J6 political prisoner John Strand released
Political prisoner John Strand was released Wednesday after spending a year in prison for being present at the Capitol on January 6th.
Sentenced to nearly three years
Strand, who serves as the creative director for the human rights group America’s Frontline Doctors (AFLDS), was originally sentenced by a Washington, DC jury to 32 months in prison. He and AFLDS founder Dr. Simone Gold had attended the Capitol rally, where they peacefully assembled without violence or vandalism.
Dr. Gold was sentenced to 60 days in prison, and the Department of Justice (DOJ) charged Strand with a felony and four misdemeanors. The felony charge was for violating §1512 (c )(2), a law that carries a maximum 20-year prison sentence for obstructing or attempting to obstruct an official proceeding.
Biden administration operatives have wielded this law to charge and imprison over 355 January 6 political prisoners, including Strand. Many Capitol rally attendees were coerced into accepting plea deals to avoid the possibility of long prison sentences that could result from being prosecuted under that felony charge. Strand famously refused to accept a plea deal, saying that if he did so he would be “bending the knee” to the regime.
Last month, the US Supreme Court effectively ended the DOJ’s maneuver. In a 6-3 decision, the court ruled in Fischer v. USA that the law is meant to be applied to cases of evidence tampering, not to taxpayers exercising their First Amendment rights.
‘I am more determined than ever’
The ruling has led to charges being dropped against political prisoners like Strand, who says the fight is far from over.
“The darkness and cruelty I faced were unimaginable,” he said in an AFLDS press release. “I drew strength from the Bible - specifically the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego - young men who refused to bow to an idol and were thrown into a fiery furnace. They received divine protection and came out of the fire unburned and without even the smell of smoke on their clothing. My faith in that same God, along with the support and love from so many people, sustained me. This fight is far from over, and I am more determined than ever to stand and defend our God-given freedoms.”
While in prison, Strand was subjected to excessive punishment. After giving an interview from his jail cell, he was thrown into solitary confinement for four months and was refused access to his attorneys. According to the Nelson Mandela Rules adopted by the United Nations in 2015, prolonged solitary confinement — defined as more than 15 consecutive days — is prohibited.
“We are grateful that John Strand has finally been released from imprisonment,” AFLDS said in a statement. “The unwavering courage and faith that John modeled throughout this trial serves as encouragement for all those who fight for freedom."
“AFLDS stands in solidarity with the J6 prisoners and their families. We will continue to fight for our First Amendment right to free speech and the right to peaceably assemble.”
For more on Strand's story:
- Bureau of Prisons overrides own scoring system to incarcerate J6 defendants in more dangerous locations?
- J6 prisoner of conscience punished with isolation after jailhouse interview - analysis
- Congressional representatives set October 6 deadline for BOP to explain solitary confinement of J6 prisoner of conscience
