Letter-Writing Night for Prairieland (Texas) Defendants

Letter-Writing Night for Prairieland (Texas) Defendants, Sentenced to 30–100 Years in Case Targeting “Antifa”

Bring yourself and friends to write letters to the Prairieland defendants. We’ll supply the paper and pens, and mail the letters; you supply the love and solidarity!

Haven’t heard about the Prairieland case, and why it’s important for both anarchists and antifascists in and outside the United States? We’ll fill you in on July 9. Plus we’ll have zines on hand about Prairieland.

Masks (N95/KN95) are encouraged.

BACKGROUND:

The Prairieland case stems from a noise demonstration in solidarity with detainees at the notorious Prairieland ICE Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas, on July 4, 2025. Nine of the defendants were found guilty on March 13, 2026, in a US federal district court after what amounted to a show trial, which included snitches as witnesses for the state.

On June 23, eight of the defendants received sentences of 30 to 100 years. US district judge Reed O’Connor, in handing down the sentences, reportedly said he wanted to “send a message to anyone who shares a similar ideology.” On July 1, a ninth defendant got 50 years, and two others, who took noncooperating plea deals, each got 15 years.

Prairieland marks the first successful test case under the Trump administration’s “counter-terrorism” initiatives targeting “antifa,” which it has officially categorized as a “domestic terrorist organization.” The federal government focused on basic security measures common to organizing, such as having Faraday bags or a medic kit, using the Signal messaging app, dressing in all black, and possessing or printing anarchist literature. For instance, Daniel “Des” Sanchez Estrada, who wasn’t even at the noise demonstration, got 30 years for having a box of zines.

For more info, see prairielanddefendants.com and freedes.net / follow @dfwsupportcommittee and @free.des.net on IG