The Turku Anarchist Black Cross (ABC) (in Finnish: Turun Anarkistinen musta risti, or AMR Turku) is a collective built on opposition to the unjust, exploitative, and violent global imperialist capitalist system. We challenge the international carceral system, which declares all meaningful resistance to it illegal, and imprisons comrades who fight for the universal emancipation, freedom and equality of humanity, non-human animals, and the natural world. We are also critical of the systemically racist and colonialist structures that it embodies and perpetuates.
Turku ABC supports prisoners by organizing letter writing events, providing funds for food, books and legal support, and engaging in demonstrations, campaigns, and various fundraising events. We also conduct political analysis, distribute news on prisoners, and work with other ABC groups globally. Our group pays special attention to supporting trans and queer prisoners, as well as those linked to the feminist struggle.
The Finnish ABC movement, part of a global lineage spanning over a century, originated in 1987, with activities focusing primarily on prisoner aid and campaign information distribution. By the late 90s, this work was largely absorbed by the anarchist animal rights movement. The early 2000s saw a renewed ABC engagement and action, inspired by various events and government crackdowns on radical activities. Various ABC groups formed across Finland during this period, with Turku ABC established in 2002.
Turku ABC has had three distinct iterations, each driven by a different group of people. The first generation of Turku ABC (2002-2008) focused on providing concrete support to imprisoned comrades and organizing solidarity events and campaigns. The second generation (2012-2013), formed after a prison support workshop. They ran an info shop, organized letter writing events and fundraisers but became inactive after about a year and a half.
The current, third generation of Turku ABC started in 2016 as Turku Prisoner Support, later renamed Turku ABC. It was born in response to rising insurrectional interest in Finland driven by environmental concerns and the consequent imprisonment of activists. The current active membership stands at 3-4 people. In recent years, the group has organized several prisoner support events, demonstrations, letter-writing initiatives, and actively utilized social media (Instagram) to propagate information about prison abolition and relevant topics.
Over the past year, we have been involved in events like Turku Ilmaan Natseja (Turku Without Nazis), Radikaali Blokki (Radical Block) at Turku Pride, Turun Varjokirjamessut (Turku Shadow Bookfair), and documentary showings in solidarity with the Zapatistas. In these events, we’ve collaborated with other anti-authoritarian and anti-capitalist groups from Turku. As Turku ABC, we carry forward the legacy of generations of activists, hoping to contribute to the continuity of radical prisoner support work and anti-authoritarian activism in Finland and beyond.
We want to raise the analysis and importance of prison support in political spaces. To not forget the comrades who are behind bars and to strengthen the resistance with better furiousity and criminality of rebellion, by providing legal aid and support to fellow criminal friends.