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Photo by Ryan Suffern, Suckatash Productions
BREAKING: Tim was moved back to the MINIMUM SECURITY CAMP– late on the night of Wed March 28th, after FCI Herlong, the BOP office in Washington, DC and members of Congress received thousands of phone calls… from YOU!
Thank you for the overwhelming outpouring of support and for such effective public pressure. Peaceful Uprising will not stop investigating this situation because the most important questions remain unanswered: Why was Congress involved in moving Tim into isolated confinement, and who ordered the investigation? Martin Luther King said, “An injustice to one is an injustice to all”, and this abuse of power must be exposed in it’s entirety if we are to safeguard our own personal liberties.
Tim is still a political prisoner. Stand with us as we continue to pursue the truth.
Tune in for more at 1:30pm MST when Tim’s Legal Team gives a press conference on the iconic steps of the Frank E. Moss Federal Courthouse in Salt Lake City, Ut.
::Previous post::
(Download a PDF of our press release here) On the evening of Friday March 9th, Tim DeChristopher (climate activist currently serving a 2-year prison sentence for outbidding oil and gas companies at an illegitimate BLM auction in 2008) was summarily removed from the minimum security camp where he has been held since September 2011, and moved into the FCI Herlong’s Special Housing Unit (SHU). Tim was informed by Lieutenant Weirich that he was being moved to the SHU because an unidentified congressman had called from Washington DC, complaining of an email that Tim had sent to a friend. Tim was inquiring about the reported business practices of one of his legal fund contributors, threatening to return the money if their values no longer aligned with his own. According to Prison officials, Tim will continue to be held in isolated confinement pending an investigation. There is no definite timeline for inmates being held in the SHU — often times they await months for the conclusion of an investigation.
In the SHU, Tim’s movement and communications are severely restricted. In the past two weeks, he has been allowed out of his 8 X 10 cell (which he shares with one other inmate) four times, each time for less than an hour. The SHU could have been designed by Franz Kafka. Tim is allowed one book in his cell, and four in his property locker. His writing means are restricted to a thin ink cartridge which makes correspondence extremely difficult. He can still receive mail from the outside, but has no other form of communication other than 15 minutes of phone calls per month.
Peaceful Uprising found Tim’s conviction and sentence to two years of prison time outrageous enough, and people all over the US demonstrated their dismay at this injustice through widespread solidarity actions. But now, Tim is being effectively thrown in the hole for no good reason we can see, other than to further restrict his communication. We are witnessing, once again, the hidden power of public and appointed officials in Washington DC to inflict cruel and unusual punishment on Tim because of his courageous stand in confronting injustice and speaking truth to power.
We firmly believe the only way Tim will be returned to the minimum security camp he’s been housed in for the last six months is to place outside pressure on elected and appointed officials in Washington DC, specifically the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and members of Congress charged with overseeing the BOP. Peaceful Uprising wishes to express their solidarity with Tim by making this national call to action, asking Tim’s supporters to call officials at the Federal Correctional Institution in Herlong CA, the Bureau of Prisons in Washington DC, and members of Congress that sit on the subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security demanding that they immediately return Tim to the minimum security camp from which he came.
TAKE ACTION NOW.
Photo by Ryan Suffern, Suckatash Productions
And get THIS:
It has come to our attention that William Koch entered into an antitrust settlement where his company, Gunnison Energy, and SG Interest, a Texas energy company, conspired to orchestrate the bidding at a BLM oil and gas lease auction in Colorado. They memorialized this conspiracy in a memorandum of understanding that was subsequently revealed by a whistleblower. The Department of Justice settled the matter by having each company pay a $275,000 fine, and allowed the conspirators to retain their successful BLM oil and gas leases, without any personal consequences. Tim was charged with conspiring to defeat the Act that created the auction, (a felony) and for making false statements to the Government (also a felony). These oil and gas companies actually conspired to defeat an identical BLM auction, and made false statements to the Government (according to the Department of Justice). No Oil and Gas executive was charged with felonies and thrown in jail. They were given a token slap on the wrist and went back to drilling. Tim, a peaceful protester, who simply embarrassed the BLM by catching them making big mistakes, is now in a TINY CELL because someone from CONGRESS wants to keep him even quieter? WTF is going on here??
This is not justice, it is political persecution.
Join us in stopping it. TAKE ACTION & DEMAND:
“Tim DeChristopher inmate #16156-081 be immediately removed from the Special Housing Unit (SHU) and placed back in the Minimum Security Camp at FCI Herlong.”
Michael Babcock, WARDEN
Eloisa DeBruler, Public Information Officer
Charles E. Samuels, Jr.
Director
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We must stand together to demand justice & build a healthy world. Join our Regional Action List.
Nothing posted after March 28th? What’s going on?
Called 530-827-8000; got someone who said the only thing he could say about Tim (had to ID him with the prison number, not as a human being) was that “he’s here.” I asked the man there who could talk to me about Tim’s situation, and he put me through to Eloisa DeBruler. I left a message for her saying I wanted to know Tim’s physical situation. Her message machine says she’ll get back to people who leave messages, so I’ll post if and when I hear back.
WOW! Just saw the Facebook post above that he is back in minimum security! THIS is what democracy looks like!
Thank you, Peace Up, for continuing the investigation.
Not really, He is, after all still, in prison.
I wonder if the congresstrash who is causing this problem for Tim is Jim Sennsenbrenner (R-fat white trash)? If so, its not surprising that the “Kotex King” would do such a thing. He’s a scumbag without ethics or morals – like virtually all republicrap politicians these days.
Is this legal? I’m a lawyer and I’m confused
barrclaudio@aol.com
barriclaudio@lawyer.com
Illegal public land auction? Please. There’s nothing illegal about them at all. This guy sent a harassing message to a US Congressman after trying to interfere in legitimate business activites and then got put in a REAL jail. Boo freaking hoo.
a) That’s a bit idealistic of you, just because something can be legal doesn’t mean every instance of it is. As you’d know if you read the page on Tim’s story, “Upon review of the parcels in question, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar dismissed the auction, declaring that the BLM had cut corners and broken many of its own rules, including a crucial statute requiring all federal agencies to take the impacts on our climate into account prior to auctioning off public lands for the purpose of energy development.” Doesn’t sound too legitimate.
b) Congressmen can’t just CHANGE the status of prisoners, there’s supposed to be a division between legislative and judicial powers. And prison is prison, just because you claim minimum security isn’t a “real jail” (though I’m sure the people locked inside unable to leave or go home would disagree) doesn’t mean there was any reason for DeChristopher to be transferred to maximum security.
Seems to me Tim De.C. was merely looking after BLM land, that belongs to all of us!
Harassing message = Jail? Forgive me, but if that’s the case then maybe You should have a few days in jail for your offensive tone. Or is it only if you’re sending a message to a US Congressman who is clearly above any criticism?
Please read the article fully before commenting, kkthx.
Clearly states that the recipient was not the congressperson who requested the transfer, but another member of Peaceful Uprising that Tim was in correspondence with. Tim’s correspondence is filtered and monitored by government officials.
As usual, Amy Goodman is keeping up with the news that is important, including an update on Tim in this morning’s broadcast 3/28/12: “Jailed Environmentalist Moved to Isolated Cell.” http://www.democracynow.org/
Are you guys going to continue to be peaceful when our currency collapses and people are working for a full week just to get enough food to eat?
Nope.
NOPE!!!
They’re not already?
Yep.
What rock are you living under ? You haven’t noticed that there have always been people living from paycheck to paycheck ? Or that it got worse in 2008 after the investment and banking industries (thank you St. Ronnie) screwed the country sideways? People should only act the condescending wealthy tool if they are one. Otherwise, you are simply a deluded lick spittle to the very people who could care less if YOU lose your job and have to live in your car. Are you going to go quietly when your masters indifference effects you personally?
How is it that an ‘anonymous’ US Congressman can get an email from Tim, who is a prisoner that was sent to his friend ‘inquiring about the reported business practices of one of his legal fund contributors, threatening to return the money if their values no longer aligned with his own’ and that congressman can have him sent to isolation? How does that happen? Hope someone finds out who did it. That is chilling.
Left a msg with the PIO at Herlong. The system cut me off mid-message. Bureau of Prisons had no idea WTF I was talking about and shunted me off to “Correctional Programs”. They close at 4 PM DC time and an unrelated BOP office in TX picked up my call. They couldn’t help either. Of course, nobody did anything illegal, just obstructed a citizen exercizing his rights to free speech. oh, and threw accountability down the rat hole. Good luck Tim. You are going to need it.
It may be possible to get a petition on Change.org. These are often very effective.
Take it to the top:
https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions
Called Congressman Sensenbrenner’s office and an intern answered. He agreed with everything I said and promised to pass on the message to the Congressman. I was left with a nagging suspicion that he would have agreed with me if I had said the exact opposite of whatever I said.
Also called the FCI Herlong Warden’s number. Ended up leaving a long message on the voicemail of the “Public Information Officer” along with my phone number.
As someone else wrote here, I’m also shy about calling officials. It took some effort to overcome it and I’m glad I made the phone calls. I hope this encourages others to make the phone calls too.
I had the same experience with both calls. Nice intern, who knows where theses calls go. But make them we must!
Thank you all for being courageous and making phone calls. Standing up and speaking the truth to power often means confronting our own fears and limitations. Thank you for being willing to stand up for Tim.
I too am somewhat apprehensive about making such calls, but this is it. I can’t believe this!
Called FCI Herlong. Spoke with a courteous woman who then transferred me to Eloisa DeBruler, who didn’t answer. Sounds like a similar situation for many. I left her a voicemail expressing my deep concern about Tim and stated that he should be released immediately. Other offices are closed now, but will continue to try.
This is just unreal! How is this America? Political scapegoat much?
Sensenbrenner is a lying piece of fecal material. He never worked a day in his life, is a heir to the Kotex fortune. This slimeball would say anything when cornered and then stab you in the back. He is the one who turned off the electricity on the Democrats during a congressional hearing a few years ago.
Thank you for taking the risk!
Two comments that might help you or others:
1. I find it easy to find elected officials; I wimped out at the BoP. Do what you can, and if you can stretch a bit, bravo!
2. To quote my grandmother, As you get older, you get bolder. Life experience, as well as specific experience, helps.
Signed,
a baby boomer
It would be so interesting to know what Tim was arrested and incarcerated for. Liberal activism is such an insider game, with only the very well initiated knowing how to understand what’s taking place. For the rest of us, it’s all gobbledy gook.
This is probably one of the big reasons that there isn’t more change in our society. People can’t buy into what they don’t even understand.
Here’s the full story on Tim:
http://www.peacefuluprising.org/tim-dechristopher/tims-story
Kimi,
I wish you had responded directly to me when I forwarded the E-mail. Tim interrupted an oil and gas lease in Dec. 2008; most leases, including his, were reversed by the Obama administration a few months later. Tim raised money for the deposit; the BLM refused it. The Obama administration prosecuted; Time was sentenced in July 2011, currently serving 2-year sentence, but continuing to communicate with fellow activists—which it seems to us (admittedly biased) observers that the sentence was intended to discourage.
Tim’s indictment was a product of pressure by corporate energy interests, his sentence was, as the judge stated, for refusing to be silent about his beliefs, and his being moved to the Special Housing Unit is political persecution.
I spoke with an assistant to Jim Sensenbrenner, WI, Chairman of Subcommittee – he has had a few calls from people but no press. I asked how I could find more information from his office once he looks into the situation and was told that since I live outside the 5th district in WI I would not hear anything and told to call my own Congressperson (which I have done).
I think we need to call or email the news editors at Salt Lake Tribune, KSL, KUTV, KTVX and Fox 13 and ask them to look into the matter.
Agreed Rhea! Tim DeChristopher’s Legal Defense Team will be holding a press conference tomorrow (Thursday March 29th) on the steps of the Frank E. Moss Federal Courthouse at 1:30pm. We are asking all who are able to come and stand in solidarity and this is a perfect opportunity to get local media to cover this and get more information on this story!
I called the Bureau of Prisons central office that you have listed here. Their menu does not have any options that seemed appropriate for this phone call and there wasn’t an option just to talk to an operator who could sort that out. I made my best guess. The person with whom I spoke just wanted to shunt me to Herlong.
I called Herlong and they took my message. It seems they may actually be getting a few phone calls on this.
I also called the first 2 congresspeople. Sensenbrenner’s aide didn’t seem to have heard anything yet, but it seemed the other guy may have gotten a few calls.
Keep the calls coming!
I can only speak for myself, but if faced with 2 years in prison or $550,000 in fines, I’d probably take prison time. But then I make less than $30,000/yr. Maybe Tim makes 3 or 4 hundred thousand/year, I don’t know, in which case he’d probably rather pay the fines.
Dude, fines adjust based on income. Obviously if you have more money, you’d need a larger fine in order for it to be much punishment.
But that’s not how it works. The more money you have, the more you pay your lawyers to get the fine reduced.
Kinda like dealing with the banks – if you already have money and don’t need it, you can get (almost) as much as you want.
We mustn’t do anything that will redound (negatively) to Tim!!
Could you create a petition? I am too shy to make a phone call.
I will try to work on that; meanwhile, if it suits you, you might consider E-mailing the congressmen on this list, or your own: I think the link would be http://www.house.gov, or http://www.congress.gov
I thought he in jail in America, not China.
Like with other American inmates known on world stage the authorities act in a perverse manner. It’s as if sticking a finger up to the world but in fact they are aligning themselves in our opinion with the likes of China, Burma and other unaccountable States.
Keep strong Christopher and remind yourself that in this case (unless you thumped someone, and I doubt), they are the wrongdoers on this.
Could you please post an address for writing to Tim?
A mailing address for Tim can always be found on: http://www.peacefuluprising.org/tim-dechristopher-faq-20110816#letter
Tim DeChristopher #16156-081
FCI Herlong
Federal Correctional Institution
PO Box 800
Herlong, CA 96113
Please note that FCI Herlong has a new warden, Michael Babcock, who will arrive in his office this morning at 8am PST. Thanks for keeping us informed of the ongoing injustice of Tim’s persecution.
Solidarity,
Matt
Totalitarianism has grown to be an academically identifiable trait of the US government, which, therefore, has become a classic oppressor that must be concentrated on by clear thinking people who understand that democracy is a necessary tool used by the human specie to focus its intelligence and collective information knowledge base upon selection and then solution to normally arising situations of daily life through the passage of time and cultural evolution.
Totalitarianism in service of corporatists who are motivated to privatize public and natural wealth by any means is the expectable result of an unregulated and primitive culture in which pirates are presented as a respectable role model via the same unceasing propaganda industry that promotes eternal war as a solution for inevitable conflict from the attempts at faster and faster growth to infinity upon one finite planet.
Let me know who I should write! Have you contacted MSNBC? I think Mica and Joe would want to talk about this on Morning Joe. What about Ed Schultz? Rachel Maddow?
When is his sentance complete?
Tim was supposed to be released in February 2013 and serve his remaining 2 months in house arrest. His official sentence is complete in April 2013, but now this depends on his time in the SHU. Peaceful Uprising is working on contacting media, but if you have any personal contacts you’d like to send this information on to, we’d greatly appreciate it. The press release is available at: http://www.peacefuluprising.org/breaking-tim-dechristopher-placed-in-isolated-confinement-20120327
Thank you for all of your support and solidarity!