In Praise of Tim DeChristopher

[EFerrari]

By Matthew Rothschild, July 27, 2010



On Tuesday, environmental activist Tim DeChristopher was sentenced to two years in prison and fined $10,000 for bidding on energy leases that he had no intention of paying for.

He was trying to protect sensitive parcels of land from the ravages of the oil and gas industry.

The prosecutor had asked for a long sentence to deter other acts of civil disobedience. DeChristopher made a powerful statement to the court—and to all of us.

“The people who are committed to fighting for a livable future will not be discouraged or intimidated by anything that happens here today,” he said. “And neither will I. I will continue to confront the system that threatens our future. Given the destruction of our democratic institutions that once gave citizens access to power, my future will likely involve civil disobedience. Nothing that happens here today will change that. I don’t mean that in any sort of disrespectful way at all, but you don’t have that authority. You have authority over my life, but not my principles. Those are mine alone.”

http://www.progressive.org/tim_dechristopher_conviction.html

[PDJane]

1. EXCUSE ME??? The PROSECUTOR

wants to deter acts of civil disobedience? That's the government telling you that protest is useless, and you will be jailed for it. That is outrageous! I thought the US was a democracy?

[Eric J in MN]

2. Protests aren't "civil disobedience" unless they break the law. NT

NT

[Glorfindel]

3. Glad to recommend in honor of a courageous man!

n/t

[EFerrari]

4. Thank you for the recs. As far as I'm concerned, Tim is a political prisoner.

[PDJane]

5. And you are quite correct.

That's insanity, and civil disobedience is a time-honored mehtod of protest. I'm gobsmacked.

[Shanti Mama]

6. This is really important. Think about Norway. K&R

Think about the attitudes in Utah, particularly the southern part of the State.
Please K&R.

[swilton]

7. K&R

[PDJane]

8. I do think of Norway..........

And a great deal more.

[midnight]

9. I just posted this story.. didn't see this. Is the Prosecutor working for the oil co.?

[The Traveler]

10. It is an outrage

Especially since the auction in question was eventually determined to have been "improperly arranged" in the last days of the Bush administration. The message from our government is clear.

What is our reply?

Trav

[dana_b]

11. I know that this is well over a month old

however I just saw his name mentioned in regards to the Tar Sands protests and to be honest I didn't know who he was so I looked him up. Then I figured that someone on DU must have posted something about his situation. I can't believe that he was sent to federal prison for two damn years. Bush, Cheney and friends are living the high life and this man, this real patriot is suffering like this. I think it's a sin. I will donate what little I can to his appeal but I am in shock right now.

"At this point of unimaginable threats on the horizon, this is what hope looks like. In these times of a morally bankrupt government that has sold out its principles, this is what patriotism looks like. With countless lives on the line, this is what love looks like, and it will only grow. The choice you are making today is what side are you on." - Tim DeChristopher

[xchrom]

12. bears repeating...

“The people who are committed to fighting for a livable future will not be discouraged or intimidated by anything that happens here today,” he said. “And neither will I. I will continue to confront the system that threatens our future. Given the destruction of our democratic institutions that once gave citizens access to power, my future will likely involve civil disobedience. Nothing that happens here today will change that. I don’t mean that in any sort of disrespectful way at all, but you don’t have that authority. You have authority over my life, but not my principles. Those are mine alone.”

especially this:
'Given the destruction of our democratic institutions that once gave citizens access to power,'

that is an accurate observation of america today.

[sabrina 1]

13. Wish I had seen this before, too late to rec

He's a hero and I agree, a political prisoner.

:kick: