James Konkin is a son, a friend, a student, a churchgoer, a weightlifter, and a vinyl collector. He’s also an anarchist. That is to say, he’s an opponent of the use of coercion in human relationships. Anarchists are people with principles, unpopular principles, but principles nonetheless. James’ principles include freedom, self-defense, and self-expression. He’s being punished for holding those principles. James has been targeted by the fascist regime, arrested and charged for constitutionally protected anti-ICE posts. 

He’s been released on bond for now, but his bail conditions preclude him from using social media so we haven’t heard from him in months. More importantly, he faces up to decades in prison. The government is using James’ principles against him, labeling him a “radical” for finding anarchist literature in his belongings. James’ lawyers argue the government is clearly violating not just his 1st amendment rights, but his 5th and 6th amendment rights too. For a more in-depth discussion about James’ legal case, we recommend this podcast. 

Here is a 22-year old upstanding citizen, who has no criminal history, who built a chapel with his church, and who is studying to be an engineer. But he said things the regime didn’t like. Things that made the regime feel small and weak. They prove James right in going after him. And they won’t stop there. They’ll go after each and every one of us if they can.

We at C4SS stand firmly behind James. The government is trying to silence and intimidate critics of its secret police and ethnic cleansing. James is one of those critics. We must all remain steadfast in our criticism. We must also remain careful, aware of the potential costs to our criticism and wary of the watchful eye of the corporate state. Prudence is a vital principle. 

Justice is also a vital principle. These are times of extraordinary injustice. Let us bear the weight together, speak out for justice together, stand up to injustice together. We owe it to ourselves and to others. We owe it to the victims of this fascist regime. We owe it to James. We at C4SS will continue to oppose the use of coercion in human relationships, and to advocate for freedom, self-defense, and self-expression, especially those of James Konkin.