On Dec. 2nd, Samuel Tunick was arrested by the FBI on a single federal charge of destruction of evidence. At his first court appearance, the court released Samuel on a standard appearance bond.
Earlier this year, federal agents detained Samuel upon his return from an international flight. They attempted to coerce Samuel into providing full access to his phone. Today in court, the prosecution claimed that Samuel provided a password that wiped his phone. The state gave no explanation of what evidence, if any, they expected to find on Samuel's phone.
The coercion that Samuel faced toward abdicating his right to privacy at the border is becoming a regular occurrence for lawyers, activists, and immigrants. If Samuel's alleged use of legal and freely available technology did indeed protect his personal information from an overreach of state surveillance, his case becomes a fundamental fight over the right to privacy, free speech, and free association. What is at stake is the future of any technology that preserves the rights of users to own, manage, and protect their personal information.
Despite the ongoing, persistent harrasment of local activists, the state remains unsuccessful in procuring convictions of Stop Cop City protestors. Samuel's case exposes the desperation, incompetence, and lack of technical expertise of an FBI reduced to a puppet agency for the Trump administration's far-right agenda. It is clear that their goal is to eliminate political dissent through programs of mass surveillance and the proliferation of coercive technologies in collusion with Big Tech. What seems like the prosecution of a single activist is in fact a test case for criminalizing the tools and practices essential for exercising basic democratic freedoms. Samuel was targeted because digital security practices are a threat to the state's unrestrained violations of civil liberties.
Winning this urgent and important case will require significant resources. Please support this critical fight by donating to Samuel's legal fund: /LetSamGo
Thanks to everyone who has already donated or reached out in support. Sam's friends and family are so glad to have him back home. Stay connected here for more updates as the case progresses.
----------------------------
On Tuesday, December 2, Sam was arrested shortly after leaving work by officers from FBI and DHS. After one night in jail, he appeared before a judge who informed Sam he had been indicated by a grand jury on one count of destruction of evidence. No other crime was mentioned in the indictment, and Sam has pled not guilty.
The state alleged that Sam used a "secret code" to wipe information from his phone when he was detained by Customs & Border Patrol earlier this year. He was granted a standard appearance bond by the judge. He is not charged with any other crime. Sam's bond conditions include random visits from a parole officer and regular drug tests.
We have a long road ahead fighting these bullshit charges. Please share and contribute to Sam's givesendgo fundraiser (linktree in bio) which will cover legal fees and everything Sam needs to be comfortable while navigating the legal system. Federal representation is expensive. You can help us reach our goal of $20,000.
If you can host a fundraiser in your city, please do! Punk shows, bake sales, art galleries, dance parties, nothing is too big or too small. You can contact us at [email protected]
FREE THEM ALL
Sam, beloved friend and talented musician is being targeted by the government on bogus and trumped up charges.
......................
Despite the ongoing, persistent harassment of local activists, the state remains unsuccessful in procuring convictions of Stop Cop City protestors. Samuel's case exposes the desperation, incompetence, and lack of technical expertise of an FBI reduced to a puppet agency for the Trump administration's far-right agenda.
It is clear that their goal is to eliminate political dissent through programs of mass surveillance and the proliferation of coercive technologies in collusion with Big Tech.
What seems like the prosecution of a single activist is in fact a test case for criminalizing the tools and practices essential for exercising basic democratic freedoms.
