Posted on 06/05/2002 5:34:12 PM PDT by Glutton
On June 11th, 2002 Jeff "Free" Luers will have spent one year in the Oregon State Prison system for torching three SUVs in a Eugene car lot. He was sentenced to an astounding 23 years for this crime, leading many people to believe that the sentence was politically motivated and intended to intimidate environmentalists. For perspective, consider that, according to the Department of Justice, the average sentence given to a man who kills his wife is 13 years.
Here are Free's own words on his actions: "My name is Jeffrey Luers. Most of my friends call me 'Free'. I have been active since 1996 fighting for a range of issues such as animal rights, gender equality, anti fascism, eco-defense and others. These issues are not separate they are one struggle, one fight. My story is only a small part of a greater whole. . .
"In my lifetime I have witnessed an onslaught against the inhabitants of this world lead by the greed of industrialized nations. It is my belief that the oppression of people is rooted in the oppression and exploitation of nature. A fundamental disrespect for life that began with the conquest of Mother Nature and has led to the conquest of humankind.
"I struck back. In an act of resistance designated to raise awareness and draw attention to a problem that affects every human being, every animal, every plant, and every form of life on this planet. I am speaking of global warming, air, soil and water pollution. We are in the midst of a global environmental crisis.
"On June 16, 2000 I ignited a fire that would forever change my life. I torched 3 SUV’s. I took extra care and used specific fuels to ensure no one would be injured." [ Read more ]
This week, "Anarchy: The Intentional Creation" continues in Eugene, and will feature a film about "Free".
My name is Jeffrey Luers. Most of my friends call me “Free”. I have been active since 1996 fighting for a range of issues such as animal rights, gender equality, anti fascism, eco-defense and others. These issues are not separate they are one struggle, one fight. My story is only a small part of a greater whole. . .
In my lifetime I have witnessed an onslaught against the inhabitants of this world lead by the greed of industrialized nations. It is my belief that the oppression of people is rooted in the oppression and exploitation of nature. A fundamental disrespect for life that began with the conquest of Mother Nature and has led to the conquest of humankind.
I struck back. In an act of resistance designated to raise awareness and draw attention to a problem that affects every human being, every animal, every plant, and every form of life on this planet. I am speaking of global warming, air, soil and water pollution. We are in the midst of a global environmental crisis.
On June 16, 2000 I ignited a fire that would forever change my life. I torched 3 SUV’s. I took extra care and used specific fuels to ensure no one would be injured.
Approximately 30 minutes after the fire was lit and extinguished, I was taken into custody by 3 undercover agents who had been following me, one of whom I would later learn to be a member of an anti-domestic terrorist unit. I was arrested on Criminal Mischief One,a charge that carries about one year. In the course of one week that charge would multiply into 10 felony counts, including 3 counts of Arson One.
Getting to trial took the course of a year. By trial I had accumulated 13 felony counts, now including conspiracy with persons unknown. I was looking at a little over 100 years. I refused to take a deal.
Trial was a joke, literally. We proved evidence had been tampered with, officers had lied and that the prosecutor had manipulated evidence to get a legal search. On top of that the judge refused to allow me to separate the trial. I had been charged with two different fires. Law requires that upon request separate offences must be tried separately. The final blow came when the judge threw out the testimony of my expert witness.
In the end I was convicted of 11 felony charges. I was sentenced to 22 years and 8 months. I have no possibility of parole.
This is only a summary of events that took place in the course of a year. For more information contact me directly or my defense network at:
Jeffery Luers #13797671
OSP
2605 State Street
Salem, OR 97310
Free's Defense Network
PO Box 50263
Eugene, OR 97405
howl_for_freedom@yahoo.com
Former employer, I used to work out of that office. I also believe that they torched the office of Superior Lumber Company (small family owned sawmill) in Glendale Oregon a year and a half ago...they were trying to burn up the payroll right before pay day if remember right.
He freely admits he committed arson and incinerated property worth, at minimum, $80,000.00.
They used to hang people for stealing a horse.
Way I figure, he got off easy.
December 26, 1998: Oregon. Arson of U.S. Forest Industries' corporate headquarters in Medford, Oregon. The three alarm blaze resulted in over $500,000 in damages. ELF claimed responsibility in a communique released by the Liberation Collective in Portland, Oregon.
Former employer, I used to work out of that office. I also believe that they torched the office of Superior Lumber Company (small family owned sawmill) in Glendale Oregon a year and a half ago...they were trying to burn up the payroll right before pay day if remember right.
Thanks forester for posting this. Besides the immediate $ damage, how many jobs did just these two fires cost Oregon?
Add these two fires to the long list that Carry posted, and these eco terrorists cost a lot money and jobs for the state of Oregon.
When I get them in my thumbs, if my wife or doc can't get them all out, they go back up into the thumb hit the nail and then come out. Like the old bamboo splinter torture except with me the splinters leave the nail instead of coming in. For about a week or so, it smarts.
I find myself dreaming that one of these days someone is going to 'slip' with a 12 gauge pump, 'accidentally' load one of those crooks with 45 pellets of OO buckshot, and be tried in a (former) lumbering community. The jury, of course, would find such a shooting entirely accidental.
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