[frontline-news] SUPPORT NEEDED FOR ARRESTED ACTIVIST - 09/15/03

[frontline-news at lists.resist.ca]

Frontline Information Service   -  SUPPORT NEEDED FOR ARRESTED ACTIVIST - 
09/15/03 
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SUPPORT NEEDED FOR ARRESTED ACTIVIST - PLEASE CONTRIBUTE TO THE JOSH CONNOLE
DEFENSE FUND

On September 12th Josh Connole, a known environmentalist and peace
activist, was arrested by the FBI. Josh is being accused by the FBI of
involvement with the ELF-claimed fire and vandalism of SUV dealerships in West
Covina, California on August 22nd, which resulted in over a million dollars in
damages.

Not only was Josh arrested in the middle of the night, but the co-operative
house in which he lived with 14 other activists was then ripped apart by FBI
agents who seized the computers, political documents and personal effects of
many people living in the house. Information about the co-op, and photos and
stories from the raid are available online at http://regen.org

There has been no concrete evidence put forward by the FBI to suggest that Josh
Connole was in any way involved with the West Covina Hummer dealership action.
They apparently based the raid on a likeness comparison from blurry
security-video footage and nothing else. While there no physical evidence to
suggest that Josh was at the site, there *is* plenty of evidence that Josh was
assisting a friend moving into their house on the night the Hummer action took
place, and wasn't anywhere near West Covina. 

The arrest is part of a pattern of harassment the FBI has been visiting on
activists in Southern California since mid-August in a desperate attempt to
claim "success" in their hunt for ELF members. Since 1997, very few ELF
activists have been arrested which has led to a growing frustration in the FBI
as evidenced by the recent raids against activists in the San Diego area and
now this arrest on what appears to be non-existent grounds. 

Bail has been set at an outrageous sum of $825,000 - so even though Josh is
innocent - he will likely have to spend time in prison awaiting trial. Legal
and court costs are mounting already as members of the Regen Co-operative are
trying to scrape together what they can for a defense fund and replace their
seized belongings which included computers, cameras and other expensive items. 

Please contribute to the Josh Connole Defense Fund and take a look at the Regen
Co-operative website to see what other support they are looking for in this
case. 

Donations to Josh Connole's legal defense can be made out and mailed to:
Katherine Todd-Brown at
997 Bradford Street 
Pomona CA 91767 

The household is also in need of donations of computers and a video camera for
documentation. These can be mailed or dropped off to the above address as well.



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