Peter Young Speaking in Olympia

Former animal liberation prisoner Peter Young is speaking at The Evergreen State College on Saturday, December 8th, at 6pm in Seminar II, room E1107. Following the lecture, there will be a benefit concert on campus in the HCC, beginning at 8pm.

Here's the press release:

Convicted animal rights activist Peter Young, released from prison this year after serving time for his role in freeing thousands of mink form fur farms, is returning to the Northwest to speak about his experiences as a fugitive, political prisoner, and clandestine animal liberator.

After a multi-count federal indictment charging him with extortion and “Animal Enterprise Terrorism”, Young was on the FBI’s “Wanted” list for 7 years before being apprehended in 2005. He was convicted of the Animal Enterprise Terrorism charges and sentenced to 2 years in federal prison.

Tagged a “folk hero in the animal rights movement” by the Associated Press, and “terrorist” by the fur industry, Young earned notoriety in activist circles for his role in a two week wave of daring midnight raids on fur farms across the Midwest. The campaign saw 5 farms visited and 8,000 to 12,000 mink and fox released.

Released this year after a stretch in federal prison, Young has remained unapologetic for his actions telling the court his only regret was that he didn’t raid more farms.

“With one night and $20 in gas, we saved the lives of thousands of animals. Those are the results you don’t get writing letters.”

With sweeps on animal rights and environmental activists increasing – including the recent sentencing of a cell of eco-saboteurs in Eugene – Young is a rare and uniquely credible voice for those who cross legal lines to liberate animals from captivity.

Young will be speaking on the subjects of the prison experience; political trials; and his story of moving from mainstream activism, to masked midnight raider, to prison and beyond.

Prisoner Support and Letter Writing Event

On Saturday, December 1st, from 1-4pm, OAR (Olympia Animal Rights) is hosting a letter writing party at Media Island to support political prisoners. Supplies, addresses, and snacks will be provided.

Know Your Rights Workshop

The People's Legal Defense Fund (PLDF) is hosting a Know Your Rights workshop on Thursday, December 6th, at 6:30pm at Traditions Cafe.

From PLDF: "Topics will include your rights while interacting with police on the street, as well as at protests. Also discussed will be your rights in the legal system. After the speakers, Larry Hildes, a lawyer who commonly represents activists and serves as a legal observer at protests, and Karen Hildes, will be available to speak with people who were arrested at the Port of Olympia, or feel their rights have been violated by the police."

Update on Sadie

A letter from Solidarity with Sadie and Exile:

Dear Friends and Supporters of Sadie and Exile,

I recently visited with Sadie at Dublin and wanted to share that experience with everyone. She is doing well, keeping busy, and finds her new life much improved from the confines of Lane County. While there are some perks to prison life; better food, access to arts and crafts, more freedom of movement, a wardrobe (well, sort of), cats, coffee, real shoes, and opportunity for fresh air and exercises...there are also new challenges she is having to face.

Within the prison system, racial and class tensions are high, and the guards can be unnecessarily tough. As Sadie put it, "there is always the jingling of keys coming up behind you", making it hard to ever really relax. However, she is doing her best to adjust and trying to make the most of her time. She was recently assigned a job as a plumber, and although she makes something like 8 cents an hour, she is glad to be learning a useful skill.

She also said she's grateful to recently have been receiving more mail,

but is still hoping to hear from others, especially those in Olympia!

One of her biggest concerns right now is maintaining funds for commissary. Unlike jail, in prison she has to buy EVERYTHING from clothes, to basic toiletries, shoes, pens, paper, radio, etc... And soon she will start having money deducted from her wages for restitution so she is trying to acquire all of the supplies she needs before that happens.

If you can send any financial support her way (via the support address and NOT directly to the prison), I know it would be greatly appreciated. She's there for a long, long time, and having the money for basic necessities and the occasional art supply will certainly make her time pass more interestingly.

Although she is finally settled, she still has a long and lonely road ahead. While it is easy for us

to get caught up in our lives, and take our freedom for granted, she is stuck- trying her best to find balance and normalcy amongst the razor wire and concrete that threatens to define her existence.

Lets do our best to remind her that she is loved, supported, and most importantly, has not been forgotten.

R.K.

Joyanna Zacher #36360-086

FCI Dublin

5700 8th St.- Camp Parks- Unit F

Dublin, CA 94568

Nathan Block #36359-086

FCI Lompoc

3600 Guard Rd,

Lompoc, CA 93436

Support funds to help with commissary and phone costs can be sent to:

SSE

c/o Maureen Block

328 Slab City Rd.

Lincolnville, ME 04849

Sadie's new address

From: solidaritywithsadieandexile@gmail.com

Date: September 13, 2007 5:49:38 AM EDT

To: solidaritywithsadieandexile@gmail.com

Subject: Another address change

Sadie's unit has been changed once again (now UNIT "F") and writing is

more important than ever after all these long months of moving and

readjustment. Unfortunately, her address book has not followed her so

she would really appreciate hearing from you now so she can pick up

the correspondence. With the long road ahead, being able to maintain

contact with those of you have stood so solidly by her is a major

concern. Thanks so much.

Joyanna Zacher #36360-086

FCI Dublin

5701 8th St. Camp Parks-Unit F

Dublin, CA 94568

update on Sadie and Exile

From: solidaritywithsadieandexile@gmail.com

Date: August 17, 2007

Greetings,

Finally, Sadie confirmed in a letter yesterday that she is now at

Dublin. She sounds in very good spirits; settling in, getting used to

yet another routine, and grateful for better food and surroundings,

including flowers, birds and warm winds. Phone and visiting

privileges have yet to get established and go through, but she is

anxious to be back in touch with friends as soon as possible via mail.

If you can, send her a note. Her address is:

JOYANNA ZACHER #36360-086

FCI DUBLIN

FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION

5701 8TH ST - CAMP PARKS- UNIT E

DUBLIN, CA 94568

Exile continues to be well and doing fine at Lompoc although he said

he hasn't received much mail lately. Neither of them needs books at

the moment (we will post a list later on when they've exhausted what

they have for reading now). If you've been thinking of doing so,

please write to him.

NATHAN BLOCK #36359-086

FCI LOMPOC

FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION

3600 GUARD RD.

LOMPOC, CA 93436

Their community of support has been wonderful and... they still have

years to go.

Thanks to all.

Olympia WA Benefit for Imprisoned Eco-Activists - This Friday! 9/7

September 7, 2007: Olympia WA Benefit Concert for Imprisoned
Eco-Activists
@ 10 PM until late, ALL AGES, $5-8.
Manium, 421 4th Ave. E., Downtown Olympia

Featuring:
Filastine - Cascadian export-product laptopista returns carry
transnational soundclash of incendiary beats in his shopping cart.
His only performance in the Pacific NW on this North American tour.
Orkestar Zirkonium- 12 piece balkan-style brass marching band
featuring musicians from Circus Contraptions and the Infernal Noise
Brigade
Tremel - trajects digitally saturated 4 track tape loops
Superjar DJ Fukumup - comes all the way from Amsterdam to spin us
the finest cuts of neoanalcore and thrashhouse

Where the money goes:
Operation Backfire is a nationwide FBI campaign against radical
environmentalists. Most defendants are being charged as terrorists.
Funds from this event will support the defendants who refused to
become police informants, all of whom will be spending the next 7+
years in prison for crimes against property.