Outlaw24 Jul 2025

J20 Defendant Python on Defeating Felony Conspiracy Charges

In this episode we are joined by Python, a former defendant in what's known as the J20 case. On January 20, 2017, the day of Trump's first inauguration, over 200 people were mass-arrested at an antifascist demonstration in D.C. and charged with multiple felonies totaling up to a possible 60-plus years in prison each. After a year and a half of legal battles, and a successful collective defense strategy, almost none of the charges stuck. Python reflects on his experience and offers lessons learned.

Stay tuned at the end of the episode for a PSA from the NLG Federal Anti-Repression Hotline.

Corrected/clarified info:

After publishing this episode, showmakers were informed the limo was not set on fire until hours after everyone was kettled and mass arrested. Support crew members have said that was a separate incident from the mass demonstration that media misrepresented.
In the end, majority of defendants did not go to trial and had their charges dropped. One trial ended in a hung jury.

Want to learn more about J20?

We've Got Your Back: The Story of the J20 Defense

Criminalizing Dissent: After Proving Mere Presence J20 Prosecution Rests Its Case

(Zine) I Was a J20 Street Medic and Defendant: How We Survived the First Trial and What We Learned Along the Way

Stay in touch! Fo llow Outlaw on Bluesky @outlawpod.bsky.social

Cover Image by Mon M.

Intro & Outro Music: Tortuguita by Brass Tapestry (ft. Rev. Keyanna Jones)

Who's Tortuguita? Tort was an anarchist forest defender part of the movement to Stop Cop City in Atlanta. They were murdered by Georgia State Patrol Troopers in their tent in Weelaunee Forest on January 18th, 2023. Some memories of them are compiled here.

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(18)

DAMN 15 Conspiracy Charges with Garrett, Miriam, & Mo

Outlaw's first crossover episode with Live Like the World is Dying! This conversation covers the June 16, 2026 federal charges alleging a 15 person conspiracy to interfere with ICE activity during and...

3 Jul 55min

Prairieland Sentencing with Albert

Albert, a member of the DFW Support Committee and close friend of Prairieland defendants, joins Outlaw to break down what you need to know about the extreme sentences that came down on June 23, 2026 i...

29 Jun 40min

Media Strategy for Defendants with Kris Hermes

On this episode, movement media specialist and legal worker Kris Hermes joins Outlaw to talk anti-repression media strategy. We discuss why media is a critical tool for fighting political cases and wh...

8 Jun 34min

Support Crews & Spokescouncils with Kez

On this episode, Kez from Atlanta Jail Support joins Outlaw to dig into two anti-repression tools: support crews and spokescouncils. Hear lessons from how they were used to support the Stop Cop City R...

23 Apr 33min

Prairieland Trial Reflections with Lydia & Lee

On July 4th, 2025, protestors gathered to hold a noise demonstration in solidarity with ICE detainees outside the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas. Since then, 19 people have been arres...

27 Mar 49min

Facing Federal Charges with Jakhi McCray & Octo

On July 21, 2025—after a month-long federal manhunt—Jakhi McCray turned himself in to the New York Police Department (NYPD). Jakhi stands accused of setting fire to 10 NYPD cars and faces a 5 to 20-ye...

3 Des 202552min

NLG Federal Anti-Repression Hotline with Moira Meltzer-Cohen

What's the NLG Federal Anti-Repression Hotline? When should someone call it? What will happen what they do? On this episode, movement lawyer Mo Meltzer-Cohen breaks down what you need to know about th...

14 Nov 202531min

Cultivating Solidarity When Responding to Political Repression with Dean, Zohra, and Jocelyn

This episode of Outlaw is about why the way we talk about political repression matters and how to avoid falling into anti-solidarity traps when we do. Dean Spade, Zohra Ahmed, and Jocelyn Simonson joi...

29 Okt 20251h 1min