Oregon Political Prisoner Sent to the 'Hole'

Free’s friends and supporters have been informed that “Free was sent to the hole for an article he wrote.” This would be the second time this year that
authorities at OSP have responded to political expression with write-ups and time in the Hole. (Anarchist prisoners Rob “los Ricos” Thaxton and Brian McCarvill were both sent to the Hole for 120 days earlier this year, after allies on the outside sent them postcards as part of an anti-censorship
campaign.)

Free is widely considered a political prisoner due to the 23-year sentence he received for an act of sabotage that injured nobody. The same week as his
transfer to the Hole, the Eugene Human Rights Commission released a letter in support of a reduced sentence for Free, and suggesting that the original
sentence was based on his political beliefs.

Now, Free is again being punished for his politics.

We encourage all individuals and groups to stand by Free during this time, and to demand his immediate reentry into general population at OSP.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

1. Write letters of support to Free (envelopes must contain a full name and return address):

Jeffery Luers #13797671
OSP
2605 State Street
Salem, OR 97310

2. Contact Oregon Department of Corrections Interim Director Ben de Haan and OSP Superintendent Brian Belleque. Demand that Free be immediately released
back into general population.

Ben de Haan, Interim Director – ODOC
Oregon Department of Corrections
Central Administration Office
2575 Center Street NE
Salem, Oregon 97301-4667
Tel: 503-945-9090
Fax: 503-373-1173

Brian Belleque, Superintendent
Oregon State Penitentiary
2605 State Street
Salem, Oregon 97310-0505
Tel: 503-378-2445
Fax: 503-378-3897
Emails may also be sent to the Department of Corrections at:
DOC.Info [at] doc.state.or.us

3. Fundraise for Free! Checks and money orders can be made out to "Howl for Freedom" and sent to Free’s Defense Network, address below.
or to make a secure online donation, go to
http://www.freefreenow.org/appeal.html

Free, in his own words:
“My name is Jeffrey Luers. Most of my friends call me “Free”. I have been
active since 1996 fighting for a range of issues such as animal rights, gender
equality, anti fascism, eco-defense and others. These issues are not separate
they are one struggle, one fight. My story is only a small part of a greater
whole.
“In my lifetime I have witnessed an onslaught against the inhabitants of this
world lead by the greed of industrialized nations. It is my belief that the
oppression of people is rooted in the oppression and exploitation of nature. A
fundamental disrespect for life that began with the conquest of Mother Nature
and has lead to the conquest of humankind. I struck back. In an act of
resistance designated to raise awareness and draw attention to a problem that
affects every human being, every animal, every plant, and every form of life
on this planet. I am speaking of global warming, air, soil and water
pollution. We are in the midst of a global environmental crisis.
“On June 16, 2000 I ignited a fire that would forever change my life. I
torched 3 SUVs. I took extra care and used specific fuels to ensure no one
would be injured. Approximately 30 minutes after the fire was lit and
extinguished, I was taken into custody by 3 undercover agents who had been
following me, one of whom I would later learn to be a member of an
anti-domestic terrorist unit. I was arrested on Criminal Mischief One, a
charge that carries about one year. In the course of one week that charge
would multiply into 10 felony counts, including 3 counts of Arson One. Getting
to trial took the course of a year. By trial I had accumulated 13 felony
counts, now including conspiracy with persons unknown. I was looking at a
little over 100 years. I refused to take a deal.
“Trial was a joke, literally. We proved evidence had been tampered with,
officers had lied and that the prosecutor had manipulated evidence to get a
legal search. On top of that the judge refused to allow me to separate the
trial. I had been charged with two different fires. Law requires that upon
request separate offences must be tried separately. The final blow came when
the judge threw out the testimony of my expert witness. In the end I was
convicted of 11 felony charges. I was sentenced to 22 years and 8 months. I
have no possibility of parole. This is only a summary of events that took
place in the course of a year.”


Web Resources on Free:
http://www.freefreenow.org/
http://www.breakthechains.net/prisoners/free/index.html
http://www.spiritoffreedom.org.uk/prisoners/free.html

Free's Defense Network
PO Box 50263
Eugene, OR 97405
email: freefreenow [at] ziplip.com

Anarchist Prisoners' Legal Aid Network
818 SW 3rd Ave. PMB 354
Portland, OR 97204 (USA)
weneversleep [at] ziplip.com