Thursday, August 10, 2006

Holy CRAP!

Warning: this may read somewhat weird, but I'm still in shock.

Monday you could call a somewhat normal day. I went to class, came home, spaced out, and kind of just hung out around my house. Then there was a knock at the door. I didn't really want to get up and get it, but I though it was my friend Ginny. So I arose and opened the door. I was astonished to find that there were two men standing at my door. They promptly introduced themselves and showed me their badges. Yessiree, I got a visit from an ATF (Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms) agent and an FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigations)agent.

They said that my name came up in relation to an arson that was committed on Camano Island. (Details here.) That was the first time I had even heard about it. Why my name came up is so ludicrous. They asked me why my name might have come up. I told them that the only reason I could think of as to why my name came up is because I have been involved in Earth First! in the past, but that our motto is "nonviolent direct action ini defense of Mother Earth" and that the only types of groups that do things like arson are ELF and if someone was doing things as an ELFer they sure as hell wouldn't tell me. I mean I have barely been involved in any campaigns since my arrest for locking down to a pipeline drill engine 5 years ago. I'm not exactly the radical activist I was, I am an IWW delegate, and we do have a couple active campaigns going on locally. But I haven't done a treesit in about 7/8 years, and I have not really been in touch with that entire community, being all lonely up here in the borderlands.

When they asked me if there was a president of Earth First! I almost laughed, if I wasn't in so much shock I would have. But me, ME! They were questioning me!!! (About something I didn't even know about until they told me about it.) They wanted me to tell them people I knew that were involved in the organisation. I did not name any names, but even if I was subpoenaed to a Grand Jury I would take the stand (if I did know anything I'd go to jail before I named names) because I KNOW NOTHING. I think the feds got that. I told them that yeah I had friends that were in EF!, but they wouldn't do things like that AND that I didn't even know if they were involved with EF! anymore. That and none of them live in this area.

When I was more active I always thought that I may get a visit from the feds, but getting one during a stretch of time where I could not be further removed from the radical environmental activist community is ludicrous. Thank god they weren't here about my radical unionising. Bah. I still feel icky.

4 comments:

spotted elephant said...

Oh, LC, that's just creepy. Like you said, if you'd been paid a visit while you were active, that would be one thing. But what the hell are they doing tracking you down NOW?

How ineffective. What a waste of their time. Going after nonviolent activists makes me angry, and scared at the same time.

What a shock to open the door to that. (hug)

L said...

Stoopid piggies.

Anonymous said...

When I started reading your post I was thinking I was in for religious fanatics but boy was I wrong! That's some scary shit going on, it won't be too long before they'll be able to take you in for questioning without evidence. I wonder when "Guilty until proven innocent" will come into play in American politics and policing!

lost clown said...

gah. I hope to see you all next weekend. Know anyone driving down from Seattle or Portland iin case I miss my train? (freight)

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