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PEPP Y&
KRYSTAL
Ireepeppyandiaysta blackblogs.ong

with whateve

& Maybe Together

We are who we become to be. I couldn’t change that T hurt for others’ hurt.
Teouldn’t look away. T couldn’t walk away. And maybe, I stayed with the
hurt long enough to make a friend. And maybe that friendship grew with
others. And maybe these friendships became deeper as shit got realer. And
‘maybe as shit got realer we learned more. But we were stll young. So we.
played and laughed. We were curious so we traveled to lands far nearAnd
‘maybe we learned ways and means as students of the lands from gutters
and fields. And maybe we outwardly with many more of us. And maybe
then, in and up with jobs and kids, and losses, so many losses. And we
remember mourn our fallen and we return to the hurt.

‘We awaken with this pain, this knowing this longing. We rise to greet the
day and hold both ambition and tears into future held by the choices we
‘make in the present and in the past. And now, 1 held hostage in this literal
prison, this place, we have yet to abolish has souls behind these walls and.
thereis hurt. T can’t Iook or walk away; I can’t not feel all of this. This
forced separation from my other half; distant lovers singing songs of
sorrow for a better tomorrow.

‘This which has me asking our ancestors for guidance. This, which now has
you; friends I met along the way, friends who go by many names who
sometimes call compta, heval, koukolofori, comrade, And now in here,
brother.

And maybe you remind me, what has always been true - new possi
and horizons come; for there is always a way, a way, tough and tender as
Che would say.

And so maybe I reveal share, listen with all the push our movements have
50 we are who we become to be (with a lttle help from our friends).

Which can always be as radiant as the warm glow of a sun setting across
across the bullet-rattled lands of kurdistan where heval, we held hands in
comfort, with loyalty at the edge of your autonomous neighborhood. For
our world has many worlds and many colors. And maybe you never left
with your farewell-as martyrs never die. Your hope and smile survive.

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Andin the deep green jungles of Chiapas, you , compa, carved out a
liberated territory, to sing, dance lat ight. You welcomed me to
your gentle vibrancy of colorful dresses and pitch black halacavas.

o the

‘The Caricols of Morelia and Oventic held thousands of years of history and
maybe, it scems, we hide our face to reveal ours, ourselves.

iLa Lucha Sigue! Zapatista vive!

And maybe when we're not seen by ter

le eyes we can become much
more than a foes narrative a prosecutor’s subject. Much more than

inal”, “elements”. Behind these walls are our community members. 1
am an abolitionist. My work is here now. Isay to the men: T will always
give youmy all to expand what is possible. So show me what you love, let
me sce through your eyes as you through mine. Our Liberation is bound
together. Let our memories be our escape plan.

Yours In Solidarity

Peppy

“I've always seen myself as a collection of sparks, passions, lives that I
‘have been fortunate enough to become with.

I's an honor to have worked with so many.
I'wanted to offer both a reflection and a continuance of our journeys.

There is so much more to say and I endeavor to, for now this s a start.”
Background

In the early hours of May 19th, 2023, heavily-armed agents raided the
home of two Pittsburgh community members, Brian “Peppy” DiPippa and
Krystal DiPippa. Nearly a month and a half later, they were both federally
indicted, and on June 30th,2023, they surrendered to the court.

‘The case against Peppy and Krystal (USA v. DIPIPPA et al, (W.D. Pa. 2024)
arose out of an April 18, 2023, demonstration against a University of
Pittsburgh-sanctioned event that promoted hatred toward transgender
people and communities. The speaking event features notorious.
transphobes Brad Polumbo and Michael Knowles, and posed the question,
“should transgenderism be regulated by law?”

‘The government alleges that in the protests outside the event, a “civil
disorder” oceurred, when one commercially available
‘homemade “smoke bombs” were discharged. This “civi
the context in which Krystal and Peppy were charged.

rework and two

rder” forms

Charges

Krystal, who was released on pre-trial probation, was charged with (1)
conspiracy and (2) obstruction of law enforcement during civil

disorder.

‘Peppy was detained when he surrendered to the court on June 30, 2023
and has been imprisoned since. He was charged with (1) conspiracy, (2)
obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder, and (3) use of
explosive to commit a federal felony. Both entered not guilty pleas.

Plea and Sentencing.

Because they were charged with conspiracy as co-defendants, they were
facing equal amounts of prison time, i a range that could have exceeded
10 years. Considering all the personal risks of going to trialand factoring
in the larger political context of the case, Peppy and Krystal accepted a
non-cooperating deal and changed their plea. At that hearing, Peppy pled
guilty to counts 1 (conspiracy) and 2 (obstruction of law enforcement
during a civil disorder); the third count, which carried with it a 10-year
‘mandatory minimum, was dropped. Krystal pled guilty to count 2.

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Krystals plea carries 3 years of probation, but she will not serve any j
time. By statute, Peppy’s plea carries a 60-month sentence. On January
6th, 2025, at a sentencing hearing, they were sentenced by a judge in
accordance with the statute.

In addition to jail time and probation, they were also ardered to jointly
ttion to the University of Pittsburgh in the amount of $1,400,
along with $47,284 to a University of Pittsburgh police officer for alleged
financial damages.

Analysis

‘The federal government's targeting of Krystal and Peppy is overtly
political

Even before the April 18th protest, FBI agents secretly followed our
friends and used tacties straight out of the Counter Intelligence Program
(COINTELPRO) playbook to manufacture justification for the May 19th,
2023 raid. Amongst other stalking schemes, federal agents performed a
warrantless search of Peppy and Krystal's garbage, in which they allegedly
found a discarded pamphlet about the movement to Stop Cop City. Direet
from the government’s search warrant affidavit: “the “Defend the Atlanta
Forest” movement has been active since approximately April 2021 and
involves protesters unlawfully oceupying a wooded area of land where the
ity plans to build a police training facility.” In the unwarranted trash
search, federal agencies allegedly found “a printed zine... discussing
anarchist ideology.” It is important to note that in the affidavit for a
search warrant, the FBI described their following of Peppy and Krystal
beginning a week before the April 15th protest - that is, a week before any
allegation of any law being broken. The FBI's use of a Stop Cop City
pamphlet to justify an aggressive raid on alleged Pittsburgh political
activists draws a direct line from the federal crackdown on Atlanta-area
organizers to the government’s national strategy of repression and
intimidation.

Inits prosecution, the feds continued trying to criminalize alleged
political beliefs, retaliate for alleged participation in the April 15th protest,
and intimidate others from protesting and/or supporting the rights and
existence of transgender people. During court proceedings, the
prosecution continued to dramatize the political dimension of this case,

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Sentencing Details
Pep was sentenced to serve 60 months in BOP. As he's served 16 months
already, he anticipates being eligible to transition to a halfiay house
around March 2026 (between 15 and 22 months). After that, he will be on
supervised release for 3 years. Krystal was sentenced to 3 years of

supervised release and 80 hours of community service.

Pep and Krystal were jointly sentenced to pay $50,225.03, mosly to
University Of Pittsburgh Officer TH, with a smaller sum to the University
of Pittsburgh. They also were given special assessments of $200 and $100,
respectively, and sentenced to repayment of some costs of prosecution
and their own punishment. Critically, however, there was no further fine.
Pep and Krystal issued a joint statement

“We hold in our gravity a deep reverence for love beyond the limited
‘words we have. We know the devoted embrace of solidarity - people
leaning in to one another against involuntary servitude and for a world of
‘mutual aid.

If we are convicted, it is of love for each other, and for our community, to
‘which all brave hearts beat devotion to the impossible task of liberation.
‘We are grateful for those who care take, for without you, freedom would
‘be even more distant.”

St 3
Donate

Peppy and Krystal need your support!In their sentencing, they're jointly.
tasked with paying more than s5ok dollars in restitution. This is in
addition to commissary and the costs of prison support for the remainder
of Peppy’s sentence. Please donate today and spread the word!

freepeppyandkrystal blackblogs.org/donate/

‘We remain so grateful to all of you. These punitive structures that we've,
been navigating together exist to separate and isolate, and our solidarity
stands as a rebuke and inspir

Peppy looks forward to hearing from all supporters! Here are some things
‘Peppy likes if you're looking to write about shared interests;
skateboarding, comedy, uplifting and heartwarming stories, and beautiful
deseriptions of changing landscapes wherever you may be writing him
from. Peppy also likes learning about people and places all over the globe.
So, feel free to reach out and connect on any topic of interest o you!

Please be careful what you include in your letter to Peppy. Even though
‘he's now in the post-sentencing phase and is currently being held at the.
facility where he'll be serving out the remainder of hs sentence, it's
important to keep in mind that all mail will be monitored. But we won't
let that stop us from directly communicating our support! There's still so
much to share to keep him connected with the communities and
movement he's a part of.

St .
Write to Peppy:

Brian DiPippa #66590-510
FCIElkton
Federal Correctional Institution
P.OBox 10
Lisbon, OH 44432

e gy
“When I read your letters, my soul escapes this
place to walk alongside you, to commune; and
with a big inhale I share our smiles with others
experiencing incarceration. Thank you for
reaching through these windowless walls.
Respect and solidarity to all the bravehearts!”

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