I care deeply about my fellow human being and the other living creatures with whom we share this planet. I felt responsible to take extreme action in the hope that it would save lives and halt deadly practices that directly threatened living beings and contributed to the degradation of the environment. I thought that what I was doing would shine a light on these dangerous policies so that an informed public dialogue would ensure and policies would be changed - Marie Mason’s sentencing statement to the court, February, 5, 2009
Marie Mason (52) is a loving mother of two children, a long
time activist in environmental and labour movements in the USA, an artist,
gardener, musician, writer, poet, an Earth First! Organiser, a volunteer for a
free healthcare collective, a worker for numerous charitable groups and a
political prisoner in the USA.
In 1999 and 2000 several acts of property damage and arson
claimed by the Earth Liberation Front were carried out by Marie Mason and her
then husband, Frank Ambrose. No one was injured in any of these protest
actions. Afterwards Frank Ambrose was arrested by federal authorities and
agreed to become a government informant.
He gave them information that then led to the arrest of Marie on March
10, 2008 by FBI agents. Marie was charged with involvement in two attacks, one
on an office at Michigan State University where research into GMO (Genetically
Modified Organism) crops was being conducted by Monsanto and the other was
damage to commercial logging equipment.
After being threatened with the prospect of Life (this means
life in the USA) in prison, Marie accepted a plea bargain. She was sentenced on
February 5, 2009 to just less than 22 years in prison. This is the longest
sentence of any environmentalist, “Green Scare” political prisoner in the US.
Green Scare is the name given to the recent arrests of environmentalist and
animal liberation rights activists who have been charged with acts of economic
sabotage against the property of unethical companies. Federal authorities have
frequently sought excessive sentences, often Life in prison and labelled these
environmental radicals as terrorists, despite the glaring facts that no one has
been killed or injured in any of these acts. An appeal for a reduction in
sentence by Marie was denied in 2010.
Marie Mason’s supporters say the case represents a political
persecution, with overtly long sentences given to individuals who commit
actions against the property of big companies and is part of a “Green Scare”
campaign by the government authorities and large corporations to encourage fear
and unleash increasing repression against dissidents. These laws are being used
disproportionately against anarchists, socialists, radical environmentalists
and animal liberationists. The acts of sabotage by militant activists have been
redefined as “terrorism”, despite the fact people are not terrorised or
injured. Yet domestic terrorism charges are rarely used against those who
assassinate abortion doctors, or commit racist or homophobic crimes. These
cases are also being used to attack and erode basic civil rights in the USA.
So, while Marie Mason languishes in jail for 22 years for
property damage, vile companies like Monsanto still continue their horrid
business. Monsanto has a sordid history of profiting from making poisonous and
deadly chemical products, such as Agent Orange, PCB’s and other Dioxins.
Agent Orange is a toxic chemical herbicide, which was
sprayed over 10% of forests and fields of southern Vietnam by the US Military
for ten years. Over 20 million gallons was sprayed from 1961 to 1971. AO was
more than 50 times more concentrated than the normal agricultural herbicides
and this extreme intensity had a devastating effect on the affected areas,
destroying all plants, as well as having adverse health effects on people and
animals. The Vietnamese Red Cross and
other organisations have recorded that over 4.8 million were exposed to AO and
this led to over 400,000 deaths, 500,000 birth defects, as well as
miscarriages, cancers, mental illness and other disabilities as a result of its
use. Even today, unfortunately, the legacy of the Vietnam War is still a
horrific reality for millions of suffering Vietnamese people, other victims and
their children, as the damaging effects of AO continue generation after
generation. The use of AO was later declared to be in violation of the Geneva
Contract. And Vietnamese victims have received no compensation.
PCB’s are toxic, chemical pollutants that cause cancer in
animals and also raised grave concerns about human health effects, due to it
being found in chickens, eggs, fish, shellfish, and other food stuffs, as well
as being discovered in seabirds and contaminating soil and water. PCB
production was banned by the US Congress in 1979 and by the Stockholm
Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants in 2001.
So, while people like Marie suffer long terms in jail for
minor acts of resistance (in which no one was hurt) against GM Company
Monsanto, it and other despicable corporations like it continue to churn out
chemical poisons, polluting the earth and producing engineered GM foods. And
yet these real criminals go unpunished.
Marie has been getting support from various individuals and
political organisations, including Earth First! Anarchist Black Cross and the
Industrial Workers of the World. Also, political activist and indie
singer/songwriter David Rovics, has been conducting with other artists benefit
concerts to raise funds to meet Marie’s needs in prison and to publicise her
situation. Let’s make sure we don’t forget Marie and the other political
prisoners, they deserve our support and solidarity.
For those who would like to support Marie, by writing cards
or letters, her address is- Marie Mason, #04672-061, FMC Caswell, Federal
Medical Center, P.O. Box 27137, Fort Worth, TX. USA. 76127.
Because of the conditions of these political prisoners
imprisonment, being held in isolated cells, mail from supporters is often the
only form of communication with other human beings. All letters must be in
English and you must use a first and last name on letters and cards when writing.
Please also include a return address on the envelope. It is also a good idea
that you put Marie’s name and prisoner number on each piece of correspondence
as well, as the prison tends to discard the envelope and then may “lose” track
of who the letter or card is going to. Letters that mention other eco-political
prisoners may be rejected. Just be aware that mail is being read by prison
officials and so be sensitive what you write about. Her birthday is January 26
(born 1962). Further information on Marie’s case and situation can be found at
– supportmariemason.org
“It’s been too many years away from the world now for me. I
can’t believe it’s been a year and a half that I’ve been living in this tiny
little isolated unit here at Caswell. But nothing’s changed for me; my heart’s
still wild and free and full of so much love and strength, when I feel
connected to all of you still out there fighting for the Earth. Thank you.
Until All Are Free. Marie.” Marie Mason in a letter to Earth First! Journal, 10
April, 2012.
Free Marie Mason and all US Political Prisoners!
Steven Katsineris May, 2013.
irish Americans will never criticise their militaries genocides and cover up's. They have always ignored them.
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