In the historic civil rights lawsuit of two Earth First! organizers against the FBI and Oakland Police Dept., jury selection is complete and the first witnesses began taking the stand on Wednesday, April 10, 2002. Opening remarks were made by the plaintiffs on Tuesday afternoon, with the defense making its opening remarks Wednesday morning. The jury is a diverse group that well represents the mixed culture of the Bay Area. Judi Bari's 21-year-old daughter Lisa Bari, who has been in the courtroom all week, commented, "It seems like they will be fair and impartial. I think we have a good chance for justice."

The trial comes after more than a decade of aggressive defense motions and delay tactics as the stonewalling FBI attempted to gain immunity from prosecution. But the courts have repeatedly upheld the merits of the case and ruled that it could go forward with its charges of false arrest, illegal search and seizure, and violation of First Amendment rights by falsely associating the plaintiffs with terrorism. Judi Bari and Darryl Cherney were victims of a car-bomb attack in 1990 in which the FBI accused them of carrying the bomb. But no charges were ever filed, despite a national smear campaign in the media against the two and their lawful cause. It was a classic frame-up attempt in the long history of COINTELPRO "disrupt and neutralize" tactics. The lawsuit attempts to clear the plaintiffs name and expose FBI actions against lawful political movements. Stay tuned!