Jeff Luers

Jeff "Free" Luers is an environmental activist from Los Angeles, California, currently serving a ten year prison sentence for arson in the U.S. state of Oregon. On February 14, 2007, The Oregon Court of Appeals overturned Luers' sentence, instructing the Lane County circuit court to determine a new sentence. [ [http://www.publications.ojd.state.or.us/A115208.htm Appeal from Circuit Court, Lane County] ] That court reduced the sentence from 22 years, 8 months to 10 years in February 2008, after what "The Independent" described as an "international campaign for a more appropriate sentence for a crime in which no one was hurt." [ [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/the-battle-of-bear-creek-new-threat-in-americas-backyard-791348.html?service=Print The Battle of Bear Creek: New Threat in Americas Backyard] , "The Independent", March 5th 2008.]

Background

He is a former resident of Eugene, Oregon and helped establish Red Cloud Thunder, a group of activists who organized a tree sitting campaign to stop the thinning and clear-cutting of old growth forests outside of Fall Creek, Oregon.

Arson and sentencing

In 2000 he set fire to three SUVs at Romania Chevrolet dealership in Eugene as a protest against excessive consumption and global warming, along with Craig "Critter" Marshall, who was sentenced to five and a half years in prison (Barcott writes that Luers might have received a comparable sentence if he had not been convicted of an earlier attempted arson as well).cite news | first=Bruce | last=Barcott | title=From Tree-Hugger to Terrorist | date=2002-04-07 | url =http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B07E0DC153AF934A35757C0A9649C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=5 | work =The New York Times | pages =5 | accessdate = 2008-02-28 | quote = Marshall pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit arson and unlawful possession of a destructive device and received a five-and-a-half-year sentence. Luers might have gotten a similar sentence, but a police search turned up evidence linking him to an earlier attempted arson. Though Luers denied any connection to the earlier case, he was found guilty of that crime, too, and was sentenced to 22 years and 8 months in state prison.] Luers was initially sentenced to 22 years, 8 months in prison.cite news
title= Arsonist’s sentence cut in half
first=Rebecca
last=Taylor
work=Register-Guard
date=February 29, 2008
url=http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/dt.cms.support.viewStory.cls?cid=70844&sid=4&fid=1] Supporters argued that his sentence was excessive, because no one was injured and property damage was estimated at only $28,000. Opponents argue that this act constituted eco-terrorism, there could easily have been loss of life due to the unpredictable nature of arson, and Luers's complete lack of remorse, along with an apparent willingness to perpetuate further "violent" acts, make him a "risk to society." [ [http://freefreenow.org/writings.html#Response Free responds to letter in Eugene Weekly] , "Free Jeff Luers, July 2005.]

The Oregon Court of Appeals overturned the sentence in 2007, remanding the case to the Lane County circuit court for resentencing. In February 2008, the circuit court approved a reduction in his term to 10 years, most of which had already been served; he could be free as early as December 2009.

Reaction to sentence

Luers has become a cause célèbre among some radicals, anti-prison activists, and people associated with the Earth Liberation Front (ELF), although Luers has said that he does not consider himself an ELF member. [ [http://www.grist.org/news/maindish/2006/05/04/dicum Cure for What Jails Ya] , "Grist Magazine", 4 May 2006.]

Each year since his imprisonment, there has been some call to action in his support around the anniversary of his sentencing. On June 12, 2004, there were demonstrations in several places in the United States, along with events in other countries.Fact|date=February 2007 There were also a number of concerts, video showings, and dinners to raise support for Luers. In Moscow, supporters spray painted "Free Jeff Luers!" on a wall outside of the American Embassy. The FBI issued a warning to various businesses and media outlets that acts of eco-terrorism might occur around this date. No such actions occurred, and activists claimed that the FBI was using scare tactics to intimidate its opponents. A similar "Weekend of Resistance" took place June 10-12, 2005, with events occurring worldwide. [ [http://www.freefreenow.org/june2005events.html June 2005 Events] , "Free Jeff Luers", June 2005.]

ee also

*Green Anarchism
*Green Scare
*Rod Coronado
*Tre Arrow

References

External links

* [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B07E0DC153AF934A35757C0A9649C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1 From Tree-Hugger to Terrorist] 2002 New York Times article about Luers.
* [http://www.freefreenow.org/ A support site (Free "Free" Now)]
* [http://www.grist.org/news/maindish/2006/05/04/dicum/index.html An interview with "Grist Magazine"]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZvNapmZVQA Documentary about his story, on youtube website]