PRican PP Carlos Alberto Torres Almost Home!

The ProLibertad Freedom campaign is calling on all our allies and supporters to help our brother Carlos Alberto Torres! Though hs examiner gave him a great recommendation the parole comission has the fnal say so, we need every one to send out the sample letter below to Jan Susler, Carlos' lawyer, and help Carlos Alberto receive parole!

LA LUCHA CONTINUA! CELEBRATE THIS PARTIAL VICTORY BE SENDING THE SAMPLE LETTER BELOW TO JAN AND FORWARDING THIS OUT WORLDWIDE!

The ProLibertad Freedom campaign

www.ProLibertadweb.com

Puerto Rican Political Prisoner Carlos Alberto Torres MIGHT BE HOME SOON!

May 26, 2009

Puerto Rican political prisoner Carlos Alberto Torres appeared this morning with his attorney Jan Susler at FCI Pekin, Illinois at a videoconference hearing with U.S. Parole Commission hearing examiner Larry Glenn.

The hearing took place after Carlos Alberto had served over 29 years in prison, and 15 years after his initial parole hearing in 1994, when the Parole Commission told him to come back after serving another 15 years.

The hearing examiner opened by saying he would make one of three possible recommendations at the conclusion of the hearing: 1) set a presumptive parole date; 2) tell Carlos Alberto once again to come back after serving another 15 years, at which time he would be considered for possible release on parole; or 3) deny parole entirely.

For some 45 minutes, the examiner posed questions, including some very pointed political questions about Carlos Alberto’s views on the relationship between the United States and Puerto Rico, and whether his thoughts on this issue have changed throughout his years in custody. He reviewed his accomplishments in prison and asked about his plans if he were to be released: to open a pottery studio in Puerto Rico.

Significantly, Glenn noted “the large number of documents showing community support sent to the parole commission.” He was referring to the thousands of letters and resolutions from all of Puerto Rico’s civil society, as well as from supporters throughout the U.S. and Mexico.

After a brief break, Glenn announced his recommendation: a presumptive parole date of April 3, 2010.... which would mark the 30th anniversary of Carlos Alberto’s imprisonment.

The parole commission has 21 days to issue a decision, of by June 16. Should the commission adopt the examiner’s recommendation, Carlos Alberto would be eligible for transfer to a halfway house 180 days before April 3, or on October 3, 2009.

Letters urging the commission to adopt the hearing examiner’s recommendation should arrive no later than June 17 at the office of Jan Susler, Attorney, People’s Law Office, 1180 N. Milwaukee, Chicago, IL 60622, jsusler@aol.com.

******************************************************************************
Sample Letter

To the United States Parole Commission:

We are writing to urge that you adopt the May 26, 2009, recommendation of the hearing examiner to set a presumptive parole date of April 3, 2010 for Carlos Alberto Torres.

We support his release and are anxious to welcome him home.

Yours truly,

Peru- Indigenous Struggle

PGA North America June 7, 2009

President Alan Garcia defending the massacre of indigenous people in
the Amazon on June 5th declared that the indigenous people "are not
first class citizens." ("no son cuidadanos de primera clase") He also
suggested that the governments of  Venezuela and Bolivia were
supporting the Peruvian indigenous movement to hold up the progress
of Peru.

The government claims 24 policemen were killed and 9 indigenous
people were killed with 155 wounded and 72 arrested.  However,
indigenous sources refer to 26 indigenous people and supporters being
killed, with bodies disappearing.

In Bagua demonstrators burnt down the offices of the National Police
and the local offices of the APRA, the ruling party.

A National Day of Protest has been called for Thursday June 11th.

The Natonal Police Union (Sindicato Unico de Policia Peruana SUPP)
has sent a communique lamanting the deaths of their fellow police
officers and "our native brothers, all those who fell in Bagua."  The
union holds the Peruvian government responsable for the deaths,
especially President Garcia and Prime Minister Yehude Simon, The
statemeent calls for "a democratic police, where uniformed workers
are dignified, respected, without corruption at the service of
citizens and people in general, and that we should not have to be
used by the government which is in power at the time as a repressive
force.
Earl Gilman

support GLBTQ prisoners, be listed in LockedOut!

***Duplicate postings happen.***

It's that time again! I'm editing the 2009 edition of LockedOut, the
resource guide for GLBTQ prisoners, which will be out later this summer.

If you want to be listed again or for the first time, let me know by July
15th and send me the following about your group:

Name of group
Mailing address
2-3 lines about the group's work, including if there's any cost, etc.

Just a reminder, I only list groups that give me permission to be listed
and LockedOut is only sent to prisoners in the U.S. If you know of any
groups that might be interested in being included forward this email to
them. Groups offering pen-pals are really needed.

Thanks to everyone for your amazing work!

Solidarity,
Debbie

--
* LockedOut http://zinelibrary.info/locked-out-summer-2008
* Prison Book Project http://www.prisonbooks.org
* Radical Reference http://www.radicalreference.info

Tre Arrow says Oregon halfway house next stop -AP

by The Associated Press

Thursday June 04, 2009, 12:44 PM

Tre Arrow, also known as Michael J. Scarpitti, rappels from a third-story ledge outside the U.S. Forest Service's Northwest regional headquarters in downtown Portland on July 17, 2000. Tre Arrow says on his Web site that he is due to be released Monday from a federal prison and will return to a Portland half-way house.

One of the last environmental activists convicted of arson as a protest tactic across the West says he is being released from federal prison to a halfway house in Oregon.

Tre Arrow says on his Web site that he is due to be released Monday from a federal prison in California to serve the remaining six months of his term at a halfway house in Portland.

Tre Arrow

The 35-year-old environmental activist was sentenced last year to 78 months in prison after pleading guilty to setting fire to cement and logging trucks in the Portland area in 2001.

But Arrow was given credit for about four years of time served in jails awaiting extradition from Canada to Oregon after his arrest in British Columbia in 2004.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons lists his release date as Dec. 4 from the Herlong medium security prison near Susanville, Calif.

An agency spokeswoman says the bureau does not confirm whether an inmate was sent to a halfway house until after the inmate arrives.

The prosecutor in the case, Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Peifer, said Thursday that release to a halfway house near the end of a sentence is typical for many federal inmates.

But Peifer said federal supervised release is very strict, requiring Arrow to find a job and avoid any association with groups such as the Earth Liberation Front or the Animal Liberation Front.

About a dozen other activists are serving various federal prison terms for their involvement in a series of arson fires across the West from 1996 to 2001, including a ski resort blaze in Vail, Colo. Many were linked to one or both groups.

At his sentencing last August, Arrow told U.S. District Judge James Redden that he accepted responsibility for his actions but never considered himself a threat or danger to the public.

He also said he had not changed his views about protecting the environment and that prison time was unlikely to make him feel any differently.

On his Web site, Arrow refers to himself as a political prisoner and criticizes the government for various policies, including a lack of tough corporate regulation and sentencing a large number of nonviolent offenders to prison.

Arrow legally changed his name from Michael Scarpitti after talking to trees that he said somehow communicated with him.

-- The Associated Press

source - http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/06/tre_arrow_says_oregon_halfway.html

Support the Eco-Prisoners (June 2009)

Below is the latest copy of ELP's Spirit of Freedom newsletter.  But before
you read that ELP would like to remind everyone that twenty years ago today
(4th of June 2009) the Chinese Government saw fit to turn its tanks and guns
upon their own citizens and brutally crush a non-violent student protest in
Tiananmen Square.  The students were merely calling for political reform.
Hundreds, if not thousands, of students were killed.  Many students were
arrested and
some later executed.  It is said that some of those arrested remain in
prison to this very day.

Prisoner support is vital.  Not just for Animal/Earth Lib prisoners, but for
liberation prisoners around the world.  Please contact Amnesty
International, the Anarchist Black Cross or any other political prisoner
support group for more details on how you can help the prisoners.

====

Spirit of Freedom
(June 2009)
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 June 2009 edition of Spirit of Freedom.  To Plead Guilty or
Not to Plead Guilty?  That is a question many activists face when arrested.
The decision is made harder when there are four of you who have been
arrested and your three co-defendants have all pleaded Guilty with two of
those Co-D's being held on Remand.

However, despite all the pressures and despite all the warnings that she'd
get a harsher sentence if found Guilty at court, a few weeks ago a young
British woman, V, went to court having pleaded Not Guilty to charges related
to alleged activity at a rabbit farm.  In Court V's lawyers argued that
there was No Case to Answer against V and...the Courts agreed!

Following this bit of great news, the Courts then decided that this decision
could have an effect of V's Co-Defendants and so Luke Steele and Dean Cain
were both freed on bail pending sentencing (the fourth defendant was already
on Bail pending Sentencing).  This is of course brilliant news for V, Luke,
Dean and their fourth Co-Defendant.  ELP very much hopes that Luke and Dean
merely receive "time served" as their sentences but we will keep everyone
informed.  But most of all we want to publicly congratulate V on this
stunning result.  Its totally fantastic news and in this case V most
certainly stands for Victory!

However, despite this stunning victory and brilliant news, sadly many
others, around the world, remain behind bars.  All of the prisoners listed
below welcome letters of support.  Regardless of what languages you speak,
regardless of where you are in the world, please support the eco-prisoners
and no compromise in defence of Mother Earth!

ECO-DEFENCE PRISONERS

Tre Arrow, #70936065, FCI Herlong, Federal Correctional Institution, PO Box
800, Herlong, CA 96113, USA.  Serving 78 months for his involvement in two
ELF arsons.  1) an arson on logging trucks 2) an arson on vehicles owned by
a sand & gravel company.  (Tre is a raw energy vegan - He has asked that his
letters of support are written on scrap paper or tree-free paper).

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.  (Grant is a
vegan).

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.  (Diet unknown).

Julien COUPAT, N° d'écrou 290173, 42 rue de la santé, 75014 Paris, France.
On remand accused of sabotaging railway lines to protest against the nuclear
power industry (which carries waste by railway lines).  (Diet unknown).

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.  (Marco is a
meat eater who encourages organic living).

Daniele Casalini, Via Casale 50/a, 15040 San Michele (AL), Italy.  Il
Silvestre activist awaiting trial accused of using explosives to damage an
electricity pylon in protest at nuclear energy.  (Daniele is a vegan).

Francesco Gioia, Via Casale 50/a, 15040 San Michele (AL), Italy.  Il
Silvestre activist awaiting trial accused of using explosives to damage an
electricity pylon in protest at nuclear energy.  (Francesco is a vegetarian
and Straight Edge).

Jonatan.  E-mail messages of support to freejonatan@yahoo.se A 20-year old
Swedish man sentenced to 15 months imprisonment after admitting damaging a
communication tower used by the Department of Defence, cutting the cables on
a crane used in creating urban sprawl, and damaging a vehicle used in the
logging industry.  Jonatan is currently on bail as he appeals his sentence
(Jonatan is a vegan).

Jeffrey Luers, # 13797671, CRCI, 9111 NE Sunderland Ave, Portland, OR
97211-1708, 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.  (Diet unknown).

Marie Jeanette Mason, #04672-061, FCI Waseca, Federal Correctional
Institution, PO Box 1731, Waseca, MN 56093, USA.  Serving 21 years and 10
months for her involvement in an ELF arson against a University building
carrying out Genetically Modified crop tests.  Marie also pleaded guilty to
conspiring to carry out ELF actions and admitted involvement in 12 other ELF
actions.  (Marie is a vegan).

Eric McDavid, 16209-097, FCI Victorville, Medium II, Federal Correctional
Institution, PO Box 5300, Adelanto, CA 92301, USA.  Serving 19 years & 7
months for planning to destroy the property of the U.S. Forestry Service,
mobile phone masts and power plants.  At the point of his arrest no criminal
damage has actually occurred.  (Eric is a vegan).

Daniel McGowan, 63794-053, USP Marion, US Penitentiary, PO Box 1000, Marion,
IL 62959, 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.  (Daniel is a vegetarian).

Jonathan Paul - See details in Animal Liberation Prisoners List.

Michael Sykes 696693, Richard A. Handlon Correctional Facility, 1728
Bluewater Highway, Ionia, MI 48846, USA.  Serving four to ten years for
anti-sprawl arsons, criminal damage to a utility pole, spray-painting
political graffiti and burning the American flag.  (Diet unknown)

Briana Waters 36432-086, FCI Danbury, Federal Correctional Institution,
Route 37, Danbury, CT 06811, USA.  Serving six years for involvement in an
ELF arson on a University.  (Diet unknown).

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.  (Diet unknown).

ANIMAL LIBERATION PRISONERS
(All Animal Liberation Prisoners follow a minimum vegetarian diet and most
are vegan).

Jonny Ablewhite TB4885, HMP Ranby, Retford, Notts, DN22 8EU, England.
Serving 12 years for attempting to blackmail a farmer who supplied guinea
pigs for vivisection.  (Jon is a vegan).

Dan Amos VN7818, HMP Guys Marsh, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP7 0AH, England.
Serving 4 years for conspiracy to blackmail Huntingdon Life Sciences.  (Dan
is a vegan)

Gregg Avery TA7450, HMP Coldingley, Shaftesbury Road, Bisley, Woking, Surrey
GU24 9EX, England.  Serving 9 years for conspiracy to blackmail Huntingdon
Life Sciences.  (Gregg is a vegan).

Natasha Avery NR8987, HMP Send, Ripley Road, Woking, Surrey, GU23 7LJ,
England.  Serving 9 years for conspiracy to blackmail Huntingdon Life
Sciences.  (Nat is a vegan).

Mel Broughton TN9138, HMP Woodhill, Tattenhoe Street, Milton Keynes, Bucks
MK4 4DA, England.  Serving 10 years for "conspiracy to commit arson" against
Oxford University vivisection department.  (Mel is a vegan).

Jacob Conroy #93501-011, FCI Terminal Island, Federal Correctional
Institution, P.O. Box 3007, San Pedro, CA 90731, USA.  Serving 48 months
imprisonment for helping organise the SHAC-USA campaign.  (Jake is a vegan).

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.  (Lauren is a vegan).

Linda Greene, #1300927, Century Regional Detention Facility, 11705 S.
Alameda Street, Lynwood, CA 90262, USA.  On remand accused of stalking.
Exact details of the indictment have not yet been revealed but the charges
appear to relate to a person employed by an educational facility so may be
linked to vivisection.  (Linda is a vegan).

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.  (Josh is a vegan).

Jordan Halliday, Inmate #24836, 1225 West Valley View Highway, Suite 100,
Logan, UT 84321, USA.  Jailed for contempt of court for refusing to testify
before a Grand Jury investigating animal rights actions in Utah. (Jordan is
a vegan).

PI Noordsingel, Peter Janssen 5102880, Postbus 37066, 3005 LB Rotterdam,
Holland.  On remand accused of freeing mink from a fur farm.  (Peter is a
vegan).

Sean Kirtley WC 6977, HMP Stafford, 54 Gaol Road, Stafford, ST16 3AW,
England.  Serving four and a half years for running an anti-vivisection
campaign website.  (Sean is a vegan).

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

Daniel McGowan - See details in Eco Defence Prisoners List.

Gavin Medd-Hall WV9475, HMP Coldingley, Shaftesbury Road, Bisley, Woking,
Surrey GU24 9EX, England.  Serving 8 years for conspiracy to blackmail
Huntingdon Life Sciences.  (Gavin is a vegan).

Heather Nicholson VM4859, HMP Send, Ripley Road, Woking, Surrey, GU23 7LJ,
England.  Serving 11 years for conspiracy to blackmail Huntingdon Life
Sciences.  (Heather is a vegan).

Kevin Olliff, #1300931, TTCF 161 D-Pod, 450 Bauchet St., Los Angeles, CA
90012, USA. On remand accused of stalking.  Exact details of the indictment
have not yet been revealed but the charges appear to relate to a person
employed by an educational facility so may be linked to vivisection.  (Kevin
is a vegan).

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.  (Jonathan is a vegan).

John Smith, TB4887, HMP Lindholme, Bawtry Road, Hatfield Woodhouse,
Doncaster, DN7 6EE, England.  Serving 12 years for attempting to blackmail a
farmer who supplied guinea pigs for vivisection.  (John is a vegan).

Nicole Vosper VM9385, HMP Bronzefield, Woodhthorpe Road, Ashford, Middx,
TW15 3JZ, England.  On remand accused of blackmailing Huntingdon Life
Sciences.  (Nicole is a vegan).

Dan Wadham, A5705AA,HMP Camp Hill, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 5PB,
England.  Serving 5 years for conspiracy to blackmail Huntingdon Life
Sciences.  (Dan is a vegan).

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.  (Kerry is a vegan).

Sarah Whitehead, VM7684, HMP Bronzefield, Woodthorpe Road, Ashford, Middx,
TW15 3JZ, England.  Serving two years for: 1) rescuing a puppy from horrific
conditions. 2) rescuing over 100 animals from a pet breeder who was later
prosecuted for animal abuse.  Also awaiting trial for SHAC activity.  (Sarah
is a vegan)

PARTY & PROTEST PRISONERS

Justizvollzugsanstalt Aichach, Natalja Liebich, Postfach 1380, 86544
Aichach, Germany.  Jailed until June 2009 for taking part in anti-G8 and
anti-NATO protests. (Diet unknown).

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. (Diet unknown).

OTHER ANTI-WAR PRISONERS

Robert Alford VP 7552 HMP Lewes, 1 Brighton Rd, Lewes, Sussex, BN7 1EA,
England.  On remand accused of disarming a weapons factory, which, amongst
other things, makes Hellfire Missiles.  The action was in protest at Israel
military action against Gaza.  (Diet unknown).

Elija Smith VP 7551 HMP Bristol, 19 Cambridge Rd, Bristol, BS7 8PS, England.
On remand accused of disarming a weapons factory, which, amongst other
things, makes Hellfire Missiles.  The action was in protest at Israel
military action against Gaza.  (Diet unknown).

THE LECCE DEFENDANTS
The Lecce Defendants 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

Aleksey Bychin, SIZO 47/2, ul. Akademika Lebedeva, dom. 39, 195005 St.
Peterburg, Russia.  Serving 5 years for defending himself against neo-nazis.
(Diet unknown).

Andrei Mergenov, FGU IZ 64/1 OKB 2 komn. 73, Up. Kutyakova 107, 410601
Saratov, Russia.  Serving 3 years for fighting with neo-nazis. (Diet
unknown)

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. (Diet unknown).

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

OTHER PRISONERS

Pavel Delidon, ul. Timiryazeva-1, FGU IK-7, 309990 Valuyki Russia.
Anarchist/Animal Rights activist jailed for attempting to obtain wages owed
to him, but which had not been paid to him by his employer. (Diet unknown).

Richard Sills (Address Unknown, USA).  Serving 15 months for bomb hoaxing a
University saying they would be targeted by the ALF if they didn't stop
their animal experiments.  (Diet unknown).

Fran Thompson, #1090915, CCC, 3151 Litton Drive, Chillicuthe, MO 64601, 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. (Fran is a vegan).

MOVE
MOVE is an eco-revolutionary group who carried out protests in defence of
all life. All move prisoners describe themselves as vegetarians.  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
including assault and murder.  '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

Short update on the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act 4 (AETA4) case

On May 21, 2009, attorneys for the AETA4 filed a motion to dismiss the charges against them. The Center for Constitutional Rights and Civil Liberties Defense Center also joined in the motion. Charges against the AETA 4 include alleged protest, chalking the sidewalk, chanting and leafleting –, and the alleged use of “the Internet to find information on bio-medical researchers.” These actions are clearly and traditionally protected by the First Amendment. The motion argues that the AETA is unconstitutional and should thus be overturned and the case dismissed. The motion can be read in full at http://ccrjustice.org/files/AETA%20-%...ismiss.pdf

The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act aims to suppress speech and advocacy by criminalizing activities protected by the First Amendment, including protests, boycotts, picketing and whistleblowing. Though the AETA targets animal rights activists, its language is so broad and vague that it could easily be used to prosecute labor activists who might engage in peaceful activities such as picketing or organizing a successful boycott of a giant corporate supermarket that exploits its workers.

Take action today in solidarity with the AETA 4 by:

1. Call the Department of Justice at (202) 514-1057 and ask Assistant Attorney General David Kris to stop using counter-terrorism resources to criminalize animal rights activism.

The scheduled June 8th court appearance for the AETA4 has been postponed. The re-scheduled appearance is set for:

Monday July 13
9:00AM
Courtroom 6, 4th Floor
280 South 1st ST.
San Jose, CA 95113

Source: http://www.aeta4.org

Dave Mahoney Still Has a Posse: Solidarity in the Face of Vindictive Prosecution

a message from the Community RNC Arrestee Support Structure (rncaftermath.org)

Monday morning in Ramsey County District Court, RNC activist Dave Mahoney pled – under pressure and significant duress – to a single count of second degree assault, a felony. Instead of going to trial on the 10 felony counts stemming from a single invented incident, Dave and the office of Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner agreed to a plea bargain. Given the disproportionately ferocious, political prosecution, Dave and his attorney evidently found it in their best interest to agree to a 90-day cap on jail time, reduction of the (single) felony charge to a gross misdemeanor after the sentence is served, and the ability for Dave to return to his native England after the jail term. With credit for good behavior and time served, Dave is looking at 56 days or less in jail, as opposed to the decades possible if he had lost at trial.

Of the dozens of RNC charges heard in open court, authorities have not won a single conviction. The manipulation and reliance on overtly authoritarian pressure evidenced in Dave’s case is indicative of the only tactic the state has left to justify the police brutality and fiscal waste characterizing the RNC and its aftermath. Dave faced two, then six, and ultimately ten charges. First accused of aiding and abetting the drop of a bag of sand in front of a slow-moving delegate bus on a closed highway exit ramp, authorities then levied a count of terroristic threats and assault for each so-called "victim" on the bus who claimed to feel "terrorized." All together, Dave eventually was looking at decades behind bars and a dramatically tainted jury pool until the prosecution made the sudden plea offer last week. The absurdity of the state's persecution should be apparent, but so should the impossible position in which Dave was placed. Indeed, what would you do under similar circumstances?

In a letter to his lawyer last December, prosecutor Richard Dusterhoft called his case "by far the most serious RNC case I have" (an assertion we find silly at best). He has referred to Dave as the "poster boy of the RNC" in open court. Similarly, during the presentation of the Heffelfinger-Luger Report in January, Andrew Luger called the alleged bag of sand incident "the most frightening moment of the convention," apparently overlooking the pre-emptive raids, state-sponsored shutdown of downtown, and hundreds of brutal injuries caused by police.

It is, of course, too much to ask that agents of the state consider such things. The cognitive dissonance could prove fatal, what with so many careers to further, so many dollars to grab, so many atrocities to excuse. If an activist like Dave -- whose community believes him, as we do, completely innocent of the anything resembling assault or terror crimes (if in fact there was ever a crime at all) -- has to serve months in jail on a politician's whim, so be it. There are, of course, priorities. That those priorities fail to align with common sense or justice is neither here nor there.

Back in reality, Dave, his comrades, and friends -- from England to the Twin Cities and beyond -- are not guilty of assaulting delegates. Rather, they and we are launching assaults on the interlocking systems of injustice and oppression which keep all of us in one form of prison or another. Like Dave, we didn’t and don’t commit this assault with bags of dirt or pointed fingers; we attack the system with continuous, relentless organizing in a diversity of forms, seen and unseen. That those who benefit most from temporary power fail to recognize this should surprise no one.

The state-sanctioned kidnappings of our friends by cartoonishly villianous stooges like Bob Fletcher – the very embodiment of corruption and contemptible, scabrous sleaze, as even the mainstream press and the FBI are starting to realize – and the subsequent legitimizing of these crimes by other criminally smarmy agents of the state should not stop anyone. Until borders have been broken and police prevented from terrorizing our communities in the manner they do every day, we will continue to assault any system that withholds our basic needs and denies our wild dreams.

Due to the nature of these battles waged within the confines of the criminal injustice system, there is of course more to be said -- but it must wait. If you, too, have dreams of love, rage, and freedom, perhaps you too can say some of it under your breath. More important than what we can or cannot say, however, is what we can do.

The RNC happened in our community, but the interests it served and the repression it entailed are fundamental to the structure of this society … indeed, the world system. Don’t forget. From the RNC 8 to the RNC Others; the Tarnac 9; the AETA 4; and all those past and present - defend ALL targets of state repression.

RNC 8: rnc8.org

Jesse Forrey, currently on trial call: supportjessejames.wordpress.com

Christina Vana and Karen Meissner: helpmkethree.blogspot.com

Write to Glenn Dyer, incarcerated in Ramsey County until at least June 13, at:

Glenn David Dyer
297 S. Century Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55119

Write to the Texas Two, Bradley Crowder and David McKay, serving 2 and 4 years in prison, respectively, as well as Matt DePalma, at (this address will change in a few weeks):

Sherburne County Jail
13880 Highway 10
Elk River, MN 55330-4601

solidarity & revolt

Solidarity & Revolt Across Borders - Letters from prisoners, solidarity statements and action chronologies from France and other countries (January 2008 to March 2009)

http://zinelibrary.info/files/solidarity_revolt.pdf

Anarchist Birthday Brigade for the Month of June

Anarchist Birthday Brigade (ABB)/ Joint Birthday Project

The Anarchist Birthday Brigade (ABB)/ Joint Birthday Project began has a collaboration between the Los Angeles Anarchist Black Cross Federation (LA-ABCF) and Break the Chains (BTC). In small gestures, it is designed to let Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War know that they are still in our minds and in our hearts during certain seasons or holidays. Through the project we send holiday/birthday gifts and/or cards to our imprisoned comrades. We encourage people to take part in this program by checking the list and send cards and support to these prisoners. Please keep in mind, this is not a complete list and though names are mentioned on this list, they may not be considered as Political Prisoners or Prisoners of War by either the LA-ABCF or BTC. Individuals mentioned may also be "politicized" or "conscious" social prisoners. We will be updating the list from time to time.

Below is the list of political prisoners whose birthdays are during the month of June. Please take a moment to send them a card or letter and let them know that people are thinking about them. For more information about their case, please click on the link below their names.

June

LUIS MEDINA
#58734-004 / Box 3000
Pine KNot, KY
USP McCreary
June 9, 1963
http://www.abcf.net/prisoners/cuban5.htm

SEKOU ODINGA
#05228-054 / Box 8500 ADX
Florence, CO 81226-8500
June 14, 1944
http://www.abcf.net/prisoners/odinga.htm

DELBERT ORR AFRICA
AM4985 / Drawer K
Dallas, PA 18612 / SCI Dallas
June 21, 1951
http://www.abcf.net/prisoners/move.htm

ABDUL MAJID
83A0483 / Follies Road, Drawer B
Green Haven Correctional Facility
Stormville, NY 12582-0010
June 25, 1949
http://www.abcf.net/prisoners/queens2.htm

THOMAS MANNING
10373-016 / Box 2000
Bruceton Mills, WV 26525
USP Hazelton
June 28, 1946
http://www.abcf.net/prisoners/tom.htm

EF! Roadshow folks arrested at Home Depot action in Denver!

Hey, all you 'angry Home Depot customers', call 1-800-553-3199 (press

extension # 5)

Tell 'em to drop the charges against our friends in Arapahoe County

Jail, Colorado, and to get the hell out of wild Patagonia!

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

For Immediate Release: May, 27, 2009

Home Depot has Earth First! activists arrested for action against dams

in Patagonia

Denver, CO-- Two Earth First! activists were arrested at a Home Depot

this morning in Glendale. The arrests followed a banner being hung off

the roof of a Home Depot store reading "Dam Home Depot, NOT

Patagonia!" Supporters of the arrested activists demand that Home

Depot cut all ties and voice their opposition to this project at

tomorrows corporate shareholders meeting tomorrow in Atlanta, Georgia.

The banner-drop action was intended to remind both the public and the

company: "We've fought The Home Depot before and won." Almost ten

years ago, Earth First! groups around the country joined with

Rainforest Action Network and others forced Home Depot to adopt wood

product policies that removed old growth from their shelves. But their

involvement in the HidroAysen project in Patagonia, Chile shows their

commitments to 'green business' practices looking a lot like empty

Public Relations.

International Rivers, an organization working to protect rivers and

defend the rights of communities that depend on them, explains that:

The HidroAysen project involves 3 dams on the Pascua River and 2 dams

on the Baker River that would flood globally rare forest ecosystems

and some of the most productive agricultural land in the Aysen region.

Electricity from these dams would be sent thousands of kilometers

north to serve Chile’s biggest cities and its mammoth copper industry.

More than 1,500 miles of transmission lines would require one of the

world's longest clearcuts--much of it through untouched temperate

rainforests found nowhere else on the planet. US retailer The Home

Depot is the largest buyer of timber products from the main Chilean

interest promoting the dams. The Home Depot has been asked by

thousands of people, including socially responsible investors, to stop

buying timber from suppliers that plan to destroy the rivers and

forests of Patagonia.

According to Ron DeFeo of Home Depot (from a blog post this morning):

"we don’t think it’s our place to weigh in on an issue that we have no

expertise or influence over." While DeFeo denies the company's

involvement and refuses to accept the research of International

Rivers, his blog post admits that "the president of our supplier’s

parent company owns shares, along with his family, in one of the

companies that would work on the project."

Earth First!, which is more of a movement than an organization, has

autonomous groups around the world who target corporations that are

responsible for devastating the planet. The movement currently has a

national Roadshow crossing the country to mobilize people to take

action against companies like Home Depot, which is currently featured

on their website www.earthfirstroadshow.wordpress.com

More information about this campaign at:

http://internationalrivers.org/patagonia