Anarchist Prisoners' Legal Aid Network writes
"On Friday, June 13th political prisoner Free (Jeffrey Luers) was transferred to Disciplinary Segregation, commonly known as “the Hole”, at Oregon State Penitentiary (OSP).

Free’s friends and supporters have been informed that “Free was sent to the hole for an article he wrote.” This would be the second time this year that authorities at OSP have responded to political expression with write-ups and time in the Hole. (Anarchist prisoners Rob “los Ricos” Thaxton and Brian McCarvill were both sent to the Hole for 120 days earlier this year, after allies on the outside sent them postcards as part of an anti-censorship campaign.)

Free is widely considered a political prisoner due to the 23-year sentence he received for an act of sabotage that injured nobody. The same week as his transfer to the Hole, the Eugene Human Rights Commission released a letter in support of a reduced sentence for Free, and suggesting that the original sentence was based on his political beliefs.

Now, Free is again being punished for his politics.

We encourage all individuals and groups to stand by Free during this time, and to demand his immediate reentry into general population at OSP.

Further details will be circulated as we receive them.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

1. Write letters of support to Free (envelopes must contain a full name and return address):

Jeffery Luers #13797671

OSP

2605 State Street

Salem, OR 97310

2. Contact Oregon Department of Corrections Interim Director Ben de Haan and OSP Superintendent Brian Belleque. Demand that Free be immediately released back into general population.

Ben de Haan, Interim Director – ODOC

Oregon Department of Corrections

Central Administration Office

2575 Center Street NE

Salem, Oregon 97301-4667

Tel: 503-945-9090

Fax: 503-373-1173

Brian Belleque, Superintendent

Oregon State Penitentiary

2605 State Street

Salem, Oregon 97310-0505

Tel: 503-378-2445

Fax: 503-378-3897

Emails may also be sent to the Department of Corrections at:

DOC.Info@doc.state.or.us

3. Fundraise for Free! Checks and money orders can be made out to "Howl for Freedom" and sent to Free’s Defense Network, address below. To make a secure online donation, go to
http://www.freefreenow.org/appeal.html

Free, in his own words:
“My name is Jeffrey Luers. Most of my friends call me “Free”. I have been active since 1996 fighting for a range of issues such as animal rights, gender equality, anti fascism, eco-defense and others. These issues are not separate they are one struggle, one fight. My story is only a small part of a greater whole.

“In my lifetime I have witnessed an onslaught against the inhabitants of this world lead by the greed of industrialized nations. It is my belief that the oppression of people is rooted in the oppression and exploitation of nature. A fundamental disrespect for life that began with the conquest of Mother Nature and has lead to the conquest of humankind. I struck back. In an act of resistance designated to raise awareness and draw attention to a problem that affects every human being, every animal, every plant, and every form of life on this planet. I am speaking of global warming, air, soil and water pollution. We are in the midst of a global environmental crisis.

“On June 16, 2000 I ignited a fire that would forever change my life. I torched 3 SUVs. I took extra care and used specific fuels to ensure no one would be injured. Approximately 30 minutes after the fire was lit and extinguished, I was taken into custody by 3 undercover agents who had been following me, one of whom I would later learn to be a member of an anti-domestic terrorist unit. I was arrested on Criminal Mischief One, a charge that carries about one year. In the course of one week that charge would multiply into 10 felony counts, including 3 counts of Arson One. Getting to trial took the course of a year. By trial I had accumulated 13 felony counts, now including conspiracy with persons unknown. I was looking at a little over 100 years. I refused to take a deal.

“Trial was a joke, literally. We proved evidence had been tampered with, officers had lied and that the prosecutor had manipulated evidence to get a legal search. On top of that the judge refused to allow me to separate the trial. I had been charged with two different fires. Law requires that upon request separate offences must be tried separately. The final blow came when the judge threw out the testimony of my expert witness. In the end I was convicted of 11 felony charges. I was sentenced to 22 years and 8 months. I have no possibility of parole. This is only a summary of events that took
place in the course of a year.”

Web Resources on Free:

http://www.freefreenow.org/
http://www.breakthechains.net/prisoners/free/index .html

http://www.spiritoffreedom.org.uk/prisoners/free.h tml

Free's Defense Network

PO Box 50263

Eugene, OR 97405

email: freefreenow@ziplip.com

Anarchist Prisoners' Legal Aid Network

818 SW 3rd Ave. PMB 354

Portland, OR 97204 (USA)

weneversleep@ziplip.com"