Tim’s Trial Delayed 3rd Time

By
Ashley Anderson
– August 22, 2010Posted in: Bidder 70 Trial, Blog, Events, Tim DeChristopher, Uncategorized, Utah

Remember, Remember, the Fifth of November…

“ Allow me first to apologize for this interruption. I do, like many of you, appreciate the comforts of every day routine — the security of the familiar, the tranquility of repetition. I enjoy them as much as any bloke. But in the spirit of commemoration, whereby those important events of the past, usually associated with someone’s death or the end of some awful bloody struggle, are celebrated with a nice holiday, I thought we could mark this November the 5th, a day that is sadly no longer remembered, by taking some time out of our daily lives to sit down and have a little chat. There are of course those who do not want us to speak. I suspect even now, orders are being shouted into telephones, and men with guns will soon be on their way. Why? Because while the truncheon may be used in lieu of conversation, words will always retain their power. Words offer the means to meaning, and for those who will listen, the enunciation of truth. And the truth is, there is something terribly wrong with this country, isn’t there? Cruelty and injustice, intolerance and oppression. And where once you had the freedom to object, to think and speak as you saw fit, you now have censors and systems of surveillance coercing your conformity and soliciting your submission. “
Dear Friends,

Tim DeChristopher’s trial has–for the third time–been delayed. While previous delays have been due to hearings and scheduling conflicts, no reason was given for this delay. However, this new date does give us the opportunity to join together for a meaningful November the Fifth, where we can commemorate those who have stood up to injustice and oppression in the past and actively support people like Tim who are doing so today.

Tim was not the first person to run up the prices on Oil and Gas leasing auctions, but he is the first to face time in prison for it. There have been numerous instances of company representatives doing the same thing to hinder their competitors–but because Tim took action as activist, rather than as a businessperson, he is now being prosecuted with two felonies and up to 10 years in prison. As 5 leaders of the climate movement said in their letter calling for support at Tim’s trial:

“ This kind of trial is nothing but intimidation—and the best answers to intimidation are joy and resolve. That’s what we’ll need in Utah.“
Tim is being so strongly prosecuted in order to instill fear in others who might take action. This trial represents an attempt to coerce complacency among the public and prevent others from standing up to a system run dangerously awry in order to preserve a stable climate. That is why it’s so important for us to take to the streets on November the fifth and make a clear statement that The People will not be intimidated–that more of us are willing to put ourselves on the line and demand a just future for ourselves, our children, and for the diversity of life on this planet.

To learn more, please visit ClimateTrial.com. If you’re ready to help, here are three ways you can help us make a difference:

  1. Join the convergence in Salt Lake City the weekend of November the fifth.
  1. If you can’t travel, register a solidarity action in your community and share photos and videos that we can display in Salt Lake City
  2. Donate to Peaceful Uprising. We have a dedicated and passionate group of volunteers contributing hours of work, but organizing also requires money for printing, protest permits, signs and banners, and much more.