Statement from Nathan and Joyanna's Supporters

From: "Supporters of J. & N."

Date: Sat, November 18, 2006 3:09 pm
To: "Supporters..."
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**This message is being disseminated to the entirety of our mailing
list. Please feel free to forward to interested parties.**

Friends and supporters,

As you may already know, after many long months of ongoing, careful
consideration and negotiation, the four non-cooperating Green Scare
defendants, Joyanna, Nathan, Daniel McGowan and Jonathan Paul appeared
in
court on Thursday, November 9th, and entered "guilty" pleas as part of
a global resolution agreement with prosecutors. Withdrawing their
motion to obtain materials from possible National Security Agency
(NSA) surveillance, this agreement means that
they have accepted their personal participation in these
environmentally motivated crimes, but have not, and will not, provide
information on, inculpate or reveal the identities of anyone else,
remaining steadfast and united in their unswerving dedication to not
taking the easy way out.

This was obviously an extremely difficult decision collectively made
by these four after previously only being offered two choices by the
government: to
cooperate by informing on other people, or go to trial and possibly
face life in prison. This plea now allows them to accept
responsibility while standing by
their principles. For Nathan and Joyanna, the government will seek a
sentence of 8 years, while their lawyers have asked for no more than
63 months. If cooperating defendents who have plead to similar charges
receive less time, then Nathan and Joy's
sentences must reflect that. The date for their sentencing should be
set at the next status hearing scheduled for December 14th.

This sentencing stage remains critical. They will still need to fight
for the least possible sentence as the government has said that they
will will seek a "terrorism enhancement" which could potentially
increase jail time up to 20 years. Lauren
Regan of the Civil Liberties Defense Center (PLEASE support her work:
www.cldc.org ) has said, "We believe the government is seeking this
enhancement because
that way they can say, 'we haven't caught any real terrorists—Osama
or
anything—but we did catch these 'eco-terrorists' in the Northwest.'"

We are extremely proud of Joyanna and Nathan for staying true to
themselves and finding the most honorable route possible out of this
intractable situation. We continue to stand behind them 100%. It now
seems likely that our beloved will not breathe a free breath until
sometime between 2010-2013. So, as you can see what initially seems
like good news and a "best-case scenario," is also tragic beyond
comprehension. We ask for all to hold in their hearts the beauty of
Joyanna and Nathan and their pain and all who may be grieving at the
sudden reality of their extended disappearance and the relinquishing
of hope.

We hope too, that you will recognize that this is also an extremely
important
time to step up any support efforts you were making on Nathan and
Joyanna's behalf. It is essential that they know that they are still
supported and respected, and that their support community will not
simply disappear at this important juncture. We heartily encourage you
to write letters to them, to send them color copies of images
(animals, nature, mystical iconography are suggestions), and to let
them know that we're still here and will continue to be. If you have
considered doing any benefit work on their behalf, this is an
excellent time. Support the Green Scare International Day
of Solidarity on December 7th (http://www.greenscare.org/).

To those who have already helped financially, thank you so much! We
will continue to raise funds in order to meet ongoing expenses which
now include approxiamately
$5,000. per defendent in non-negotiable court fees.

The address where funds can be donated, in care of Maureen Block,
Nathan's mother and steward of their joint defense fund is:

S.N.J.
c/o Maureen Block
881 Oak Hill Rd. Swanville, ME 04915

Once again, we thank all of you for the care, energy, prayers, and
solidarity that you have given. We respect your courage to support
Nathan and Joyanna when they were facing such severe consequences, and
we hope that you will be able to continue to support them as they
experience this huge transition in their lives. Nathan and Joyanna
remain appreciative of ALL the support, visits, mail and books they
have received over these past eight (almost nine) months.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns that may
come up for you.

Be well.