Tuesday, May 17th, 2022 – Letter-writing to Xinachtli

WHAT: Political Prisoner Letter-Writing
WHEN: Tuesday, May 17th, 2022
WHERE: YOUR HOME
COST: Free

Within the past couple weeks the community of folks engaged in prison abolition and political prisoner solidarity work have experienced both incredible highs and devastating lows:

Longtime organizer, educator, and former political prisoner Kathy Boudin passed away, a huge loss to the movement and of course personally painful to her family, friends, and comrades.

While still reeling from Kathy’s loss, the incredible news came down that the New Jersey Supreme Court overruled the denial of parole for Sundiata Acoli, a huge victory for Sundiata and all of those who have worked so hard for his freedom. At 85, and after 49 years inside, it is better late than never, and we are overjoyed that Sundiata will soon be home!

And just before this writing we were notified that an elder comrade close to us has also just passed. This was one of those people that did the work of organizing and attending events, writing to prisoners to see what they need, and advocating for them in any way possible; year after year, decade after decade, courageously and joyfully doing the work, and cheering on her comrades and their efforts. We salute her memory and honor the struggles she spent her life engaged in.

Of course we are all mourning the 10 people murdered in Buffalo just a few days ago in yet another white supremacist massacre stoked by increasingly main-streamed fascist conspiracy theories, just one in a string of racist attacks nationwide.

With these victories and pains fresh, we are asking you all to join us as we write to Chicano political prisoner Xinachtli, one of those people who has been in the struggle for years, through highs and lows, and kept their faith throughout in the power of radical solidarity.

Xinachtli (Nahuatl, meaning “seed”) is an anarchist communist community organizer and Chicano movement revolutionary, currently imprisoned in Texas. Formerly known as Alvaro Luna Hernandez, he worked diligently in the barrio on civil and human rights issues, known widely for his legal skills. Gaining international recognition as the national coordinator of the Ricardo Aldape Guerra Defense Committee, Xinachtli was instrumental in helping to free Mexican national Aldape Guerra from Texas’ death row, where he had been framed for the murder of a police officer.

In July 1996 Xinachtli was arrested after disarming a County Sheriff who was attempting to shoot him. After defending himself at trial, Xinachtli was sentenced to 50 years in prison for aggravated assault, a charge he vehemently denies. While imprisoned, Xinachtli continues to write frequently, create beautiful visual art, has helped to organize multiple prison strikes, and has been held in solitary confinement for the last 19 years and counting. Xinachtli is a prolific jailhouse lawyer, as referenced by Mumia Abu Jamal in his book Jailhouse Lawyers: Prisoners Defending Prisoners v the USA. Xinachtli assists many prisoners in seeking new trials, and filing suits against the repressive, inhumane Texas prison system. In September 2021 his parole review was denied. More information at https://freealvaro.net.

Alvaro Luna Hernandez #255735
McConnell Unit
3001 Emily Drive,
Beeville, TX 78102
*Address envelopes to Alvaro Luna Hernández, cards/letters to Xinachtli.