateful for glitter, rainbows, and bubbles. I’m grateful for large banners, light brigades, and puppets. I’m grateful for authors and poets who fill our hearts and minds with stories, knowledge, and nurturing words. I’m grateful for the artists, emcees, graff writers, b-boys, zinesters, and DIY screen printers. I’m grateful for the muddy greens climbing trees, brave train hoppers, and crusty punks who are some of my fav people. I’m grateful for the organizers, volunteers, and supporters. I’m grateful for all the homies who pick up, clean, and wash dishes after any gathering. I’m grateful for all the bookfairs, gatherings, bookstores, publishers, distros, printshops, and community spaces and community projects. I’m grateful for the sunflowers, who teach us to grow despite the adversity, stand upright, be strong, be bright, be vibrant, be beautiful, and be resilient.
I’m grateful for all my relations.
I’m grateful for you!
Support the defendants!!
Don’t forget to love your neighbors, the animals and plant friends, the land, air, and water. And don’t forget to love yourself!
May Creator bless you and yours!!
