[van-announce] Media as the Judge Event(s)

[the Tre Arrow Defense Committee]

Media as the Judge: the case of accused 'Eco-Terrorist' Tre Arrow

American environmentalist and political prisoner, Tre Arrow has been 
incarcerated in a Vancouver Pre-Trial Centre for over a year. He has not 
yet had a trial but is being held while the US government and the FBI 
push for his extradition in connection with the decommissioning of 
logging equipment in Oregon in 2001. Tre states, "I am innocent of the 
charges the U.S. government is trying to pin on me. Just as many 
activists have experienced, I am being targeted by the US government and 
the FBI, not because I am guilty, but because I have chosen to challenge 
the status quo." There is no concrete evidence connecting Tre with these 
crimes. The Crown's main evidence against Tre is the testimony of Jacob 
Sherman. Sherman, who was convicted of the crimes, received a plea 
bargain after four days of intense FBI interrogation. In exchange for 
his testimony he received a sentence reduction from a potential 80 years 
down to a mere 41 months. Now with the total charges Tre faces in the 
United States, the minimum sentence is LIFE without parole!

This case is highly political, and Tre is constantly referred to in the 
Corporate Media as an 'Eco-Terrorist'. Although Judge James Redden in 
his ruling on the 2001 arson case against Jacob Sherman (Tre's 
co-accused), stated that "The term 'terrorist' is not to be used in 
reference to this case or the defendants", the FBI and the Corporate 
Media continue to sell news and divide the movement by branding Tre as 
an 'Eco-Terrorist'. The term 'Terrorist' is currently by far the best 
selling word in the Corporate Media, and by constantly using it in 
reference to a group or individual, the media is able to instill a level 
of fear that can convict a person before their trial even starts. Trial, 
in the Corporate Media court, discredits innocent individuals and 
destroys the legal premise of "innocent until proven guilty."

What is perhaps most frightening is the fact that this kind of injustice 
could happen to any hardworking defender of the planet and its people. 
The massive destruction of ancient forests in B.C. has been recently 
highlighted on Vancouver Island and in the Slocan Valley. Public 
opposition has been voiced against the devastation of the land and yet 
dominating corporate interests have most often prevailed. Due to the 
growing number of individuals who feel that their human and 
environmental rights are being violated, governments, private media and 
corporate interests are coming down with an iron fist on those who voice 
dissent. The extreme to which they are willing to go is proven with 
Tre's case.

Throughout April members of the Tre Arrow Defense Committee will be 
traveling around B.C. on a speaking tour entitled, "Media as the Judge: 
The case of accused 'Eco-Terrorist' Tre Arrow." They will be discussing 
the consequential role that the Corporate Media has, and continues to, 
play in Tre's case, as well as the reasons why Tre is facing the 
possibility of spending the rest of his life behind bars for the alleged 
crimes of arson. By supporting him in this time of need, we show each 
other and ourselves, that friends will not be left behind. No one is 
free until we are all free.

Monday, May 2nd @ 7pm
Harbour Centre ~ SFU ~ Rm#1315
Vancouver

Thursday, May 5th @ 7pm
Purple Thistle ~ 260-975 Vernon Dr. (corner of Parker St.)
Vancouver

For more information, please visit our web site: www.trearrow.org


In Solidarity,

-Ben Shannon ~ Spokes Person,
the Tre Arrow Defense Committee
tre at riseup.net
902-452-4334 (c)

"It is said that no-one truly knows a nation until one has been inside
its jails. A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest
citizens, but its lowest ones," - Nelson Mandela

"I am innocent of the charges the US government is trying to pin on
me. Just as many activists have experienced, I am being targeted by
the US government and the FBI, not because I am guilty, but because
I have chosen to challenge the status quo." - Tre Arrow


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