December 97

Eco Terror On The Rise

What follows is an account of the Oct. 16 attack by members of the radical environmental organization known as Earth First! This account and many more can be found at "The Eco Terror Response Network" located at

http://www.cdfe.org/ecoterror.html

October 16, 1997. Eureka, California. Approximately 60 Earth Firsters, including two advance men wearing black ski masks, black gloves and black clothing, attacked the field office of Congressman Frank Riggs (R-1st), terrorizing female staff members and causing serious vandalism damage from a tree stump dumped on the floor along with a six-inch deep litter of wood chips, sawdust and tree debris. Office computers were covered with fine sawdust. The female staff members choked on the sawdust for several days thereafter. A female Earth Firster also urinated on the floor. Supporters of the attackers described the action as a "non-violent civil disobedience protest" against logging of privately owned commercial redwood trees belonging to Pacific Lumber Company. Environmentalists are seeking to confiscate the company's timberlands through legislation. The company is negotiating to sell a portion of the timberlands to the government for use as a park.

Staff members of Rep. Riggs's Eureka office described the incident: A loud boom sounded, shaking the building and rattling windows. A female staff member said, "I thought a bomb had gone off and we were going to experience Oklahoma City all over again." The sound was the tree stump being dumped from a handtruck. Another female staff member said, "I saw figures with black ski masks covering their faces, black hoods, black gloves. I remember the blood draining from my head and feeling dizzy. Thoughts of my two children came into my head, as if they would be my last thoughts on this earth." A female staff member said, "I went around the corner of the building to witness a white male reach up to his face and pull something off his head. I concluded it to be a ski mask. The white male held a walkie-talkie and said, 'It's a green light. It's a go, it's a go. Let's go.'"

Law enforcement officers responded to the scene and attempted to dislodge the Earth Firsters, but they refused to leave peacefully. Police applied pepper spray with swabs to their eyelids following county and city guidelines and removed the protesters under arrest.

Four Earth Firsters were arrested: 1) Jennifer Beth Schneider, 28, of Carmel Valley; 2) Terri Lee Slanetz, 34, of Oakland; 3) Lisa Marie Sanderson-Fox, 30, of Oakland; 4) Maya Portugal, 16, hometown unknown.

Humboldt County and the city of Eureka have been sued in a civil rights complaint by nine anti-logging Earth Firsters whose eyelids were swabbed with pepper spray at three separate demonstrations, including at Rep Riggs's office. The civil suit seeks a restraining order against the county and city use of pepper spray, but U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker declined to hear arguments on their motion for a restraining order because attorneys for the plaintiffs neglected to serve the county and city properly with copies of the complaint and a summons to a court hearing, which would violate constitutionally mandated due process rights. Macon Cowles, an attorney for the Earth Firsters, apologized for the error: "It is a matter of some distress to us that we have started this case out stumbling on this very important issue."

The female staff members of Rep. Rigg's office continue to experience disabling panic attacks.

Points to ponder.

• Masked individuals entered a government facility equipped with radios in a highly coordinated "effort" to commit clearly illegal acts.

• Considerable damage was done to government property (paid for by your tax dollars, as was the clean-up and repair).

• Sawdust and urine were spread throughout the office, on furniture, electronic equipment etc.

• Office staff were threatened, intimidated, and in admitted fear of their lives.

• A 400lb. + tree stump was dumped (literally) into the building, resulting in a sound that several unknowing staff felt was a bomb exploding.

• 3 women and a 16 year old minor (female) attached themselves to the stump and resisted lawful arrest until pepper spray was used (a legal and approved method of subduing uncooperative arrestees)

• The staff assaulted by Earth First! continue to suffer the after effects of the attack.

Now ask yourself these questions...

• Do these seem like the actions of "peaceful demonstrators"?

• Do you feel that your tax dollars should be used to pay for the damages?

• Human urine is an excellent carrier of disease. What purpose does urine serve in a "demonstration" against logging other than to endanger the health, and perhaps lives of the staff in Congressman Riggs office?

• What happens when masked men threaten government employees in a government facility in foreign countries?

• The 16 yr. old girl committed a crime directed by adults. Why are these people not being prosecuted for "Child Abuse", "Endangering the welfare of a child", "Contributing to the delinquency of a minor" and like charges? Who and where are this girls parents? Did they knowingly allow their daughter to participate in this "direct action"? Is the matter even being investigated?

• Who are the real victims here? Who are the criminals?

• Who is the justice system designed to protect?

Are we as a country going to once again "let it slide"? Or are we going to put out collective foot down and demand that the criminals be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law? Lets look at the FBI definition of terrorism for guidance.

"Terrorism is the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or
property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian
population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or
social objectives".

Now lets look at how this applies to the incident in Congressman Riggs office.....

Terrorism is the unlawful use of force or violence

Masked men illegally enter a government facility causing damage to

against persons or property

the staff and office of U.S. Congressman Frank Riggs

to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof,

The US Government, it's elected officials, and employees

in furtherance of political of social objectives

Earth First! demands for logging reform, and a change in the laws which govern it.

It would appear that the "non-violent civil disobedience protest" committed by Earth First! fits the FBI definition of terrorism. While that fact is sinking in, consider that a document exists called the "Reno Declaration of Non-Violence". It has been signed by over 500 "Wise Use" organizations, but not one environmental org. No EF!, no Sierra Club, no SUWA. I have but one question.

Why?

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