Water Protector Prisoners
Standing Rock Federal Charges
Dion Ortiz
Angry Bird
Little Feather
Rattler
Red Fawn
Those who faced federal charges are all Indigenous people.
Red Fawn has moved back home to Denver, CO.
Rattler is in his home in the Bismark area.
Little Feather has returned home.
Dion Ortiz and Angry Bird are still under mandatory federal supervision.
Water Protector Legal Collective has partnered with Prison Radio of the Redwood Justice Fund and they will be accepting and distributing tax-deductible donations for the direct support of NoDAPL political prisoners. To contribute please make your donation through Redwood Justice Fund here. If you would like to donate by phone please call 415-648-4505.
For more info on the Water Protector political prisoners check out the collaborative website www.nodaplpoliticalprisoners.org.
This is the official and only collaborative support committee for the NoDAPL political prisoners.
On July 11, 2018, Red Fawn was sentenced to 57 months in prison under the terms of a non-cooperating plea agreement. She has returned home under federal surveillance probation. You can support her by donating to her directly at her Paypal.
Legal information is on her case page here, and more information on Red Fawn.
Dion was released from FCI Sandstone on April 3, 2019, then lived in a halfway house in his home state of New Mexico. From an update on March 31 on his support page, Dion is back in custody. After brief incarceration in the summer of 2020, he tested positive for COVID-19 which led to the eviction from the home he shared with his partner and their children. You can support him by sending funds to his partner’s Cashapp ($Missrissancc) or Venmo (@Marissabear) for his phone account and commissary.
Legal Information is on his case page here. Dion’s support page is here.
Michael “Little Feather” Giron
On May 30, 2018, Little Feather was sentenced to 36 months in prison pursuant to a non-cooperating plea agreement. On July 15, 2019, Little Feather was released from USP Hazelton a maximum-security prison. Little Feather after release was assigned to mandatory supervised probation at a halfway house in Mandan, North Dakota. He has been released under federal surveillance probation. Legal information is on his case page here. More information about Little Feather and how you can support him is on his website here.
On September 27, 2018, Rattler was sentenced to 36 months in prison pursuant to the terms of his non-cooperating plea agreement. He has been released under federal surveillance probation. Supporters can view his Facebook page here and make a financial contribution directly to Rattler here.
Legal information is on his case page here, and more information about Rattler and how you can support him is on his support committee page here.
On December 5, 2018, Angry Bird was sentenced pursuant to the terms of his non-cooperating plea agreement to time served, two years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment for the charge of Civil Disorder. He has been released under federal surveillance on probation. His house was recently broken into and is in need of urgent support. If you are able please donate below.
Legal information is on his case page here, and more information about Angry Bird and how to support him is on his support committee Facebook page here. Supporters can make a financial contribution directly to Angry Bird here.
North Dakota State Charges
Alexander Simon (center) is greeted by supporters including Mary Redway (right-center) as he leaves Morton County Detention Center - October 31, 2017.
Alexander Simon and Mary Redway were the first two Water Protectors sentenced to jail time.
Both have now served their jail time and have been released. Simon served 12 days and Redway served four days.
For more information on Mary and Alex visit here.
DAPL Federal Charges (Iowa)
On June 30th 2021, Water Protector, Jessica Reznicek, was sentenced to 8 years in prison, 3 years of probation, and 3.2 million dollars in restitution in Iowa for the non-violent actions against the Dakota Access Pipeline in 2017. Her lengthy sentence was due to a domestic terrorism enhancement, originated in the Bush-era Patriot Act and rolled out in the Biden administration to combat domestic terror, which the federal judge overseeing her sentencing decided to apply.
Jessica has reported to the Waseca Federal Correctional Institution to begin serving her 8-year sentence.
Sign the petition by Jessica's lawyers to appeal the terrorist enhancement.
Resources for Prisoner Support
Writing letters to prisoners is an important form of solidarity. A few things to keep in mind:
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Do not ask any questions or share any information about the facts of the prisoner’s case, or events surrounding their arrest.
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Remember that prison officials read all mail, so don’t say anything you would not want to say directly to them.
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Do not send photos without asking first (sometimes prisoners have a maximum number of photos they are allowed to have) – but you can write your letter on the back of a flyer or image printed onto regular paper (stay away from any coated or glossy paper, since that may cause your letter to be returned). Please use white paper and white envelopes only (no colored paper, cards, stickers, or glitter).
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Do not make any promises that you may not be able to keep (including about writing again).
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Be sure to include your full first and last name (not just initials) and return mailing address – in the letter itself as well as on the outside of the envelope (prisoners often do not receive the envelopes).
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It’s a good idea to add page numbers to the bottom of your letter (so if a page is missing, they can tell).
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Books and magazines must be sent directly from the publisher or bookseller, such as Amazon.
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The BOP’s rules regarding sending mail, money and other materials are here.
NYC Anarchist Black Cross has more useful tips on writing letters to political prisoners here.
The Tilted Scales Collective publishes the Tilted Guide to Being a Defendant, which includes helpful information for anyone organizing a support committee or providing other support to a political prisoner. For a free zine or to order the book, visit their website here.