Eric McDavid Update

From: sacprisonersupport@riseup.net

Date: November 1, 2007 11:58:59 PM EDT

Dear friends and supporters,

Please see below for the latest news on Eric’s case and how you can

continue to support him.

New Trial Motion Hearing

On November 15, at 10:00 am, Eric will have a hearing before Judge England

(the same judge that presided over his trial) on the motion that Mark

filed to request a new trial. The basis for the motion is the long list

of egregious errors made by the court during Eric’s trial. The motion is

now posted in its entirety on the website, so please take a minute to

check it out. If the motion is granted, Eric will receive a new trial,

which could take months. If the motion is denied, then the court will

proceed with sentencing on December 6 and we will begin the process of

appeals. Either way, Eric will continue to live in captivity for a very

long time. Please keep up all the amazing support you have offered for

the last 22 months!

Sentencing

Eric’s sentencing is set for December 6. This will be a critical and

stressful time for Eric and his loved ones. Please consider coming to

court on this day to show your support for Eric. He needs to know we are

with him, and will continue to be with him, throughout this ordeal.

There is one more very important thing you can do to help with sentencing.

Please take a few minutes and write a letter to the judge, urging a

minimal sentence for Eric. The US Attorney is still indicating that they

will be pushing for the maximum sentence of 20 years. The judge needs to

hear from Eric’s friends and family – he needs to know that Eric is a

well-respected, honest, compassionate, non-violent person. It is

important for Judge England to know that the acts charged in the

indictment are out of character for Eric. Some things you might mention

in your letter include:

(1)How long you have known Eric

(2)How you met him and how you know him (i.e. school, work, mutual

friends, etc.)

(3)Any experiences you have had with Eric that demonstrate what you think

are important aspects of his character

Address your letter to:

Judge England

U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California-Sacramento

501 “I” Street

Sacramento, CA 95814

Please DO NOT send your letter directly to Judge England. Instead, please

send them directly to Eric’s lawyer:

Mark Reichel

555 Capitol Mall, 6th Floor - Suite 600

Sacramento, CA 95814

Please mail your letter with your original signature as soon as possible.

Again, letters should be sent to Eric’s lawyer, Mark Reichel, and not to

the judge.

Vegan Food

Eric is still not receiving vegan meals. PLEASE continue calling the jail

and requesting that they give him vegan food. We realize this can be a

frustrating process, but it is very important for Eric’s health and

morale. Be aware that the person who answers the phone may very well lie

to you about what is actually happening, or give you a prepared response

(such as “we are aware of the situation”). If the jail were to give Eric

vegan food, you would be the first to know! And if they give you a

prepared response that only means that enough of us are calling to at

least annoy them. But not enough of us to change the situation – so keep

calling!

The person who made the decision to cut off Eric’s food is Lt. Ilg, and

the person who oversees him is Scott Jones. Feel free to request to speak

to either of these people when calling the jail.

It’s always helpful to have Eric’s x-reference number handy when calling

the jail, in case the person you are speaking with asks for it. Eric’s

x-ref is: x-2972521. You can call the jail at :

916-874-6752

916-874-6905

Fundraising

Yes, the ubiquitous fundraising plea… We realize this one can start to

feel a little monotonous and tiresome. Unfortunately, it is also one of

the most important things we can do for Eric right now. To appeal Eric’s

case to the 9th Circuit will cost approximately $35,000 in legal fees, a

number that can seem overwhelming and distant. But with everyone’s help

we have no reason to believe that it cannot be accomplished. Please start

organizing your next fundraiser now.

To make an individual donation online (via Paypal) visit Eric’s website at

www.supporteric.org. Or you can send a check/money order made out to

Sacramento Defense Fund to:

SPS

PO Box 163126

Sacramento, CA 95816

Please remember to make it out to Sacramento Defense Fund, otherwise we

won’t be able to deposit it.

And speaking of fundraisers, some folks in DC have put together a really

amazing event. If you are going to be in DC on November 17, don't miss

it! Details are at the end of this email.

New Flyers

New flyers have been created (thanks to the fellow who helped make that

happen!) and will be posted soon on Eric's website. Please make copies

and distribute them at your next event, at your favorite infoshop or

coffee shop.

T-Shirts

Support Eric t-shirts are still available online from the great folks at

In Our Hearts. They are $10 in person or $15 for national mail order.

See Eric’s website for more details.

Reminders

Eric says he is currently doing fine with reading material and has asked

that everyone wait to send him any books you have in mind until further

notice. He will not be able to bring anything with him when he is

transferred to a federal facility, and will probably not need any more

books before that time.

Also, please remember that if you would like to visit Eric, you should

contact him first so he can put you in touch with his family. He has very

limited visit times and would like to make sure they are used in the most

effective/efficient way possible.

Thank you all for your continued support!

Yours,

SPS

-------------------------------

Fundraiser in DC

State Repression in the Era of the War on Terrorism

A discussion of the Criminalization of Animal Rights and Environmental

Activists and the Continued War on the Black Liberation Movement

Featuring:

Ashanti Alston, former political prisoner and Black Panther

Ramona Africa of MOVE

Gideon Oliver, Civil Rights Attorney, member National Lawyers Guild

Will Potter, Journalist and creator of GreenIsTheNewRed.com

Saturday, November 17 at 7 p.m.

at St. Stephen's Church

1525 Newton Street NW

Washington, D.C.

Join journalists, attorneys, and former political prisoners at a forum

discussing the links between past and present instances of state

repression of social justice movements. From the targeting of animal and

environmental activists being dubbed by many as the "Green Scare" to the

37-year-old charges being brought against former Black Panthers in San

Fransisco, hear how history is repeating itself as state repression

intensifies in the era of the "War on Terrorism" -- and what we can do to

fight it.

$5-10 sliding scale donation to benefit:

Eco-Prisoner, Eric McDavid (www.supporteric.org)

and the Jericho Movement (www.thejerichomovement.org)

NO ONE TURNED AWAY FOR LACK OF FUNDS.

For further information and updates, go to: www.dcinfoshop.org

Or call, 202-986-0681

Co-Sponsored by: Brian MacKenzie Infoshop; Red Emma's Bookstore and

Coffeehouse; Friends and Family of Daniel McGowan; Black August Planning

Organization; The National Jericho Movement