The Earth Liberation Prisoners web site has a lengthy age filled with things written by environmental extremist Jeff Luers while he’s been serving his 22-year prison sentence for his part in an arson at a Chevrolet dealership in June 2000.
Most of his writing is alarmist “the world is ending, so it’s okay if we blow things up” nonsense like,
For years, decades, we have pleaded and petitioned those in power, those responsible for injustice, genocide and ecocide. This pleading has gone unanswered. It is time to use actions that can not be ignored. In defense of life, these actions are justified. “Strike a math, light a fuse. We only have the Earth to lose.”
Of special interest is Luers statement at the time of his sentencing, especially given that Luers is now appealing that sentence maintaining that 22-years simply does not fit the crime of torching a few SUVs. But this is what Luers said at the time (emphasis added),
I want to make clear why I set a fire at Romania Chevrolet. I’m not going to offer excuses. I want this opportunity to explain my actions so that they are not misunderstood or misinterpreted. I didn’t to this for anarchy or because I’m anti-government. And I didn’t do this because I enjoy property destruction. I don’t. I did this because I’m frustrated that we are doing irreversible damage to our planet, our home. It is not an exaggeration to say that right now we are experiencing a period of extinction equal to that of the dinosaurs.Forty thousand species are going extinct each year. Yet we continue to pollute and exploit the natural world. I’m not going to justify my actions. I can’t do that anymore than one can justify the destruction of the environment for profit. They are both wrong. I take responsibility for what I’ve done. You can judge my actions, but you can’t judge my heart. It can not be said that I am unfeeling and uncaring. My heart is filled with love and compassion.
I fight to protect life, all life, not to take it. I took every precaution to insure that no one would be injured by this fire. If I thought for any reason that anyone- be it Mr.Kelly or any responding firefighter or police officers- would be injured, I never would have set this fire. It was not my intention to hurt anyone or place anyone at risk.
I’m not going to ask the court to grant me leniency. All that I ask is that you believe the sincerity of my words. that you believe that my actions, whether or not you consider them to be misguided, stem from the love I have in my heart.
Of course once he heard 22 years, suddenly he got his lawyers in gear to see about a little leniency. On the other hand, the length of the sentence was largely Luers fault. Luers is almost gleeful when he writes of the prosecutor’s frustration at not being able to reach a plea agreement with Luers, but then he is apparently shocked(!) that going to trial and losing not only on arson but conspiracy to commit arson and a host of other crimes led to such a long prison term.
Source:
Writings by Free [Jeff Luers]. Earth Liberation Prisoners, 2001-2003.