3/23: A Day of Action, Success and Solidarity

On Monday March 23rd numerous activist took to the streets to bring the relatively unknown story of Henrik Holappa to the attention of the general public. Reports have been coming in from all across the east coast including Ohio, New Jersey, New York and all across the state of Pennsylvania. Everywhere from Libraries and Universities to High schools and Public Parks were utilized to distribute Freedom for Henrik Holappa fliers. And not without attention from the media of course. The actions of one activist based out of Pennsylvania managed to land Henrik's story and our blog address right in the pages of the local press.

Carlisle man cited for hanging posters

If you have any Day of Action photos feel free to submit them to us at: freedom4henrik@yahoo.com

DAY OF ACTION FOR HENRIK HOLAPPA: Monday March 23rd 2009

In response to the politically motivated arrest of Henrik Holappa at the hands of the US Government, on Monday March 23 we will be taking to the streets for a day of action to bring Henrik’s story directly to the public, and we need your help! Several fliers are available at www.freehenrik.com for distribution in your area and we encourage all of you to take action and get involved.

We also encourage that people utilize banners, signs, stickers and any other forms of physical media capable of disseminating our message: FREEDOM FOR HENRIK HOLAPPA!!!

Photographs of your actions are more than welcome for possible use in the future and you can submit them to us at: freedom4henrik@yahoo.com

*Click on fliers to view actual size

The case of Henrik Hopalla

On July 11^th 2008 a 23 year old Finish National by the name of Henrik Holappa legally entered the United States in hopes of obtaining asylum from the politically motivated charges being brought against him in his native country. The Finnish Government, and their security police; SUPO, have deemed Henrik Holappa a criminal for violating their countries speech laws because of an essay that he published and distributed over the internet criticizing the media and the governments conduct regarding the recent gang rapes of numerous Finnish woman.

On October 10^th 2008 an Affirmative Application for Asylum and Withholding of Removal was officially submitted by his lawyer to the US Department of Citizenship and Immigration services. On December 9^th 2008 he appeared before the Immigration Court in Philadelphia, PA for his Asylum hearing where he was issued another notice to appear before the very same court on July 21^st 2009.

And on Monday, March 9^th 2009 at approximately 11:30am, while driving with friends, Henrik was pulled over, searched and arrested by the Dept. of Homeland Security’s Joint Terrorism Taskforce who later interrogated him about his political views and affiliations here and in the country of Finland. He is currently being held at the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility in Batavia New York awaiting further actions, which will most likely result in his deportation and imprisonment for violating Finnish speech laws.

Free Henrik Holappa Flickr Account

For those of you not familiar with Flickr; it's an extremely useful and highly traveled photo/image hosting site that uses tags to locate photos. So a person searching for anything from political prisoners and kidnapping to 1984 or the Governemt is most likely going to come across information on Henrik Holappa.

You can also host videos as well as attach articles and other bits of information to your photos & videos. Check it out and take advantage of it, and if you have something you feel we should add to it then be sure to send it out way.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/freehenrikholappa

Free Henrik Holappa Myspace Page!

That's right, everyone has a myspace page. And if you don't, then we suggest you get one, at least so you can check out the Free Henrik Holappa page. Online social networks such as Myspace and Facebook are a great way to spread information, and if your on there, be sure send to us a friend request and forward us along to your friends & associates.
www.myspace.com/freehenrikholappa

Henrik's Application for Asylum Documents

Click on the document images to view them in their actual size.


10/10/08
Valerie L. May, Esq. cover letter for Holappa's Asylum application. This discusses Holappa's persecution by the Finnish government for his political views, and the danger of incarceration if he were to return to Finland.












10/10/2008
Henrik Holappa signature on page 9 of application dated 10 October. This is dated one day before the deadline of October 11th.












10/10/08
Henrik Holappa Affidavit. Describes his political persecution in Finland.














10/?/08
Resubmission of Timely Filed Asylym Application. Cover sheet with letterhead of Holappa's attorney Valerie May used with the document that corrected the signature technicality in the first submission dated 10 October.













10/14/08
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services I-797C, Notice of Action for Henrik Holappa, Case type: I589 Application for Asylum, Received 14 Oct 2008. In this document, the government provides a receipt for Holappa's application.













10/30/08
Natalija Kristina Holappa Affidavit. Describes political persecution of her brother by Finnish authorities













10/30/08
Raili Helena Holappa Affidavit. Describes political persecution of her son by Finnish authorities













11/28/2008
Notice of Asylum-Only Hearing for 9 Dec 2008. Here, the government scheduled a routine immigration court appearance. Holappa appeared as required, and was then issued another appearance date in July 2009. If he had done anything wrong, why would he have been given these notices?












12/9/08
Notice of Asylum-Only Hearing for 21 July 2009

Show Henrik Your Support

A letter can mean an awful lot to someone being held prisoner, especially a political prisoner such as Henrik Holappa. Don't just talk about this situation or sit online writing about it; send Henrik a letter or something as simple as a post card to let him know what your thinking.

*If you plan on sending a money order to help him buy food and personal items we would strongly suggest contacting the prison to verify their procedures for this

Esa Henrik Holappa

A087361909
Buffalo Federal Detention Facility
4250 Federal Dr. RN, 108
Batavia, NY 14020