Not Like Us: Part 2.5: An Intermission
Trust, accountability, and collective resilience
March 26, 2025 was the day that kept giving for Luigimania:
Luigi’s legal team filed a motion on March 21, 2025 requesting a laptop for him to review discovery and to extend their deadline. This was announced to supporters on March 24, 2025 on r/FreeLuigi. This would have been rather uneventful for all in the community; just another court document to analyze. However, the prosecution swiftly responded on March 25, 2025, discussing, among other things, two heart-shaped notes that were smuggled into the cardboard liner of a pair of argyle socks given to Luigi. While he ultimately chose not to wear the socks, opting for a European look, those within the movement were dumbfounded. Yet, it was certainly glossed over in the online speculation about other information in the documents.
But then…
Karen Friedman Agnifilo released a response letter to the prosecution that included the image above of said heart notes. Needless to say, the community is livid. While moderators at r/FreeLuigi attempt to change the narrative by banning users who criticize them, refusing to discuss the incident, and downplaying the gravity of the damaged trust within the community, others are questioning how his legal team even got involved in the matter.
Of course the case is important, but the division within the community did not begin with the heart notes. It began with the choices particular individuals made while treating a human being as an object: a trophy.
Where do we go from here?
When I first became involved with the Free Luigi movement, I was excited to find like-minded people who wanted to entrench themselves in the cause. Because I don’t live in New York, I decided to help others by using my research skills and knowledge of the social services arena. Unfortunately, I was ultimately disillusioned when I saw the drama surrounding many of the communities. I had to bow out when I determined there was an ethical mismatch. For several weeks I was completely disengaged from any type of activism related to Luigi or healthcare/prison reform. I’ve participated in movements for social change in the past. My experience with organizers concerning the Free Luigi movement was very different from previous causes, and it put me in an apathetic place. I know there are people interested in making significant change, but I didn’t know how to find them. When I finally decided to start my Substack (something I’d planned for over a year) and wrote my first article, I remembered why activism revs me up in the first place. My goal--my mission--has always been to help others.
Sometimes people fuck up. That doesn’t mean they are damned for the rest of their lives. Not all damage is irreparable. Intentional communication can strengthen our relationships with each other, which, in turn, will strengthen our efforts for mobilization around Luigi and prison/health reform.
For true believers only
Because Luigi can’t speak due to the federal charges, the messaging of this movement has gotten lost in the sensationalization by the media, attempts at division by specific politicians, and drama in the community. These are distractions, but they’ve worked pretty well to divide supporters.
Another aspect that we must remember is the trap of virtue signaling, or passive participation in a movement by…. not really participating at all. That is, using social media in a way that one’s only participation in the movement is through liking, sharing, gossiping, or fighting. How is using insider access to attempt to pass fanmail to Luigi helping the movement? It isn’t. We need to do better.
Supporters of r/FreeLuigi are questioning why we’re focusing on this “distraction” and they’re trying to change the focus back to the case. This is important, because it’s why we came together; however, we are also human, and when the trust is broken in a community without any accountability taken or remorse given, it leads to a weaker community, thus weaker movement. This is also important. People need to resolve that conflict and hear the apology.
The backlash happened because of the strong feelings toward Luigi and his case. People are supporting him (including myself) because they believe in the cause of healthcare reform. This will be naturally emotional for many of us.
How can we heal as a community going forward? It’s simple:
Accountability
Accountability takes work. But in the end, it strengthens bonds within the community.
How can we be more accountable to the trust that we break in our community?
Here are some videos on taking accountability within communities:
References