Who

Xinachtli?

Xinachtii (state name Alvaro Luna
Herandez) is a Chicano activist and
political prisoner serving 50 years in pri-
son for an alleged assault on an Alpine,
Texas police officer. He has been a long-
time anti-police brutality and prison
abolition activist, which led to constant
harassment by local and state police.

In 1976, Xinachtli was convicted and
sentenced to life for a murder he did not
commit. Media exposure of the injustice
of his conviction led to his eventual
release. In the 1980s, Xinachtli was
brutally beaten by police in Alpine. He
responded by successfully suing the
Pecos County Sheriff's department.
These two incidents further politicized
Xinachtli and gave birth to his long
career and dedication as an anti-prison
and anti-police brutality activist.

Throughout the 1990s, Xinachti
worked as the national coordinator of
the Ricardo Aldape Guerra Defense

inachtli on the street in the ‘90s

Guerra Comittee, which led the
struggle to free Mexican national Aldape
Guerra from Texas' death row after
being framed by Houston police. The
committee led a campaign that success-
ful stopped two scheduled executions
and eventually won Aldape Guerra his
release in 1997.

In March 1993, Xinachtli was a non-
governmental organization (NGO)
delegate before the 49th session of the
United Nations Commission on Human
Rights in Geneva, Switzerland. Before
the U.N. General Assembly, he exposed
the U.S. government's dismal human
rights record and its human rights vio-
lations of U.S. political prisoners.

In addition, Xinachtii spearheaded
the National Movement of La Raza,
Stop the Violence Youth Committee,
and the Prisoner Solidarity Committee in
Houston. He frequently spoke at
colleges, universities, and conferences
around the country, addressing issues
ranging from injustices in the criminal
system against people of color, to self
determination, human rights, and
political prisoners.

On July 18, 1996, Sheriff Jack
McDaniel, of Alpine, Texas, went to
arrest Xinachtli at his home on a charge
of aggravated robbery (later dismissed
with Xinachtli serving as his own
counsel). No warrant for the arrest was
issued. When the unarmed Xinachti
questioned the sheriff’s action, McDaniel
drew his weapon. Before McDaniel
could fire, Xinachti disarmed him and
fled.

Xinachtli was aware the police had

been monitoring him since his arrival in
Alpine and had often expressed fears of
being assassinated by police.

Attrial, police said they felt Xinachti
‘was a “troublemaker” and Xinachtli knew
his history as a barrio organizer made
him a target of law enforcement who
‘were accustomed to little resistance
from the Chicano/Mexicanx community.
The police in west Texas have a history
of abuse, frame-ups, and brutality
against Chicanos in a county whose
population is 50% Mexican-American.

In fear for his life, Xinachti eluded
police. Days later, Xinachtli returned to
his mother's house. A heavily armed law
enforcement contingent converged on
the home. Without identifying them-
selves, police began indiscriminately
shooting at the house, cars parked in
front, and at public streetlights. At tral,
witnesses described the shooting as a
“war zone.” Xinachtli returned fire in self-
defense, but never shot nor injured any-
one. Xinachti called 911 and alerted
other officers that police were shooting
at him and would not allow him to
surrender. Eventually, the situation
deescalated and Xinachtli was taken in-
to custody.

Xinachtli was charged with two
counts of aggravated assault—one
count for disarming the sheriff and one
count for a wound suffered by Sergeant
Curtis Hines from a ricocheting police
bullet. Xinachtli's elderly mother was
charged with *hindering apprehension”
and jailed,

Protests demanding Xinachtli's
release were staged outside the court-
house in Odessa during the trial. Other
protests were held in El Paso, Texas; San
Diego, California; and Cuidad Juarez,
Mexico. On June 2-9, 1997, Xinachtli
was convicted of “threatening” the
sheriff, but acquitted on the charge of
shooting Sergeant Hines. He received a
50 year sentence.

Since his imprisonment, Xinachtli
has continued to be harassed by prison
authorities. They have gone so far as to
accuse him of gang affiliations and
transferring him to administrative
segregation, aka “the hole” Xinachtli
has consistently denied gang
affiliations and states he was targeted
because of his political views, and
connections he made with fellow
Mexicano captives.

Due to outside pressure from
Xinachtli's supporters, he was finally
transferred out of segregation. Despite
the small victory, Xinachtliis still
monitored and harassed.

FREE XINACHTLI

Write Xinachtli:

Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Xinachtli* #255735

Post Office Box 660400

Dallas, Texas 75266-0400

*Address envelope to Alvaro Luna Hernandez.

Local groups working with Alvaro:

NYC Anarchist Black Cross

Post Office 110034

Brooklyn, New York 11211
electronic mail: nycabc@riseup.net
nycabc.wordpress.com
facebook/nycabc

twitter and instagram @nycabc

NYC Jericho Movement

Post Office Box 670927

Bronx, New York 10467

electronic mail: nycjericho@gmail.com
jerichony.org

twitter @Jericho4PPs

Xinachtl

fka Alvaro Luna Hernandez