Green Scare

from supportmariemason.org, 22 April 2009: "Fifth Estate contributor Marie Mason was sentenced to nearly 22 years in prison on February 5 in a Lansing, Michigan federal courtroom, after pleading guilty to two acts of eco-sabotage. Mason is now serving the longest sentence of any environmental activist in the US... Her sentence was one of the latest in a string of recent arrests and convictions of environmental and animal liberation activists, which has been dubbed the Green Scare..." more

from greenisthenewred, 16 April 2009: "The government is using secretive prison facilities on U.S. soil, called Communication Management Units, to house inmates accused of being tied to “terrorism” groups. They overwhelmingly include Muslim inmates, along with at least two animal rights and environmental activists..."  more

from wikileaks, 11 March 2009: "Wikileaks.org, the site responsible for leaking a multitude of useful documents to media and activists, has posted an article titled, "FBI: Tactics Used by Eco-Terrorists to Detect and Thwart Law Enforcement Operations, 15 Apr 2004," an appraisal of counterintelligence resources in our community. Though government intelligence is widely known to be an oxymoron, this could lend some insight into their thinking and methodology, acting as a guide to activist counter-intelligence for the animal & earth liberation movement..." more

from indybay, 5 March 2009: "January 2009 marked the 3rd year that Eric McDavid has spent behind bars. His arrest and imprisonment were a direct result of government infiltration and entrapment. Eric has spent the last three years of his life in a cage for what amounts to thought crime. Those years have been full of challenges and struggle. Most recently, Eric has been enduring lockdowns at the prison, the loss of phone and internet access, and a move..." more

from greenisthenewred, updated 17 February 2009: "Marie Mason, a longtime environmental activist and mother of two, was sentenced this afternoon to 21 years in prison, as a “terrorist,” for non-violent property crimes in the name of defending the environment. It’s a historic sentence, the longest yet for any of these Green Scare cases. ..." more

from email, 20 December 2008: "Announcing a new website and listserve for Green Scare prisoner Marie Mason. Mason is facing 20+ years in prison for two acts of environmentally-motivated property destruction in which no one was injured or killed. Mason is a long-time writer for 'Fifth Estate' magazine and a former editor at the 'Industrial Worker'..." more

from infoshop, 17 December 2008: "On December 4, 2008, Zachary Jenson was sentenced to probation (with 6 months time served) for his conviction on a single count of Conspiracy in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371. Jenson’s conviction was the result of a plea agreement with the government, which he signed on July 18, 2006 – 6 months after his arrest. In signing this plea agreement, Jenson agreed to full cooperation with the government against his co-defendant, Eric McDavid, as well as full cooperation in any and all investigations in which the government deemed him useful..." more

from email, 8 December 2008: Jeff asked that his interview with political prisoner Grant Barnes be sent out in lieu of dispatch this month. Grant Barnes is currently serving a 12-year sentence in Colorado for setting fire to several SUVs. The interview will also be appearing in the upcoming January/February issue of the Earth First! Journal, so be sure to check that out as well. more

from email, 14 Novmber 2008: "We just wanted to give you a quick update on Eric and then pass along a piece that he recently wrote. After enduring a month and a half with no access to phones or email, Eric finally got his phone access back on October 17 (and email soon after that). He had a hearing about the infraction he was being charged with - unpermitted contact with the media - on October 15, and due to Eric's determination to fight the charges based on errors made with the filing of the charges, the prison expunged the record and gave him his "privileges" back. This was a huge relief to Eric and his loved ones..." more

from infoshop, 14 November 2008: The North American Earth Liberation Front Press Office (NAELFPO) challenged the incoming Obama Administration Tuesday to take immediate action to reverse the trend of global warming and environmental destruction. "The incoming Obama Administration's plan for the environment, or lack thereof, may very well influence the activities of the Earth Liberation Front throughout the next four years," stated Lisa Nesbitt, one of four new press officers for the NAELFPO. more

from email, 29 September 2008: by S Sugarman: "You should expect to go through a lot of hassle, stress and possibly prison. You should also expect to earn the respect of your friends, foes and many more you’ve never met, while learning about yourself, and just how strong, brave and good a friend you can be. Books —long books— have been written in answer to your question, so I’ll just review a few basics. Hopefully, the seven items I discuss will provide you with an idea of what you’ll go through. You can defeat the government if you are smart, stubborn and perhaps a bit lucky..." more

from email, 15 September 2008: On September 8, Marie Mason accepted a non-cooperating plea agreement which requires her to plead guilty to three out of four charges leveled against her by the US Attorney's Office relating to E.L.F. activity. We are aware that Marie was facing several consecutive life sentences had she taken her case to trial and been convicted. She was also facing the threat of additional indictments in other districts. Within the wording of Marie’s plea agreement, she stipulates to the involvement of confirmed snitch and government informant, Frank Ambrose, in the actions she plead guilty to. Frank Ambrose has already plead guilty and admitted his involvement in these actions in his own plea agreement.  more