Ramona Africa interview about MOVE 9 Parole Hearings

From MOVE 9 Parole 2008 http://move9parole.blogspot.com/

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Ramona Africa interview about MOVE 9 Parole Hearings

Watch the video here:


http://move9parole.blogspot.com/2008/03/video-ramona-africa-interview-about.html

In this new interview, Ramona Africa talks about the upcoming MOVE 9
Parole Hearings that are scheduled for April. MOVE is asking for support.
Stay tuned for an online petition and sample letter to send to the Parole
Board. Visit the new move9parole.blogspot.com site created for this
important time.

Ramona Africa is the sole adult survivor of the May 13, 1985 massacre of
11 members of the MOVE organization. The FBI and the City of Philadelphia
dropped a C4 bomb on MOVE's Osage Avenue home in West Philadelphia. Both
30-year old Ramona and 13-year old Birdie Africa (the only 2 survivors)
report that as the MOVE family attempted to escape their burning home,
their were met with massive rounds of automatic gunfire, forcing 11
members of the MOVE family to be burnt alive. Ramona dodged gunfire and
escaped from the fire with permanent scarring from the burns.

Ramona was charged with conspiracy, riot, and multiple counts of simple
and aggravated assault. Subsequently Ramona served 7 years in prison. If
she had chosen to sever her ties with MOVE and renounce the teachings of
John Africa, she could have been released far earlier. In the face of this
she held true to her revolutionary beliefs and was uncompromising in the
face of state terror. In his essay, "May 13 Remembered," featured in his
book "All Things Censored," Mumia Abu-Jamal writes:

"Had Ramona Africa emerged from the sea of flames wrapped in fear, had she
not instead escaped with her aura of resistance intact, she would have
been free long before the seven years she spent in a hellhole. Her
prosecutor, describing MOVE as a cult of resistance, demanded the jury
convict her of a range of charges that, if they did so, would have exposed
her to fifty years in prison. Only her naturalist faith, the teachings of
John Africa, allowed her to competently defend herself, where she beat the
majority of the charges. Ramona is "free" today."

Since her release from prison, Ramona has tirelessly worked on behalf of
the MOVE 9, Mumia Abu-Jamal, and all political prisoners and prisoners of
war. She travels around the world, working for the revolution.

Help German anti-G8 activist Martin Kramer, repressed in Russian Far East

3rd of March Martin Kramer was arrested by police of the city of Vanino
in Habarovsk region in Russian Far East, and was beaten up by the FSB
agents. Martin is a German citizen, who is coordinating travel of
activists to counter-summit against G8 in Japan in summer of 2008. He
was about to travel to Sakhalin island by a boat. Martin was accused of
carrying "extremist" and "secret" documents.

Around 10 AM Martin and his acquaintance from Nahodka bought tickets to
a boat to Sakhalin. While they were waiting for boat, they were
approached by police. He said he is police officer Aleksandr Petrovich
Kravchuk, and he demanded that Martin and his acquaintance should follow
him to a police station. Their documents were checked and they were
released.

But soon Martin was released another time, and again taken to a police
station. This time he was interrogated by FSB agents. Leader of the
agents presented a document with name Yevgeni Malakhov. FSB agents
illegally took Martin's documents, notebook, personal stuff, he was
searched and then beaten up. According to Martin, he was beaten with
fists and feet, then he was taken to 4th floor of the police station and
threaten that he will be thrown out from the window, and afterwards
agents would fabricate that it was an accident. FSB agents refused to
invite a consul, and they gave him "advocate", a woman who did not
showed any documents but who acted like just another agent.

Among property of Martin, police found archival document from 1920's or
1930's with stamp "secret", and he was accused of possession of secret
documents. Martin attempted to explain that these documents have been
made public a long time ago, and he was working with them due to his
research work. Agents ignored his explanations, and also claimed that
Ukrainian paper "Liva-Sprava" and paper of Autonomous Action of
Vladivostok "Udar' is extremist press.

After few hours Martin was released from the police station, taken to a
car and thrown out to one of the streets of the city. Martin was late
from the ship, and he demanded a new ticket, but he was refused. Then he
was able to get to a phone booth, from where he could call to his
friends in Moscow, but suddenly connection was disrupted. We do not know
what his happening with Martin right now.

Police in Vanino is currently refusing from comments, as it is already
night in Vanino (+7 hours from Moscow time, +10 hours CET).

Please make a phone call and ask what is up with Martin:

Numbers of police and administration in Vanino
Municipal administration

fax: : +7 (42-137) 55-252
phone: +7 (42-137) 55-102

Police:
ROVD: +7 (42-137) 7-10-01
LOVD: +7 (42-137) 5-76-69
Prosecutor's office: +7 (42-137) 7-13-43

(from http://avtonom.org/index.php?nid=1627)

Associated Press: Luxury Homes Burn in Apparent Eco-Attack

As stated below, Briana Waters' lawyer Robert Bloom asked for a mistrial
to be declared this morning, due to the possible influence of this
development on the jury. The judge denied Bloom's motion, and the jury is
still in deliberation.

***

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hQlKz_UjBgvhm8rfGiTaQYS82a5gD8V66KUG0

Luxury Homes Burn in Apparent Eco-Attack

By ELIZABETH M. GILLESPIE

WOODINVILLE, Wash. (AP) — Three seven-figure dream homes went up in flames
early Monday in a Seattle suburb, apparently set by eco-terrorists who
left a sign mocking the builders' claims that the 4,000-plus-square-foot
houses were environmentally friendly.

The sign — a sheet marked with spray paint — bore the initials ELF, for
Earth Liberation Front, a loose collection of radical environmentalists
that has claimed responsibility for dozens of attacks since the 1990s.

The sheriff's office estimated that Monday's pre-dawn fires did $7 million
in damage to the "Street of Dreams," a row of unoccupied, furnished luxury
model homes where tens of thousands of visitors last summer eyed the
latest in high-end housing, interior design and landscaping. Three homes
were destroyed and two suffered smoke damage.

Crews removed incendiary devices found in the homes, Snohomish County
District 7 Fire Chief Rick Eastman said. Later, however, Kelvin Crenshaw,
special agent in charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms in
Seattle, said there was no evidence such devices had been used.

The FBI was investigating the fires as a potential domestic terrorism act,
said FBI spokesman Rich Kolko in Washington, D.C.

No injuries were reported in the fires, which began before dawn in the
wooded subdivision and were still smoldering by midmorning.

The sign left behind said in red scraggly letters, "Built Green? Nope
black!" and "McMansions in RCDs r not green," a reference to rural cluster
developments.

One alleged ELF activist is on trial in Tacoma in the 2001 firebombing of
the University of Washington's Center for Urban Horticulture.
Investigators had no evidence linking the fires to the trial, Seattle FBI
agent Fred Gutt said.

The homes that burned were between 4,200 and 4,750 square feet, are on
sale at prices up to nearly $2 million.

One of the people involved in the project said the homes used "green"
techniques such as water-pervious sidewalks, super-insulated walls and
windows and products made with recycled materials, such carpet pads.

"It's very disappointing to take a situation where we're tying to promote
good building practices — Built Green practices — and that it's
destroyed," said Doug Barnes, the Northwest division president of Centex
Homes in Kirkland.

Many cities have events similar to the Seattle Street of Dreams, which has
been held since the 1980s. Advertising for last summer's show focused on
the environmentally friendly aspects of the homes, which were smaller than
some of the houses featured in years past.

"We are stunned by this event, and we thank God that each of the homes
were unoccupied and that there were no apparent injuries," Seattle Street
of Dreams Inc. President John Heller said in a news release.

The homes are in a development near the headwaters of Bear Creek, which is
home to endangered chinook salmon. Opponents of the development had
questioned whether the luxury homes could pollute the creek and an aquifer
that is a drinking water source, and whether enough was done to protect
nearby wetlands.

The FBI has said the ELF and a sister group, the Animal Liberation Front,
have committed hundreds of criminal acts.

ELF is known for trying to cause economic damage to companies or
organizations it considers to be harming the environment. The group has no
organized structure or leadership; typically, autonomous cells of
activists take "direct actions" such as arsons and claim responsibility on
behalf of ELF.

In 2005, federal authorities charged more than a dozen people involved in
an ELF cell known as "the Family" and centered near Olympia, Wash., and
Eugene, Ore. The group was responsible for at least 17 fires around the
West from 1996 to 2001 — most notoriously, the 1998 destruction of a lodge
at the Vail ski resort in Colorado, a fire that caused $12 million in
damage.

A federal jury in Tacoma was deliberating in the case of another accused
ELF activist. Briana Waters could face at least 35 years if convicted of
helping to firebomb the UW horticulture building in 2001.

Waters' lawyer, Robert Bloom, asked the judge to declare a mistrial Monday
morning, citing the possibility that the fires — and their ensuing
publicity — could influence the jury.

"It is inconceivable that anybody who is supporting Briana's case could
have been responsible for this," Bloom said.

The judge rejected Bloom's request.

Waters, a 32-year-old violin teacher from Oakland, Calif., is accused of
serving as a lookout while her friends planted the firebomb, which caused
$7 million in damage. The horticulture center was targeted because the ELF
activists mistakenly believed researchers there were genetically
engineering trees, investigators said.

Associated Press writer Lara Jakes Jordan in Washington, D.C., and Gene
Johnson in Seattle contributed to this report.

Briana Waters Trial: Notes from 2/28 & 2/29

1) Trial Notes 2/28 AM
2) Trial Notes 2/28 PM
3) Trial Notes 2/29

**

TRIAL NOTES 2/28 AM


2-28-08 am Briana Waters Trial
(this is a summary and not intended to be a complete transcript)

From 8:30 to 10:30, the lawyers suggested jury instructions.

10:45
Prosecution presented one rebuttal witness:
FBI Special Agent Christopher Ford who works out of the Seattle FBI
office. He was instructed by the prosecutors to drive from Ralph’s
Thriftway in Olympia to the Green Lake Bar and Grill (Inn?) in Seattle. He
said it took him 67 minutes to drive the 68 miles at 60 mph.

He said that according to Naval astronomical records, on May 20, 2001,
sunset was at 8:45 pm and civil twilight was at 9:24 pm.

He also looked into BW’s Jan. 2002 hospital visit, which reported that she
was at intake at 6:23 am and she was discharged at 10:20 am.

Prosecution: no further questions

Defense (D), Neill Fox, cross examination of SA Ford:

D: You took I-5 and exited at the NE 65th exit (Rovena)?
A: Y

D: You did not drive to the UW?
A: N

D: Did you keep your speedometer at 60 mph?
A: Y

D: Did you have gasoline or electronic devices in your car?
A: N

D: Are there traffic cameras along I-5?
A: Y

D: Are there other routes to get from Olympia to Seattle
A: Y

D: Do you know if there are traffic cameras on those other routes? A: I
don’t know.

D: Are you aware if there was Tacoma Doem traffic on the night of May 20,
2001?
A: N

D: Were you aware that there was a Seattle Mariners game that evening? A:
No, I was not.

D: Traffic after ballgames is usually heavy on I-5, correct?
A: Y

D: Hwy 520 is an option, but you have to cross that bridge, correct? A: I
guess so.

exhibit (x) A216 flyer for a street fair in Seattle on May 20, 2001

D: Were you aware of this fair? Were you aware that oten they shut down
streets during street fairs?
A: I’m not familiar with street fairs. I’m not aware of the traffic
patterns on May 20, 2001.

xA217 webpage or flyer? about the street fair and road construction during
May 2001
It described road construction in the UW area, including a shutdown of
50th St. and the reduction of I-5 down to one lane.

xA215 article form the 5-3-01 Seattle Post-Intelligencer describing
backups on I-5, a couple of weeks of road construction, half the lanes on
I-5 closed

SA Ford’s driving times reported did not take these things into account.

Witness dismissed.

Prosecution case closed

Case closed

**

TRIAL NOTES 2/28 PM


2-28-08 PM

The jury is going to be told the rules of how to make their judgment this
afternoon.
Prosecution: instruction 13a dealing with Robert Corina says he didn't lie
under oath.  We believe his testimony is for the jury to decide.
Fox: the facts are, he lied to a grand jury.  He didn't remember about the
car during the grand jury.
Judge: a brief recess to make changes to the instructions.
Jury leaves.
 Judge: I've decided to remove 13a; the evidence is there for the jury to
decide.
Fox: we “accept to failure to give” (after a long list of objections to
the instructions)
Judge: are you ready to begin your arguments?
Defense and prosecution say yes.

The jury enters at 12:17 p.m.

Judge: the copy of instructions is available to you in the jury room.
This decision is up to (Judge glances from jury to prosecution table and
back to jury) you. (Friedman holds hands in prayer and fiddles with a
paperclip.)  Defense has pled not guilty and is not guilty until proven
guilty. You need to find the accused guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
-certain things are not evidence:
one), arguments and statements are not evidence.
2) questions and objections are not evidence.
3) testimony that has been struck in or you have been instructed to
disregard is not evidence.
4) no evidence beyond the courtroom is allowed.
Indictment charges are for May 21, 2001.
1) Conspiracy 371 type 18.
-conspiracy to commit arson.
-using an incendiary device.
2) - Making unlicensed incendiary devices (incendiary bomb)
what is conspiracy?  -- to more people in mutual agreement to commit a
crime. For Briana Waters to be found guilty, prosecution must prove beyond
a reasonable doubt that conspiracy has occurred.
4) Briana possessed, or aiding and abetting with incendiary device
(incendiary bomb)
 Briana transported an unregistered incendiary device (incendiary bomb).
Destructive device-any incendiary device may be military into a region or
homemade
grenade, missile, mine, bomb, gas, ____? A
5), charged with bombing of a building for state commerce.
6), using an incendiary device (incendiary bomb).
7) bombing of building to damage or destroy.  Exhibits 781 – 85(pictures
of burnt Center for urban horticulture).

Prosecution closing remarks.

This process must seem odd to you all, all the ins and outs.  A trial is
to find the truth.  I'm going to tell you what you already know.  We're
here because Briana Waters, Bill Rogers, Jen Kolar and others conspired to
commit arson, obtained a rental car, drove to Seattle and burned the
Center for urban horticulture. I want to first focus on Lacey Philabaum.
She came before you and testified.  If you think she's a compelling
witness with her attitude posture and demeanor, keep in mind she endured
nearly a full day of cross examination.”  I bear no ill will towards
Briana Waters, to anyone involved, to Justin Solondz…”
motive to cooperate?  February 16 and 17th 2001, Friedman and Halla go to
Eugene to see Suzanne Savoie and Chelsea Gerlach.  They called Lacey
Philabaum's father.  Blah blah blah blah blah.  You know how to tell when
Bartlett is talking shit?  His mouth is moving.  Lacey Philabaum gave a
proffer to us on February 21, 2002.”  It tells us tons of facts.”  Things
we can come back up with physical evidence.  Jennifer Kolar’s calendar and
“library” June 12.  1013c. hairnets were found for use in a clean room.
Lacey’s description of what the incendiary device looked like matches the
one found at CUH.  The conspirators made a pledge to not saying.  Bill
Rogers’s book mentions the need to make a pledge in his pre-arson
checklist.  Briana Waters provided the rental car for the arson.  She only
nearby relative is Rob Corina.  $200 cash deposit by Corina the week after
the arson.  The rental car had 237 miles put on it.  Corina gave you a
fairly detailed story “there's an implication that I am being kept from
telling the truth, but if I or my wife were threatened.  I would not
capitulate… (cooperate.  I would become exactly the opposite and be very
difficult to work with.)”  Why they Corina get the car for the weekend and
drive to Otto’s for bagels. The defense says that on January 21, 2002, 6
a.m. to 10 a.m. Briana Waters went to the hospital and Corina is confusing
this with his story.  I don't think Corina could be confused about this
fact.  Briana Waters borrowed Corina's cell phone.  It's shocking how
Corina's testimony is backed up by physical evidence.  Corina made no
other car rentals that year.  237 miles were put on the car.  The week
after the arson was the only time Corina made a $200 cash deposit.
 Exhibit 735 of Justin Solondz’s bank account.  There was a $200 ATM
withdrawal.  The very day, February 19th the rental was picked up. Exhibit
777, Corina's calendar
Jennifer Kolar-- her memory is suspect in some areas, but it is crystal
clear that Briana Waters was there as a lookout on February 21, 2001.
Exhibit 791, the contract with Jennifer Kolar, and FBI plea agreement.
There were two arsons she was involved with.  She had a motive to
cooperate.  She had a motive to identify Briana Waters. In December 2005,
the house of cards was falling.  It was time to tell the truth, but
Jennifer Kolar isn't going to lie.  If others are talking about who was
involved in what.
February 4, 2006, road trip with agent Torres, Jennifer Kolar and agent
Halla. Let's go to the Evergreen State College and drive around.  She
tried to find the soundproof room, where they had met previously but
couldn't find it because of the construction in the library. All the way
back to Seattle Jennifer Kolar told us about social interactions.  Agent
Halla said were thinking about talking to Briana Waters and Lacey
Philabaum. Jennifer Kolar said, you should talk to Briana Waters, I think
she'll cooperate.  It's strange she doesn't remember Lacey and Justin were
there, we can identify Briana Waters, positively.
Exhibit 740b, in New York Times article 1998, Briana Waters said, “as long
as people don't get hurt then I guess I agree with it.” Referring to the
question, do you think arson and animal liberation are O.K.? Exhibit 614--
Manila folder with fingerprints on the folder containing articles. (The
prosecution shows several pages printed literature with the print date in
the corner and shows them on the video screen.  One of them clearly said
10/04/01. Bartlett referred to the date as being January 4, 2001)
Exhibit 401a, printouts from the ELF website; literature found in Justin
Solondz cabin; William Rogers literature at info shop in Prescott--- these
things show that the conspirators were all socially together and held
similar beliefs all based on each ecoanarchy literature.
During the watch mountain campaign, there was an office action, and
someone said, “whatever it takes!”
Briana Waters gets William Rogers, a cell phone and he calls her more than
anyone else on his cell phone.  You all saw the graphs of when calls were
not made.  Photos of Justin Solondz, before and after a haircut.  The only
three times Waters used her debit card at Ralph's was before and after
February 21, 2001.

 Recall the jury instructions, number four tells you what evidence is.
Number six consider only evidence that has been admitted to the court.
The only things you can base your verdict on are testimony, exhibits, and
stipulation.  Number 16, government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable
doubt.

Cable West/BLM wild horses/mini double whammy/Boise Cascade/Susanville
Oregon/BLM Lynchville Oregon/and more.

Number 17.  Multiple conspiracies?  Only one conspiracy, as you look at
the types of devices found and see them progress from less complex with a
sponge and a jug of gas to more complex with a digital timer and road
flare.  This was one group that performed the above arsons.

Count 4 of indictment: possession or aiding and abetting of unregistered
destructive device (incendiary bomb)
number 21.  There are three kinds of destructive devices poison gas and
explosive bomb and incendiary bomb.  Number 22, (writer missed that one,
sorry).
Number 24 count five of indictment damage or destroy property in building
used in state commerce count six.  U of Washington receives federal money
to the amount of 5,000,000 for the College of Forestry.
Did this defendant aid or abet in the destruction of Center for Urban
Horticulture?
Stan Meyerhoff saw Waters on March 16, 2006 and said it that she was
innocent and uninvolved.  Let's compare the initial notes of special agent
Halla and special agent Torres.  Both agree that Avalon organized the
fire, and that Capitol Hill girl was there and that there was a lookout.
Torres wrote in his notes that there was a punk boyfriend involved; they
arrived in car/van.  In agent Halla's notes the lookout was in the bushes
with a radio.
In Lt. Priest's testimony recall his answers to the following questions.
Were you interviewed by the police?  Do remember telling anyone you
responded at 4:15 a.m.?
Lacey Philabaum allegedly had an affair with Justin Solondz who he is a
fugitive out of the country.  There was a party at Ocean's house and Lacey
visits Olympia. Is Jennifer Kolar, a spurned lover?  And now is looking to
get revenge on Briana Waters?  I don't think so.
Imagine Jennifer Kolar and Lacey Philabaum on trial.  Wouldn't they have
similar character witnesses for the defense testimony?
Who has the greatest motive to live?  This defendant.
You all took a vow to make the right decision and you will, I know. We are
a nation of laws, and everyone should be held accountable.  I ask the jury
to find the defendant guilty.
Defense closing statements.
Bob Bloom.
Good afternoon.  Thank you for taking on the greatest undertaking.  You
can't convict on lies.  I ask you to look past mine or Fox's mistakes and
look at Briana Waters.  The burden of proof is on the government.  This is
not about sympathy for Briana Waters.  Certain things that Bartlett said,
I must rebut.
-just think how please, the prosecution would have been if they had had
the Ralph's receipt earlier, during the trial.
-Jennifer Kolar said they had met at Green Lake bar and Grill at eight or
9 p.m.
-Lacey Philabaum said they met at Green Lake bar and Grill in the late
evening.
-supposedly the all the action in Olympia was at Conger Street, where the
clean room was.
-unlike Jennifer Kolar and Lacey Philabaum, who burned down several
buildings, Briana Waters doesn't have a reference point to figure out what
she was doing on the night of the CUH arson
-the story Mr. Bartlett has told you comes from the mouths of Jennifer
Kolar Lacey Philabaum and Rob Corina.  There is only one question. Was
Briana Waters involved in this arson at CUH?  The government's evidence is
on trial.  Judge Burgess asked during the jury selection can you start
from neutral.  Consider Lacey Philabaum, which you want to rely on her
word?  Or Jennifer Kolar's? or Rob Corina's?
-one witness, that's not here because the government doesn't want him
here, is Stan Meyerhoff.
 -he pled guilty in Oregon case
 -he has shown no reluctance to name people that were involved.
 -when shown a picture of Briana Waters, he responded, “that woman looks
familiar to me.  But she wasn't involved in this arson.”
-Jennifer Kolar said Lacey Philabaum wasn't at the arson.  That's odd.
She's the smartest one in the room or at lease one of them.
-there were other witnesses not called by the government.  Chelsea
Gerlach, Susanne Savoie, Kevin Tubbs, “Thurston”, Jake Ferguson.  The
burden of proof is on the government.  Why not call more people?
-there were five incubator meetings or book club meetings.  Briana Waters
wasn't at any of these meetings.
-why didn't the government call Kenny Clarke, who exchanged messages
between Joe Dibee, and Jennifer Kolar.  They didn't call Kara Larson, Rob
Corina's wife.  Rob Corina was waiting at home to return the car to the
rental on Monday, February 22, 2001.  He had a job five days a week
9-to-5.  But at the beginning of his testimony he said they got the rental
car so Kara could drive him to work because their bikes were in the shop.
You can bet the government went to his work and asked if he was a work on
the 22nd of February 2001.
-they also didn't call Spencer Moen, a punk boyfriend of Capitol Hill
girl. -they didn't call David Carr to verify that “Lacey Philabaum didn't
tell the FBI.  Anything they didn't already know.
-they didn't call anyone from the FBI to prove there had been an accident
with the rental car.
-the FBI lab could have tested the car to confirm the damage and Lacey
Philabaum claimed in her testimony.
Lacey Philabaum made a big deal, where using your own car was not
acceptable in an action.  Yet people drove their own vehicles to actions
in the past.  For example, Joe Dibee drove to Susanville, Stan Meyerhoff
drove to Susanville, and Jennifer Kolar drove to the ray gun club.
-indictment one contains 25 overt acts.  Ms. Waters is named in only one
of the overt acts.
-a fire department’s first response was, at 4:15 a.m. That was probably a
typo.  We are not out to say everyone is a liar.
-page 146 second days testimony, that's what you meant that nobody is
going to jail because of you?
- Mr. Friedman told Kara about how her rental car was used at CUH. -Lacey
Philabaum said she spoke to her parents as her lawyers
-Lacey Philabaum’s past information from the FBI, to his daughter.  That's
how the government got two stories to match.
-On December 16, Lacey Philabaum said to her lawyer the person that was a
lookout was Briana Waters.
-on January 5, her lawyer tells Friedman.
-January 6, Friedman meeting, didn't talk about Briana Waters at that
meeting or any others until 2006.
-Lacey Philabaum didn't mention Briana Waters, but identified five people
as the participants of the CUH arson.
-int. December 16, 2005 agent Torres’s notes with Lacey Philabaum
-int.  Jennifer Kolar at Susanville was not sure of all the participants.
But when talking about CUH.  She was very certain about who was there.
-Jennifer Kolar doesn't remember Lacey Philabaum being at CUH.
-agent Torres takes better notes than agent Halla.
-Jennifer Kolar is a liar, and not to be trusted.
-Jennifer Kolar is a liar, and not to be trusted.
-she is not to be sentenced until after Briana Waters is sentenced. -why
would she lie to LEO's? Miss Waters rejected her and Jennifer Kolar's
motive was to get back at Briana Waters.  Remember how Lacey Philabaum at
memory lapses while staying in Justin Solondz is bus. “Everyone knows it's
a lie,” said Bloom in regards to Lacey Philabaum testimony.
-why is it between January 6 and March 6 when there were seven meetings in
three months.  The government did not ask Jennifer Kolar about Briana
Waters?
-if Kolar changed her mind.
-Jennifer Kolar committed 4 arsons
-another interview with Jennifer Kolar on February 4.  Agent Torres and
Halla took a road trip to Olympia.  The notes read Jennifer Kolar:” I
don't remember Lacey Philabaum, and Briana Waters being together.  Briana
Waters could not have committed the crime.”  In the final report, the Feds
changed it to say” Lacey Philabaum and Briana Waters were not good
friends.”
-there is no lawyer client confidentiality for the tape she made of the
ride with agent Halla and Torres to Olympia.
-no tape recorder for the interview on December 16.  The FBI could have a
tape recorder to use in the interview room to avoid confusion.
-Jennifer Kolar was facing life in prison. They are holding her sentence
over her head.  She has bought her way out.
-when Lacey Philabaum was first asked do you bear any deal will towards
Briana Waters?  Her response was- I have sympathy for all involved in this
case.
Lacey Philabaum has lied to you in this courtroom
-she was at all of the book club meetings and had an alias-Reba
-proxy service, codes, Jennifer Kolar brought PGP to Santa Cruz book club
meeting.
-Lacey Philabaum went to Justin Solondz’s cabin and sat on the bed.  This
is not about their sexual relation, but the relation between Briana Waters
and Lacey Philabaum
Bob: do you remember Bill Clinton?
Lacey: well if you're suggesting I gave him a blow job, well, I didn't. “I
didn't tell the Feds anything they didn't already know,” Lacy said to
David Carr.
-after this testimony are remaining testimony was filled by I don't
recall/I don't know/I don't remember
-the meeting at Denny's was the first time Lacey Philabaum had met Briana
Waters.   Lacey Philabaum is lying.  There was a meeting near Portland in
February, where Lacey Philabaum was a facilitator.  There was a party that
night, where Briana Waters played her violin.  How could Lacey have not
noticed Briana?  They also met at the law in the spring.
-Lacey Phil Baum lied and saw Briana Waters playing violin in the kitchen
at the conger Street house.
-Heather Moore and Haila Silvertree both testified that Briana Waters was
living in the garage of the conger Street house
-Lacey Philabaum said there was a clean room with incendiary devices, and
in that Ocean was there.
-at the party and oceans house and on the Waters told Lacey Phil Baum off
in the track, which she pretended to forget.
-having a car not related to the action is the lynchpin.  According to
Lacey Philabaum.
-Lots of people used their personal cars for actions -
- you cannot rely on people who have lied.
-Briana Waters is innocent.
-you have a great responsibility.
-Lacey Philabaum heard about Stan’s arrest on December 7 in Virginia.  But
she was in no rush to turn herself in.
-Sarah Wald said Lacey Philabaum and Briana Waters met at E-Law
Lisa Phil Baum on direct examination: prosecution: I'm sorry, before the
crime you left Olympia?
Lacey: yes, at some time we left for Seattle.
Prosecution: so you got there at the Green Lake bar and Grill at night?
Lacey: yes, that might have been when we got there (uncertain of exact
wording).
-the Feds had the records from Ralph's Thriftway, the whole time.
-it may appear that this trial is for Justin Solondz, but it's for Briana
Waters.
-Construction on I-5 and the Street fair in Seattle slowed the approach to
CUH.
-Lacey Philabaum said they drove to the scene and Briana Waters was a
lookout.  But the manual said the lookout must get to the scene ahead of
time by foot or bike.
-Lacey Philabaum said she talks to Jennifer Kolar in the bushes at the
scene and she saw a bicycle nearby
-let's talk about Corina.  After federal contact got a Waters contacted
friends and family.  She told them, the FBI may come around and ask
questions.  Tell the truth.  Rob Corina did not listen.  So he went to a
grand jury.  Now he tells stories.  Olympia to Seattle is 140 miles
round-trip.  The whole purpose of the rental was because their bicycles
were inoperable.  He went out and made for credit card transactions during
the time of the car rental.
-Kolar has lied about who was involved.
-the Thriftway document proves Briana Waters was in Olympia at 7:12 p.m...
-recall Miss Troxel’s testimony during cross-examination-she responded to
the prosecution, “you’re grasping at straws.”
-Tiffany Cutter, all the phone records, and graphs and Joe Dibee are all
smokescreen.
-Recall the manila folder that Jennifer Kolar turned into the Feds.  Miss
Waters had no fingerprints on the articles. Justin Solondz had prints on
the articles.
- (Bloom requests, 15 more minutes)
-they pressured Lacey Phil Baum to plea and cooperate.  In another
setting, they would be simply called bullies.
-Corina said that the day Briana Waters was supposed to get the car she
didn't show up.
-Lacey Philabaum admitted to drug use.  She is a very smart person playing
dumb.  Stan Meyerhoff said Briana Waters wasn't involved, but weeks later,
when Lacey Phil Baum had to save herself, she needed to give up someone to
save herself.
-do the right thing do not falsely accuse.

Rebuttal prosecution Andrew Friedman.
-Jennifer Kolar, Lacey Philabaum, Robert Corina, Ted Halla, and Tony
Torres all need to lie to make the defense's story work.
-look at the evidence in chronological order.
December 05 Jennifer Kolar turned herself in.  The folder of documents.
Lacey Philabaum provided information to the Feds, Robert Corina provided
info to the Feds, Briana Waters took the car for the night.  The physical
evidence corroborates with Jennifer Kolar's Lacey Philabaum’s and Rob
Corina’s stories in a way that proves what they say is true.
-my god this man is disgusting!
-Sarah Wald saw Briana Waters and Lacey Philabaum at the meeting in
Portland.  They may have met during the two-day long meeting.
-Lacey Philabaum was in the courtroom in her prison clothes, because she
was encouraged to dress as she was.
- (Friedman addresses the jury as gentleman despite the fact that there
are seven women and seven men).
-Corina wouldn't make a car rental to drive downtown a few times to go out
to eat.
-the defendant made for point-of-sale purchases at Ralph's, but none
others during that time.

Judge: I will now remove two jurors. (The names are pulled from a wooden
spinney thing and for all we know only had two names in it. One late
twenties female who had seemed to have crush on agent Halla but been glad
to be excused. One male about 30 years old with a beard was excused.
Seemingly the two youngest of the jurors went bye-bye)

The day is over at about 6pm.

**

TRIAL NOTES 2/29


2-29-08
CR 05  5028.
Andrew Friedman.
Bob Bloom, Neil Fox, Briana Waters
the issue that Europe yesterday about Exhibit 745, which was a bank
statement of Justin Solondz and whether it had been offered.  Court
reporter pulled testimony of Mr. Bartlett.  Mr. Friedman referred to the
same exhibit, same account.  Bob Bloom raised an objection, went on issue
about car rental, that's what I reviewed.

Mr. Bloom: I believe that was the issue exactly right.  Well, we have a
mistrial.  Prosecution has made the car rental their centerpiece.  Mr.
Bartlett raised it, Mr. Friedman put it up on the screen -- -- we are
questioning that.  This is a critical time, we oppose curative
instructions, and as that would highlight the issue.  This damages the
Briana Waters case, particularly because we do not know if it was put
through the jury intentionally knowing that it was not admitted.  We
actually had the documents to -- Justin Solondz made a purchase with his
card at Ralph's, too.  Inappropriately call attention to the issue--
unringing a bell is not possible.  We oppose a curative instruction.

Friedman: the government believed it was in evidence, if not we wouldn't
have used it.  We wouldn't have seeked to use it if we knew.  It is
serious to use, something not in evidence but no mistrial is in order.
Curative instructions will suffice (These are not the drones you’re
looking for).  Refers more to Justin Solondz than Briana Waters.  Instruct
the jury not to consider what came from that.

Bloom: contrary to evidence.  Not that important piece of evidence, car as
centerpiece.  Alleged $200, the flow of the $200, Justin Solondz to Briana
Waters to Rob Corina.  This is a very important piece of evidence.  They
say it nails Briana Waters, to say otherwise feels contrary.  Totally
unfair, the only answer is a mistrial.  The government knows it wasn't
right.

Judge: curative instruction.  What does that mean, what does that mean.
Grasping his straws.  Stipulation of documents.  Defense to object to that
evidence when it came up.  I don't believe the government knowingly
submitted it.  There is no reason for them to deliberately do it.  I'm not
going to support a mistrial; your objection doesn't carry the weight.  The
jury will decide.  They can disregard that, and tell them how to disregard
that.  I'm denying a motion for a mistrial.

Bloom: there were a number of things, the Court referred to.  I do still
remember that.  The fact is I did not make reference to that in my closing
argument.  I did say Justin Solondz was not on trial, but I could not
refute Mr. Friedman so I couldn't have said that.

Friedman: Bloom's stipulation is correct. /stipulation authentic business
records.  Either side could object to the evidence.  I believe Bartlett
called up the evidence, because agent Halla was putting up the images for
Bartlett.

Bloom: we agree that is true.

Judge: the jury has been instructed to do nothing until this issue is
worked out.
Some exhibits were read, like the fingerprint card.  Stipulations which
were read.

Fox: I don't think the stipulations should go back to the jury, is in lieu
of testimony.

Friedman: there is no reason to give them more than they need.

Judge: I hope you had a good night.  There is one final instruction.
During closing arguments Exhibit 745/bank records of Justin Solondz are
not included in the evidence.  So you should disregard that portion of the
closing arguments.

-- the jury leaves --

Fox: exhibits offered and refused I returned to the party.  He exhibit
offered and refused should stay in the evidence.  Stay with the custody of
the court.
Judge: no.
Fox: objections to the verdict form, which we received after the
instructions.  Beyond a reasonable doubt that the jury find at the
b.a.r.d…???… this does not require unanimity of all 12 jurors for
conspiracy.

Judge: noted.

Bloom: the jury if they are uncertain of particular testimony.  They can
call for a reread of that testimony in case they are uncertain.  I'm going
to wait to see what happens before offering.

Judge: I don't do it that way.

Defense: at one point, one of the prosecutors indicated that we had the
ability to call witnesses, which they named.  They have shifted the burden
of proof.  Number one: mistrial because effort was made to shift the
burden of proof.  Number two: we wish that the jury be instructed that my
suggestion that the defense have the burden of proof.
There were misstatements of testimony by Mr. Bartlett.  I would like the
opportunity to address the jury of those.  I don't have the list in front
of me.  My recollection, but it may not be correct, but Mr. Bartlett
implied.  The indictment count six Miss Waters could be convicted if all
she did was true. (????)

Prosecution: there is clearly no of question of shifting the burden.  I
prefaced it by saying that we have the burden.

(Vitriolic Bullshit).

His memory is in error.  You just can't find that she………..
Judge: Mr. Bloom can go through the record, and we can address it at that
time.  Shifting a burden, I will leave it to you to find that out.  We
will let the jury go.  I-5 South is the way we will go.  I don't have a
habit of nodding off (bullshit, a nine year old was able to tell that you
were sleeping) so I don't think...
Defense: can we have a copy of it?
Prosecution: I don't know.
Judge: you have to make a case for it.
Defense: given the immediacy of the need, can we shortcut it?
Judge: no -- when something is submitted, may have to bless it from their
coffers
Bartlett: I would ask if the court took out Bloom's questions of Dale
Mann.  He got out of his witness, but it was not a bomb.  And clearly
violated the court's ruling.

Summary: Bloom argues he did not violate the courts ruling.  There is some
banter back and forth.  But in the end Dale Mann’s testimony remains.  The
judge says that the prosecution and defense must remain within 15 minutes
of the courtroom for the remainder of the day.  At 4:15 p.m.  We are
called back to the courtroom.  The jury enters.  The judge inquirers, if
they are close.  Several of the jurors smile as if they are not close.  We
remain hopeful that this will end well for the Waters family.

Tre Arrow's new contact info

Urgent ELP! Bulletin (2nd of March 2008)

Dear friends

As a lot of ELP supporters will be aware, sadly Tre Arrow's has been extradited to the USA. When we went to press with our March 2008 edition of Spirit of Freedom, we weren't quite sure where Tre was, so used his last known address. However Tre's supporters have since contacted us to give us his new address.

Please send letters of support (preferably on re-used or tree-free-paper) to

Tre Arrow (He was booked into MCDC under that name)
SWIS #640393
Multnomah County Detention Center
1120 S.W. 3rd Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97206
USA

++++++++

Earth Liberation Prisoners Support Network
BM Box 2407
London
WC1N 3XX
England
www.spiritoffreedom.org.uk

VIDEO: Mike Africa Jr. interview about the MOVE 9 Parole Hearings

 From MOVE 9 Parole 2008 http://move9parole.blogspot.com/

----
VIDEO: Mike Africa Jr. interview about the MOVE 9 Parole Hearings

by Hans Bennett Abu-Jamal-News.com



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xm3ARQLqFNM


Along with excerpts of archival footage from the Cohort Media documentary
titled "MOVE", this video features a new interview with MOVE member Mike
Africa Jr.


Born in prison, he is the son of MOVE prisoners Mike Sr. and Debbie
Africa, who are both eligible for parole in 2008, after 30 years in
prison, along with the six other remaining MOVE prisoners. This video is
the first in a series of videos to be released in the weeks leading up to
the Parole Hearings in April.


Recently I have written an article on The MOVE 9 and interviewed
journalist Linn Washington Jr. about covering MOVE since the 1970s. Also,
Ramona Africa recently was interviewed by Uprising Radio. And of course,
there is the documentary about MOVE, narrated by Howard Zinn, viewable
online at Brightcove or You Tube. MOVE's website is onamove.com


This April parole hearing is SO important. Letters and calls to the Parole
Board now can really help.


The eight remaining prisoners are Janine, Debbie, Janet, Delbert, Mike,
Phil, Eddie, and Chuck Africa.


It is probably a good idea for folks to send letters to each of the nine
Board members. The chairperson was appointed by Ed "1985 Bomber" Rendell
so don't count on her getting your message to the whole Board. Their
individual names are on this web page:


http://www.pbpp.state.pa.us/pbppinfo/cwp/view.asp?a=3&q=154178&pbppNav=|


Letters can all be sent to this address:


[name of Board member], Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, 1101
South Front Street, Suite #5100, Harrisburg, PA 17104-2517, tel: (717)
787-5699


Please send copies of the letters to Phil Africa at:


William Phillips Africa #AM-4984, SCI-Dallas, 1000 Follies Rd., Dallas, PA
18612


Stay tuned for more information and coverage in the coming months!

VIDEO: Mike Africa Jr. interview about the MOVE 9 Parole Hearings

 From MOVE 9 Parole 2008 http://move9parole.blogspot.com/

----
VIDEO: Mike Africa Jr. interview about the MOVE 9 Parole Hearings

by Hans Bennett Abu-Jamal-News.com



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xm3ARQLqFNM


Along with excerpts of archival footage from the Cohort Media documentary
titled "MOVE", this video features a new interview with MOVE member Mike
Africa Jr.


Born in prison, he is the son of MOVE prisoners Mike Sr. and Debbie
Africa, who are both eligible for parole in 2008, after 30 years in
prison, along with the six other remaining MOVE prisoners. This video is
the first in a series of videos to be released in the weeks leading up to
the Parole Hearings in April.


Recently I have written an article on The MOVE 9 and interviewed
journalist Linn Washington Jr. about covering MOVE since the 1970s. Also,
Ramona Africa recently was interviewed by Uprising Radio. And of course,
there is the documentary about MOVE, narrated by Howard Zinn, viewable
online at Brightcove or You Tube. MOVE's website is onamove.com


This April parole hearing is SO important. Letters and calls to the Parole
Board now can really help.


The eight remaining prisoners are Janine, Debbie, Janet, Delbert, Mike,
Phil, Eddie, and Chuck Africa.


It is probably a good idea for folks to send letters to each of the nine
Board members. The chairperson was appointed by Ed "1985 Bomber" Rendell
so don't count on her getting your message to the whole Board. Their
individual names are on this web page:


http://www.pbpp.state.pa.us/pbppinfo/cwp/view.asp?a=3&q=154178&pbppNav=|


Letters can all be sent to this address:


[name of Board member], Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, 1101
South Front Street, Suite #5100, Harrisburg, PA 17104-2517, tel: (717)
787-5699


Please send copies of the letters to Phil Africa at:


William Phillips Africa #AM-4984, SCI-Dallas, 1000 Follies Rd., Dallas, PA
18612


Stay tuned for more information and coverage in the coming months!

Support the Eco-Prisoners - March 2008

Spirit of Freedom
(March 2008)
Produced by
EARTH LIBERATION PRISONERS SUPPORT NETWORK

"The whole experience has been tough, but all the kind and strengthening
words
and wise thoughts from strangers made it much easier!"
(Former Swedish Animal Rights Prisoner)

Welcome to the March 2008 edition of Spirit of Freedom.  First off in this
Editorial ELP would like to apologise about an error we have made in our
prisoner listing.  We wrote that the American Eco-Defence prisoner Grant
Barnes spray-painted the letters ELF onto one of the vehicles he set fire
to.  Grant has asked for a correction, pointing out he spray-painted the
letters ELF onto all of the vehicles he set fire to.  Secondly as people may
be aware, the American environmental prisoner, Eric McDavid, is currently
held on remand awaiting his sentencing having been found guilty of having
the intention to destroy the property of the US Foresty Service, etc. (note:
he never actually destroyed or set fire to anything).  Eric's sentencing is
constantly being put back and back and we urge everyone to support him as we
recognise this constant delay in his sentencing will be a very stressful
time for Eric.  Remember, no matter where you are in the world, support the
eco-prisoners and no compromise in defence of Mother Earth!


ECO-DEFENCE PRISONERS

Tre Arrow, CS# 05850722, Vancouver Island Regional Correction Center, 4216
Wilkinson Rd., Victoria, BC, V8Z 5B2, Canada.  On remand accused of
involvement with an arson on logging trucks and an arson on vehicles owned
by a sand & gravel company.  Both arsons occurred in the USA.  Tre is
fighting his extradition to the USA.

Grant Barnes #137563, San Carlos Correctional Facility, PO Box 3, Pueblo, CO
81002, USA.  Serving 12 years for setting fire to a number of SUV vehicles.
The letters ELF were spray painted onto all of the vehicles.

Nathan Block, #36359-086, FCI Lompoc, Federal Correctional Institution, 3600
Guard Road, Lompoc, CA 93436, USA.   Serving 7 years & 8 months for an ELF
arson against a Poplar Tree Farm and an ELF arson against an SUV dealership.
Also admitted his role in an ELF/ALF conspiracy.

Vaggelis Botzatzis, Komotini Juridical Prison ("Dikastikes Fylakes
Komotinis"), T.K. 69100, Greece.  On remand accused of setting fire to two
company cars owned by a energy/power company.  It is believed that the
person or persons unknown who carried out the arson did so in protest at the
destruction of the natural environment and in support of two workers who
died at the power plant.  Vaggelis is also accused of setting fire to a bank
and starting a fire inside a car yard.

Marco Camenisch, Postfach 3143, CH-8105 Regensdorf, Switzerland.  Serving 18
years.  1) Ten years for using explosives to destroy electricity pylons
leading from nuclear power stations.  2) Eight years for the murder of a
Swiss Boarder Guard whilst on the run.  In '02 Marco completed a 12-year
sentence in Italy for destroying electricity pylons in Italy.

Daniele Casalini, Casa Circondariale, Via Burla 59, 43100 Parma, Italy.  Il
Silvestre activist awaiting trial accused of using explosives to damage an
electricity pylon in protest at nuclear energy.

Rod Coronado - See details in Animal Liberation Prisoners List.

Ibai Ederra, Carcel de Pamplona, C/San Roque. Apdo. 250, 31080 - Iruñez -
Pamplona, Navarra (España), Spain.  Serving just under 5 years for
sabotaging machinery at the controversial Itoiz dam construction site.

Francesco Gioia, C.C. Sollicciano, Via Girolamo Minervini 2/R, 50142 Firenze
Sollicciano (FI), Italy.  Il Silvestre activist awaiting trial accused of
using explosives to damage an electricity pylon in protest at nuclear
energy.

Jeffrey Luers, #1306729, Lane County Adult Corrections, 101 West 5th Ave,
Eugene, OR 97401-2695, USA.  Serving 10 years for arson on a SUV dealership
& the attempted arson of an oil truck.  The original sentence was 22 years &
8 months, but was reduced on appeal.

Eric McDavid X-2972521 4E 231A, Sacramento County Main Jail, 651 "I" Street,
Sacramento, CA 95814, USA.  Awaiting sentencing having been found guilty of
planning to destroy the property of the U.S. Forestry Service, mobile phone
masts and power plants.

Daniel McGowan #63794-053, Unit I, FCI Sandstone, Federal Correctional
Institution, PO Box 1000, Sandstone, MN 55072, USA.   Serving 7 years for an
ELF arson against a Poplar Tree Farm and an ELF arson against an old growth
logging corporation.   Also admitted his role in an ELF/ALF conspiracy.

Jonathan Paul - See details in Animal Liberation Prisoners List.

Julio Villanueva, C.P. Prision De Pamplona, 31080, Iruna (Navarra), Spain.
Serving just under 5 years for sabotaging machinery at the controversial
Itoiz dam construction site.

Joyanna Zacher, #36360-086, FCI Dublin, 5700 8th St.- Camp Parks- Unit F,
Dublin, CA 94568, USA.  Serving 7 years & 8 months for an ELF arson against
a Poplar Tree Farm and an ELF arson against an SUV dealership.  Also
admitted her role in an ELF/ALF conspiracy.

ANIMAL LIBERATION PRISONERS

Jon Ablewhite TB4885, HMP Lowdham Grange, Lowdham, Nottingham, NG14 7DA,
England.  Serving 12 years for attempting to blackmail a farmer who supplied
guinea pigs for vivisection.

Gregg Avery TA7450, HMP Winchester, Romsey Road, Winchester, SO22 5DF,
England.  On remand accused of conspiracy to blackmail, in relation to his
involvement with the SHAC campaign.

Natasha Avery NR8987, HMP Bronzefield, Woodthorpe Road, Ashford, Middx. TW15
3JZ, England.  Jailed for breaching her parole conditions imposed on her for
telling a fox hunting murdering scum what she thought of them.  Also
awaiting trial accused of conspiracy to blackmail, in relation to her
involvement with the SHAC campaign.

Nathan Block - See details in Eco Defence Prisoners List.

Mel Broughton TN9138, HMP Woodhill, Tattenhoe Street, Milton Keynes, Bucks
MK4 4DA, England.  On remand accused of involvement with an arson and
blackmail campaign against an Oxford University vivisection establishment.

Jacob Conroy #93501-011, FCI Victorville Medium I Federal Correctional
Institution, P.O. Box 5300, Adelanto, CA 92301, USA. Serving 48 months
imprisonment for helping organise the SHAC-USA campaign.

Rod Coronado, Voice of the Earth, PO Box 732, Tucson, AZ 85702, USA.  Due to
be sentenced to one-year imprisonment after Rod informed people how to make
an incendiary device during a speech at an animal rights gathering.

Donald Currie A3660AA, HMP Parkhurst, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 5NX,
England.  Serving an Indeterminate Sentence, of not less than six actual
years, for carrying out arsons against targets associated the vivisection
industry including HLS.

Lauren Gazzola #93497-011, FCI Danbury, Federal Correctional Institution,
Route #37Danbury, CT 06811, USA. Serving 54 months imprisonment for helping
organise the SHAC-USA campaign.

Sarah Gisborne, LT5393, HMP Downview, Sutton Lane, Sutton, Surrey, SM2 5PD,
England.  Serving 5½ years for conspiracy to cause criminal damage following
the damaging of 8 vehicles owned by people linked to Huntingdon Life
Science.

Joshua Harper #29429-086, FCI Sheridan Federal Correctional Institution,
P.O. Box 5000, Sheridan, OR 97378 USA.  Serving 36 months imprisonment for
helping organise the SHAC-USA campaign.

Kevin Kjonaas #93502-011, FCI Sandstone, PO Box 1000, Sandstone, MN 55072
USA.  Serving 72 months imprisonment for helping organise the SHAC-USA
campaign.

Daniel McGowan - See details in Eco Defence Prisoners List.

Heather Nicholson VM4859, HMP Bronzefield, Woodthorpe Road, Ashford, Middx.
TW15 3JZ, England.  On remand accused of conspiracy to blackmail, in
relation to her involvement with the SHAC campaign.

Jonathan Paul, #07167-085, FCI Phoenix, Federal Correctional Institution,
37910 N 45th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85086, USA.  Sentenced to 51 months for an
ALF arson on a horse meat plant.  Also admitted his role in an ELF/ALF
conspiracy.

John Smith TB4887, HMP Lowdham Grange, Lowdham, Nottingham, NG14 7DA,
England.  Serving 12 years for attempting to blackmail a farmer who supplied
guinea pigs for vivisection.

Andrew Stepanian #26399-050, FCI Butner Medium II Federal Correctional
Institution, PO Box 1500, Butner, NC 27509 USA. Serving 36 months for
helping organise the SHAC-USA campaign.

Kerry Whitburn TB4886, HMP Lowdham Grange, Lowdham, Nottingham, NG14 7DA,
England.  Serving 12 years for attempting to blackmail a farmer who supplied
guinea pigs for vivisection.

Gabriel Villeneuve #HUL03299801, 500, de la Faune, Case Postale 87130,
Québec, Québec, G1G 5E4, Canda.  Held on remand accused of breaching
probation conditions by allegedly attending an animal rights protest, even
though he never actually went to the protest!

Joyanna Zacher - See details in Eco Defence Prisoners List.

PLOUGHSHARES PRISONERS

Helen Woodson, 03231-045, FMC Carswell - Admin. Max. Unit, POB 27137, Ft.
Worth, TX  76127, USA.  Serving 8 years 10 months for actions that focused
on the interrelationship of war & the destruction of the natural world.  The
actions included pouring red paint over the security desk of a federal court
and making threatening communications.  Previously Helen had served 20½
years for: 1) Using a hammer to disarm a nuclear missile silo.  2) Burning
$25,000 on the floor of a bank whilst denouncing war, environmental
destruction & economic injustice.  3) Mailing warning letters with bullets
attached to Government & corporate officials.

THE LECCE FIVE
The Lecce Five have been charged with "subversive association" accused of
damaging Esso petrol pumps to oppose the War on Iraq; sabotaging the cash
machines of a bank which funds an immigration centre; and targeting the
multinational company Benetton in support of Mapuche land rights activists
in Chile.  All of the defendants are currently either under house arrest or
released on bail.

ANTIFA PRISONERS

Lasandra Burwell W063658, Ohio Reformatory for Women, 1479 Collins Ave.
Marysville, OH 43040, USA.  Serving 5 years for taking part in an
anti-fascist demonstration that turned into a riot.

Vahtang Devitlidze, ul. Libbedova 42, UO 68/2, otryad 14, brigada 142, g.
Hagyshensk, Krasnodarskiy Kray, 352680 Russia.  Serving 2½ years for
stabbing a neo-nazi in the leg whilst defending himself from attack.

Augustin Kraus, Vazebni veznice, PP-1, Litomerice, 41 201, Czech Republic.
Serving 14 months for his participation in attacks against local neo-nazis.
His charge was "bodily harm". He speaks Czech, Slovak and Polish.  You can
also write him short postcards in English.

Fabio Milan, C.C. via Pianezza 300, 10151 Torino, Italy.  On remand accused
of fighting with the police after an anti-fascist protest.

Andrea Neff, Bnr: 746/07/2, Justizvollzugsanstalt fur Frauen in Berlin,
Arkonastrasse 56, 13189 Berlin, Germany.  Serving 14 months for anti-fascist
activity.

Christian Sümmermann, Bnr: 441/08/5, JVA Plötzensee, Lehrterstr. 61, 10557
Berlin, Germany.  Serving 40 months for breaching the peace whilst serving a
suspended sentence issued for anti-fascist activities.

Tomasz Wiloszewski, Zaklad Karny, Orzechowa 5, 98-200 Sieradz, Poland.
Serving 15 years for accidentally killing a neo-nazi whilst defending
himself.

OTHER PRISONERS

Olga Aleksandrovna Nevskaya, UU163/5, 7 Otryad, pos. Dzerzhinskiy, Mozhaysk
140090 Moskovskaya oblast, Russia. Eco-activist serving 6 years for arson,
criminal damage and causing explosions in protest at the war in Chechnya.
Due for release in 2009.

Maura Michlle Lungarlli, booking # 1167062, Century Regional Detention
Facility (CRDF), 11705 South Alameda Street, Lynwood, CA 90262, USA.  Well
known animal rights Laura Lungarlli held on remand accused of activity
unconnected to animal rights.  (Please note the prison officials have made a
spelling mistake with her name which must be replicated on her letters of
support).

Kevin Olliff, booking #1167029, Terminal Annex, P.O. Box #86164,
Los Angeles, CA 90086-0164, USA.  Animal rights activist held on remand
accused of activity unconnected to animal rights.  Co-defendant of Laura
Lungarlli.

Fran Thompson, #1090915 HU 1C, WERDCC, PO Box 300, Vandalia, MO 63382, USA.
Serving Life for killing, in self-defence, a stalker who had broken into her
home. Before her imprisonment Fran was an eco, animal & anti-nuke
campaigner.

MOVE
MOVE is an eco-revolutionary group who carried out protests in defence of
all life. There are currently eight MOVE activists in prison each serving
100 years after been framed for the murder of a cop in 1979.  9th defendant,
Merle Africa, died in prison in 1998.

Debbie Simms Africa  (006307), Janet Holloway Africa  (006308) and Janine
Philips Africa (006309)  all at: SCI Cambridge Springs, 451 Fullerton Ave,
Cambridge Springs, PA 16403-1238, USA.

Michael Davis Africa (AM4973) and Charles Simms Africa (AM4975) both at SCI
Graterford, PO Box 244, Graterford, PA 19426-0244, USA.

Edward Goodman Africa  (AM4974),  SCI Mahanoy, 301 Morea Rd, Frackville, PA
17932, USA.

William Philips Africa (AM4984) and Delbert Orr Africa (AM4985) both at SCI
Dallas Drawer K, Dallas, PA 18612, USA.

Mumia Abu Jamal, (AM8335), SCI Greene, 175 Progress Drive, Waynesburg PA
15370, USA.  In 1981 Mumia, former Black Panther and vocal supporter of
MOVE, was framed for the murder of a cop.  He was originally sentenced to
death but is currently awaiting re-sentencing following a court hearing in
2001.

STATEMENT ON VIOLENCE
Some people listed in this newsletter have carried out violent actions.
'Spirit of Freedom' does not condone violence.  But we are also against
censorship & believe people can decide for themselves who they wish to
support.

ABOUT E.L.P. SUPPORT NETWORK
ELP is an international eco-prisoner support network founded, in Britain, in
1993 to support jailed eco-activists.  We support the prisoners by producing
various regular prisoner lists:

Spirit of Freedom is ELP's international monthly prisoner listing which is
circulated by e-mail.

Urgent ELP! Bulletin is an e-mail service that distributes the names of any
new eco-prisoner as soon as ELP gets their details.  For more info e-mail
ELP4321@hotmail.com

On-Line Newsletters - ELP has a number of websites that provide news,
prisoner lists and additional info about ELP & the prisoners.

English language ELP Website
www.spiritoffreedom.org.uk

Greek language ELP Website
http://greekelp.blogspot.com

North American ELP Website
www.ecoprisoners.org

Turkish language ELP Website
www.geocities.com/yesilanarsi/elp.htm

ELP Extra is an e-mail group that circulates the details of political
prisoners, ELP learns about, who do not fall within the remit for support by
ELP.  To subscribe to the list e-mail ELP4321@Hotmail.com

Australian ELP.SN is our Australian contact.  For more info e-mail
elp4321@hotmail.com

Belgium ELP.SN is our Belgium contact.  For more info e-mail
elp_bel@hotmail.com

German ELP.SN is a prisoner led initiative run by eco-prisoner Marco
Camenisch.  For more info contact Marco Camenisch, Postfach 3143, CH-8105
Regensdorf, Switzerland.

Greek ELP.SN is our Greek contact.  For more info e-mail greekelp@yahoo.gr

North American ELP is our North American contact.  For more information
e-mail naelpsn@mutualaid.org

Turkey ELP.SN is our Turkish contact.  For more info e-mail
yesilanarsi@yahoo.com

Women's History Month for the Cuban 5

Join The Popular Education Project to Free the Cuban 5’s Women’s History Month Initiative. Starting from Sat. Match 1st-Monday March 31st we are calling on people to fax or mail out this letter to Louise Arbour The High Commissioner of Human Rights of the Office for Human Rights-United Nations Office at Geneva. We are asking her to intercede on behalf of the Cuban 5’s mothers/wives to pressure the U.S. government to grant them VISAs to visit their husbands/sons!!

Due to the U.S. government’s denial to approve visas, Gerardo Hernandez Nordelo and Rene Gonzalez Sehwerert have not seen their wives since their incarceration!! Others in the Cuban 5 have not seen their parents, wives and children with regularity, because the U.S. government has taken prolonged periods of time to issue them visas. The U.S. government’s denial of visitation rights is a cruel and horrible form of psychological torture. Their rationale for denial is ridiculous and baseless; none of these family members are a threat to national security.

The PDF format of the letter can be found at the Jericho Website: http://www.thejerichomovement.com/events5.html

City Council Questions NYPD's Preparedness For Handling Mentally Ill

The City Council held a hearing Thursday on whether the NYPD is equipped to handle the thousands of emotional disturbed person's calls it receives each year. NY1's Dean Meminger filed the following report.

On November 12th last year, Kyle Coppin was shot and killed by police after his mother called 911 to say he was out of control. They say they thought he had a gun; it turned out to be a hairbrush.

Less than a week later, also in Brooklyn, police shot and killed David Kostovski, who they say had stabbed a man and threatened police officers with the broken bottle.

Thursday, the City Council's public safety and mental health committees held a hearing about the NYPD policy for handling EDPs, of which there were 87,000 calls of last year.

"When there is time to negotiate, take all the time necessary to ensure the safety of all concerned," said NYPD Chief Robert Giannelli. "Deadly physical force will be used only as a last resort to protect the life of the persons present."

However, council members say more can be done. They say police need updated computer and tracking systems when responding to calls where someone may be emotionally disturbed.

"They have no way of knowing the history of this person, if they have been violent in the past or non-violent," said City Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. "That is for two reasons. One is that police technology is not up to date."

The second reason, police say privacy laws make it hard to get medical records. Others believe police need to call mental health experts to the scene.

"They should be involved whenever possible," said Councilman Oliver Koppel. "We do have cases where the police may have acted improperly, where the police, because they don't understand the condition of the person that they are approaching, may have over reacted."

"We believe crisis intervention teams are the solution," said Lisa Ortega, an advocate for the mentally ill. "There has been resistance from the NYPD to implement anything other than the military style they have of circling and apprehending people."

During the hearing, the chief of patrol said everyone should understand that when officers respond to EDP 911 calls they are arrive on the scene not to treat or heal people, but to take them into custody and make sure the scene is safe.

Maria Ortiz says police were too aggressive when they came to help EMS workers with her mentally ill son.

"I am afraid that the police will come violently and hurt my son or kill him," she said.

The chief responded that police supervisors and specialized units are trained and extremely experienced in de-escalating a situation. He points to a hostage stand-off with an EDP last Friday in the Queensbridge Houses which ended peacefully and without anyone hurt.

- Dean Meminger

NY1 News Video Clip

City Council Hearing.