UPDATE: Federal Government Releases Environmental Activist Eric McDavid From Prison
June 11th is the International Day of Solidarity with Marie Mason, Eric McDavid, and other political prisoners. The day of solidarity began as support for CLDC client Jeff Luers, who on June 11th, 2001 was sentenced to 22 years and 8 months in prison (later reduced to 10 years as a result of a successful appeal) for setting fire to three SUVs at a car dealership in Eugene, OR. The action hurt no one and was intended to raise awareness about the detrimental impact of humans on the environment, yet the government took the opportunity to make an example of Jeff and attempt to chill activism. Jeff wasn’t alone; in a campaign of blatant repression targeting environmental and animal liberation activists known as the “Green Scare,” the government has continued to hand out lengthy prison sentences to other activists, including Marie Mason and Eric McDavid.
Marie Mason was sentenced in 2009 to almost 22 years in prison for her involvement in burning an office containing Monsanto-funded GMO research and destroying a piece of logging equipment. Like in Jeff’s case, the actions did not hurt or kill anyone, but the State reacted harshly to the threat to corporate interests and has thus far upheld Marie’s draconian sentence. Marie is a longtime environmental, animal, and labor activist, and the mother of two children. Her ex-husband, Frank Ambrose, informed about her to the FBI in a pathetically weak attempt to reduce his own sentence. As a result of her acts to protect the earth, it will still be many years before she can stand amongst trees or tend to her children as a mother should be able to. Learn more about Marie, her case, and how to write her a letter here. (http://supportmariemason.org/)
Eric McDavid was sentenced in 2008 to 20 years in prison for conspiracy, the result of being entrapped by a paid government informant known as “Anna.” For over a year, Anna worked with the FBI to craft a crime in which they implicated Eric. Never having carried out any actions, Eric was victim to an Orwellian charge of thought-crime and the State’s crusade to chill political activism and young anarchists. Eric has continued to resist the government, and he is currently in the final process of appealing his conviction and sentencing that came as a result of a trial filled with errors. Learn more information about Eric, his case, and how to write him a letter here. (http://supporteric.org)
Please use this June 11th—and every other day—to show your solidarity with Marie Mason, Eric McDavid, and all political prisoners in the fight against the government’s attempts to stop political activism. Organize or attend an event, write a letter to a prisoner, donate to their support accounts or prison commissary accounts, educate your community, and continue to work for social change. Rather than allow the State to silence dissent, let us be inspired by Marie’s and Eric’s resistance and create a never-ending echo with the strength of our voices.
For more information about June 11th and to find a solidarity event in your area, visit here. (http://june11.org/)