“JOY IS UNBREAKABLE”!
Joy Powell
Your Sista in the Struggle,
Joy Powell is a pastor and a consistent activist against police brutality, violence and oppression in her community. In 2006, she was accused and convicted of 1st Degree Burglary and Assault. An all-white jury tried her; the state provided no evidence and no eyewitnesses. While serving a 16-year sentence for the conviction, a cold murder case was pinned on her. The trial was fraught with misconduct, yet she was convicted and sentenced to 25 years to life. She is currently seeking counsel to file an appeal.
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Derrell Mickles
On September 15, 2024 the NYPD committed a mass shooting at a Sutter Ave L station. Police officers tased and shot Derell Mickles multiple times for alleged fare evasion. This was on a crowded subway platform where they hit two other riders also. Mickles was arraigned from his hospital bed. He was overcharged with eight counts of which 5 were felony charges, including aggravated assault against a police officer with a deadly weapon and assault with the intention to cause serious injury with a weapon. Derell Mickles pled not guilty and is still waiting to go to trial. He has been locked up at Rikers for over a year, with a bail set at $200,000.
“We are comrades and with that comes a promise to love, defend, and fight for one another.”
Jakhi mccray
Jakhi McCray is a committed organizer in the Palestine and abolition movements and beloved member of many communities across New York and New Jersey. He is facing federal persecution for allegedly setting fire to police vehicles belonging to the 83rd precinct in Brooklyn, New York. He is currently under house arrest and is facing a charge of 5-20 years.
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“It is our duty to stand with our political prisoners; fight for their release, and learn from their bravery.”
Tarek Bazrouk‘s sister
Tarek Bazrouk is a 20-year-old Palestinian student and a lifetime NYC resident, whom the United States government has targeted for his stance against colonization, displacement, and genocide of his people. Tarek’s charges were tied to this participation in the 2024 pro-Palestinian rallies. These charges were pending in state court and scheduled to be dismissed. Instead, the FBI stepped in and convicted him on one count of federal “hate crime” charges. He awaits sentencing October 28, 2025.
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“Still, I write with full certainty that we will all be freed from this cruel injustice.”
Leqaa Kordia
Leqaa Kordia, a 32-year-old Palestinian woman was arrested by ICE after peacefully protesting the genocide in Gaza – where over 100 of her relatives were killed. ICE lured her to a fake meeting, then transferred her 1,500 miles away to a Texas Detention center.
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Jaia CRUZ
Jaia Cruz is a young trans-woman of color who was attacked in a Harlem deli on January 2, 2025. Jaia was brutally struck with repeated blows while being called a f*ggot and a tr*nny. She is serving 15 years for self defense in response.
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KAmau sadiki
In a nutshell, Kamau Sadiki is a Muslim, a loving father of two daughters and grandfather of five, and a veteran of the Black Panther Party. He served his community for years before he was arrested on trumped-up charges wrongfully convicted in a 30-year-old cold case murder of a Fulton County police officer in 2002. Kamau, now 69 years old, is among many other incarcerated elders, who suffer from prison medical neglect. Kamau suffers from sarcoidosis, untreated hepatitis C, malnutrition, and unhealed and infected ulcers on his legs.
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“The proper criterion for distinguishing “right” from “wrong” is not mysterious.It is embodied in the principles that advance the cause of the oppressed and exploited over the cause of those who live by oppression and exploitation.”
DHoRUBA BIN – WAHAD
Dhoruba al-Mujahid bin Wahad is an American political activist and author, former leader of the New York Black Panther Party, and co-founder of the Black Liberation Army. He was one of the Panther 21 defendants charged in 1969 with conspiracy to attack New York City police stations. After a lengthy trial, the Panther 21 were exonerated. In June 1971, bin Wahad was arrested and eventually convicted for the attempted murder of two New York City police officers. After serving 19 years in prison, he was released when a judge ruled that the initial arrest was part of the FBI’s illegal COINTELPRO operation, and that the prosecution withheld crucial evidence from the defense. Since his release in 1990, bin Wahad has divided his time between New York and Ghana, and writes frequently about the U.S. criminal justice system and Pan-Africanism.
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ALEX STOKES
On January 6, 2021, Alex was observing and a member of a counterprotest group during the “Stop The Steal” Rally outside the New York State Capitol, which was led by the white nationalist right-wing extremist groups the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers. Alex and his group were outnumbered and attacked by the armed protesters. Alex’s wrist was broken during the melee and he used a pocket knife to defend himself and three others against the attacks. Serious, but non-fatal injuries occurred, and Alex was convicted on two separate counts of assault and a weapons charge. He was sentenced to serve 12 years and 8 years and it was determined that the sentences should be served consecutively instead of the more common determination of concurrent sentences. He is currently serving this draconian 20-year sentence.
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