Happy Birthday Dylan Sutherlin!

On Sunday March 3, Dylan will turn twenty-one years old while serving a five-year sentence for driving a car containing antifascists and anarchists who were involved in an altercation with white supremacists in the suburbs of Chicago. As friends and comrades of Dylan, we’re constantly aware of the sacrifice that he and the rest of the Tinley Park Five are making, but the the thought of Dylan missing his twenty-first is a particularly bitter pill to swallow.

We do want to make sure that Dylan has as good of a day as is possible. In order that he should hopefully receive it by his birthday, letters and other packages should be sent as soon as possible. PLEASE! If you’ve got an extra fifteen minutes just send Dylan a short letter to wish him a happy birthday! It’ll mean a lot to him.

Dylan Sutherlin M34022
P.O. Box 1000
Lincoln, IL 62656

As usual, we’re desperately trying to keep up with the commissary needs of all the Tinley Park Five. To make sure Dylan can grab some snacks for his birthday please consider contributing via WePay.

Wanna Send Dylan a Birthday Toast?

If you’d like to send a toast Dylan’s way for his birthday, take a picture of you and your crew toasting Cody on your phone anytime. Send the funniest, sexiest, sweetest, proudest, drunkest or smartest picture you can come up with for your toast and send it to:

TinleyPark5@Yahoo.com

with something along the lines of “Happy Birthday Dylan” in the subject line. When Dylan gets out (hopefully soon), we’ll show him all the photos of his friends and comrades all over the world raising a glass to him. Hopefully this way we can replace a piece of his stolen birthday.

We miss you Dylan! Solidarity! Happy Birthday!

Tinley Park Five Getting Transferred, Letter from Cody

While we’re still awaiting word about where Alex and Tucker are going to wind up, we’ve got addresses for Jason, Cody, and Dylan. We’re pretty surprised that it’s taking this long for them to get transferred.

The Tinley Park Five wanted to say thanks for all the wonderful letters they’ve been receiving and would especially like to thank those in Anonymous who worked on #opValentine. The letter writing parties and benefit shows make such a huge difference, they hope you all to know just how grateful they are. If you’re planning on doing a benefit show or letter-writing party, we’re beginning to accumulate some posters and tabling resources here.

We just received this letter from Cody Sutherlin that he asked us to post:

To my Family, Friends, Comrades, Supporters, and Fans,
Thank you! I appreciate all the cards and letters full of support. Through all of the turmoil over the last nine months, you all have helped me to weather the storm. Unless you’ve been through what we have, you can’t understand what it feels like to be incarcerated and have a nation of support out there. Hearing everything that has taken place has warmed my heart. From the fundraising to the protests, the benefit shows to the letter writing to the visits… I thank you all! I know that it was hard for people to hear that we were taking such unreasonable plea bargains, but the judge and prosecution would have done everything in their power to cook us had we not. Aside from it being an unfair playing field, we simply could not put our loved ones through the stress of the messy trial that it would have been. I also would like to thank our legal team for all of their hard work and time. Our lawyers went thorough so much with this case, including death threats, and did everything in their power to defend us. Again the State was just simply not playing fair, which made their job all that much harder. I want to let everyone know that personally, I am simply glad to have it all over with. The facility I am in now is like summer camp compared to Cook County Jail, and it is filled with opportunities to shave time off my sentence. I am currently working on enrolling in college courses, where i will receive a 1/2 day credit for every day I am enrolled. It’s looking like I can reasonably expect to be released between February and May of next year, maybe sooner if some more opportunities arise. If not though, between school and the gym, my time will go by in a flash. I wanted to let everyone know not to spend much money on books for me, because I have a library available to me here. If there’s something that I really want that I cannot get here, I will let people know. If people would like to contribute in some way, donate money to the WePay account or continue to write letters. Other than that, when I am released I expect a big welcome home party! Again, I want to thank everyone for all of their love and support and I look forward to seeing everyone on the outside.

-Cody Lee

 

We’ll continue to post any updates and change of status for the Tinley Park Five on their individual TP5 pages. Updates for John Tucker and Alex Stuck should be coming very soon.

 

Tinley Park Five Accept Non-Cooperating Plea Bargain

Jason Sutherlin, antifa anarchist, sentenced to six years for the beating of nazis in Chicago.

On January 4, 2013 all members of the Tinley Park Five accepted a non-cooperating plea bargain in which they each plead guilty to three felony counts of Armed Violence in exchange for “lenient” sentences and the guarantee of ‘day-for-day’ good behavior. Jason Sutherlin was sentenced to 6 years. Cody Lee Sutherlin and Dylan Sutherlin were sentenced to 5 years. Alex Stuck and John Tucker were sentenced to 3 1/2 years due to their youth and complete lack of criminal history. Each will be placed upon two years of supervised release upon release from prison.

Before the plea was accepted, the State offered the Tinley Park Five one last chance to betray their comrades in exchange for their freedom. What a waste of time! As anarchist and antifascists, the Tinley Park Five are no more capable of selling out the struggle than their broken system is capable of reforming itself! They laughed at the offer and bravely accepted their fate.

Credit was given for the 7 months already served in Cook County. They will receive ‘day-for-day’ good time credit which effectively cuts the sentences in half. The state of Illinois also offers several programs and classes which can chip away at sentences. Optimistically, Alex and John could be out before Christmas 2013. Dylan and Cody could be out my Autumn 2014. Jason could be out by Christmas 2014. This is all hypothetical and highly speculative of course.

On Monday January 7th, the Tinley Park Five will be transferred to Stateville for between one and three weeks. There the Illinois Department of Corrections will decide where they will spend the duration of their sentences. Until this decision is reached PLEASE HOLD ALL MAIL. If you wish to donate to the Tinley Park Five at this time we ask that you use WePay rather than money orders at this time, as we’re concerned that they will get lost or delayed as the Tinley Park Five are being transferred between facilities. We’re working on trying to quickly raise as much money as possible to ease this transition.

Make no mistake, it is with great sorrow that we accept just how long we’ll be separated from our dear friends, but they will not be forgotten nor will their struggle cease in their absence. This support crew will continue to advocate for each of them in whatever they decide to do until every last one of them is free. Communiques from several members of the Tinley Park Five to their supporters are expected soon and will be posted on this website.

The Tinley Park Five as well as their supporters, comrades, family, and friends would like to thank Aaron Goldstein, Sara Garber, Brian Barrido, James Fennerty, Stuart Smith, Matthew Dodge, and everyone else who assisted in their legal defense. They would also like to thank the National Lawyer’s Guild for connecting these attorneys with the Tinley Park Five as well as the People’s Law Office for consulting with us in the initial stages of this ordeal.

The Tinley Park Five also wanted to thank Chicago Anarchist Black Cross as well as South Side for their help in bringing people out to their most recent court appearance. Seeing so many supporters meant more than you could know to them. Thanks to everyone who was able to make it. Thanks to everyone on the interwebz for helping to get the word out about it so well.

I was able to speak with Jason this morning and Alex last night and both of them asked that there be a public acknowledgement of all the groups who have humbled us with their support thus far. Thanks to Denver ABC, Salt Lake City ABC, New York City ABC, Rose City Antifa, Southside Chicago Anti-Racist Action, Philly ARA, Lafayette HARM, Circle City ARA, One People’s Project, Bursts-o-Goodness, Political Fail Blog, Sacramento Prisoner Support, M1AA, IWW, VICE, Worker’s World (especially NYC and Detroit affiliates), the Btown crew, as well as anyone who’s attended a letter-writing party, a court date, or came to visit. Thanks to the countless organizations that I apologize in advance for forgetting to mention.

Thanks to all of you Anonymous gangsters that had our backs with #opStormfrontRaid. Dirty South, whoever you are, you’re a life-saver, literally. Thanks to anyone who has stepped up in any way they could whether that be sharing a link or donating a couple dollars.

Thanks to everyone that has helped, but please don’t forget… the Tinley Park Five aren’t going to be in the news headlines as often but they are still going to need just as much support. We ask that you not forget about the Tinley Park Five! Please keep the benefit shows, letter-writing parties, and other acts of solidarity coming as they’re needed now as much as ever.

We’ll leave you with this quote, nearly a century old, which still rings just as true today:

“Your Honor, years ago I recognized my kinship with all living beings, and I made up my mind that I was not one bit better than the meanest on earth. I said then, and I say now, that while there is a lower class, I am in it, and while there is a criminal element I am of it, and while there is a soul in prison, I am not free.” – Eugene Debs 1918

Yours in Solidarity,

Tinley Park Five and Support Crew

Happy Birthday Alex Stuck!

On December 19, 2012 Alex Stuck will turn twenty-three years old. While we’re all still hoping that a plea agreement can be reached between now and then, the bitter reality is that Alex may be spending his birthday in the Cook County Jail. A conference is scheduled for Dec 7 which will determine whether a plea deal can be reached or whether the case will proceed to trial. As friends and comrades of Alex, never does a day go by that we don’t think about the dedication Alex displays in the struggle against fascist terrorism in our communities.

We do want to make sure that Alex has as good of a day as is possible. In order that he should hopefully receive it by his birthday, letters and other packages should be sent as soon as possible. PLEASE! If you’ve got an extra fifteen minutes just send Alex a short letter to wish him a happy birthday! It’ll mean a lot to him.

To put a couple extra dollars directly on his commissary fund use Moneygram Bill Pay, which can be found at most drug and grocery stores. Use the code #1750 for Cook County Department of Corrections and send the money to inmate code:

20120521142ASTUCK

Alex will receive the money instantly and maybe this way he can have a birthday feast of tuna fish and ramen noodles! You can also continue to get money to Alex and the rest of the Tinley Park Five via WePay.

Wanna Send Alex a Birthday Toast?

If you’d like to send a toast Alex’s way for his birthday, take a picture of you and your crew toasting Cody on your phone anytime between now and December 2. Send the funniest, sexiest, sweetest, proudest, drunkest or smartest picture you can come up with for your toast and send it to:

TinleyPark5@Yahoo.com

with something along the lines of “Happy Birthday Alex” in the subject line. When Alex gets out (hopefully soon), we’ll show him all the photos of his friends and comrades all over the world raising a glass to him. Hopefully this way we can replace a piece of his stolen birthday.

We miss you Alex! Solidarity! Happy Birthday!

Court Date Postponed Until December 7

The Tinley Park Five were scheduled for a 402 conference today. The judge did not receive the probation department’s recommendation until this morning and was running behind schedule. She therefore issued a continuance of the the conference until December 7, 2012. The conference will determine whether or not a plea bargain can be reached or whether the case will begin to proceed towards their constitutionally guaranteed “speedy trial”.

Happy Birthday Cody Lee Sutherlin!

On December 2, 2012 Cody Lee Sutherlin will turn twenty-four years old. While we’re all hoping that a plea agreement can be reached between now and then, the bitter reality is that Cody may be spending his birthday in the Cook County Jail. As friends of Cody we will miss the chance to relax, enjoy a beer, and reflect upon years past. Though we think of the sacrifice he’s making everyday, the thought of spending birthdays in jail is particularly painful. That said, the last thing Cody would ever want would be people moping around on his birthday.

We do want to make sure that Cody has as good of a day as is possible. In order that he should hopefully receive it by his birthday, letters and other packages should be sent as soon as possible. PLEASE! If you’ve got an extra fifteen minutes just send Cody a short letter to wish him a happy birthday! It’ll mean a lot to him.

To put a couple extra dollars directly on his commissary fund use Moneygram Bill Pay, which can be found at most drug and grocery stores. Use the code #1750 for Cook County Department of Corrections and send the money to inmate code:

20120521148CSUTHERLI 

Cody will receive the money instantly and maybe this way he can have a birthday feast of tuna fish and ramen noodles! You can also continue to get money to Cody and the rest of the Tinley Park Five via WePay.

Wanna Send Cody a Birthday Toast?

If you’d like to send a toast Cody’s way for his birthday, take a picture of you and your crew toasting Cody on your phone anytime between now and December 2. Send the funniest, sexiest, sweetest, proudest, drunkest or smartest picture you can come up with for your toast and send it to

TinleyPark5@Yahoo.com

with something along the lines of “Happy Birthday Cody” in the subject line. When Cody gets out (hopefully soon), we’ll show him all the photos of his friends and comrades all over the world raising a glass to him. Hopefully this way we can replace a piece of his stolen birthday.

We miss you Cody Lee Sutherlin! Solidarity! Happy Birthday!

Jason Sutherlin of the Tinley Park Five Thanks Supporters and Comrades

Comrades & Supporters,

I want to start by thanking everyone who has taken the time to support us. The letters, books, and visits have been a huge boost during this most difficult time. I have personally received letters from coast to coast, from up north and way down in the dirty south. Big shout out to the Atlanta kids, y’all are the definition of what solidarity is. The hometown crew from Bloomington; you’re amazing and appreciated on so many levels. Chicago ABC, thanks so much, keep the ‘zines coming. A lot of people are excited when they get here.

I know that so many have tried to do so much more only to be turned away by DOC. I know that visits, books, and mail as well as funds for commissary have all been denied or “lost” on a consistent basis. Our mail also gets held both going out and coming in. It’s hard not to get super frustrated when you know people are reaching out and the institution either denies or holds up our correspondence.

It’s a constant battle to keep my head up while here. This place is set up to break people’s resolve to go to a trial. It really is worse than prison and everybody knows it. We are locked in the cell eighteen hours a day. We have no contact visits for fifteen months. We are fed one hot meal a day which is utterly disgusting. the commissary prices are outrageous and steadily rising. I am sending the price list with this letter. Check it out. Of course both our food service and commissary providers are privatized and making a nice profit, no doubt.

I am not writing this to dwell on the negative, when I look around and see that with the support of my community I am in a better situation than many others here. I have an education. I have people who love me and I have a wider community helping me through this struggle. I have not been lost and forgotten in the system and I thank all of you. I promise, I will “pay it forward” and be an advocate for people locked up and without support. They can’t keep me forever.

One thing before I close. Please try to remember when doing prisoner solidarity and ‘zine outreach, that so many incarcerated people have been utterly failed by public schools. We must always remember that education is a privilege as much as race and class and gender. Many genuinely interested brothers have brought ‘zines back without being able to decipher much of the language. I just wanted to throw that in.

I love all of you and draw so much of my resolve and strength from all that you do, as much from those I don’t know from those of you I do know. Maybe more so really. I hope for the best everyday and know this is a temporary situation. Until I am free and EVERY LOCK BREAKS, don’t forget us. We need you and appreciate all that you do. Keep doing what we do. WE ARE WINNING!!

United In The Struggle,

Jason Sutherlin

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John Tucker of the Tinley Park Five Thanks Supporters

John Tucker Thanks #TinleyPark5 Supporters!

John Tucker, one of the defendants in the Tinley Park Five case, asked that we post this letter of gratitude to his supporters. John, like the other four defendants, is being held in Cook County Jail awaiting trial. His bail is $175,000, out of the reach of his friends and family. Defense motions to suppress the arrest are to be ruled on soon, but most likely the five antifascist activists will be held in Cook County Jail until the conclusion of what appears will be a lengthy trial.

The Indianapolis Star recently ran a gossip piece about the Tinley Park Five and the antifascist community in the midwest. They referr to the struggle against violent fascism as a “shadowy” endeavor. The same mainstream media that has tacitly condoned increased police violence against activist’s free speech is now incensed by any perceived violation of the free speech of neonazis, klan members, and other hate groups.

To our Supporters –

First off, I would like to thank all of our past, present and future supporters for any and all letters, donations, and internet support for our cause. Incarceration is difficult indeed, but your kindness helps ease our troubles in these trying times.

Secondly, I would like to thank our supporters and sympathizers for any and all kindness given to our friends and family, of which the media has often vilified. Those closest to us are oftentimes more affected by our tragedies than we ourselves are at the time.

Lastly, to all those who are reading this with an open mind, I would like to thank you for at least showing an interest in our struggle. Just know, we are by no means the dark figures much as the media has made us out to be. We are sons and brothers, workers and students, salt of the earth, flesh-and-blood people like everyone else. Though not as sensational as many new programs and papers make us out to be we are just people  (thankful people at that) for everything much of the populace has and continues to help us with. Without caring people in the world I’m not sure we could make it throught this.

Thank you all,
John Tucker

 

Wanna support the Tinley Park Five?

Antifa Art Contest: Design a “Tinley Park Five” Shirt

UPDATE: We’re getting a lot of interest pretty late in the game, so we’ll be extending the deadline to December 31, 2012!

It’s looking as if the Tinley Park Five will be stuck in the Cook County Jail until their trial date. The judge refused to reduce the bail of the five alleged freedom fighters and the bail money is still way out of reach. Just sitting inside Cook County is an expensive ordeal. The cost of calling cards, stamps, reading materials, and edible food mounts up quickly. Fortunately, the families and loved ones of the Tinley Park Five are in good shape and we can focus on supporting our imprisoned comrades.

We’ve been brainstorming ideas on how to raise money for our friends and one of our ideas was to sell some tee shirts. Rather than just throw some old graphics on these shirts we thought we’d ask for help from the antifascist community. So here’s the deal: Send us your idea for a “Support the Tinley Park Five” tee shirt and if you win we’ll give you one for free. I know, I know…. not exactly the Publisher’s Clearing House or anything but we thought this was a better way of valuing antifascist art than a gift certificate or trophy or whatever prize most art contests give their winners.

Some guidelines:

1. This design is for a tee shirt. Make sure that your design will translate well to a one or two color press (illustration > painting).

2. We will eventually need the illustration in a fairly high resolution computer format. We can figure out the details later, but if you draw something and send us a low-res scan/pic of it, make sure you hold onto the illustration so we can figure out a way to get an adequate file from you if you win.

3. As far as content goes, it’s up to you. It should most likely say “Tinley Park Five” on it. You could redraw some antifascist logos and imagery and stylize the text, make a comic book style rendition of the media’s portrayal of the Tinley Park Five (complete with nunchucks and throwing stars lulz), or you can of course do your own thing!

4. Feel free to sign your work, either with your name or your crew’s, but keep in mind this will make your name eternally associated with antifascism.

5. We need to receive your submissions by December 31, 2012. Send us your artwork to TinleyPark5@yahoo.com

6. By sending us your artwork, you are placing it in the public domain. The finalist images will be put out on the internet and/or used to raise funds. By voluntarily sending it to us you are agreeing to give up any legal claim to ownership or copyright infringement. Also, don’t send us anyone else’s work, copyrighted or not, we want to see what you can do!

Update: Frequent Relocation Within the Jail

For unknown reasons, the Tinley Park Five are being relocated within the Cook County Jail quite frequently. Some inmates have been moved as many as seven times over the course of the last month. This is causing delays in their receiving correspondence. Books sent from major publishers seem to be getting to them more efficiently than other articles. Before visiting, please make sure to check the Cook County Jail website for visiting hours and current housing location. Their “profiles” on the Cook County Jail website can be reached by clicking on their names on the letter-writing  and visitation pages.

We’re unsure of the motivations of these moves. It’s possible that they are purely administrative. The gears of the machine that is the Cook County Jail do turn slowly.

It’s also possible that these moves are a vain attempt to prevent the political prisoners from organizing and bonding with fellow inmates. A copy of People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn was sent to each of the TP5 soon after their incarceration. One of the defendants reports that his copy of the book has people “lining up” to borrow it. Books and zines which do reach the TP5 are being circulated throughout the jail to inmates of all backgrounds. Contrary to the common image of willfully ignorant career criminals perpetuated by our media, prisoners are hungry for knowledge and education. Unfortunately, our “criminal justice” system places minimal emphasis on education and is slashing prisoner’s access to libraries and educational opportunities.

We would like to encourage everyone to continue sending reading materials to the TP5 as well as all prisoners and to consider supporting groups like Books Through Bars and Pages For Prisoners.