Jeff Luers statement to the court

Jeffrey (Free) Luers Resentencing Hearing, Feb. 28, 2008
Eugene, OR

Lane County Circuit Court Sentencing Hearing in front of
Judge J.A. Billings Present:  Defendant Jeffrey Luers,
Attorneys Lauren Regan, Jess Barton and Hugh Duvall on
behalf of Mr. Luers; Assistant District Attorney Erik
Hasselman on behalf of the State of Oregon.

Statement of Jeffrey Luers to Judge Billings at Sentencing

It has been many years since I first stood in court to be
sentenced for these actions.  I now not only have the
benefit of hindsight but also possess the knowledge and
understanding that comes from leaving the naiveté of youth
behind.

I can now say with all honesty that I was wrong to think
that arson would inspire social change.  But, my failure
in understanding that does not mean I have changed my
opinion of radical activism.

Mr. Hassleman has a written statement from me in which I
have acknowledged being wrong.  I have also committed to
living the life of a law-abiding citizen and promoting my
activism through legal means and channels.
Understandably, the prosecutor has expressed some
skepticism of my sincerity.  I wish to lay those fears to
rest.

I am truly excited about my future.  Through the love and
support of my family, friends and many people I do not
even know, I have numerous options available to me.  I am
looking forward to furthering my education, and pursuing
my goals through hard work.  I am ready to share my life
with my loved ones and I am dedicated to giving back to
the community that has shown me so much love and support
through these years of imprisonment.  That is not the lip
service the prosecutor may fear, but my sincere desire to
move on with my life.

However, choosing to take a new path and recognizing my
mistakes and failures does not make me ashamed of them.  I
am sorry if my actions instilled fear or the sense of
victimization in the Romania family.  That was never my
intent.

I sought to promote change through radical struggle.  I
viewed the refusal of our government and corporate
institutions to address the issues and dire consequences
of global warming as legitimate reasons for direct action.
I still believe that government and corporate inaction is
a legitimate reason for direct action.  Yet, I recognize
that militant struggle has failed to create widespread
social change for many reasons.  And I’m not sure if it is
even capable of creating the change we desperately need.

We are witnessing a mass extinction event taking place in
our life times.  The world’s top scientists are warning
that by the middle of this century, 30 to 50 percent of
all living species could be extinct.  There are
predictions of 250 million people, or more, dying for lack
of water and food.  Fears that melting glaciers in Alaska
and Greenland could catastrophically raise global sea
levels.  While here at home our leading climate scientists
have been censored by our government.  Their reports
edited by Bush appointees who now work for some of
Americas biggest oil companies.  We have been deceived by
the very people responsible for our well-being.

Fortunately, the veil has been lifted and many Americans
are now demanding that action be taken on climate change
and other environmental issues.  Indeed many states are
now confronting our federal government on the topic.
However, so far all legislative attempts to solve the
problem have failed or have lacked the necessary backbone
to accomplish anything meaningful.  The time for change
has to be now.  We no longer have the luxury of passing
our problems off to the next generation.  We must be
vigilant in our determination to create change and find
solutions to what is arguably the greatest threat humanity
has ever faced.  It is the people in this courtroom, the
citizens of this country, this state and this country that
must carry the responsibility for creating change.  For if
we can’t change our own lives how can we expect others to
change theirs?

I’m ready and willing to change so that I can help find
real solutions to our problems.  I’m ready to help find
methods that aren’t limited to rhetoric.  Doomed to
failure by symbolism or rendered meaningless by
corruption.  I choose to take a new direction because not
only is a new path sorely needed in my own life, but a new
direction is sorely needed by our country.  I recognize
that if I’m not helping to create that change, I’m just
standing in the way.  We are all in this together whether
we are labeled radical, conservative or liberal.  And
together is the only way we are going to solve this
problem.

It is easy for me to say these things.  I doubt that my
commitment to the environment or social change has ever
been questioned.  However, I am sure the court as well as
many others, question whether or not I have truly left my
militant past behind.  To which all I can say is that I
am ready to live my life.  I’m ready to put the needs of
my family first.  And I’m also ready to find success
where thus far radical struggle has failed.  More than
anything, I am just ready to move on.”


To which Judge J.A. Billings responded that he has been a
lawyer and a judge for 35 years and he has never received
a statement from a defendant of such high quality.  “I’m
very impressed with you.  I have no hesitation in
accepting this sentence.  I wish you only the best.”

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

2/28/08 Statement of Jeffrey Luers After Sentencing Hearing

Today I feel a great weight lifted off of me, and my loved
ones. While I believe my new sentence is still more of a
reflection of my activism and my dissent than my actual
crimes; I am looking forward to my much closer release
date.

I continue to stand by my actions and have no regrets
about my choices. These last several years in prison have
not deterred me from speaking my mind, following my heart
or standing up against oppression and injustice.

I am proud of the many things I have accomplished while
incarcerated, including reaching beyond oceans and borders
to help raise awareness about global warming and to help
combat social injustice.

I am thankful to my family, friends and the thousands of
supporters and fellow activists from around the world who
have stood by me since day one. And I’d especially like to
thank my attorneys, and friends. Lauren Regan, Misha
Dunlap and Shawn Wiley for never giving up on getting me
out sooner than 22 years.

I am happy to say this journey is almost over and I’ll be
coming home soon.




--
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