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Green Scare
Updated 2/20/2013 * earth first journal prisoner support list greenisthenewred.org | radicalreference.info | Civil Liberties Defense Center Updates: According to the Dept of Justice at their January 20th press conference, these arrests & subpoenas are part of a nation-wide effort to target activists in the US under new domestic terrorism legislation, although in reality, the word "terrorism" is not mentioned once in the 83-page indictment. Many of those who were arrested have cooperated with authorities to lessen their prison terms. One activist has died in jail. All of the remaining non-cooperating activists have pled guilty, and all except the activist turned informant, Jacob Ferguson, are now facing long sentences with possible terrorism enhancements added on. The charges are in relation to a string of actions which took place between 1997 and 2001, actions that were claimed by the Earth Liberation Front and the Animal Liberation Front. [Initial Report | Jeff Luers' March 2006 Dispatch] Police Informants gave information about some of the people taken into custody during this sweep, most notably, Jake the Snake. Ferguson's informing work to the FBI has been made publicly available, in the form of the actual arrest and search warrant request submitted December 7th, 2005. Dec 22, 2005 one of the originally indicted activists was found dead in his cell. The authorities claim it was a suicide. Bill Rodgers, 40, was a long-time community activist from Arizona where he ran the 'Catalyst Infoshop' bookstore out of his home. For more information or to see how you can support Bill's life work see: www.supportbill.org. [FSRN Audio Interview about Bill with his friend and supporter] On March 2, the Bush administration dealt yet another blow to the First Amendment, as the SHAC 7 were found guilty of multiple federal felonies for advocating the closure of the notorious animal-testing lab Huntington Life Sciences by running a website educating people about animal abuses, publishing a newsletter, speaking at events, and publicizing protests. Now, six activists face years in federal prison. All six are currently under house arrest while awaiting sentencing in September; The SHAC7 Support Committee and attorneys are planning to appeal. Support has been withdrawn for the following co-defendants, after it has come to light that these people have decided to cooperate with the FBI by giving information on other activists, in exchange for the possibility of reduced sentences: Stan Meyerhoff, Kevin Tubbs, Lauren Weiner, Chelsea Dawn Gerlach, Suzanne Savoie, Kendall Tankersley, Darren Thurston, and Zachary Jensen. Jennifer Kolar of Seattle has also been giving information leading to the arrest of at least one of these activists. Lacey Phillabaum is also providing testimony against others.
From the open publishing newswire:
Active grand jury in San Francisco. At least 4 have been subpoenaed, with one known cooperator. Otessa Crandell has cooperated with the most recent grand jury witch-hunt, claiming to investigate an arson in Santa Cruz, CA that was never claimed by underground groups. The grand jury in reality is just harrassing local vegans. She doesn't deny her cooperation. She claims that she gave them nothing of substance, and they just asked about phone numbers from her cell phone call logs. It's unknown what they actually asked, and how this information will be used the federal prosecutors.
Cooperating with the FBI, in their guilt by association witch-hunts, is unacceptable. We need to support grand jury resistors, unify them, and help them resist together. Let's organize events that de-mystify the grand jury process.
From the open publishing newswire:
Int'l Day of Solidarity with Ecoprisoners Eric McDavid and Marie Mason
On June 11 (at 11 am) we are going to hold a circus at the new federal courthouse in Eugene to mock the federal courts, to show that, "If justice is a circus, all of us are clowns." There will be jugglers, fire-breathers, stilts, music, lots of clowns and other performers. Come dressed as a clown judge or a clown cop! BACKGROUND: June 11th began as an international day of solidarity with long-term anarchist prisoner Jeff "Free" Luers in 2004. At the time, Jeff was serving 22+ years. After years of struggle, Jeff and his legal team won a reduction in his sentence and he was released from prison in December 2009. But in the years intervening Jeff's arrest and release, the FBI had carried out a series of indictments and arrests in an attempt to devastate the radical environmental and anarchist communities. Two of the people caught up in this maelstrom of repression were Eric McDavid and Marie Mason... Marie Mason and Eric McDavid share the unfortunate distinction of having the longest standing sentences of any environmental prisoners in the United States. Please join us in an international day of solidarity with Marie Mason, Eric McDavid, and other long-term anarchist prisoners on every June 11th. Free Marie and Eric! Free all prisoners! homepage:  http://june11.org
http://cldc.org.
From the open publishing newswire:
This past April we were able to meet up with the folks doing the 'Never Alone tour for Eric McDavid, Marie Mason & long-term anarchist prisoners'. We were really excited about this tour, as we believe prisoner solidarity and support should be the core of any movement of resistance. Since we like to film and make videos for all of you to watch, share and use as a resource, we offered to film the Eugene, OR tour stop for them so it could be put online. Here is a little background info explaining what the tour is about.
https://vimeo.com/43202213
This tour is part of the collaboration for International Day of Solidarity for Long-term Anarchist Prisoners, June 11. http://june11.org
http://www.becausewemust.org/never-alone-tour-video/
From the open publishing newswire:
After a long period of inactivity, 10 sealed documents have recently been filed on Frank Ambrose's docket. On Dec 21, 2 motions from the AUSA, on Dec 22 an order, on Jan 12 an AUSA motion, on Jan 12 an AUSA document, and on Jan 17 an order. Then, on March 2, a sealed motion and 2 sealed documents; and on March 5th a sealed order. Frank Ambrose is an activist turned informant who provided the government with information against Marie Mason and others.
http://www.ecoprisoners.org/ambrose/plea-agreement-frank-ambrose.pdf
These sudden secret filings on the docket of a confirmed informant are cause for concern, though it is unclear what to make of it. What is disturbing is that this is occurring in the context of continuing prosecutions in the Midwest. The most recent of these was against David Agranoff, who agreed "to cooperate by attempting to provide substantial assistance to the government." link to www.greenisthenewred.com
http://www.ecoprisoners.org
From the open publishing newswire:
CLDC's 2nd Annual Local Harvest Feast and auction at Mt. Pisgah Arboretum near Eugene
Mt. Pisgah Arboretum 5:30-9:30 pm on September 1, 2011. Join us for a locally grown, yummy, four-course dinner prepared by C. Ashley Hawkins including music, socializing, appetizers, luscious drinks, followed by dinner, more music and a silent and live auction. Featured Speaker: George A. Kimbrell, Senior Attorney, Center for Food Safety; Music by Sol de los Andes All proceeds go to benefit the work of CLDC! RSVP @ 541-687-9180 or www.cldc.org
From the open publishing newswire:
Environmentalism is the defining issue of our times. The ecological crisis is touching all of our lives. The environmental movement is engaged in a life-or-death struggle with the forces of industry; at stake is the planet that gives us life.
Sycophantic environmentalists regularly dismiss the ELF as "ineffective" in the capitalist press. An odd invective indeed given that if we have different goals we are going to have different ideas of what "effective" means... The first guideline is "to inflict maximum economic damage to those who profit from the destruction and exploitation of the environment." This is the essence of ELF strategy, to force their targets to perform a cost benefit analysis, in which the target arrives at the decision that they should stop what they are doing because it is more expensive to continue than it would be profitable. The ELF's greatest strength is that it cannot be physically destroyed, in past years the US government has had a certain amount of success in finding and imprisoning ELF soldiers. But ultimately it doesn't matter if they catch all members of the ELF because the group is not so much an organization as it is the living embodiment of an idea (the use of sabotage in defense of the Earth) and ideas cannot be jailed or killed.
From the open publishing newswire:
After three years in a Chinese jail, Justin Solondz is taken into US custody Justin Solondz spent years on the run before being arrested in China three years ago. This week, years in a Chinese jail, he was deported and taken into US custody at a Chicago airport. He is being charged with a role in two actions: the 2001 University of Washington Center for Urban Horticulture arson (claimed by the Earth Liberation Front), and the arson and attempted animal release at the 2001 Litchfield Wild Horse and Burro Corral in Susanville, California (claimed by the Animal Liberation Front).
Recently, Solondz's former girlfriend, Briana Waters, entered into a plea deal in which she agreed to testify against Solondz at his upcoming trial. A search for his name on the BOP Inmate Locator did not give any results, and his current jail address is not known. With several cooperating witnesses, he faces a hard legal battle ahead. I will be posting his jail address as soon as it is available. For now, give your silent support to the three remaining fugitives from this FBI sweep dubbed the "Green Scare case". They are somewhere out there tonight, continuing to be hunted as "terrorists" by the FBI. - Peter Young http://www.voiceofthevoiceless.org/
From the open publishing newswire:
Infamous snitch Jacob Ferguson arrested on drug charges, sent to prisonp>From Voice of the Voiceless Infamous snitch Jacob Ferguson arrested on drug charges, sent to prison The man who wore a wire for the FBI and sent over a dozen people to prison for ALF / ELF actions is himself now going to prison. Jacob Ferguson was sentenced this week to 5 years for ?manufacturing, possessing and selling heroin?, according to court records. Ferguson rose to infamy after becoming the lead informant in the ?Operation Backfire? FBI sweep. The arrests led to prison sentences for over a dozen people on arson charges for ALF / ELF actions going back almost 10 years. Three of those charged ? Joe Dibee, Josephine Sunshine Overaker, and Rebecca Rubin ? are still on the run. His role in over a dozen arsons claimed by the Animal Liberation Front / Earth Liberation Front made him a valuable asset for the FBI. When he secretly began cooperating with the government in 2004 to send many of his former friends to prison, he accepted a plea bargain which called probation only and no prison time. That ended this week when a recent drug bust finally led Ferguson to prison. He is also expected to receive a federal prison sentence in addition to his 5 year state sentence. Ferguson sent people to prison for the following ALF actions (in addition to numerous other ALF / ELF actions):
From the open publishing newswire:
"better this world" documentary puts focus on government use of informants post-9/11; award-winning film has its portland premiere at the clinton st. theater. The premiere comes just after Congress passed an extension of the Patriot Act on May 26.
Synopsis: The story of Bradley Crowder and David McKay, accused of intending to firebomb the 2008 Republican National Convention, is a tale of idealism, loyalty, crime and betrayal. Better This World follows the radicalization of these boyhood friends from Midland, Texas, under a revolutionary activist. The results: eight homemade bombs, multiple domestic terrorism charges and an entrapment defense hinging on a controversial FBI informant. The film goes to the heart of the war on terror and political dissent in post-9/11 America. Screening times: June 17 - 24th 7 & 9 PM Tickets: http://www.clintonsttheater.com/
trailer: http://www.betterthisworld.com
http://www.loteriafilms.com
From the open publishing newswire:
Briana Waters accepted a plea bargain today, June 14th, which requires her full and complete cooperation with the state. It reads, in part, "Defendant shall cooperate completely and truthfully with law enforcement authorities in the investigation and prosecution of other individuals involved in criminal activity. Such cooperation shall include, but not be limited to, complete and truthful statements to law enforcement officers, as well as complete and truthful testimony if called as a witness before a grand jury, or at any state or federal trial, retrial, or other judicial proceedings. Defendant acknowledges that this obligation to cooperate shall continue after Defendant has entered guilty pleas and sentence has been imposed..." The plea agreement later states, "Defendant agrees that Defendant's sentencing date may be delayed based on the United States' need for Defendant's continued cooperation..."
The "Statement of Facts" in the plea agreement implicates other people in the actions to which she is pleading guilty. This includes Justin Solondz (who is currently awaiting trial), Rebecca Rubin and Joseph Dibee (who have not been captured).
From the open publishing newswire:
The Day for Solidarity with Long-term Anarchist Prisoners is now two weeks away. June 11th is an open invitation to demonstrate support for Marie Mason and Eric McDavid, who are each serving 20 years. This date provides an opportunity to build links of affinity and solidarity towards the destruction of the prisons and prison-society.
This occasion for solidarity—as an open invitation—can to be responded to however people want, according to their own ideas and contexts. But many people have written asking for suggestions so we wanted to share a quick list of ideas for people who wish to plan events: *Organize an info-night.... * Throw a [vegan] benefit party/show/pancake breakfast/barbeque/picnic Though Marie and Eric's cases cannot be simplified to a lack of support, we understand that the state succeeded in imposing such long sentences on Marie and Eric in part because it was able to isolate them, both politically and socially. In the wake of these long-term sentences, support for Eric & Marie—and for other Green Scare and anarchist prisoners—has relied on the consistency and commitment of their respective families and support crews. As anarchists, we think there are many ways to improve their visibility that don't rely on the mass media, but rather on organizing and face-to-face interactions in the street. Thus, in particular we encourage people to: *Organize microphone demos and other very public events. *Put-up posters, and drop banners (only with permission, of course!). Full-color posters were just printed that can be sent your way. *Operas, plays, ballet, like Redbird Prisoner Support in Colombus, OH! *Other, wholly-new and original plans that we'd be excited to promote and spread for June 11, 2012, and until every prisoner is free, Get organized, and get in touch with us if you need to!  june11thsolidarity@gmail.com
http://www.june11.org
From the open publishing newswire:
Support political prisoners!
Briana Waters is a devoted and loving mother of her four-year-old daughter. She is a professional musician and violin teacher based in Oakland, California. On March 15, 2006, she was falsely accused of participating in a politically motivated arson which took place at the University of Washington in May 2001. Though she was released on October 13th, she was recently re-indicted with new charges. This event will feature a local lawyer giving an update about Briana's case, as well as a talk by folks from her support group. Additionally, it will feature a screening of Watch, a documentary directed by Briana about the fight to save an old growth forest. All money raised will go to her legal defense fund. Please come and show some solidarity for political prisoners! The event will start at 7pm. There will be a $3-5 suggested donation at the door. All money raised will go to Briana's legal defense. For more information, visit: http://supportbriana.org/
http://redandblackcafe.com
From the open publishing newswire:
A benefit at WOW Hall for the Civil Liberties Defense Center's eco-prisoner support program
Solidarity with Earth Defenders March 5 at 7 pm at WOW Hall (291 W. 8th Ave., Eugene) Featuring Etheric Double Soundsystem, holy!holy!holy!, and the Alder St. All Stars, with guest speaker Tre Arrow and radical poet Slugthang $10 in advance, $15 at the door Etheric Double Soundsystem is an experimental live pa experience, fusing a variety of music styles into a cohesive mix of sounds, commonly referred to as groove sorcery. Meant to awaken and inspire the listener to reconnect with their animalistic roots, the music of Etheric Double Soundsystem, though unorganic in nature, calls on us to abandon the confines of our industrial cages and embrace the primal archetypes within. *holy!holy!holy!* was forged in the primal war ofdomestication. We defy these ways. We despise these streets, theseschools, these occupations called work. We are wildness, and willdismantle the civilized destructive forces that have controlled ourworld. There are many worlds, with many languages. They will tell their children, that despite how hard they looked, they never saw uscoming... |
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