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Any movement that does not support its political internees is a movement destined to fail. Nov 5 '06 update: Portland Indymedia has created a new Green Scare Topic Page. Other sites with current info on victims of Jeff "Free" Luers writes on State Repression. June 9-11, 2006 was the weekend of solidarity with Free and all other victims of the Green Scare. freefreenow.org. April 24th, 2006 Tre Arrow appealed the June '05 Extradition Decision. June 26th was the final extradition hearing. Extradition was granted, and Tre is appealing , the appeal date is set for April 18, 2007, and has a bail hearing coming up in mid-December, 2006. For updates, visit: www.trearrow.org Feb 22 '06, Rod Coronado was arrested: "a federal indictment was handed down by a Federal Grand Jury in San Diego charging Rod with "teaching and demonstrating the making of a destructive device" before a crowded room at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center in Hillcrest on Aug. 1, 2003, one day after an arson at the University Towne Center apartment complex under construction in San Diego. November 2, 2006, Rod Coronado filed a motion to dismiss the February '06 charges, as being violations of the first amendment. The judge will consider this and respond within 30 days. Rod's next court date is February 8, 2007. If his motion to strike down the statute is denied, the judge will set a date for a future motion hearing where Rod will bring additional challenges to the Indictment against him and the facts alleged by the government. If the case proceeds to trial, it is anticipated that the trial will occur in the summer of 2007. Dec 22 '05 Peter Young faces the possibility of new charges under the animal enterprise terrorism act, after the South Dakota State Attorney released new serious burglary charges. $12,500 in legal fees is now needed to fight these charges which could carry a consecutive sentence of up to 22 years. December 29, '05 Gerard Jean-Juste, a Haitian priest imprisoned in Port-au-Prince, has developed an early stage of leukemia, according to a prominent U.S. physician who runs hospitals in Haiti. Since an armed rebellion ousted President Jean Bertrand Aristide in February 2004, Jean-Juste has become a potent critic of the U.S.-backed transitional government. Police arrested him in Oct. 2004 for inciting violence, but he was released seven weeks later after a judge found the allegation baseless. He was re-arrested in July 2005. Earlier in January 2006, more than 1,000 people marched through Miami to protest his incarceration. [12/29/05 report | 12/26/05 report | Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti] In January, 2006 Jean-Juste was released but others still incarcerated need support. Dec 29 Josh Demmit has been moved and no longer has access to his early release program which would have allowed him to be released in April 2006; He now should be released January 2007. He was sentenced March 2, '05 to serve 2.5 years in a Federal minimum security prison for his alleged involvement in an illegal direct action in Utah. [Full Story] December 16, '05, Chris McIntosh, as part of his plea bargain, was sentenced to eight years imprisonment, having previously admitted causing $5,000 damage to a McDonalds by setting fire to an empty Seattle area restaurant in 2003. In January '05 Chris was moved, and arrived in mid-February to a prison in West Virginia [ Full Story | MySpace profile | audio interview with Olympia Supporter on Radio4All ] December 13, '05 Earth First! activists Rod Coronado (former ALF prisoner) and Matt Crozier were found guilty of 3 felony charges relating to disrupting a mountain lion hunt in Sabino Canyon Arizona in 2004. An Esquire reporter who was working on a story about Coronado at the time, also faces misdemeanor charges related to the disruption of the hunt. Coronado and Crozier now face up to 7 and a half years imprisonment. Both have been released on bail pending sentencing which is set for early 2006. A support campaign has been set up for Rod and Matt. The support campaign will be able to inform you about the lawful ways you can become involved with the campaign to save the mountain lion. Dec 7 Mumia's case will be tried again! "In a startling new development, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia has agreed to hear arguments on three claims by Pennsylvania death-row prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal that his 1982 trial and state appeal were tainted by constitutional violations." [Full Story] Nov 7, 2005, animal rights activist Peter Young was sentenced to 2 years in prison. It is not yet known which prison Peter will serve out this prison term. His final statement to the court and his supporters is posted Here. ONGOING CAMPAIGNS: Support has been withdrawn from Billy Cottrell, who has now been named a Police Informant" after he took the witness stand at his own trial, confessed and then went on to implicate two others he claimed were responsible. Contrary to expections, he was then sentenced to 8 years in prison. Angela Cesario and Jeremy Rosenbloom also recently became police informants, implicating Tre Arrow while he fights extradition from Canada to the U.S. Portland-based Prisoner Support Groups Internationally there are support campaigns to call for the freeing of Leonard Peltier, an AIM activist who was framed and convicted after a firefight on the Pine Ridge Reservation in 1975. The Leonard Peltier Defense Committee sent out a press release Dec 6 2004 calling for the public to put pressure on authorities who claim to be "investigating" the 1976 murder of Anna MaeAquash on the Pine Ridge Reservation, who was one of many AIM leaders who were who were at that time resisting unwanted uranium development on sacred lands. Oct 1-12 Leonard Peltier supporters engaged in a fast for justice for Leonard. Since July 1 of 2005, Peltier has been moved from three different correctional facilities. It seems they are trying to break Peltier's spirit On May 3, Peltier called on the public to lobby congress on his behalf, after his April FOIA request for the release of 30 year-old secret documents wasn't granted. There is also an international call for a fair trial for Mumia Abu Jamal. On May 18th, 2004 Mumia's latest appeal was denied. It is widely believed that Mumia was framed because of his earlier connections with the Black Panther Party and for his support of MOVE. On June 29, 2004, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit lifted its stay in the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal, and ordered briefing. At issue is whether the death judgment should stand. Also pending is the prosecution's unconstitutional use of racism in jury selection. For more info, see the article, Death Penalty Again Looms Over Mumia's Head, and keep checking the weblinks on that article. Freedom Archives helps prisoners by archiving music, art and videos about and by folks to make this work available to the public, and as a way to fundraise for prisoners. California Prison Focus is very active and has a good website to help folks understand issues facing prisoners, especially in California. For more info on issues and challenges facing women prisoners there and everywhere, go to their newly created Women Prisoners Page Other websites with info that give a meaningful perspective from and about our brothers and sisters behind bars, and some of the fallacies surrounding the perception of the U.S.prison industrial complex:
From the open publishing newswire:
Tre's Legal Update.
From Paul Loney, Tre's attorney... Hi folks, Tre's 5/6/2008 Jury Trial has been reset for 7/8/2008 at 09:00AM before Judge James A. Redden. We needed to set a new trial date because additional time is needed for pretrial investigation and trial preparation. So there is no court appearance for May 6th. The July 8th date is also subject to change.  http://www.trearrow.org
From the open publishing newswire:
The Philadelphia Inquirer announced today that the three remaining MOVE 9 women (Debbie Sims Africa, Janet Hollaway Africa and Janine Phillips Africa) were denied parole by the PA Parole Board. The Inquirer quotes parole board spokesperson Leo Dunn as saying that parole had been denied because the three MOVE prisoners had "minimized or denied the 'nature and circumstances' of the offense, 'refused to accept responsibility' and lacked remorse. He said the fourth reason for the rejections was the 'negative recommendation' by the prosecutor."
From the open publishing newswire:
I am excited to announce today's release of the Journalists for Mumia newspaper, "Abu-Jamal News," published as a special emergency edition responding to the Third Circuit's unjust ruling denying Mumia a new guilt-phase trial, and just in time for the April 19 mass-demonstration here in Philadelphia. We urgently need funds to pay for these newspapers! The International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal (ICFFMAJ) is strongly supporting this fundraising and Pam Africa (ICFFMAJ Coordinator) is personally making a special request urging supporters to help pay for this emergency issue of the newspaper by donating whatever they can. We need several hundred dollars to pay for the 10,000 newspapers, and we need this money within JUST ONE WEEK!
From the open publishing newswire:
Dear Friends, We have just been informed that Jeff was transferred to a minimum security prison in Portland - the Columbia River Correctional Institution. We do not know if this will be his "final" destination or not as he serves his last 2 years, but for the time being, and most likely for a while, his address is:
Jeffrey Luers # 13797671 CRCI 9111 NE Sunderland Ave Portland, OR 97211-1708 Hopefully letters and books sent to him at Coffee Creek will be forwarded to him, but if you get any mail returned to you, please resend it in a new envelope to his new address. And please write to him now so that he start receiving mail and letters of support right away as he gets settled at this new location http://freejeffluers.org/
From the open publishing newswire:
What a long and strange journey this past year has been. I have been riding highs and lows as I have been struggling to regain my freedom and find a balance between my desires for this movement and my own personal happiness. I've made no secret of my often conflicting emotions or my disappointment in radical struggles here in the United States. I have strived to remain true to the ideals in which I believe.
As many of you are aware, I was resentenced on February 28th, after years of fighting for a reduced sentence. In the months preceding my resentencing I was faced with numerous obstacles and forced to make difficult decisions. I wrote a statement acknowledging I was wrong to believe that arson could achieve the change I desired, though I added I was not ashamed of nor did I regret my actions. Judge Billings told me that in his 35 years as an attorney and judge that my statement was the most sincere and passionate he'd ever heard. He told me he was impressed with me... He finished by wishing me the best of luck... I'm still here and I am not quitting. ~ Jeffrey "Free" Luers Jeff Luers # CCCI PO Box 9000 Wilsonville, OR 97070 http://freejeffluers.org
From the open publishing newswire:
On Tuesday, March 18, local activist Forrest Student and member of SDS at The Evergreen State College in Olympia was targeted by Officer Perez of the Evergreen Police. Perez has a history of harassing and abusing students and other people on campus. When Perez approached him and started questioning him, the person said he had the right to have an attorney present and because of that, Perez arrested him for obstruction. Forrest continued in his refusal, demanding an attorney while in jail and at his arraignment. In response his charges were increased to misdemeanor criminal mischief. The judge refused to set bail and Forrest is still sitting in jail.
Forrest has been very involved in local politics of late, participating in the Port of Olympia protests in November and being very vocal in his criticism of the conduct by the Administration on campus in the wake of the events on Feb. 14th. In the current environment of political repression on campus and elsewhere, this development proves significantly troublesome. Forrest has been held in jail and is facing charges for exercising a right protected by the Fifth Amendment, the right not to speak to law enforcement without representation. If you would like to lend assistance to Forrest for legal matters, send check or money to: Forrest Student 910 4th Ave. E Olympia, WA 98506
From the open publishing newswire:
Along with the new Mike Africa Jr. interview, this video features archival footage from May 13, 1985, including an excerpt of a police video of the fire taken from across the street, where a cop is actually heard joking that: "They won't call the police commissioner a motherfu**er anymore," followed by enthusiastic police laughter.
This is part of a new video series about the upcoming parole hearings for the eight remaining MOVE prisoners, which are scheduled for early April. The central pieces in the video series feature interviews with MOVE members Ramona Africa (the sole adult survivor of the May 13, 1985 police bombing of MOVE headquarters) and Mike Africa Jr. (the son of MOVE 9 prisoners Debbie and Mike Sr.) where they talk about the upcoming parole hearings.
From the open publishing newswire:
How you can support Tre...Tre is currently at Multnomah County Detention Center. It is likely that he will be moved soon (and we will let you know when that happens) but in the meantime, please feel free to write and visit him. Note the info below and click on the links for more detailed instruction. Please be mindful that all correspondence and visits will be copied and recorded. Thank you for your support!
Letters, preferably on scrap paper, (Tre's choice), or tree-free, can be written: Tre Arrow (He was booked into MCDC under that name) SWIS #640393 Multnomah County Detention Center 1120 S.W. 3rd Avenue Portland, Oregon 97206 Letters can be mailed or dropped off at MCDC. http://www.trearrow.org
From the open publishing newswire:
Tacoma, WA - A federal jury was unable to reach a decision on conspiracy and transportation of a destructive device but convicted Briana Waters, a 32-year-old mother and violin teacher and former resident of Olympia of arson. The government charged her with being a lookout in connection with the May, 2001 arson of the Center for Urban Horticulture at the University of Washington in Seattle. If convicted on all counts, Waters would have faced a sentence of 35 years. The two informants who testified against her in the case, who admitted to participating in the arson, face between three and seven years. Ms. Waters' sentencing is set for May 30.
Without any physical evidence linking Ms. Waters directly to the arson, the government built its case on the testimony of the two informants, and a number of pieces of circumstantial evidence. The defense argued that the informants falsely accused Waters in order to avoid 35-year prison sentences themselves, and that their testimony was demonstrably false. "The government's case was primarily based on character assassination and guilt by association," said civil rights attorney Ben Rosenfeld, a member of the Board of Directors of the Civil Liberties Defense Center. "Evidence of other people's writings never should never have been allowed to be used against her."
From the open publishing newswire:
On the morning March 5th, 2008, five individuals were arrested by the Thurston County Sheriffs office on charges related to the incident following the Dead Prez show at the Evergreen State College. After much media hype about the events that occurred in the morning of February 15th, the police are finally taking action to ensure the blame be put on the community they attacked. Video taken after the concert clearly shows that police officers attacked a peaceful crowd of people without issuing an order to disperse or giving any warning. The so-called riot that ensued was a direct result of police violence, and an indirect result of racism on the part of the police. Both the incident itself and the response demonstrate a systematic abuse of police power, as officers from Washington State, Thurston County, Evergreen, Olympia, Lacey, and Tumwater were all involved and have yet to be held accountable.
The Valentines Day incident began when an unmarked 'security' person pointed out an individual who he accused of starting a fight with him over smoking a joint. At this time Evergreen police arrested Kaylen Williams, who maintains that he only tried to break up a fight that security started with another person in the crowd. Protests to free Williams after the concert were entirely non-violent until the Olympia Police Department responded to the scene. When OPD arrived they began clubbing and pepper spraying the crowd. Many of the concertgoers suffered chemical burns and one young man was hospitalized with internal bleeding.
From the open publishing newswire:
Join us for a discussion about the case with Hank Jones of the SF8, Claude Marks and Maisha Quint of the Committee to Free the Eight, and former head of the Portland Black Panter Party Kent Ford. SF8 info day event presented by KBOO and Circle A Radio: Eight former members and supporters of the Black Panter Party now known as the San Francisco 8, have been targeted in a vindictive prosecution in San Francisco for their political activities of over 35 years ago.
Join us for a discussion about the case with Hank Jones of the SF8, Claude Marks and Maisha Quint of the Committee to Free the Eight, and former head of the Portland Black Panter Party Kent Ford. Sunday March 9th
From the open publishing newswire:
Judge Hubel scheduled Arrow's trial for May 6th. Arrow is to be held as a flight risk and potential danger pending the trial. Arrow is currently being held in Multnomah County. Because of security concerns it is not yet known where he will be moved to. Tre faces fourteen counts with the charges of arson and conspiracy alone possibly resulting in life sentences. Greeted by press outside the courthouse after the arraignment, (attorney) Loney stated that Tre felt that the time was right to return to Oregon to set the record. "His spirit is great," said Loney. "We are very happy that U.S. marshals will meet his raw vegan diet. He is a strong, centered and spiritual individual. This is what has carried him through." Also speaking to press was Tre's sister Shawna Scarpetti. "Over the past four years we've had the time to discuss about how unjust and unfair what he is facing is. He absolutely believes that his attorneys will secure his freedom."
From the open publishing newswire:
In this new interview, Ramona Africa talks about the upcoming MOVE 9 Parole Hearings that are scheduled for April. MOVE is asking for support. Stay tuned for an online petition and sample letter to send to the Parole Board. Ramona Africa is the sole adult survivor of the May 13, 1985 massacre of 11 members of the MOVE organization. The FBI and the City of Philadelphia dropped a C4 bomb on MOVE's Osage Avenue home in West Philadelphia. Both 30-year old Ramona and 13-year old Birdie Africa (the only 2 survivors) report that as the MOVE family attempted to escape their burning home, their were met with massive rounds of automatic gunfire, forcing 11 members of the MOVE family to be burnt alive. Ramona dodged gunfire and escaped from the fire with permanent scarring from the burns. Ramona was charged with conspiracy, riot, and multiple counts of simple and aggravated assault. Subsequently Ramona served 7 years in prison. If she had chosen to sever her ties with MOVE and renounce the teachings of John Africa, she could have been released far earlier. In the face of this she held true to her revolutionary beliefs and was uncompromising in the face of state terror. |
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