‘WHO IS ALEX STOKES?
Alexander Stokes Contompasis is a Jewish
American independent journalist and activist
that is currently serving a draconian 20 year
sentence for defending himself and three
others against an attack by Proud Boys and
Oath Keepers on January 6, 2021 in Albany,
New York.

Alex Stokes Contompasis is a journalist and
artist from Albany, New York. Alex’s work
documenting social unrest began in 2014,
He was arrested in 2017 in Washington DC
during the Disrupt J20 inaugural protests
and co-represented over 200 counter-
protestors and independent journalists

that were rounded up and falsely charged.

He was in Charlottesville, VA during the
summer protests in 2017. He routinely
attended and recorded Black Lives Matter
protests in Albany in 2020. He also regularly
revealed local white supremacist groups

and members. Prior to 2021, he was taking
classes to prepare to become an Emergency
Medical Technician.

On January 6, 2021, protestors gathered
outside the New York State Capitol in
Albany, NY in support of the Stop the

Steal rally in Washington DC. A handful of
counter protesters spoke out against them
and a melee broke out after a Proud Boy
tased a Black man in the neck. Alex was
watching from the sidelines and ran to help
others. Police did not intervene until the
violence had ended and ultimately arrested
three Black activists. Alex was charged with

several violent felonies. The Proud Boys that
engaged in the violence were not arrested at the
scene.

Alex’s family and friends maintain that he was
railroaded by the system. He was a journalist
under a court-ordered gag-order for over a

‘year. His previous work and experience with
dangerous hate groups were inadmissible for
his defense, but the prosecution picked apart

his social media accounts and portrayed his
actions as premeditated. He was found guilty on
all charges and sentenced to 20 years in prison,
despite the fact that no one died and neither of
the victims received life-altering injuries. One
even began a job as an EMT just 6 weeks later.

A man with no previous criminal history, with
lifelong ties to the community, was issued a
sentence far more severe than most who commit
reckless and premeditated acts of violence. His
sentence is longer than those who assaulted a
police officer at the US Capitol on January 6,
2021 and those that organized the insurrection
itself.

Alex is an amateur journalist. Beginning in
2014, he hosted a local public access channel
based in Albany called News World: Albany
Banana Corps. He and others commented on
news stories and filmed demonstrations against
police brutality, environmental issues, and other
local concerns as well as musical performances
and multiple public events and meetings. He
interviewed local activists and politicians, law
enforcement officers, and concerned citizens.
He traveled to other notable areas of unrest

including Baltimore Maryland, Washington
DC, and Charlottesville Virginia.

FUNDRAISING

Donations for Alex’s legal bills can be
made via Cashapp ($frecalexstokes) or
Venmo (@free_alex_stokes)

Other Fundraising Support
All proceeds go towards the Alex Stokes
legal fund.

“T-Shirts, stickers and posters are available
at redbubble.com/shop/ap/144004287
Listen and purchase a song created by Alex
and Special 20 at tiny.cc/AlexSong

View and purchase collections of art at
waystationart.com
‘WRITE ALEX

Alexander Contompasis 22-B-5028
Upstate Correctional Facility

Post Office Box 2001

Malone, New York 12953

Related information:
freealexstokes.com

Local group supporting Alex Stokes:

NYC Anarchist Black Cross

NYC Anarchist Black Cross is a collective
focused on supporting US-held political
prisoners and prisoners of war and opposing
state repression against revolutionary social
justice movements,

NYCABC
Post Office Box 110034
Brooklyn, New York 11211

nycabc@riseup.net
nycabc.wordpress.com

venmo @nycabe
instagram/twitter/tikiok @nycabe
facebook.com/nycabe

ALEX STOKES