Socialist Action /April 2002
FBI Indicted in Earth First! Bomb Trial
On April 8, the case of Judi Bari v. the FBI will be heard in a federal
courtroom in Oakland, Calif. The trial begins almost 12 years after Earth
First! organizers Judi Bari and Darryl Cherney were injured when a bomb
exploded in Judi's car.
The bomb attack took place on May 24, 1990. At the time, Bari and Cherney
were on tour for Redwood Summer, organized to save the forests from the
timber corporations. While Bari clung to life in the hospital, the FBI and
police filed charges against her and Cherney, alleging that the two victims
had placed the bomb in their own vehicle. Police ignored evidence that might
have led to the real bombers.
Bari and Cherney were smeared in the media as terrorists. Their successes
in uniting environmentalists with timber workers was overlooked.
But now the FBI and Oakland police are themselves on trial, facing charges
of false arrest, illegal search and seizure, and conspiracy to violate Bari's
and Cherney's First Amendment rights. The suit is being brought by Cherney
and by Bari's estate (Judi died of cancer in 1997).
Judi Bari will testify by means of a video presentation. FBI and Oakland
police officers will also take the stand. The list includes Special Agent
Frank Doyle, who claimed that the bomb had been visible on the floorboard
of the back seat, when it had really been hidden under the driver's seat.
And Special Agents John Conway and Phil Sena will be asked about their
spying on Earth First! activists.
Earth First! points out that "in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks
and the continuing attacks by the government on our civil liberties, the
bombing case has become more relevant than ever. It demonstrates how the
government uses 'terrorism' as cover to target activists, and it's a symbol
of how the new 'war on terrorism' will be used to crush dissent."
The group reports that a congressional hearing was convened in February
on "eco-terrorism." "The star witness was none other than
James Jarboe, the FBI's Domestic Terrorism Section Chief, who named so-called
'eco-terrorists' the number one domestic terrorist threat in the U.S.! ...
"And Jarboe didn't miss the opportunity to point a finger our way,
claiming that the dangerous new environmental terror network was an offshoot
of Earth First!
Judge Wilken has scheduled six weeks for the trial, beginning on April
8, which means it will probably wind up around the May 24 anniversary of
the bombing. Proceedings will take place Mondays through Thursdays, beginning
at 8:30 a.m. at the Federal Courthouse at 1301 Clay St. (near 12th St.)
in Oakland. The trial is open to the public, and all supporters of protecting
the environment and our civil liberties are urged to attend.
For more information, check out www.judibari.org.
Or call (510) 548-3113. - MICHAEL SCHREIBER
Socialist Action /April 2002 |