Prisoners are continuing to face retribution six months after 100-plus inmates in Minnesota’s MCF-Stillwater prison protested their living conditions and took part in a day of non-violent civil disobedience. Several incarcerated participants spent the last half year in solitary confinement for speaking out during the protest. Another prisoner has faced “misinformation” charges for speaking to the press and was given a week in solitary and a man was arrested upon his release from Stillwater for prepping to speak with the media and bringing water from inside the prison to be tested by outside sources.

On Wednesday, March 6, two dozen people gathered in front of the Minnesota Department of Corrections headquarters in St. Paul and held a “press conference to end political prisoners in Minnesota.” Activists, advocates and family members of incarcerated people gave updates to the retaliation and spoke about the overall treatment of people imprisoned and potential pathways forward to abolish slavery in the prison system.

Hosting the presser was Marvina Haynes, the founder of MN Wrongfully Convicted Judicial Reform and the sister of Marvin Haynes who was recently exonerated and freed from his life sentence after being charged with a murder he didn’t commit.

Many other family members of currently incarcerated people spoke during the presser. Speaking for their loved ones which they also say are wrongfully sentenced to life in prison for murders they didn’t commit, Nakisha Armstrong spoke about her loved one Deaunteze Bobo and Bri’ana Hooper spoke of her father, Brian Hooper Sr.

An advocate for Philip Vance, Miss Nikki, also addressed the crowd. Incarcerated for more than 20 years over a murder he says he didn’t commit, Philip Vance is one of the three inmates who faced a six-month “retribution” for his “participation in the protest.” From a cell in MCF-Stillwater, Vance wrote a letter to Unicorn Riot in October 2023 and noted he was given six months in the prison’s segregated housing unit for acting as “the voice for the people … the news played my explanation of the events that were occurring inside the facility.”

Hosting the presser was Marvina Haynes, the founder of MN Wrongfully Convicted Judicial Reform and the sister of Marvin Haynes who was recently exonerated and freed from his life sentence after being charged with a murder he didn’t commit.

Many other family members of currently incarcerated people spoke during the presser. Speaking for their loved ones which they also say are wrongfully sentenced to life in prison for murders they didn’t commit, Nakisha Armstrong spoke about her loved one Deaunteze Bobo and Bri’ana Hooper spoke of her father, Brian Hooper Sr.

An advocate for Philip Vance, Miss Nikki, also addressed the crowd. Incarcerated for more than 20 years over a murder he says he didn’t commit, Philip Vance is one of the three inmates who faced a six-month “retribution” for his “participation in the protest.” From a cell in MCF-Stillwater, Vance wrote a letter to Unicorn Riot in October 2023 and noted he was given six months in the prison’s segregated housing unit for acting as “the voice for the people … the news played my explanation of the events that were occurring inside the facility.”