Newsletter of the North
American Earth Liberation Prisoner Support Network Winter 2002
Welcome to the January
2002/Winter issue of our newsletter, Spirit
of Freedom. There have been many changes since the last issue, most notably
the US bombing of Afghanistan in the wake of the attacks on the Pentagon and
the World Trade Center. It is hard to determine the exact effects of these
actions on the burgeoning Earth liberation and ecological resistance movement
but already there have been some initial signs. Wise-users, industry analysts
and politicians alike are using this opportunity to attempt to link direct
action with terrorism. Inside this issue, you will find many examples of this
from congress lackey McInnis’s letter sent to environmental groups urging them
to disavow the ELF and ALF to the absurd report by the American Policy
Institute suggesting a connection between the Animal Liberation Front and
anthrax.
Additionally,
politicians are all vying to see who could further invite big brother into our
lives with the introduction of federal as well as state legislation regarding
terrorism. So far, we have seen one activist, already charged with criminal
charges related to alleged ELF actions, charged with additional terrorist
charges. We must resist the further criminalization of direct action taken by
the ELF/ALF as well as countless other individuals. We all know who the real
terrorists are: the corporations and the state.
On a different note,
we want to welcome Standing Deer back to the outside world! He was released
from prison on September 4th after spending nearly 25 years locked up. It is
only through the hard work of his support people and his perseverance that he
finally got out. Also, we want to welcome Jeremiah Rush Bowen out who, if all
goes well, will be released from prison by February 7th after serving 2 years
for attempted arson in Colorado.
Our
newsletter will be distributed on a quarterly basis from now on. This decision
was made so that we can engage in more direct prisoner support which putting
out a bi-monthly newsletter prevented us from doing. We hope to publish a
newsletter, which is not only larger but that we will be able to mail out to
international contacts. This newsletter will be available for downloading as a .PDF
file from our website so people can make their own copies and distribute it
amongst their communities. The newsletter is available from
http://www.spiritoffreedom.org.uk
This is a hard time of
year for prisoners being that it is cold in most of the continent and is also
the holiday season. Please consider writing to a prisoner or contributing to
one’s legal defense.
It dawned on us that
our network began just over a year ago and we regretted not thanking the people
who have helped us so much in the last year in forming our network and keeping
it going. Here it goes:
Thank
you: Green Anarchy magazine collective, Noel, J, Gumby, Jeremiah, Annie, Tom,
Bronson, Murray, the EF! Journal Collective, John Zerzan, Rod, Jeff “Free”
Luers, Craig “Critter” Marshall, Ernesto, Lauren, the Nuxalk nation, Charles,
David, TAO, Megan, Leeanne, Stephanie, Phaedra and R. Thank you especially to
all the prisoners listed in this newsletter. Your feedback and critique have
been invaluable. Thank you to the original inhabitants of the land that we do
this prisoner support work on: the indigenous people of this continent.
Finally, thank you to the Earth Liberation Front, Animal Liberation Front and
all you countless people out there who decide that it is time to stop talking and
time to start acting. May you all be safe!
North American Earth
Liberation Prisoners Support Network
Box 11331, Eugene, OR
97440
Email: naelpsn@tao.ca Web: http://www.spiritoffreedom.org.uk
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Spirit of Freedom is free to all prisoners and
always will be.
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Supporters can get individual copies of Spirit
of Freedom for $2 or $9 for a one-year subscription. We also accept stamps as
payment for Spirit of Freedom so send any comparable amounts in place of cash.
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We welcome trades with other prisoner
support/anarchist zines. Check with us first before sending any zines.
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Non tax-deductible donations to the North
American Earth Liberation Prisoners Support Network can be made out to
“NAELPSN” and sent to our PO Box. If you want a donation to go to a specific
prisoner, let us know and we will try to accommodate your request. A donation
of $10 or more will get you a year’s subscription to Spirit of Freedom.
Matt Whyte and Peter Schnell were arrested in
January of last year near Santa Cruz, California when they were found in the
possession of milk jugs, fuel and birthday candles. Matt and Peter accepted a
plea bargain in federal court on October 15 and pled guilty to “possession of
an unregistered firearm.” This charge holds a maximum penalty of 10 years in
prison and a $250,000 fine. They will be sentenced at the federal court in San
Jose, California on January 28. Donations are desperately needed to help offset
Matt and Peter’s legal fees and can be sent to Santa Cruz 2 Defense Fund PO
Box 583 Eugene, OR 97440;
santacruztwo@hotmail.com.
On November 6, 2001
animal liberation prisoner Barry Horne died due to liver failure as while on
hunger strike. It has been reported that this latest hunger strike was in
protest at the Government’s disastrous handling of the foot & mouth crisis
in England.
The UK ELP used to list Barry simply as “serving 18
years for various anti-vivisection arsons and attempted arsons.” Barry was
arrested while planting incendiary devices inside an animal abusers store in
Bristol. Once caught, the police charged Barry with arsons against the Boots
company on the Isle of Wight that had gone previously unsolved. He was found
guilty of attempted arson in Bristol and arson on the Isle of Wight. While in
jail, Barry, started a hunger strike to get the then newly elected Labour
Government to honor their manifesto commitments to holding a Royal Commission
into the use of animals in experiments. This hunger strike was only called off
when the Government gave assurances that they would look at the issue of
vivisection. They reneged on these assurances and Barry restarted his hunger
strike. It is unclear why his second hunger strike came to an end, but it is
believed the Government had offered him some sort of negotiation. Again they
lied. Barry then carried out a series of other hunger strikes, the last one
proving fatal. A memorial service was held shortly after his death by hundreds
of animal liberation activists.
A federal judge
overturned the death sentence of former Black Panther and journalist Mumia
Abu-Jamal on Tuesday, ordering a new sentencing hearing. Ruling on a defense
petition for a new trial in the 20-year-old case, U.S. District Judge Yohn let
stand Abu-Jamal’s first-degree murder conviction for the 1981 shooting of white
Philadelphia pig Daniel Faulkner. But in a 272-page opinion issued a little
over a week after the 20th anniversary of the murder, Yohn gave state
prosecutors 180 days to conduct a new sentencing hearing, citing errors in the
death-penalty phase of the 1982 trial. Philadelphia DA Abraham said her office
would act to stay Yohn’s ruling by lodging an appeal with the 3rd U.S. Circuit
Court of Appeals in Philadelphia. Yohn concluded that the instructions and
verdict sheet used at Abu-Jamal’s trial 19 years ago may have confused jurors
in the penalty phase and led them to avoid consideration of mitigating
circumstances in deciding on a sentence.
Connor
Cash is now facing charges of “aiding
terrorists” in addition to the other charges that he has for his alleged
involvement in ELF actions in Long Island, NYC. The government is claiming that
the additional charges have nothing to do with the World Trade Center attacks.
More information can be obtained by contacting: Connor Cash Support Committee
c/o Long Island Animal Defense League (ADL) PO Box 1117, Huntington, NY 11743
(631) 340-4708 freeconnorcash@yahoo.com.
In early November the
three Omaha men who were each charged with numerous counts of criminal mischief
after vandalizing golf courses entered a diversion program and will have to pay
$1,883.34 to the three courses that they vandalized. They were charged with
four counts of criminal mischief in connection with the four incidents in which
the initials “ELF” were painted throughout the course and the grounds were dug
up. After their arrest, the men told the cops that they committed the vandalism
to protest the use of land for golf courses and the use of chemicals on the
land.
Mark Sands admitted in
federal court that he torched luxury homes under construction near mountain
preserves in various areas of Arizona. Mark pleaded guilty to eight counts of
extortion affecting interstate commerce and one count of using fire to commit a
federal felony. He faces 15 to 20 years in prison. He came under scrutiny in
April after a surveillance camera caught him wearing a hat and gloves, writing
“C.S.P.,” the arsonist’s acronym for Coalition
to Save the Preserves, with a red maker at a construction site near his
home. He was indicted on June on 22 counts of arson and extortion. The
indictment linked him to eight fires that were set between April 9, 2000 and
Jan. 18, 2001.Mark will be sentenced by Bolton on Feb. 11.
Last month, Robert
Middaugh was sentenced to three years in a California State Penitentiary,
charged with assaulting a police officer during the Mayday protest in Long
Beach this year. In court, the prosecutor threw everything they could towards
him charging him with assault on a police officer, refusal to comply with a
police officer, conspiracy to commit a crime, and riot. In addition, Middaugh
was on probation relating to his kidnap and arrest by LAPD. Middaugh was looking at 16-17 years in
prison, plus another strike against him. He is awaiting transfer but his
current address can be gotten from Los Angeles Anarchist Black Cross PO BOX
3671 Anaheim, Ca 92803-3671. la_blackcross@hotmail.com
On January 2, Seattle
animal rights activist Jon Batchelor was taken back into custody at a hearing
on extradition to Virginia on felony charges of aggravated assault on an
officer and escape which stem from the Animal Rights 2001 conference The state
of Virginia now has ten days to go ahead with the extradition procedure which
could come at anytime.
Monetary donations for
his legal defense can be sent to: Jon Batchelor Defense c/o Mutual Aid Legal
Fund, POB 95616, Seattle, WA. 98145-2616.
Jeffrey “Free” Luers
is now out of the hole and is residing at Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem,
Oregon. Write him at: Jeffrey Luers, #13797671, OSP, 2605 State Street, Salem,
OR 97310. Also, an interview with Free is printed in the Samhain 2001 issue of
the Earth First! Journal available
from PO Box 3023, Tucson, AZ 85702, (520) 620-6900
collective@earthfirstjournal.org.
Free has also asked
that people write the Governor of Oregon urging him to commute his sentence.
Letters can be sent to: Governor John Kitzhaber, Governor of Oregon, State
Capitol Building, 900 Court Street NE, Salem, OR 9730-4047.
Last month, Neil Bartlett pled guilty to bomb
hoaxing Glaxo, SmithKline, Shell, Exxon, Mobile, Novartis, Morgan Stanley and
Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council. He pled not guilty regarding two other bomb
hoaxes and they were dropped. Neil explained that he targeted Glaxo SmithKline,
Shell, Novartis and Morgan Stanley because of their "support for
vivisection" and because they "do business with Huntingdon Life
Sciences". Sentencing has been adjourned until the February 1 Neil's
lawyer is warning him to expect between 4-6 years. Please send these letters to
Neil Bartlett FW7083, HMP Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 1EA England.
Lee was released in
September after serving time for monkeywrenching at the Nine Ladies Quarry site
in the UK!
Paul recently lost his
appeal of his conviction for violent rioting at the Gothenberg G8
demonstrations in June. He will be appealing to the Supreme Court, but it will
take time to do this. Paul remains in good spirits, undefeated, still fighting
and with not a ounce of regret. Paul has been moved to a prison in Karlskoga -
Paul Robinson KVA Karlskoga Box 7 69121 Karlskoga, Sweden.
On
Halloween, British eco-activist “Trash” was caught allegedly trashing quarrying
equipment at the Nine Ladies quarry site. Judging by past sentencing for
ecotage at this protest site, Trash is guaranteed a prison sentence if found
guilty. His supporters are asking that everyone sends him letters of support
straight away to help keep his spirits strong. Trash, c/o Nine Ladies
Anti-Quarry Camp, Lees Cross, Lees Road, Stanton Lees, Nr Matlock, Derbyshire,
England.
Returned home to Hythe, Alberta last week after
serving 19 months in jail for bombing and sabotaging oil-drilling operations.
Ludwig is fighting petroleum companies that have contaminated large sections of
Alberta with sour-gas emissions, causing hundreds of miscarriages, stillbirths,
and birth defects. The Ludwig’s’ statement condemned authorities who “choose to
ignore our concerns, vilified a peaceful people and ultimately, unjustly
incarcerated our spokesman in an attempt to shut us up.” They added: “Be
assured that this ordeal has not succeeded in destroying or silencing us but
has rather strengthened our unity and resolve.”
Vaughn, who was
serving time for his part in the Anti-FTAA protests in Quebec City last year,
has been released from prison
Any information on earth/animal liberation and
indigenous political prisoners in Canada would be well appreciated as we are
trying to extend our network more effectively into the northern part of this
continent.
STANDING DEER RELEASED FROM PRISON AFTER ALMOST 25 YEARS!
A letter from Anna
Standing Deer, support person for Standing Deer
Greetings!
Standing Deer, who was
released exactly one week before the bombing of the WTC, would like to thank
you all for your unswerving support for him, not only in times of crisis, but
throughout his 25 years of incarceration during the rare moments that they
weren’t trying to kill him. He would greatly appreciate it if some of you would
write him sometimes, as he wishes to acknowledge his appreciation personally,
and come to know for himself the many people who placed a safety net beneath
him so that he is here today alive and free. He is still in a state of bliss
and has not quite shaken off the golden dust of freedom yet!! He is also busy
trying to become acclimated to life out here. It is not always easy, as you
very well know to re-adjust oneself after 25 years behind bars, but Standing
Deer is a strong, valiant warrior, so that his efforts to re-adjust to the
outside world are strong and valiant and to be admired.
You can contact
Standing Deer by writing: Standing Deer Wilson, 977 Bunker Hill Rd. #113,
Houston, TX 77024.
Standing Deer is doing
his utmost to answer all letters received, as he is no longer hassled in terms
of letter-writing, as he was in prison. So, please take the time to address him
and introduce yourselves personally. If you are already known to him, drop him
a line or two so that he can get back to you and thank you also for your
ongoing friendship and dedication. It was exactly, one week after Standing Deer
was released, a large number of our political prisoners were herded into
“isolation” due to the bombing of the WTC although it was known by the prison
authorities system that these individuals has absolutely nothing to do with
that act!!
The Creator chose to look out for this man called
Standing Deer, by releasing him the week earlier, at a time when none of us
could foresee the future of a week later, BUT at a time that the penal system
would know that Standing Deer was too busy just trying to find his way out of
the front door of a house once again let alone contemplate anything that he
would not have contemplated under ANY circumstances. Yet, I postulate that if
his release date had been 9-11, Standing Deer would still be somebody’s
prisoner rather than our “merry” person to have fun with and celebrate life
with. Yes, the Creator looked after him.
So, here he is with us
and I think it’s time to play (smile)— BUT also to keep working for the release
of Leonard, Mumia and ALL political prisoners and POW’s. We have one warrior
free to make happy. Let’s go for ten more warrior men and women!!
May there be many more
blessings, Anna Standing Deer
Mishap is an critical, intelligent zine from Eugene. You
can get a copy (I believe, free to
prisoners) from POB 5841, Eugene, OR 97405. Issue #12 contains an excellent series of articles on getting zines to
prisoners and the pitfalls that
the author has experienced in sending zines into prisons.
-Dear fascist
underling maggot:
-Dear
FUM!
-Obviously, the ten page limit on photoccopies exists because the mail censors
aren’t smart enough to read something longer.
I’ve identified some
other ways that zines “create a danger of violence or physical harm to another
human being:
-can be rolled up and
used as a swatter.
-paper
cuts!
-possible use as a
projectile-paper airplanes can poke out eyes!
-prisoner can fashion
a “shiv” with so many pages
-utilizing origami,
prisoner could fashion a realistic looking gun and spark a riot or escape.
-use of symbols reminds prisoners of the
fundamental alienation of language and reification brought on by civilization
and domestication thus further alienating said prisoner, making them depressed,
so all symbols and language should be banned.
-Bad jokes can give a person an upset stomach
-Dear Fascist Scum: you have obviously rejected
my zine because of its uncompromising truth and revolutionary nature! It is so
well written, that it would become the spark that ignites the revolution! So
militancy and insurrectionary is the zine that it is the final push that knocks
down the lies of government, wakes up the duped populace and ushers in the
golden age of anarchy! You reject it because you fear it! Wake up dupe!
-There must be some mistake! I sent in a lovely
pamphlet by the great Rev. Billy Graham, not this satanic anarchist magazine!
-Curse words, lots of curse words
Congress lackey McInnis from Colorado has set
his sights on the Earth Liberation Front, no doubt due to pressure from big
business at home affected by ELF and direct action (Vail Inc. is in McInnis’s
district). McInnis, like many other opportunistic politicians, are seeking to
make direct action here on the continent akin to what they define as terrorism
abroad. Acknowledging that al-Queda and the ELF are radically different groups,
McInnis sums it up as “terrorism is
terrorism”.
Some of McInnis’s thoughts on direct action:
“The point
has come when we need to strip away the Robin Hood mystique from this terrorism
in our country”
“The
threat posed by special interest extremism — most notably the extreme fringes
of the animal rights and environmental movements — is also emerging as a
significant concern for law enforcement”
In addition to his increased public relations,
McInnis has sent letters to many environmental and animal rights groups in the
US asking them to disavow the tactics of the ELF and ALF. Many see a scary
comparison between McInnis’s letter and the tactics of Joe McCarthy and the
House on Un-American Affairs committee in the 1950’s . Is this the new Green
Scare?
The
text of McInnis’s Green Scare letter follows:
October
30, 2001
As our Nation begins the recovery and healing
process following the tragedy of September 11, we believe it is critical for
Americans of every background and political stripe to disavow terrorism in all
its forms and manifestations. No matter its shape, source or motivation,
Americans simply cannot tolerate, either overtly or through silence, the use of
violence and terror as an instrument of promoting social and political change.
With this understanding, we are calling on you
and your organization to publicly disavow the actions of eco-terrorist
organizations like Earth Liberation Front (ELF) and Animal Liberation Front
(ALF). Eco-terrorist cells like these have exacted a substantial financial and
personal toll on scores of individuals and enterprises in all corners of the
United States. In the dark of night and under the cover of anonymity,
environmental radicals have firebombed government offices, research centers,
schools, homes, and businesses. In so doing, they have sent a ripple of fear
through all the many communities in their destructive path. While the attacks
of eco-vigilantes have not yet reached the magnitude of what America
experienced over the last several weeks, their tactics are no less deplorable,
their methods of pursuing political change no less appalling, and their use of
fear and terror no less repugnant.
In
February, then FBI Director Louis Freeh identified radical eco-terrorist
organizations like ELF and ALF as one of America’s leading domestic terrorism
threats. The FBI’s announcement came on the heels of a January 1st ELF
communiqué proclaiming, “This year, 2001, we hope to see an escalation in
tactics against capitalism and industry.” In the time since, ELF has made good
on its threat to ratchet up the violence in 2001, using incendiary devices to,
amongst other things, level the University of Washington’s Center for Urban
Horticulture, torch an entire fleet of trucks owned by a private timber
company, and burn the Oregon Offices of Superior Lumber Company. Alarmingly,
ALF arsonists struck a biomedical lab in New Mexico just nine days after the
horrors of September 11, destroying property estimated at $1 million. This
year’s attacks, together costing local businesses and taxpayers upwards of $5
million, are in addition to the over $40 million in damage that ELF and ALF
have inflicted since their inception. Even during this hour of national crisis,
ELF and ALF continue to terrorize Americans in pursuit of their militant
agenda.
We trust that you will
join us in publicly condemning this source of domestic violence. Your statement
would send a profound and powerful message to these organizations: Americans of
every background and political persuasion repudiate the use of terror in every
form, including environmental terrorism.
Thank you in advance for your attention to
this important issue. We look forward to receiving a timely response to this
letter.
Sincerely,
James V. Hansen
Scott McInnis
Chairman
House Subcommittee on
House Resources
Committee Forests and
Forest Health
An excellent reply to
this letter was sent by the environmental law firm, Wildlaw:
Dear Congressman
McInnis:
I am in receipt of
your letter of October 30, 2001, which you sent to numerous environmental
organizations “calling on you and your organization to publicly disavow the
actions of eco-terrorist organizations.” On behalf of WildLaw, the nations
foremost (and best looking) non-profit environmental law firm, I am pleased to
extend our thanks to you for your courageous stand and to set forth our strong
condemnation of “environmental terrorism.”
We have long fought
against those secretive multi-national organizations that have sponsored
“environmental terrorism” in America. Throughout our great land, these groups
are poisoning our air, our water and our food supply. Children have been hurt.
People have been killed. Landowners have had their property and profits taken
from them. Rivers have had all their fish and other life killed, being rendered
so unfit that no one is allowed to swim or fish in them. Law-abiding
corporations have been damaged by these outlaws who do not follow the laws of
the United States. Often, these “eco-terrorist” organizations are state
sponsored. Indeed, here in Alabama, the State itself defends every group that
citizens have tried to stop from committing these acts of “environmental
terror.”
These
international organizations have cells in many countries and in many places
here in the United States. Most of them have active and heavily-financed
operatives right there in Washington, DC. These groups often do not recognize
the rule of law. In their fundamentalist view of the world, they claim that
they have more rights than US citizens, and they threaten that people must do
their bidding or suffer great consequences. They target innocent citizens and
even politicians who do not agree with them and their goals, and they use their
vast resources to destroy the lives of those who dare question them. Therefore,
knowing that these international organizations have the ability to take even
you out of office, I must applaud your heroic effort against these groups by
calling them “environmental terrorists” and looking for the support of the
environmental community.
As part of our work
against terrorism, I also wish to report two acts of extremely costly and
illegal sabotage that should be investigated as soon as possible. One involves
the destruction of corporate property in Massachusetts. In complete defiance of
law and international treaty, a number of disguised men boarded several ships
at night and destroyed the goods on board, causing a great deal of pollution. I
do not know their identities other than the ringleader who used the name “Sam
A.” Also, in Rhode Island, a ship by the name of Gaspee was destroyed by arson
by saboteurs who took the law into their own hands, contrary to everything you
wrote in your fine letter. Please pass this information along to Attorney
General Ashcroft and the FBI so that they can look into these illegal acts.
Thank you. It is completely un-American to terrorize the environment.
Sincerely,
Ray Vaughan, Executive Director
Wildlaw
CRAIG ROSEBRAUGH SUBPOENAED TO
TESTIFY BEFORE CONGRESSIONAL SUBCOMMITTEE ON ECO-TERRORISM
Craig Rosebraugh, a
spokesperson for the North American Earth Liberation Front (E.L.F.) from
1997-2001, received a subpoena to testify at a Congressional Subcommittee
meeting on Eco-terrorism. The subpoena demands Rosebraugh to appear before the
Congressional Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health on February 12, 2002 in
Washington, DC. At a Congressional meeting on October 3, 2001, Rep. Scott
McInnis (CO) successfully argued for Rosebraugh to be subpoenaed for the
February 2002 meeting. McInnis, chairperson of the Subcommittee on Forests and
Forest Health, is seeking information from Rosebraugh on the ELF. Rosebraugh
states he will not cooperate with the “attempts by Congress to stop the work of
the brave, heroic individuals in the E.L.F. who are trying to end the
destruction of life Rosebraugh says he thinks the work of the E.L.F. is
important and crucial in trying to demonstrate that life is more important than
profits. “The legal forms of objection and attempts at changes in environmental
policy since the 1960s have not worked. Our environment is more polluted and
destroyed now than ever before. More actions, like those of the E.L.F., are
needed to stop the destruction of life caused by greedy, corrupt corporations
and politicians.” In light of the events on September 11, my country has told
me that I should not cooperate with terrorists. I therefore am refusing to
cooperate with members of Congress who are some of the most extreme terrorists
in history. A national protest will be held in Washington, D.C. on February 12,
2002. For those that can’t make it,
consider organizing local support protests in front of U.S. federal buildings
in your city! For more information on
the February 12, 2002 National Day of Action against State Repression, POB
40091, Portland, Oregon 97240, 503.972.6764, skisp@tao.ca
http://www.protectcivilliberties.com
GRAND JURY ALERT FOR EUGENE
Recently, forest activists from Portland and Eugene have
been receiving subpoenas to appear in front of a Grand Jury in Eugene.(This has
since been postponed to a later date). Included in the list of activists is
Mary “Moss” Fanelli, who had been very active in the Eagle Creek forest defense
campaign. Donations can be made out to the ‘Autumn Legal Defense Fund’ and
mailed to the Resource Conservation Federal Credit Union at 1910 SE 11th,
Portland, OR 97214.
First
anti-terrorism bills are introduced (Washington)
The
predicted rush of state anti-terrorism legislation began before noon yesterday
with the filing of two Senate bills. Seattle Democrat Ken Jacobsen’s proposals
would strengthen state laws against terrorist acts by increasing sentencing
options and expanding the length of time those crimes can be prosecuted. They
are the first state anti-terrorism bills filed in the aftermath of the
terrorist attacks Sept. 11, but Jacobsen said they were direct response to
firebomb attacks on University of Washington research labs in May. “We need to
be as serious about punishing these crimes as the groups are about committing
them,” Jacobsen said. “The state’s laws need to be updated to reflect the
dangerous new era we’re living in.” The still-unsolved UW arson caused about $3
million in structural damage to Merrill Hall at the school’s Center for Urban
Horticulture. Arsonists used incendiary devises on timers to light the blaze.
The Earth Liberation Front, an environmental extremist group, took credit for
the attacks.
-Increases penalties
for committing terrorism.
-Increases
penalties for harboring or funding terrorist/terrorist organizations.
-Makes terrorism a
reason for federal officials to get a wiretapping order.
-Allows federal
officials to get a wiretapping order that would follow a suspect to any phone
the person uses.
- Allows federal
officials to get nationwide search warrants for terrorism investigations,
including for both e-mail and physical searches.
-Allows the attorney general to detain foreigners
suspected of terrorism.
-The attorney general
then has to start deportation proceedings, during which the foreigner must stay
in federal custody, or charge the person with a crime. If neither is done
within seven days, the foreigner must be released.
-Enhances
data sharing between the FBI, the State Department, the Immigration and
Naturalization Service and foreign
- Makes committing an
act of terrorism against a mass transit system a federal crime.
- Makes illegal the
possession of substances that can be used as biological or chemical weapons for
any purpose besides a “peaceful” purpose.
- Includes legislation that would fight
international money laundering in an effort to thwart the financing of
terrorism and protect the U.S. banking system from illicit money.
- Gives the president
authority to restrict exports of agricultural products, medicine or medical
devices to Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban militia and areas controlled by the
group.
- Authorizes nationwide search warrants for
computer information in terrorism investigations, including billing records.
- Increases the number of federal agents
working on America’s borders.
- Adds a Dec. 31, 2005, expiration date for
new wiretapping and surveillance powers.
- Adds a provision that allows people to sue
if the government leaks information gained through the new wiretapping and
surveillance powers.
- Allows federal officials to seize voice
mail records if a judge issues a warrant.
- Bars entry to the United States for
prospective immigrants involved in money laundering crimes.
- Includes $36.8 million to put in place
before the end of the year a database program to track the approximately
600,000 foreign students at U.S. colleges.
- Requires the FBI to
allow a judge to monitor its use of its Carnivore e-mail tracking system.
Jeremiah Rush Bowen.
#108016, DCC, 1140 East 10 Road, Delta, CO 81416. .Serving two years for the
arson of a townhouse in Boulder, Colorado in the summer of 2000. Anticipated
release date is February 7th, 2002
Jeffrey “Free” Luers.
#13797671, 2605 State Street, Salem, OR 97310.
Sentenced to 22.5
years for 13 charges relating the arson of Joe Romania Chevrolet and the
attempted arson of Tyree Oil in Eugene, Oregon
(June 2000).
Craig “Critter”
Marshall, #13797662, SRCI, 777 Stanton Boulevard, Ontario, OR 97914. Serving a
five and a half year sentence for conspiracy to commit arson and possession of
unlawful devices in relation to the Romania Chevrolet and Tyree Oil cases.
Ted Kaczynski
#04475-046, US Pen-Admin Max Facility, PO Box 8500, Florence Colorado 81226.
Serving multiple life sentences for a 17 year long mail bombing campaign
against industrialists.
Helen Woodson,
03231-045 FMC Carswell, POB 27137 Admin Max Unit, Fort Worth, TX 76127. Serving
27 years for a multiple of charges including robbing a bank and then setting
the money on fire, the Silo Pruning Hooks disarmament action and for sending
bullets to CEO’s.
Marco Camenish, Viale
dei Tigli, 14 13900, Biella, Italy. Serving 12 years for a number of
eco-bombings in Italy. Marco can read French, German, Spanish & Italian.
Inaki Garcia Koch,
Carcel de Pamplona, C/San Roque. Apdo. 250, 31080 - Iruez -Pamplona, Navarra
(Espana), Spain. Serving just under five years for cutting cables on the
construction site of the controversial Itoiz dam.
Silvano Pellissero,
Com. Mastrolierto, Via Ferrerinoli no2, Sanponso, 10080 Torino, Italy. Italian
anarchist Serving 6 years for sabotaging a rail line construction site in the
Northern Italian Alps. Silvano can read Spanish, Italian and French but not
English.
Indigenous
Eric Wildcat Hall, #BL-5355, Unit I/A 10745
Route 18 Albion, PA 16475-0002 Serving 35-75 years for helping ship arms to
Central American resisters.
Leonard Peltier #89637-132, PO Box 1000,
Leavenworth, KS 66048. An American Indian Movement (AIM) activist, serving two
life sentences for the alleged murder of two FBI agents at the Pine Ridge Siege
in the 1970’s and for escaping from a prison in California. [Ed-For more
information about this dedicated individual and his case, see "In the Spirit of Crazy Horse" by
Peter Matthieson and Prison Writings: My
Life Is My Sundance written by Leonard himself. Available from Left Bank
Books, 92 Pike St - Box B, Seattle, WA 98101 (206) 322-2868 leftbank@leftbankbooks.com]
Neil
Bartlett, FW7083, HMP Lewes, Brighton Rd, East Sussex, BN7 1EA, England.
Recently pled guilty to bomb hoaxing Glaxo, SmithKline, Shell, Exxon, Mobile,
Novartis, Morgan Stanley and Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council. Will be
sentenced on February 1.
Dave Blenkinsop,
EM7899 HMP Birmingham Winson Green Rd Birmingham B18 4AS, England. Serving
three years for causing “grievous bodily harm” to Brian Cass of Huntington Life
Sciences an additional 18 months for liberating 600 guinea pigs from a lab.
Mel Broughton DJ8216,
HMP The Mount, Molyneaux Avenue, Bovingdon, Hemel Hempstead, HP3 0NZ, England.
Serving 4 years for conspiracy to cause explosions.
Geert Waegemans,
Begijnestraat 42 2000 Antwerp, Belgium. Serving two years for an attempted
arson against a Judge’s car, two arsons against McDonalds and two arsons
against the meat industry. The police have filed additional charges against him
saying that he burnt a chicken truck in Lint (5/99), set fire to a meat truck
in Kontich (7/99) and in Antwerp (July 99) and attempted to set fire to a
furrier in January 2000
Rae Newlands GN6613, HMP Holloway, Parkhurst
Rd, London, N7 ONU, England. On remand accused of arson, bomb hoaxes, criminal
damage, harassment and conspiracy relating to anti-bloodsports and anti-HLS
activity.
SHAC 3
Three individuals charged with inciting a public
nuisance by printing the UK Stop Huntington Animal Cruelty newsletter, They
have all been sentenced to one year but are expected out sooner than that.
Heather Avery, HMP and YOI, Highpoint, Stradis Hall,
New Market, Suffolk, CB8 9YG, England.
Natasha
Dellamaigne, HMP and YOI, Highpoint, Stradis Hall, New Market, Suffolk, CB8
9YG, England.
Greg Avery, HMP
Belmarsh, Weston Way, Thamesmead, London, SE28 0EB, England.
JUNE 18TH/G8
Robert Thaxton #12112716, 2605 State Street,
Salem, OR 97310. Rob threw a rock at a cop in self-defense at the 1999 Eugene
J18 RTS and received a severe seven year sentence as part of a “mandatory
minimum” sentence.
Paul Robinson, Goteburg Remand Centre
(Haktet), Goteburg Polis Headquaters, (Polis Huset), Box 429, 40126 Goteburg,
Sweden. One-year imprisonment for rioting at the G8 meeting in Gothenberg,
Sweden.
MOVE, an eco-revolutionary group, was
consistently persecuted by the Philadelphia police during the ’70s culminating
in the police firebombing of their commune in 1985. The ‘Move 9’ were framed
for the murder of a cop and sentenced to the maximum prison sentence of 100
years each. In ’98 Merle Africa died in very suspicious circumstances in
prison.
The pamphlet “25 years on the MOVE” is an
comprehensive account of this story and is available for $5 from the MOVE
address in the prisoner support group directory. Please consider enclosing more
to aid the MOVE defense.
Although some of the
prisoners are listed together, you must write each MOVE member separately:
Debbie Simms Africa
(006307)
Janet Holloway Africa
(006308)
Janine Philips Africa
(006309)
are at: SCI Cambridge
Springs, 451 Fullerton Ave, Cambridge Springs, PA 16403-1238
Michael Davis Africa (AM4973)
Charles Simms Africa (AM4975)
are at: SCI Grateford, PO Box 244, Grateford,
PA 19426-0244,
Edward Goodman Africa (AM4974) SCI Camp Hill,
PA 17011-0200
William Philips Africa
(AM4984) and
Delbert
Orr Africa(AM4985) are at: SCI Dallas Drawer K, Dallas, PA 18612.
Mumia Abu Jamal (AM8335), SCI Greene, 1040
East R. Furman Highway, Waynesburg, PA 15370-8090.
Santa
Cruz 2 Defense Fund. PO Box 583 Eugene, OR 97440. santacruztwo@hotmail.com
Free and Critter Legal
Defense Committee, POB 50263, Eugene, OR 97405. gumbycascadia@yahoo.com
http://www.efn.org/~eugpeace/freecritter
Connor Cash Support
Committee c/o Long Island Animal Defense League (ADL) PO Box 1117, Huntington,
NY 11743 (631)340-4708. freeconnorcash@yahoo.com Information about Connor’s
case can be found at http://www.spiritoffreedom.org.uk/connorcash.htm
Leonard Peltier
Defense Committee, POB 583, Lawrence KS 66044 913-842-774.
lpdc@freepeltier.org
http://www.freepeltier.org
Friends of MOVE, POB
19709, Philadelphia, PA 19143. 610-499-0979 onamovellja@aol.com http://www.moveorg.net
International
Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia 4601 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA
(215) 476-8812 http://www.mumia.org
Anarchist Prisoner
Legal Aid Network (APLAN). Principled support for prisoners and an informative
monthly newsletter, We Never Sleep.
818 SW 3rd Avenue, PMB 354, Portland, OR 97204. aplan@tao.ca
Northwest Political
Prisoner Network-puts out the monthly Break
the Chains newsletter as well as writings by Rob Thaxton (Rob the Rich and Fuck you Bearden) and other politically conscious prisoners (We are Everywhere)
POB
11331, Eugene, OR 97440.
Onward
magazine-excellent prisoner support does. PO Box 2671 Gainesville Fl 32602-2671
info@onwardnewspaper.org http://www.onwardnewspaper.org
Anarchist
Black Cross Network. P.O. Box 667233 Houston, TX 77266-7233 (713) 595-2103,
ext. 7585 apoc@anarchistblackcross.org
http://
www.anarchistblackcross.org
Prison Activist
Resource Center (PARC) PO Box 339,Berkeley CA 94701. This group has the most
consistently updated list of political prisoners available online at
http://www.prisonactivist.org/pps%2Bpows/index.shtml
UK Prisoner Support
Groups
UK Earth Liberation
Prisoners Support Network c/o CRC,16 Sholebrooke Avenue, Chapelton, Leeds, LS7
3HB earthlibprisoner@mail.com http://www.spiritoffreedom.org.uk
UK Earth Liberation
Prisoners Support Network-BM Box 2407, London, WC1N 3XX,
animalearthliberation@bigfoot.com
Animal Liberation
Front Supporters Group (ALF.SG), BM Box 1160, London, WC1N 3XX.
Brighton Anarchist
Black Cross, PO Box 2600, Brighton, BN2 2DX. (Part of the ABC Network).
CAGE Network, c/o 245
Gladstone Street, Nottingham, NG7 6HX.
Prisoner Support
Campaign c/o Kebele Kulture Projekt, 14 Robertson Rd, Easton, Bristol, BS5 6JY.
Vegan Prisoners
Supporters Group (VPSG), PO Box 194, Enfield, Middx, EN13HD. (Primarily
supports vegan & vegetarian animal rights prisoners).
This article
attempting to link the supposed anthrax attacks with the Animal Liberation
Front was released shortly after the first letter concerning the Anthrax virus
was reported. Wise use policy analyst Tom DeWeese wrote this hit piece:
By Tom DeWeese,
President, American Policy Forum
While
the remains of the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York and
Washington, DC’s Pentagon are “ground zero” for the horrible destruction
wrought by foreign terrorists, the nation’s forests, research labs, resorts and
housing developments have long been “ground zero” for domestic environmentally
driven “ecoterrorists.” There may be diabolical links between the two forces.
There is a strong possibility that Animal Liberation
Front (ALF) terrorists have come into possession of Anthrax as the result of
having invaded laboratories that have been researching the disease. This
certainly merits investigation as a source for the Anthrax attacks. The fact
that the Anthrax used in the recent U.S. attacks is domestic and not of
“weapons grade” indicates the possibility of involvement by a U.S. terrorist
group. Using the September 11th attacks as cover, ALF could be using them to
shield its own activities. The British government is investigating ALF for
possible ties to that country’s outbreak of mad cow disease last year. There is
ample reason to suspect that eco-terrorists could have direct ties and are
working in concert with foreign terrorists. First, both forces are made up of
radical activists who have expressed immense hatred for American industry and
its capitalist society. Both operate underground. Both are structured along the
same lines, using secret cells, and communication networks. Both are determined
to destroy America’s way of life.
Let Tom know what you
think of this article:
Tom DeWeese,
President, American Policy Forum at American Policy Center 98 Alexandria Pike
(#43), Warrenton, VA 20186 (540) 341-8911 and read more of their pro-industry
crap at: http://www.americanpolicy.org