12/11: Striking Blows in Defense of the Earth: An Evening with Jeffrey “Free” Luers and Leslie James Pickering
UPDATE: Due to the snow, we have changed the location from the University of Minnesota to Walker Community Church. Please note the address below. Hope to see you there!
Striking Blows in Defense of the Earth: An Evening with Jeffrey “Free” Luers and Leslie James Pickering
*Saturday, December 11, 2010
*5pm, Walker Community Church, 3104 17th Ave S, Minneapolis
*childcare provided
(Flyer here.)
Earth liberation movements have worked tirelessly for many years to bring a revolutionary perspective to the environmental movement, to build solidarity with prior struggles and political prisoners, and to prepare today’s activists for state repression. More recently, however, while state repression has intensified, we have seen a decline in major earth liberation movement activities. Luers and Pickering will analyze these trends, their consequences, and readdress the issues that activists were fighting for a decade ago, which made the movement such a formidable social force.
Jeffrey “Free” Luers is a political activist who served a ten-year prison sentence for arson in the state of Oregon. The arson was an act of protest against climate change and excessive consumption. Before serving time, Luers was already well known for his participation in tree-sitting campaigns to save old growth forests in the Pacific Northwest.
Leslie James Pickering is a founder and former spokesperson for the North American Earth Liberation Front Press Office. He is the author of two books: “Earth Liberation Front 1997-2002” and “Mad Bomber Melville,” the biography of Vietnam War era revolutionary Sam Melville, a key figure in the Attica Prison Uprising of 1971.
Event co-sponsored by: EWOK!, Scott and Carrie Support Committee, Women’s Student Activist Collective, MN NLG, UofM Sociology Dept., UofM Geography Dept., UofM Political Science Department, Scholars for Academic Justice, MN Global Justice Project
This event is a part of the “National Anti-Prison Groups Day of Action.”
Statement of Solidarity with Activists Raided and Subpoenaed on 9/24/10
The following statement was read and agreed upon at a community meeting at Walker Church in Minneapolis on the evening of Friday, September 24, 2010. If you would like to add your name and/or organization to this list, *please email ActivismIsNotTerrorism@gmail.com.*
**Statement of Solidarity with Activists Raided and Subpoenaed on 9/24/10**
The raids and grand jury subpoenas against antiwar and international solidarity activists on the morning of Friday, September 24, 2010 are not just an attack on particular activists, but on our movements for social justice as a whole. With a united voice, we condemn this repression; we demand the federal government cease its investigation and withdraw the subpoenas immediately; and we vow to continue our work for true justice.
We reject the allegation that the government’s investigation into our movements is based on “material support for terrorism” in any form. This allegation is particularly ludicrous considering the terror tactics the U.S. government engages in on a daily basis, both globally and domestically. Aimed against valued members of our community, the raids against activists on Friday morning were particularly offensive to us. However, we recognize that they are unexceptional instances of repression when compared to the daily crimes against humanity carried out by U.S. imperialism.
We refuse to let the accusations of a notoriously untruthful, repressive government divide us in any way. Because an attack on one of us is an attack on all of us, we resolve to set any ideological or other political differences aside and respond in solidarity with one another. Our struggle will continue. Read the rest of this entry »
FBI Visit Work Of Minneapolis Area Man
On Wednesday evening (September 15, 2010), Jeremy Dunbar received a call from his employment agency.
His agency informed him that people from the “Federal Government” (FBI) wanted to meet at the agency office the following morning before he clocks in at work.
This was an odd request, because he worked in a different location than where his agency’s office was located. He also didn’t want to miss work. His start time was before the open hours of his employment agency.
Jeremy declined to set up the meeting and immediately sought the counsel of an attorney.
An attorney has contacted the FBI and left messages inquiring why they wish to speak with Jeremy. At this time there has been no response from the “Federal Government.”
Unfortunately, this is not a new experience for Jeremy. The FBI have a history of harassing him at work. Read the rest of this entry »
FBI harassment in the Twin Cities
This morning two FBI agents approached Dr. Toxic, a local friend and parent who has been involved in animal rights and other radical activism, and tried unsuccessfully to get him to talk. His account of the incident is below. This sort of visit is typical FBI harassment and clearly meant, as he points out, to push buttons and intimidate people.
If you are approached by law enforcement, remember that you DO NOT have to talk to them, even if they say you do or that you should. We encourage anyone who has been visited to consult a lawyer (call 888-NLG-ECOL if you need to find one), *and* to tell people about it. The FBI uses isolation as a way of coercing people into cooperation, and it behooves us all to expose their activities so we can build community support for targeted individuals.
If you have been approached or harassed by law enforcement, we also encourage you to let us know by emailing ewok@riseup.net.
Stay safe,
EWOK!
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From Toxic:
Here’s what I recall about my encounter with the FBI today: Read the rest of this entry »
July 14: Sentencing and solidarity demo for Isaac and Michael!
On July 9th, Isaac and Michael were found guilty of Disorderly Conduct for an anti-fur protest in front of Ribnick Furs.
Communities United Against Police Brutality, along with local animal rights activists, are calling for a protest in front of Ribnick Furs on Wedensday, July 14 starting at 4:30 to protest the injustice to the First Amendment and the cruelty of the fur trade.
Isaac and Michael will also be sentenced at 8:15 AM on the 14th floor of the Hennepin County Government Center on the same day.
In addition, money is needed for their appeal, and more information can be found on their newly launched website: http://deathtrade.wordpress.com/
Trial for Isaac Peter and Michael Lawson starts THIS TUESDAY!!!!
On March 4, 2010, Isaac Peter and Michael Lawson were arrested outside of Ribnick Fur’s while exercising their first amendment right to picket on public property.
Come out and support Isaac, Michael, and the First Amendment. The trial will likely be more than one day but we don’t know yet.
Hope to see YOU there!!!
Date: Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Time: 9:00 AM
Location: Government Center (415 South 5th Street, Minneapolis)
Check with the court clerk for the court room.
March 29- Drop the charges!: Call-in In Support Of Minneapolis Fur Protesters
——Please Cross Post——
March 29- Drop the charges!: Call-in In Support Of Minneapolis Fur Protesters
When? Monday March 29th, all day
Who? Susan Segal, city attorney 612-673-3272
As fur protesters and avid animal lovers Isaac Peter and Michael Lawson stood chanting anti-fur slogans on the sidewalk outside of Ribnick’s Furs in downtown Minneapolis on March 4th, neither expected to be spending their evening undergoing booking at the Hennepin County jail. Read the rest of this entry »
Carrie’s out!
Update as of 3/18/10: Carrie was released today! The US Attorney unexpectedly filed a motion stating that her testimony was no longer needed, and now she’s out of jail and on her way back home. She’s excited to finally be free, and wants to express her gratitude to everyone for their support throughout this process.
Thanks to everyone for having shown so much solidarity over the past four months of Carrie’s incarceration. We’re relieved to finally have her back, and want to invite everyone to the SCSC dinner tomorrow to celebrate her return. Join us in welcoming Carrie home, and to discuss legal updates around Scott’s case.
When: 3/19, 6:30-8pm
Where: PPNA Building, 821 E 35th
Joyfully,
the SCSC
Feb. 28-March 2: Events with Dhoruba Bin-Wahad
**Political Repression and State Violence, from Minneapolis to Palestine**
a talk by Dhoruba Bin-Wahad
In November 2009 Dhoruba Bin-Wahad, a former U.S. political prisoner, leader the Black Panther Party, and member of the Black Liberation Army, was detained and deported from the West Bank of occupied Palestine by Israeli authorities. He had been invited to attend a conference on political detention by the Palestinian Authority.
Dhoruba spent 19 years of a life sentence in jail for a crime he did not commit. He was a target of the FBI’s COINTELPRO, was arrested in 1971 and had his conviction overturned in 1990.
He will discuss historic and current struggles against social injustice and state violence in the U.S. and in Palestine, with a specific focus on political prisoners and institutions that repress social movement mobilization within communities fighting oppression.
Join a wide array of Twin Cities organizations to hear this powerful speaker, who challenges conventional wisdom and inspires people to embrace social change. Read the rest of this entry »
Feb. 20: “State Repression and Social Movements: Grand Juries, the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, and Community Activism
“State Repression and Social Movements: Grand Juries, the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, and Community Activism”
A talk with legendary radical attorney Stu Sugarman and Professor David N. Pellow
When: Saturday, February 20th, potluck at 6:30pm, talk at 7pm
Where: Social Science Building Room 1114, University of Minnesota campus
On the anniversary of the arrest of the AETA 4, join sociologists, attorneys, and community activists to learn about the history of state repression directed at activists and scholars involved in social change movements.
Information will be provided on the defense of the following activists:
-the AETA 4, four Santa Cruz activists facing “animal enterprise terrorism” charges for sidewalk-chalking and other 1st-amendment-protected activities
-Scott DeMuth, a grand jury resister now facing false charges of “animal enterprise terrorism”
-Carrie Feldman, currently in her third month of incarceration in Iowa for refusing to testify before a federal grand jury
Sponsored by Scholars for Academic Justice, Earth Warriors are OK! (EWOK!), the Coldsnap Legal Collective, the Scott and Carrie Support Committee, and the Minnesota Global Justice Project
Earth Warriors are OK! 