The prosecution also argued that Goonan was not convicted for expressing or holding political beliefs, but for committing violence in furtherance of those beliefs. They made the case that the court should consider the rise of “endemic political violence” in America in sentencing, highlighting the assassinations of Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman in June and Charlie Kirk earlier this month. Prosecutors argued the restriction was necessary because of the “voluminous correspondence” Goonan sent and received while in pretrial custody. Goonan, who was born and raised in the East Bay, lived a non-violent and non-criminal life before age 33, defense attorneys argued. Political activists across the country, including fellow incarcerated individuals, have penned letters of solidarity with Goonan, highlighting their years of community activism.