BACKGROUND

Casey Goonan is an anarchisu/anti-imperialist
political prisoner incarcerated for actions carried
out in solidarity with Palestinians facing genocide
in Gaza and response (o the repressive actions
against the pro-Palestine student encampments in
the United States

‘Goonan grew up in a small suburban town in the
East Bay area of the San Francisco Bay. In high
school, they were highlighted by the local press for
their athletic abilities in both football and baseball.
“Their brief stint at a local community college
fostered an interest in race and politics and by
2011, they transferred to UC Riverside to eam an
ethnic studies degree in UC Riverside

During their time at UC Riverside, Goonan became
increasingly involved in abolitionist organizing,
Joining a group called UC Riverside Prison
Industrial Complex Action Group. Casey later
attended Northwestern University, where they
earned a master’s and PhD in African American
studies. During this time, they became a member of
‘True Leap Press and an editor for Propter Nos.

STUDENT INTIFADA

In April 2024, students in universities throughout
the United States joined a global protest movement
i response to the ongoing Tsraeli assault and
occupation of Gaza. More than 140 campuses

in the United States witnessed encampments,
‘occupations, walkouts, or sit-ins. The protesis were
met with mass repression, leading (o over 3,100
arrests across the country. The actions were also
met with violent pro-Israel counter demonstrations,
‘who instigated physical confrontations with
students.

On May 1, pro-Israeli counter-protesters attacked
the UCLA encampment for nearly four hours.
“The counter-protesters assaulted the students
with fireworks, sticks, poles, metal fencing,

pepper spray, and bear mace. During the assault,

they called for the “Second Nakba”, referring to the
ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in 1948. The LAPD
arrived nearly three hours after the assault began but
waited more than an hour before intervening. At least
25 students were transported to local hospitals with
fractures, severe lacerations, and chemical-induced
injuries. The LAPD used the altercation as an excuse
to dismantle the encampment, leading to the arrest of
210 protesters who refused to disperse. Despite the
dismantling of the encampment, students continued to
engage in demonstrations on campus.

Between June 1- June 16, 2024, a series of arson
attacks took place on the UC Berkeley campus,
including one that targeted a University of California
Police Department (UCPD) patrol car. In addition to
the campus incidents, a Molotov attack was foiled

at the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building and U.S.
Courthouse in Oakland,

A series of statements under various aliases were
posted in Indymedia.org providing an explanation

for the actions, claiming they were in response (o the
assaults against the UCLA student encampments

‘The statements also called for a week of autonomous
actions for the liberation of Palestine and an end to the
genocide in Gaza

RAID AND ARREST

‘The attacks were investigated by Cal Fire’s Office of
the State Fire Marshal Arson and Bomb Unit, the UC
Berkeley Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the FBL When
reviewing security video of the June 1 attack on the
UCPD patrol car, investigators were able to identify a
car with a license plate leading to Casey Goonan.

On June 17, 2024, law enforcement raided Casey
Goonan's parents’ home in Pleasant Hill, searching for
“documents related to the conflict between Israel and
Palestine.” They allegedly found a box of matches,
lighters, a gasoline container, a mask and discarded

disposable gloves in the car and DNA evidence
‘connecting them to some of the actions.

“The Alameda County District Atorney’s Office
initially charged Goonan with the actions,
however, the federal government took over the
case and charged Goonan with 18 U.S.C. § B44(f)
(1)~ Damaging or destroying property owned or
possessed by the United States or any instiution
receiving federal financial assistance by means

of fire or explosion, which carries a maximum
sentence of 20 years in prison and a minimum
sentence of five years in prison.

PLEA AND SENTENCING

In January 2025, Casey pleaded guilty to one
count of maliciously damaging or destroying
property used in or affecting interstate commerce
by means of fire or an explosive in violation of
18U.5.C. § 844(i), for the arson attack on the
‘campus police car. As part of a plea agreement,
‘Goonan took responsibility for the other attacks
but pleaded not guilty to the additional charges.

Casey’s sentencing date was September 23,
2025, The government asked the court to impose
a 188-month sentence, 15 years of supervised
release, fines, restitution and placement in the
Bureau of Prisons’ restrictive Communication
Management Unit (CMU). The government
pointed to the actions that led to Goonan’s
arrest, their continued political activity, and their
writings illustrating their unrepentant atitude

as the reason for their recommendation. The
judge, however, added an additional 47 months,
Sentencing Goonan to 235 months in federal
prison.

DONATIONS

Casey needs your support! Among other things,
there are commissary and the ongoing costs

of prison support for the remainder of Casey’s
sentence. We're asking you to donate what
‘you can and also to reach out to your friends,
family, comrades, and organizations to ask them
to contribute as well. Please consider a monthly

donation as we expect this case to be a long fight

1f you would like to make a large donation more
anonymously, please reach out to the email
cscommittee@proton.me

Donate here: chuffed.org/projectSupportCasey

“Thanks to everybody out there who has shown me
love and offered support through this time. I wish
every prisoner could experience the level of support
you all have shown to me. In here, I've done my
best o show my love o all my fellow prisoners and
I remain steadfast to the movemen to Palestinian
liberation and the movements for decolonization
and abolition worldwide.”

Casey.

WRITE CASEY

Casey Goonan #24611-511
FCI Mendota

Post Office Box 9
Mendota, California 93640

freecaseynow.noblogs.org
instagram @freecaseynow

Local group supporting Casey:

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 @nycabc
instagram/twitter/tikiok/bluesky @nycabe
facebook.com/nycabe

Casey Goonan

Anarchist political prisoner incarcer-
ated for actions carried out in solidarity|
with Palestinians facing genocide.