Marie Mason

Marie Mason (b. January 26, 1962) is an environmental activist from Cincinnati, Ohio, who in 2009 was sentenced to 22 years after admitting 13 counts of arson and property damage amounting to US$4 million.^[1][2][3] Mason, a member of the Earth Liberation Front, was prosecuted for a 1999 attack on a building at Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, that caused more than US$1 million in damages,^[3] undertaken as a protest against research into genetically modified crops.^[1] A further US$3 million in damages included attacks on homes under construction, and on boats owned by a mink farmer.^[3]

Supporters claim that this case represents a form of political persecution, as part of the Green Scare phenomenon, when an overly long sentence is given to an individual who only committed property crime.^[4][5][6]

Background

Mason has worked as a gardener, musician, writer, Earth First! organizer and a volunteer for a free herbal-healthcare collective. She is 49 years old and a mother of two children. Mason and her husband at the time, Frank Ambrose, ignited an office that held records related to research on moth-resistant potatoes. The resulting fire burned her hair, preventing her from finishing the message "No GMO" on the wall, a reference to "Genetic Modified Organisms".^[7] She was arrested on March 10, 2008, by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and was charged with involvement with this arson in December 1999 at a Michigan State University genetics laboratory at Agriculture Hall, and a January 2000 arson of logging equipment in Mesick, Michigan. Both arsons were claimed by the Earth Liberation Front.^[8]

Trial

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Hagen Frank, about the prosecution seeking a 20-year sentence, this would be "the most onerous sentence imposed in a case of this sort".

At the trial, the prosecution argued that "A good cause does not justify the worst means. That's not how society works."

During the three-hour hearing, Mason said, "I am genuinely sorry to those who were personally frightened by my actions. ... I meant to inspire thought and compassion, not fear." After the sentence, defense lawyer John Minock stated that he would appeal, commenting, "I'm shocked. It's grossly out of proportion to other cases."^[7][9]

During the sentencing, the FBI sent out a press release to the local media warning about the possibility of protests being carried out by members of the Animal Liberation Front and the Earth Liberation Front.^[10] This warning was denounced by supporters as an attempt to scare people into showing at the event to express support, as these forms of protest are not used by these sort of groups.^[11][12][13]

See also

• Green Anarchism
• Genetically modified food
• Green Scare
• Rod Coronado
• Jeff Luers
• Eric McDavid

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Feds seek 20 years in prison for Ohio arsonist, AP in Washingtonpost.com
2. ^ Officials: Earth Liberation Front members indicted in fire, CNN
3. ^ ^{a b c} White, Ed (February 5, 2009). "Woman gets 22 years for '99 Mich. campus arson". Associated Press. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ioV349HdCkuJonjMm0OdFM2JqcSAD965MRG80. Retrieved 2009-02-09. 
4. ^ "Free Marie Mason". Freemarie.org. http://freemarie.org/. Retrieved 2010-07-19. 
5. ^ "Environmentalist Sentenced to 21 Years as a “Terrorist”; Violent Racists Receive Half That". GreenIsTheNewRed.com. http://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/2009/02/05/marie-mason-sentenced/. Retrieved 2010-07-19. 
6. ^ "ELF Press Office Calls Activist's 22 Year Sentence Cruel and Unusual Punishment - Infoshop News". News.infoshop.org. 2009-02-05. http://news.infoshop.org/article.php?story=20090205181812527. Retrieved 2010-07-19. 
7. ^ ^{a b} "Activist Gets Nearly 22 Years in Prison for Michigan State University Arson". Fox News. 2009-02-05. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,488866,00.html. Retrieved 2009-02-06. 
8. ^ "About « Free Marie Mason". Freemarie.org. 2008-03-10. http://freemarie.org/about/. Retrieved 2010-07-19. 
9. ^ [1]^{[dead link]}
10. ^ [2]^{[dead link]}
11. ^ "Grand Rapids Progressive Left News Blog » Archive » Eco-Activist Sentenced to 21 Years for MSU Arson". MediaMouse. 2009-02-06. http://www.mediamouse.org/news/2009/02/marie-mason-sentence-elf.php. Retrieved 2010-07-19. 
12. ^ https://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/02/421354.html
13. ^ Felsinger, Alex (2009-02-05). "Activist Gets 21 Years in Prison for Destroying GMO Lab". Planetsave. http://planetsave.com/blog/2009/02/05/activist-gets-21-years-in-prison-for-destroying-gmo-lab/. Retrieved 2010-07-19. 

External links

• Free Marie Mason
• Support Marie Mason
• Reed, Henry. Between Orwell and McCarthy: the crucifixion of Marie Mason, from the Fifth Estate, Spring 2009
• Goldenberg, Suzanne. Serving 22 years: the environmentalist who fell victim to US anti-terror laws, The Guardian, March 24, 2009.

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