Resisting the "Green Scare" in Eugene on June 11

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Resisting the "Green Scare"
Eugene event June 11, 2006 featuring Derrick Jensen

On June 11th, Eugene will participate in the International Weekend of Resistance
Against the Green Scare along with over 20 other cities worldwide, in order to show
solidarity and support for those facing charges and harassment in what has come to
be known as the Green Scare.

December 7th of 2005 marked the beginning of the largest roundup of environmental
and animal rights activists in U.S. history. There have now been nearly 20 arrests
and many Grand Jury subpoenas. The nation-wide sweep of arrests, dubbed ?Operation
Backfire,? has been described by the FBI as a major hit to environmentalists and
animal rights activists who engage in destruction of property as a means to defend
wild lands and lives of animals. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales stated in January
that, ?Investigating and preventing animal rights and environmental extremism is one
of the FBI?s highest domestic priorities?.

Despite the lack of human injury in any of the actions these community members are
being accused of, the government is threatening extraordinary sentences, ranging
from 30 years to life plus 335 years. Similar crimes committed without political
motivation receive far shorter sentences and even different, lesser charges. For
example, a string of nine recent church arsons are being described by the
authorities as ?youthful pranks?. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-New Jersey) said
recently, "The Oklahoma City bombing killed 168 people. The attacks of 9/11 killed
3,000. Since 1993, there have been at least five fatal attacks on doctors who
performed legal abortions. Eric Rudolph recently pleaded guilty to placing a bomb in
a public area during the Olympic Games in 1996, as well as bombing a Birmingham
women's clinic and a gay nightclub. All of these cases involved the loss of human
life. To date, not a single incident of so-called ?environmental terrorism? has
killed anyone."

June 11, 2006 also marks the sixth year that Jeff ?Free? Luers has been in prison as
well as the 3rd year of International Days of Solidarity with him. The focus of
international events this year will instead be on ?Operation Backfire? and what many
are calling a ?Green Scare? campaign of government repression. This year?s Eugene
event, ?Resisting the Green Scare: A Night of Solidarity with Eco-Defense
Prisoners?, will be held at 7pm on Sunday June 11th at Sam Bond?s Garage, 407 Blair
Blvd, and will consist of speakers and music. Award-winning author Derrick Jensen
will be the featured speaker of the evening. Proceeds will benefit the green scare
defendants.

Jeff Luers, a local environmental activist, received a disproportionately long
sentence (22 ? years) after confessing to attempting to burn three SUVs at an auto
dealership in Eugene, Oregon. At trial, Jeff clearly stated that his action was a
desperate attempt to bring awareness to the destruction of the Earth by this
unsustainable form of transportation and its external costs of global warming,
pollution, and war for oil. Because of his stated political beliefs, Jeff received
an extremely long prison sentence; he is charged with a ?Measure 11? crime despite
the fact that this fire did not endanger any life; and he continues to suffer
harassment by the Department of Corrections due to his bogus designation as a member
of a ?Security Threat Group? ? a status typically used for violent gang members.

The local Jeff Luers Support Group and allies sponsor the Eugene green scare event
and wish to welcome the community to come out for an evening of entertainment and
solidarity.

For more information, contact:
Jeff Free Luers Support Network; PO Box 3; Eugene, OR 97440
http://www.freefreenow.org/june2006.htm
http://www.freefreenow.org/greenscare.htm
freefreenow [at] mutualaid.org
local Eugene event contact: breakthechains02 [at] yahoo.com