For eleven years now, antifascist groups have mobilized every July 25 to
popularize support for incarcerated activists around the world. Whilerepression is increasing in France, participating in antifascist
actions, or simply claiming to be one, can lead to imprisonment in many
countries. Although we face dissolutions and increasing criminalization,
supporting our comrades and building international ties is a necessary
act. ---- Originally created in 2014, this day was created to support
Jock Palfreeman. Jock is an Australian antifascist who, during a visit
to Bulgaria in 2007, witnessed two Roma children being attacked by
racist hooligans. While defending them, he injured two of the attackers.
The Bulgarian state sentenced him to twenty years in prison[1].
Following a successful initial action, the "International Antifa"
network was structured and extended the July 25th day of solidarity to
all antifascists imprisoned or prosecuted for their actions. A large
number of comrades have been supported year after year, and their plight
has been made more visible through this initiative. In parallel with the
day of action, an international antifascist aid fund raises money
year-round to provide material assistance to persecuted antifascists. In
2024-2025, 52 antifascists were supported. Since the fund's creation,
nearly 800 activists have received assistance[2].
Every year, from July 18th to 25th, Rose City Antifa organizes a
"Postcards to Prisoners" campaign inviting people to send postcards of
support to antifascist prisoners on the occasion of International
Antifascist Solidarity Day.
https://supportantifaprisoners.wordpress.com
Expanding the horizons of our solidarity
This year again, a list of prisoners claiming to be antifascists is
available on the dedicated website[3]. It includes the case of Gino in
France, imprisoned and awaiting extradition to Hungary, where he is
accused, along with others, of having prevented a neo-Nazi
demonstration. Alongside him are several other individuals: Belarusian
anti-fascists, most of whom have been convicted for mobilizing against
Lukashenko's dictatorship in 2020[4], activists from the United States
accused of "anti-fascist conspiracy" for opposing Trump supporters,
Russian activists tortured following a conspiracy to arrest them, and
also activists from Germany, Italy, and more, all convicted for activism
against the far right or for their anti-fascist views.
https://supportantifaprisoners.wordpress.com
The list is obviously incomplete. It depends on who is affiliated with
the network and is limited to cases of activists convicted for
"anti-fascism." In the countries already mentioned, expanding the list
to include revolutionary comrades whose anti-fascist convictions are
beyond doubt would immediately lengthen it: one thinks of the emblematic
cases of Mumia-Abu Jamal or Leonard Peltier in the United States. In
Russia, hundreds of anarchist and revolutionary comrades imprisoned in
penal colonies, as in Belarus. In France, George Ibrahim Abdallah
remains in prison, while politically motivated convictions against all
forms of resistance continue[5].
Seize and strengthen the initiative
One might argue that it has little impact beyond the Western world. In
Turkey, thousands of activists from the Kurdish left or Turkish
revolutionary movements are imprisoned. The same is true in Israel with
Palestinian activists. Beyond that, the situations of our comrades in
various Asian and African countries deserve to be supported and their
plight publicized[6].
https://supportantifaprisoners.wordpress.com
Bastille Day at least has the merit of existing and attempting to
structure solidarity initiatives on a global scale that strengthen our
camp and our ties across borders. In these times when the far right is
coming to power or has taken power in many European countries, when
authoritarian regimes with fascist tendencies are gaining strength, our
comrades can only count on us, and vice versa. We need a stronger
structure of international solidarity to bring our anti-authoritarian,
anti-racist, and anti-imperialist ideals to life. Starting with a
support action on July 25 could be a first step.
Hugues (UCL Fougères)
Validate
[1]"Call for Solidarity with Anti-Fascist Jock Palfreeman, Facing
Repression in Bulgarian Prisons," La Horde, July 7, 2014.
[2]"The International Anti-Fascist Defence Fund: 2024-2025 Annual
Report," The International Anti-Fascist Defence Fund, June 2, 2025.
[3]"List of Antifascist Prisoners," The International Day of Solidarity
With Antifascist Prisoners, June 2025.
[4]"Belarus: Cities and Factories Against the Dictatorship," Alternative
libertaire, No. 309, October 2020.
[5]"Repression: 'December 8' Trial, Are We All Terrorists?», Alternative
libertaire, No. 346, February 2024.
[6]For example, in the "Anarchist Call for Solidarity: Supporting the
Exile of Sudanese Anarchists", Alternative libertaire, No. 341,
September 2023. See also this article in this issue.
https://www.unioncommunistelibertaire.org/?25-juillet-Une-journee-pour-la-solidarite-antifasciste-internationale
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