at the Packhorse, Woodhouse Lane
For more details:
www.leeds.indymedia.org.uk
www.leedsef.org.uk
June 12 is International Day of Action
and Solidarity with Jeff ‘Free’ Luers.
In June 01, 23 year old forest defence activist Jeffrey
‘Free’ Luers was sentenced to 22 years and 8
months in prison for the burning of 3 Sport Utility
Vehicles (SUV's) in Eugene, Oregon along with Craig
‘Critter’ Marshal, to make a statement about global
warming. Both activists took measures to make sure
that no one would be injured as a result of their
action and scouted the location for months
beforehand. An arson specialist later confirmed that
the action did not pose any threat to people,
based on its size and distance from any fuel source.
Despite the fact that this action hurt no one, caused
only $40,000 in damages and the cars were later
resold, Jeff was sent to prison for a sentence
considerably longer than those convicted of murder,
kidnapping and rape in Oregon state.
Free's appeal was filed in January 2002 with the
state response filed in July 2003 and his lawyer's
reply brief in March 2004. Oral arguments are
expected in April or May 2004.
Olivia Rousset, an Australian
videographer and journalist, produced
this video report for Dateline Australia
back in 2001. It contains some of the
only video footage of Free in prison, as
well as interviews with professor Bron
Taylor, former ELF spokesperson Craig
Rosebraugh and anarchist/author John
Zerzan. One of the best pieces on the
US ecological defence