Jeff Luers

from email, 30 October 2008: "As beautiful autumn weather brings us closer to 2009, Jeff's release date in December 2009 seems all the more palpable. And all the friends and family that have visited Jeff these past few months have noticed a huge change in Jeff's demeanor as he too realizes he will once again enjoy the pleasures that we on the outside all take for granted. Please help us build a release fund for Jeff to help pay for his education and costs associated with rebuilding his life..." more

from email, 12 September 200: For the last several months I have been having these amazing conversations mail with someone who is as heavily involved in forest defense as I was once was. The stories and pictures she has shared with me of the campaigns to protect the Weld Valley in Tasmania has been a tremendous inspiration (to learn more about how you can help, look up the Huon Valley Environmental Center [HVEC] on Myspace)[or go to http://www.huon.org/]. I have been invigorated by the exchange of ideas and strategies, becoming so excited I even sent diagrams of tree-sits I used to build. more

from email, 11 August 2008: Over the years these writings have served as a window into my life. I did not begin them with that intent. They started as a way to demonstrate to the world and myself that no cage could break my spirit. However, they have become so much more. Through these dispatches, you the audience have gotten a feel for what it is like to be a political prisoner. Not the celebrity that so often accompanies those of us locked up for direct action, but the deep heartfelt sorrow that is being locked up for an act of protest. more

from email, 20 April 2008: Daniel McGowan is an an environmental and social justice activist from New York City, currently serving a 7 year sentence for 2 actions involving arson in the Pacific Northwest. Daniel was, and still is, a major source of support for Jeff. We wanted to share an article with you that Daniel wrote about Jeff, recently posted on his blog: http://supportdaniel.org/blog/?p=30 Please read and share, and please also offer support to Daniel as he has done for Jeff over the years.  more

from email, 14 April 2008: "We have just been informed today that Jeff was transferred to a minimum security prison in Portland - the Columbia River Correctional Institution. We do not know if this will be his "final" destination or not as he serves his last 2 years..." more

from email, 31 March 2008: It is Easter Sunday, a rather strange celebration to me, after all it's just another stolen pagan holiday. Yet, I am celebrating the return of spring; the stirring of new beginnings, new life, new hope, another chance. Spring is like a bright, beautiful sunrise after a long night. It brings a smile to my face and joy to my heart. It is a time for planting seeds and hoping they will take root and grow. more

from Jeff "Free"Luers, 17 March 2008: What a long and strange journey this past year has been. I have been riding highs and lows as I have been struggling to regain my freedom and find a balance between my desires for this movement and my own personal happiness. I've made no secret of my often conflicting emotions or my disappointment in radical struggles here in the United States. Yet, despite my confusion about my own part in this messy struggle that now sees so many of us locked behind bars — so many split once again into factions, while many others hearts are broken by the betrayals of friends and former heroes — I have strived to remain true to the ideals in which I believe. more

from email, 13 March 2008: We have just been informed that Jeff has been transferred to an intake processing facility at Coffee Creek Correctional Institution in Wilsonville, Oregon. Jeff will be processed as a new prisoner and will eventually be sent to another facility for the remainder of his sentence. This transfer follows his resentencing of 2/28/08 in which his sentence was reduced from 23 years to 10 years, making him eligible for release by December 2009 with "good behavior". more

from email, 28 February 2008: OREGON - Jeffrey 'Free' Luers has been re-sentenced, this time to 10 years. I know that doesn't sound great but his original sentence of 22 years 8 months given by Judge Lyle Velure was declared illegal last year. He is now scheduled for release in late December 2009. more

from email, updated 26 February 2008: "Jeff's re-sentencing will take place Thursday, February 28th at 9am Lane County Circuit Court in Eugene.

Of course we are all very hopeful for a positive outcome. An announcement will be sent out as soon as possible with the details..." more

Updated 21 January 2008: "We have been informed that Jeff's status hearing has been rescheduled for February 7th 2008. This date could very well change again but we will let you know as soon as we know anything... As we stated before, it is requested that only Jeff's family and close friends attend the hearing. We are also requesting that things are kept low-key -- any protest or similar activity would be acting against the wishes of Jeff and his family..." more

We wanted to give you an important update about Jeff. He has been moved from OSP to Lane County Jail in expectation of his re-sentencing hearing(s). At this point we don't know many details or even how long he will be at Lane County. His attorneys will know more after Wednesday (Oct 17) and we will be sure to give you an update after that. more

from email: The 7th anniversary of Jeff’s imprisonment is fast arriving, and to mark this date we are encouraging everyone once again to participate in a Day of Solidarity. This year we are asking people to hold demonstrations to demand change, not just for Jeff’s case but for the world.

Please plan an event in your community and inform us of the details so we can help you publicize it.  more

Our country needs a mass mobilization, not only to end the war, but also to turn government priorities on their head. It is traditional for a society’s principles to evolve quicker than those of its government. That fact is the historical foundation for all social movements.

Our country needs radical change and it needs it now. We do not have the luxury of time. Acting to limit climate change now could prevent future wars because in a few decades time war will not be fought for oil, it will be fought for water.... more

Thursday, February 15th was just like any other morning for me. I woke up at six, went down to breakfast and ate with my friends. I came back to my cell and turned on the morning news. My cellie went back to sleep, covering his eyes from the light of the TV as I made a cup of coffee.

I had just started paying attention when the ticker at the bottom of the screen read, 'The man who set fire to three SUVs as an environmental protest, will serve a shorter sentence than originally planned.' more

An update on Jeff Luers, sentenced to nearly 23 years prison for torching some SUVs.

The appeals court sent the case of Jeff Luers of Eugene back to Lane County District Court for resentencing, saying the trial judge erred by imposing sentences on the arson and attempted arson counts consecutively, rather than merging them together. more

On 3 December 2006 there was an International Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners that involved people from countries around the world. In Palestine, the Philippines, Haiti, Brazil, Italy, Switzerland, England, India, and the U.S. people marked December 3rd with rallies, marches, and other forms of resistance.  more

Talk about a shitty couple of days. I get out of the hole on Sunday, August 20. To start I have to fight to get out on my date because I'm not in the computer. I get let out without having had a hearing, which means I have no sanctions.  more

The term Green Scare refers to the Red Scares of the early twentieth century, made famous by the McCarthy hearings and the House Un- American Activities Committee.  more

Environmental activist Craig 'Critter' Marshall is serving five years for causing around $50,000 fire damage to three vehicles in a Oregon car lot. No one was harmed in the incident and at least two of the vehicles suffered only cosmetic damage and are now back in full working order. Whilst in prison Craig penned this following piece which we feel is worth repeating here. more