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Approached by federal agents to appear at a grand jury or being harrassed for environmental activism?
Don't say a word and call the
National Lawyers Guild hotline number
to talk to a lawyer and get information on your rights. The number is 1-888-NLG-ECOLAW
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The term Green Scare refers to the federal government's expanding prosecution efforts against animal liberation and ecological activists, drawing parallels to the "Red Scares" of the 1910's and 1950s.
A 2002 edition of a prisoner support zine, Spirit of Freedom, defined the Green Scare as, "the tactics that the US government and all their tentacles (FBI, IRS, BATF, Joint Terrorism Task Forces, local police, the court system) are using to attack the ELF/ALF (Earth Liberation Front and Animal Liberation Front) and specifically those who publicly support them."
The term has now been widely used to describe an early 2006 sweep of arrests, convictions and grand jury indictments of alleged ELF/ALF activists on charges relating to acts of property damage, conspiracy, arson and use of destructive devices dubbed "Operation Backfire," the cases of the SHAC7, Eric McDavid and Rod Coronado, as well as recent repressive legislation such as the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, which attempts to turn activists into "terrorists."
News and Updates
New Flyer for Marie Mason
Marie Mason, currently charged with two acts of property destruction in 1999 and 2000, has pled not guilty and is currently preparing for trial while out on bail. Frank Ambrose, one of four arrested in the midwest accused of an action at Michigan State University in 1999 has entered a guilty plea and has been cooperating with federal agents since a raid on his house in 2007. He has given information concerning all charged and uncharged activity and has agreed to testify against codefendants Marie Mason, Aren Burthwick, and Stephanie Fultz in addition to giving names of 15 alleged ELF members..
For updates, check MidwestGreenScare.org. Ambrose's unredacted plea agreement can be found here and the search warrant for Marie Mason can be found here. A new support flyer for Marie Mason can be found here.
Jeff "Free" Luers Resentenced to Ten Years
Jeff "Free" Luers has been transfered. He was recently resentenced to 10 years after he won an appeal last year to reconsider his original 22 year 8 month sentence for burning two sport Utility Vehicles that were later repaired and sold. His anticipated release date is December, 2008. His current address is:
CRCI
9111 NE Sunderland Ave
Portland, OR 97211-1708
Briana Waters Found Guilty on Two Arson Counts
The first trial of Operation Backfire has concluded and the defendant, Briana Waters has been convicted on two counts of arson in relation to the fire at the University of Washington Center for Urban Horticulture. The jury was hung about an Incendiary Device charge that would have carried a mandatory minimum of 30 years if convicted. She now faces up to ten years in prison. She is currently awaiting a detention hearing to see if she can be released until her sentencing. She is currently being held in Seattle. For updates, see the Olympia Civil Liberties Resource. Her address is:
36432-086
FDC - Seatac
Federal Detention Center
P.O. Box 13900
Seattle, WA 98198
Eric McDavid Moved. Sentencing Rescheduled for May 8th
Eric McDavid's sentencing has been rescheduled for May 8th at 9am. Keep up to date at SupportEric.org. Eric has been moved to a different floor. His current address is:
Sacramento County Main Jail
651 "I" Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
New Support Website for Operation Backfire Prisoner Jonathan Paul
Jonathan Paul, one of four defendants of Operation Backfire that did not cooperate with federal prosecutors against his codefendants now has a support site - SupportJonathan.org. He is serving a 51 month sentence for the 1997 arson of Cavel West horse rendering plant. His current address is:
#07167-085
FCI Phoenix
Federal Correctional Institution
37910 N 45th Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85086
Tre Arrow Extradited to Portland, Oregon
Tre Arrow has been extradited from Canada to Portland, OR to face charges that he aided others in an arson that destroyed cement and logging trucks. The only evidence is cooperating witnesses who are testifying against him. Stay up to date at TreArrow.org. His current address is:
SWIS #640393
Multnomah County Detention Center
1120 S.W. 3rd Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97204
