Posted in GNR Media/ Events, Legal, Operation Backfire on Apr 30th, 2008
It’s Not Over: An Update to the “Green Scare”
April 29, 2008
By Will Potter
As the trial of Briana Waters wound down in March, as jurors deliberated her innocence or guilt, and as the press largely ignored her “eco-terrorism” case in lieu of Obama-Clinton-Anybody-But-Bush mania, it seemed, just for a moment, like one chapter of the “War […]
Posted in Legal, Operation Backfire on Mar 6th, 2008
Briana Waters has been found guilty of two counts of arson for the 2001 arson at the University of Washington, claimed by the Earth Liberation Front.
The jury hasn’t been able to reach a verdict on the other three counts. Among those, the most important, using a destructive device during a crime of violence. That […]
Posted in Legal, Media, Operation Backfire, Terrorism Rhetoric on Mar 5th, 2008
UPDATE: This blog post was also published by Counterpunch, on March 07, 2008.
Multi-million dollar mansions in a Seattle suburb–each about 4,200-4,750 square feet, going for about $2 million a pop, touted as “green”– were burned Monday. About $7 million in damage on the “Street of Dreams.” Nobody injured, […]
Posted in Federal, GNR Media/ Events, Legislation, Operation Backfire on Feb 10th, 2008
This interview is in the latest issue of The Abolitionist (Australia). I spoke with Claudette Vaughan, the chief editor, about the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, the “Green Scare,” and the politics of fear. Here it is below, and also be sure to check out the other articles on their site.
Abolitionist: What did you say at […]
Posted in GNR Media/ Events, Legal, Operation Backfire on Jan 24th, 2008
Considering that the “eco-terrorism” arrests dubbed “Operation Backfire” didn’t even make it into the local paper’s top 20 news stories of 2007, and the National Association of Manufacturers claims “boy, we sure didn’t hear about this” (which I find very, very hard to believe), I thought I’d highlight a good series of background articles on […]
Posted in Operation Backfire, Terrorism Rhetoric on Jan 24th, 2008
The FBI says “The No. 1 domestic terrorism threat is the eco-terrorism, animal-rights movement.” And when the Feds rounded up environmental advocates as part of “Operation Backfire,” Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez said, “In all, their trail of destruction across the Pacific Northwest and beyond resulted in millions of dollars of property damage. Today’s indictment is […]
Posted in Legal, Operation Backfire on Jan 14th, 2008
Two big court dates for so-called “eco-terrorism” cases are coming up in February, both on February 11th.
The trial of Briana Waters is set to begin in Washington state. Waters was arrested as part of the government’s “Operation Backfire” roundup of environmental activists. Others were already hit with “terrorism enhancement” penalties for property crimes, and […]
Posted in Grand Juries, Operation Backfire on Aug 24th, 2007
In a country where so many people get most of their news from The Daily Show, and 1 in 4 people read ZERO books last year, I can only imagine how many people get most of their information about the legal system from Law & Order. In Law & Order episodes, grand juries (if […]
Posted in Legal, Operation Backfire on Aug 2nd, 2007
A federal judge sentenced Jonathan Paul to four years and three months in prison for his role in a 1997 fire that destroyed the Cavel West horsemeat packing plant in Redmond, Ore. He had confessed to helping make the diesel and soap mixture, the s0-called “vegan Jell-O,” that was used, and acting as a lookout. […]
Posted in Legal, Operation Backfire on Jul 30th, 2007
This is an update on Daniel McGowan, one of the Operation Backfire defendants who recently reported to prison after being sentenced as a “terrorist.” It’s from Family and Friends of Daniel McGowan:
July 26, 2007
I’m pretty convinced at this point, nearly 20 months after my arrest, that I am incredibly lucky to have the best […]
The War on Terrorism has come home. Corporations and politicians are labeling activists "eco-terrorists" and national security threats. Think red-baiting, with a green twist. Here you'll find original reporting and analysis of the Green Scare, and history repeating itself.