Sept 11 Special: the Green Scare

Since late 2005, the federal government, through a number of agencies, has been engaged in a crackdown on environmental activists who engage in direct action.  This crackdown has come to be known as the 'Green Scare', as a throwback to the 'Red Scare' of the 1950s and 60s, in which thousands of innocent people were accused by the Federal government of being communists, and persecuted for their alleged political beliefs.

 

The most recent manifestation of the Green Scare was during the Republican Convention in Minnesota,  during which the police state brutally attacked peaceful demonstrators, 'preemptively arresting' hundreds, brutalizing dozens, and charging seven with felony conspiracy charges, with 'terrorism enhancements' to be added to their sentences.

 

None of those now imprisoned or currently awaiting trial for charges stemming from the Green Scare clampdown have been accused of hurting, or attempting to hurt, anyone.  Most of the charges are related to property damage on corporate or government property -and some of the Green Scare cases do not involve an act of property destruction at all – simply the 'conspiracy' of thinking about taking such action.

 

With the passage of the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Act – which was easily passed by the US House of Representatives in November 2007 with only 6 dissenting votes, and is now in Committee in the Senate – conviction for 'thought crimes' will be enshrined into law, and the mere thought of dissent would become an act of terrorism.

 

Current prisoners convicted under the Green Scare include Andy Stepanian, Briana Waters, Chris McIntosh, Daniel McGowan, Eric McDavid, Jake Conroy, Jeff Luers, Jonathan Paul, Josh Demmitt, Josh Harper, Lauren Gazzola, Peter Young, Rod Coronado, Tre Arrow, and six animal rights activists and an organization, Stop Huntington Animal Cruelty, that are collectively known as the SHAC 7.

 

Today we'll look in depth at one of these cases – the case of Eric McDavid.  To find out more about all of these prisoners, and the implications of the Green Scare for animal rights and environmental activism nationwide, check the websites greenscare.org or greenisthenewred.org.

 

First, we go to civil rights attorney Lauren Regan in Eugene.

 

You’ve been listening to a special on the Green Scare – a federal crackdown on environmental direct action activists that began in 2005 – with surveillance and informants dating back years before that.  This special was produced by Jenka Soderberg for KBOO’s September 11th Special – The War on Liberty.  Music by DJ Cold Cut, Poor Righteous Teachers, Dub Tribe and Dead Prez.