Defending Dissent In Texas: An Interview with DFW Prairieland Defense Committee

Update: 2025-12-08

Description

In this episode, we sit down with members of the DFW Defense Committee to break down the state and federal repression facing local organizers and community members. We begin with who the defendants are and their relationship to the defense work, then move into what’s happening on the ground beyond the state’s narrative.

Our guests reflect on the lives and commitments of the defendants before their arrests and trace how state repression has materially shaped their lives and the broader community. They outline major takeaways from this moment, including how the state is revealing its hand, and explain the differences between state and federal charges.

We also explore how prosecutors, the DOJ, ICE, and the media have misled the public, what defense committee work actually looks like, and the moments of clarity that have emerged throughout this process. As the episode closes, our guests share what support is most needed for the defendants and the committee, followed by final reflections from Hannah and Xavier.

This conversation offers a grounded, first-hand look at criminalization, solidarity, and the work required to hold each other through targeted repression.

Chapters

00:00 Intro

01:33 Who are you and what is your relation to the DFW defense work?

02:43 How would you describe what is happening beyond the states narrative?

05:03 What kind of community members and organizers were some of the defendants before their arrest?

12:09 How has the repression from the state played out materially?

16:05 What are important takeaways form this moment and how they state is paying their hand?

18:37 What is the difference in the state and federal charge

20:51 What are thing that the prosecution, doj, ice, and media have been doing to mislead people in this case?

29:23 What has the defense committee work been like?

36:15 Have you found any moments of clarity in this process that you want to share?

38:44 What forms of support do the defendants and defense committee need currently?