Posted in Activists Arrested, Legal Issues on Jun 19th, 2008
From The Seattle Times:
The woman convicted in an ecoterror attack at the University of Washington has been sentenced to six years in prison.
TACOMA, Wash. -The woman convicted in an ecoterror attack at the University of Washington has been sentenced to six years in prison.
KIRO-TV reports that Briana Waters asked for mercy because she has a [...]
Posted in Activists Arrested, Legal Issues 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 Terrorism Definitions on May 24th, 2007
Nature has an editorial in the latest issue against “terrorism enhancement” in the cases out West, and also more broadly against the “eco-terrorism” rhetoric we’ve been seeing in legislation like the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act. This is big breakthrough, especially considering the source.
An excerpt:
But ‘terrorist’ is a word so debased and loaded by political use [...]
Posted in Activists Arrested, Legal Issues on May 24th, 2007
A federal judge labeled property destruction in the name of the environment “terrorism” yesterday and sentenced the first of the Operation Backfire defendants to 13 years in prison. Activists around the country– and particularly the remaining nine defendants– had been watching the sentencing very carefully, because the judge’s tenor may foreshadow the remaining court dates. [...]
Posted in Activists Arrested, Legal Issues on May 22nd, 2007
“Terrorism enhancement” penalties may apply to a group of activists charged with property crimes in the name of protecting the environment and animal rights, a U.S. District Court judge ruled Monday. But the burden will be heavily on the government to “present clear and convincing evidence” during sentencing in order for the T-word to apply. [...]
Posted in Legal Issues, Terrorism Definitions on May 21st, 2007
A U.S. District Judge in Oregon just ruled that “terrorism enhancement” penalties may apply to environmental and animal rights activists in the “Operation Backfire” cases.
I’m sifting through all this now and hope to post more tonight. Stay tuned.
Posted in Legal Issues, Terrorism Definitions on May 11th, 2007
They’ve been “terrorists” from day one. Since their arrest for a string of property crimes against corporations they believed were destroying the planet, a group of environmental activists from the Northwest have been relentlessly branded “eco-terrorists” and “domestic terrorists” in government press conferences, Congressional hearings and in the media. On Tuesday, though, in federal court [...]
Posted in Activism & Activists' Response, Legal Issues on May 11th, 2007
Just received this, about the “terrorism enhancement” hearing for the Operation Backfire cases. Activists are also holding a rally at the same time, outside the courthouse…
MEDIA ADVISORY
For Immediate Release: May 10, 2007
Contacts:
Lauren Regan, Civil Liberties Defense Center, Eugene, OR, 541-687-9180
Alejandro Queral, NW Constitutional Rights Center, Portland, OR, 503-295-6400, 202-491-6204
Defendants Decry Gov’t Attempt to Label Crimes [...]
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.