Sunday, January 21, 2007

Updates from Supporters of Joyanna and Nathan

From: "Supporters of J. & N." <supportersofnathanandjoyanna@gmail.com>
Date: January 20, 2007

Warm Greetings to All in this Time of No Light,

We wanted to send an update to let folks know that Nathan and Joyanna
are doing well, remaining strong and resolute in the face of a prison
sentence that would keep them incarcerated until 2012 or beyond. As
always, we marvel at their integrity and steadfastness, and endeavor
to allow their imprisonment to be as comfortable as possible.

With that in mind, we want to let you know that this coming Thursday,
JANUARY 25th, will be Joyanna's 29th birthday. It will undoubtedly be
a very difficult one despite the incredible support she feels.
Joyanna continues to demonstrate courage and tremendous strength
nearly a year after her arrest, and receiving mail from those near and
dear has been a critical piece in sustaining that attitude. Please
help mark this day with your cards and letters. Even though we know
how appreciative she would be of the gift of books, at this point, she
has all that she is allowed, so please hold off.

Guidelines for what is and is not appropriate to mail can be found at:
http://www.ecoprisoners.org/howtohelp2.htm

We are imagining her day filled with images and words sending incredible love.

Also, we are encouraging contributions to their commissary funds which
dipped low this last month. Commissary allows inmates to purchase
toiletries and other helpful items, as well as augmenting the
notoriously poor food situation by providing snacks and other foods
for sale. This weekly trip to the "store" is a big highlight in the
life of someone behind bars, and if you have anything to give, it
would be much appreciated. You can donate in one of two ways:
1) Donations can always be sent to Nathan and Joyanna's support fund.
This fund is maintained by Nathan's mother, Maureen, and is used at
the discretion of Joyanna and Nathan. Checks and money orders can be
sent to:

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

2) Money can also be sent directly to them for their commissary fund.
To do this, simply enclose a check or money order in an envelope and
mail it directly to them. The jail will collect your money and provide
N. or J. with a receipt letting them know about your gift. If your
envelope included a letter or a card, this will be provided with the
receipt.

Here are their addresses:

Joyanna Zacher #1663550
Lane County Adult Corrections
101 W. 5th Ave.
Eugene, OR 96740

Nathan Block #1663667
Lane County Adult Corrections
101 W. 5th Ave.
Eugene, OR 96740

From: "Supporters of J. & N." <supportersofnathanandjoyanna@gmail.com>
Date: January 20, 2007

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Nathan and Joyanna are in need of people who are willing to write
letters to the court on their behalf. As you likely know, they have
pled guilty and are both scheduled to go before Judge Ann Aiken on
April 25th for sentencing, though this date will most likely be
postponed. There will likely be pre-sentencing legal wrangling
regarding the government's stated desire to use a "terrorism
enhancement" to obtain a more severe sentence.

Prior to sentencing, their lawyers will submit detailed briefs to the
court. These briefs will hopefully include letters from family
members, friends, and other supporters, and these letters will factor
into Judge Aiken's decision.

Many of you wrote excellent letters last spring to support their
attempt at a bail release, and although we did not prevail, that
effort was critical. We are now asking you to PLEASE WRITE AGAIN.

Perhaps you have saved your letter and only have to make minor
adjustments. Perhaps now you have more clarity about what you may want
to say and how you can say it. Regardless, please don't feel
intimidated by this request but simply write honestly from experience
and from your heart.

Writing with respect to Nathan and Joyanna's character and your
relationships, their place in the community, and your thoughts on the
sentencing are all APPROPRIATE. You may wish to write to the Judge
about how their case compares to other crimes and incidents that you
are personally aware of that either have or have not been treated as
"terrorist" incidents. INAPPROPRIATE would be any comments that try
to justify or rationalize the incidents. Also, we ask that you not
compare Nathan and Joyanna to others who have entered pleas and who
are also facing sentencing, or to those who have not been arrested or
are fugitives.

Judge Aiken will likely take into consideration such things as whether
Nathan and Joyanna are apt to commit another crime; if they had been
living largely different lives since the time of their admitted
offenses; whether they have family and friends ready and willing to
help them reintegrate after incarceration; and specifically, what
kinds of support and opportunities might await them.

If you have known Nathan and Joy we suggest you simply try to write
about any personal experiences you have had with them that illustrate
those important aspects of their character; what you know about their
relationship with family and close friends – the people who will be
their personal support while they are in prison and when they are
released. You might want to write about how you see their lives have
changed since 2001 or consider sharing how you might be able to help
them reestablish a normal life when they are released from prison,
whether it is through helping them pursue their education, gain
employment, or establishing a home.

Above all else, you should know that your support has been key to
maintaining the solidarity that has strengthened and sustained Nathan
and Joy throughout. We want to thank you in advance for continuing
that effort with a letter in response to this appeal.

It is important that your letters reach their lawyers by FEBRUARY
15th, 2007 in order to to be included in their pre-sentencing
memorandum. Please write in a polite, respectful manner to the Judge.

The top of the letter itself should be addressed to:

Honorable Ann Aiken
United States District Court
Eugene, Oregon

Please be sure your letter includes your address and that you DATE and
SIGN it. And please, do NOT mail your letter to Judge Aiken. After
you have signed the letter, mail it to the respective lawyer's office.

Letters for Nathan should be sent to:

John E. Storkel
1415 Liberty Street, S.E.
Salem, Oregon 97302

Letters for Joyanna should be sent to:

Bill Sharp
1342 High Street, 2nd Floor
Eugene, Oregon 97401

If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Thanks and be well.

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