[Infoshop News]
It has come to my attention in the past few weeks both through my
involvement with the Resist! Collective, as well as by the insistent
emails from friends, that there has been quite a bit of talk
circulating since the close of the Green Scare hearings in Eugene at
the beginning of June. Some time ago, I made promises to post a
statement at the conclusion of those hearings, and yet it has been
more than a month since my return from Eugene.
...
For those of you who do not know me, I have run Darren Thurston's
support committee and website since his arrest in December 2005, and
have a close association with some others indicted in the Green Scare
case including Chelsea, Joe and Rebecca. This is only one facet of my
long history of activism, but it is that which is most salient to this
letter. Since his decision to co-operate with the US Government's
investigation into the ALF/ELF early last summer, there have been a
lot of allegations made about Darren and others which are either
untrue or overblown in order to paint a particular picture. I would
like to start here by explaining the truth as I have understood it as
a participant and supporter in this case, then briefly talk about the
personal effects of this situation, and also the greater ethics of our
political movements. A dissertation this is not, I will try to be
brief but thorough.
As many of you reading know, Darren decided to co-operate with the FBI
investigation into his case in May of 2006 after being incarcerated
for almost six months. He based his decision on the information that
besides his charges in Oregon he would face additional charges in
California of handling an incendiary device (albeit by conspiracy) at
the Lichtfield action, which would carry a *mandatory minimum*
sentence of 30 years on top of the 5-10 he was already facing. He was
further made aware of the fact that three people with whom he had done
the Lichtfield action had already agreed to testify against him, and
that he would face the further charges in California alone (the other
three indicted separately in Lichtfield were Rebecca Rubin, Joe Dibbee
and Justin Solondz - all currently missing and considered fugitives by
the US Government).
To put it simply, Darren was facing 35 years to life in prison and was
set up for his most contentious trial entirely alone with an array of
people lined up to testify against him. He had no way of winning his
case, and he knew it. ...
...
Some of you know the history of Darren's activism, but for those of
you who don't I note it for the sake of understanding why I think we
need to re-evaluate the "movement" position on people caught in these
complex legal situations. For over two decades (since his early teens)
Darren has been a committed activist to animal, earth and human
rights. First imprisoned from 1992-94 for liberating cats slated for
experimentation at a University of Alberta laboratory, Darren has put
his beliefs into action over and over again. The list of organizations
Darren has been involved in or helped to start are numerous and
include BearWatch, the Coalition for Animal Liberation, Friends of the
Elaho, TAO Communications, the Victory Project, the Compassion Club,
the Animal Liberation Front, the Earth Liberation Front, and many
others. Darren has now acknowledged his involvement in producing The
Final Nail - the seminal work in North America on shutting down fur
farms - a major contributor to putting many mink farms out of business
in the US in the 1990s. He additionally ran and produced many security
websites and manuals for activists as well as contributing to other
direct action manuals, workshops and conferences.
...
Although movement radicals have focused a lot on the particulars of
what each individual has said or done in this situation, the FBI has
taken a much more global view of the case. Their motivation from the
beginning and straight through has been to "smash the network of the
ELF and ALF in North America," which they have made clear both in
private debriefing sessions as well as in court filings. Smashing the
network means a lot more than putting a few people in jail for long
prison sentences (in fact, it means not putting people in jail for
long sentences lest movement martyrs be created). Smashing the network
relies on a number of things:
...
And so to my fellow radicals - I suppose we each have to ask ourselves
would any of us have made a different decision given the facts laid
out above? And if we are even slightly hesitant in our answer of yes,
then who are we to judge another in difficult circumstances? Do we
want a movement based on martyrdom? Do we want to participate in the
exclusionary silencing occurring right now as people like myself try
to bring these ethical questions out into community only to be met by
stone walls? Is this the movement we want to build - a mob who passes
judgment without trial and who enforces a single morality that is not
up for discussion or debate?
I recognize the questions above are somewhat polemic in nature,
certainly positional and designed to provoke; but I am not objective
at all here - and more than that - I believe that these words form a
truth important in the self-reflections of radicals, and the way
forward to a better world. Which is something that I pose to you is
worth fighting for. Or at least fighting over.
I do not provide this letter in order to evoke tiny violins or
sympathetic tears, but because I have thought much on this subject in
the past few weeks and have finally come to a place where I can say it
all and honestly. I hope this is the spirit in which you take what I
have said above, that I am not trying to obfuscate or cajole, but
bring to the light what I believe to be true about what this
experience has so far been. For better analysis, understanding and
stronger community - these words are what stand for me.
I am in eternal gratitude for those who struggle, those who support
and those who work towards a better world. You are in my heart and in
my circle.
Megan
Darren Thurston Support Ctte.
--
full story:
http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20070725131154699
