[Ppnews] Green Scare press release for 5/18

[Political Prisoner News]

Civil Rights Outreach Committee

For Immediate Release: May 18, 2006


Contact:
Lauren Regan, Civil Liberties Defense Center, Eugene, OR: 541-687-9180.
Alejandro Queral, NW Constitutional Rights Center, Portland, OR: 
503-295-6400, 202-491-6204


Feds Revive McCarthy-era Tactics to Squelch Political Dissent


Civil rights advocates decry use of grand jury to gather information 
against environmental activists


             Eugene, OR -- The federal government has subpoenaed two 
more environmental activists to testify before grand juries on May 
18, 2006, at the federal courthouse here and in Colorado, as 
prosecutors continue to carry out broad, politically motivated sweeps 
of environmental and animal rights activists around the country.  The 
Civil Liberties Defense Center and the Northwest Constitutional 
Rights Center are alarmed at the government's improper use of the 
broad subpoena powers of the grand jury to coerce information from 
activists as they seek to bolster their case against 15 people 
indicted for their alleged involvement in several acts of property 
destruction.  The government's case has so far relied on the 
information and testimony provided by infiltrators and informants.

Jeff Hogg, a nursing student and long-time environmental activist, is 
scheduled to appear before the grand jury in Eugene this morning. 
Burke Morris has been subpoenaed to appear before a Denver grand jury 
investigating the 1998 Vail arson.

"The continued use of the grand jury by federal prosecutors in this 
instance confirms that they are abusing their power to subpoena 
witnesses in order to prepare the federal case for trial," said 
Lauren Regan, attorney and executive director of the Civil Liberties 
Defense Center.  "This is clearly an improper use of the grand jury 
under federal law."

"Amidst the continued revelations in the last week that the federal 
government is spying on millions of Americans, the FBI's 
investigative tactics against environmental and animal rights 
activists, and the prosecutors' broad use of subpoena powers to 
coerce testimony, the government will likely discourage many from 
freely expressing their political viewpoints," said Alejandro Queral, 
executive director of the NW Constitutional Rights Center. "These are 
all signs that we live in an increasingly repressive society."

The grand jury in Eugene is investigating acts of sabotage linked to 
the underground Earth Liberation Front (ELF) and Animal Liberation 
Front (ALF). There have been grand juries convened in San Diego, San 
Francisco, Seattle and Colorado affecting a broad sweep of 
environmental and animal activists suspected of property damage.  The 
actions include arsons at such targets as a ski resort expansion into 
endangered lynx habitat and a slaughterhouse facility where healthy 
wild horses were killed for dog food for export to Europe.  Despite 
the fact that no one was injured in any of the incidents, the FBI 
calls the actions "terrorism." Two additional people were charged in 
separate indictments in Washington and California.

A press packet of current related articles, background information, 
historical examples of sabotage in the U.S., and a history of F.B.I. 
repression of political activism is available. Please contact the 
Civil Liberties Defense Center at 541-687-9180.





The Freedom Archives
522 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 863-9977
www.freedomarchives.org 
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