Jeff's Story

In June 2001, 23 year-old forest defense activist Jeffrey "Free" Luers was sentenced to 22 years and 8 months in prison for the burning of three Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV's) in Eugene, Oregon. To make a statement about global warming, Jeff and his codefendent, Craig 'Critter' Marshall, set fire to 3 Sport Utility Vehicles at a Eugene car dealership. Their stated purpose was to raise awareness about global warming and the role that SUVs play in that process. No one was hurt in this action nor was that the intent. An arson specialist at trial 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. Jeff is a political prisoner and continues to write and agitate for his release while imprisoned at Oregon State Penitentiary. His appeal was filed in January 2002 and oral arguments before the Oregon Court of Appeals were heard on November 30, 2005. Over a year later, on February 14, 2007 the Court of Appeals unanimously ruled that Jeff's case will be reversed and remanded back to the Circuit Court for resentencing. A year after their decision, a resentencing hearing finally took place on February 28, 2008 in Lane County Circuit Court which reduced Jeff's sentence to 10 years. He will be released in December 2009! Please make a donation towards Jeff's release and education fund. Many people have asked how to do this when they are hard up, well if you have some spare money after a payday advance then even a few dollars is fine and we welcome any money you can offer.

Other Political Prisoners

I think that it's acceptable for the US to lecture China about their regrettable civil rights record. Nevertheless the reverse is also correct ; China, or any other country, has each right and moral need to press the U.S. By itself civil rights violations. While we're all moderately acquainted with obvious latest abuses like Abu Ghraib, the worldwide network of "black box" CIA jails where unlawfully held prisoners are tortured and often murdered, and the gulag at Guantanamo Bay, not very much notice is paid to political captives in the US. Here are one or two examples of the more famous political captives in the U. S. and proposals on whom to contact to prompt their release. Today would be a good day to follow the lead of Martin Luther King, Jr. And perturb for justice.

Bradley Manning Bradley Manning is the regiment personal charged with providing Wikileaks with U.S. Central authority documents.

He's been held in solitary confinement since July, 2010. The conditions of Manning's detention are abominable : he's in held in a six foot by twelve foot cell for twenty-three hours per day where isn't permitted to exercise. His glasses are taken from him apart from short periods when he's permitted to read, and at night he's stripped to his fighter shorts. His psychological fitness is alleged to have deteriorated. The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture has submitted a formal investigation to the U.S.

State Dep about Manning's treatment. Previous Reagan Administration Paul Roberts has expounded Manning is, "wrongfully detained for meeting his army responsibility." Australian newshound John Pilger calls Manning, "the world's pre-eminent captive of conscience." for more info, visit The Bradley Manning Support Network. The link appears at the end of this manuscript. Leonard Peltier American Indian Movement activist Leonard Peltier has been known world wide as a U.S. Political captive since his confinement in 1977 for reportedly murdering 2 FBI agents in a shootout at the Pine Ridge Reservation.

Notwithstanding powerful proof of his innocence and a trial widely viewed as fraudulent, no president has ever dared to cross the FBI to pardon Peltier and release him from his 2 sequential life sentences. Mumia Abu-Jamal Mumia Abu-Jamal is a globally respected social agitator and broadcast newshound who was sentenced to execution for murdering a U.S. Policeman in 1981. Abu-Jamal remains on death row notwithstanding proof of his innocence which has convinced observers around the planet and regardless of the confession of another man who makes a claim to have snuffed out the officer. About twenty-five town states, including Paris, Copenhagen, Palermo and Montreal have made Abu-Jamal an honorary voter, and he's been honoured with countless awards, honorary degrees, and even has a street in Paris named after him. Abu-Jamal is also the subjects of one or two flicks. Thru legal battle over the years, Abu-Jamal's execution has been delayed but the sentence still stands. The Cuban 5 are 5 Cuban intelligence officials - Gerardo Hernndez, Ramn Labaino, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando Gonzlez and Ren Gonzlez - who came to Miami, Florida to observe anti-Cuban terrorist groups. There's a long history of terrorist attacks from people and organisations based in Miami, including the bombing of a Cuban civilian aeroplane. Rather than arresting the purported terrorists, the Cuban agents were captured, held in solitary confinement for just about a year and a half, and are now serving sentences of nearly 2 successive life terms. 8 Nobel Peace laureates have written to demand the releasing of the 5 .