Letters in Modesto Bee Against FBI/Corporate Media Lies

Where's the Journalism?

I laughed after reading the horrible journalism of the eocterrorism articles. When I hear that another "Spare the Air" day has been called, or when I'm stuck in stop-and-go traffic and I see the destruction on our farmland and green space to make way for another McDonald's, that to me is ecoterrorism.

Terrorism is the systematic use of violence to coerce and control a population for a political purpose, not carefully attacking property of a large corporation to create dialogue. For one fire that ended up damaging three sport utility vehicles (which were resold), Jeff Luers received 23 years. Is this justice while lesser sentences are given to rapists and murders?

The Bee seems eager to lap up whatever the FBI dishes out. If it had done its work, maybe it would have seen that the Direct Action Anti-Authoritarians are involved in feeding the homeless, distributing free clothes and goods, and also monitoring police misconduct against youth. Perhaps they are seen as such a threat because they are creating constructive alternatives to problems that face our community.

What do we really have to fear from them? Benefit shows?

PETER CASEY Waterford

Modern Day Witch Hunt

I am disappointed, but not surprised, that the Direct Action Anti-Authoritarians collective of Modesto is being monitored by Modesto police and the FBI ("FBI issues ecoterror alert," June 12, Page B-1).

I have worked with the DAAA on many actions and events and consider myself a participant in the collective. The DAAA feeds the working poor and homeless, organized Critical Mass (the bicycle ride), distributes clothing to those who need it, works to stop all war, advocates for the rights of all working people, supports independent media, raises money for political prisoners such as Abu Mumia Jamal, and operates in an open and democratic manner. DAAA participants choose their own level of activism and empower everyone around them to find their own voice in the struggle for a just and sustainable society. Its work is highly political, not always without controversy, but in no way has the DAAA ever engaged in terrorism.

All of this tossing around of the "terrorist" label must be viewed as nothing more than the McCarthyist buzzword of the new century. Just use terrorist wherever we used to use "communist."

DAVID BROWN Manteca

EcoTerrorist Claim UnJustified

I was saddened to see that in two articles about an ecoterror alert (Local News, June 12 and 13) that Modesto's DAAA was implied to be an ecoterrorist group because it was going to hold a benefit for imprisoned arsonist Jeff Luers of Earth First.

Absolutely no evidence was produced to even suggest that the DAAA is an ecoterrorist group. Since when does handing out fliers and doing outreach on Luers' case define a group as ecoterrorist?

You owe the DAAA and its members a public apology. JAMES COSTELLO Ceres