Eric McDavid
Encyclopedia
Eric McDavid, is a green anarchist
and vegan convicted of conspiring to use fire or explosives to damage corporate and government property. While U.S. Attorney McGregor Scott has called McDavid the first person in the U.S. to be prosecuted on Earth Liberation Front
(ELF)-related charges, the trial revealed that McDavid's group had not decided whether or not to claim the planned actions in the name of the ELF. On September 27, 2007, he was convicted on all counts, and in May 2008 was sentenced to nearly 20 years in prison.
ones. In July 2005, he attended a CrimethInc.
Convergence–-an anarchist convention-–in Bloomington, Indiana
.
) he allegedly planned acts of arson and sabotage to the Nimbus Dam
and fish hatchery on the American River
near Sacramento
, the United States Forest Service
Institute of Forest Genetics, cell phone tower
s, electric power stations, and other targets. During testimony, "Anna" claimed that the group considered the killing of bystanders to be collateral damage
, although their plots were focused on property damage.
"Anna" had been working with the FBI to infiltrate the group since 2004. She encouraged their activities and provided them with bomb-making information, money to buy the raw materials, transportation and a cabin to work in, and produced consensual audio and video recordings of their activities.According to "Anna", McDavid threatened to kill her if she turned out to be working with law enforcement.
Defense attorney Mark Reichel argued that "Anna" acted as an agent provocateur
: encouraging the group to focus on a target, paying for meeting arrangements and supplies, and urging the group to act when they wavered. Reichel stated at the trial, "the crisp $100 bills and a Dutch Flat cabin where the group lived in the days leading up to the trio's arrest--all supplied by "Anna" thanks to her FBI sponsors...That's the creation of a case...Without 'Anna,' you have nothing."
due to the jail's refusal to provide him with vegan food. He has been given vegan food intermittently. At their 2008 trials, Weiner and Jenson both pled guilty and testified against McDavid. McDavid's defense attorney, Mark Reichel
, has argued that he was the victim of entrapment
, but was found guilty of conspiring to use fire or explosives to damage corporate and government property and sentenced to nearly 20 years in prison. On May 6, 2009, McDavid's attorney filed an appeal, which is pending.
Green anarchism
Green anarchism, or ecoanarchism, is a school of thought within anarchism which puts a particular emphasis on environmental issues. An important early influence was the thought of the American anarchist Henry David Thoreau and his book Walden...
and vegan convicted of conspiring to use fire or explosives to damage corporate and government property. While U.S. Attorney McGregor Scott has called McDavid the first person in the U.S. to be prosecuted on Earth Liberation Front
Earth Liberation Front
The Earth Liberation Front , also known as "Elves" or "The Elves", is the collective name for autonomous individuals or covert cells who, according to the ELF Press Office, use "economic sabotage and guerrilla warfare to stop the exploitation and destruction of the environment".The ELF was founded...
(ELF)-related charges, the trial revealed that McDavid's group had not decided whether or not to claim the planned actions in the name of the ELF. On September 27, 2007, he was convicted on all counts, and in May 2008 was sentenced to nearly 20 years in prison.
Previous activism
McDavid had previously been involved in many protests, especially Green ScareGreen Scare
The Green Scare, alluding to the Red Scares periods of fear over communist infiltration of US society, is a term popularized by environmental activists to refer to legal action by the US government against the radical environmental movement....
ones. In July 2005, he attended a CrimethInc.
CrimethInc.
CrimethInc., also known as CWC , is a decentralized anarchist collective of autonomous cells. CrimethInc. emerged in the mid-1990s, initially as the hardcore zine Inside Front, and began operating as a collective in 1996...
Convergence–-an anarchist convention-–in Bloomington, Indiana
Bloomington, Indiana
Bloomington is a city in and the county seat of Monroe County in the southern region of the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 80,405 at the 2010 census....
.
Sabotage plans
Together with Lauren Weiner, Zachary Jenson, and "Anna" (a paid FBI informantInformant
An informant is a person who provides privileged information about a person or organization to an agency. The term is usually used within the law enforcement world, where they are officially known as confidential or criminal informants , and can often refer pejoratively to the supply of information...
) he allegedly planned acts of arson and sabotage to the Nimbus Dam
Nimbus Dam
The Nimbus Dam is a base load hydroelectric dam on the American River near Folsom, California. Approximately of water is retained by the dam.- External links :* fact sheet - United States Bureau of Reclamation* - parks.ca.gov...
and fish hatchery on the American River
American River
The American River is a California watercourse noted as the site of Sutter's Mill, northwest of Placerville, California, where gold was found in 1848, leading to the California Gold Rush...
near Sacramento
Sacramento
Sacramento is the capital of the state of California, in the United States of America.Sacramento may also refer to:- United States :*Sacramento County, California*Sacramento, Kentucky*Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta...
, the United States Forest Service
United States Forest Service
The United States Forest Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which encompass...
Institute of Forest Genetics, cell phone tower
Cell site
A cell site is a term used to describe a site where antennas and electronic communications equipment are placed, usually on a radio mast, tower or other high place, to create a cell in a cellular network...
s, electric power stations, and other targets. During testimony, "Anna" claimed that the group considered the killing of bystanders to be collateral damage
Collateral damage
Collateral damage is damage to people or property that is unintended or incidental to the intended outcome. The phrase is prevalently used as an euphemism for civilian casualties of a military action.-Etymology:...
, although their plots were focused on property damage.
"Anna" had been working with the FBI to infiltrate the group since 2004. She encouraged their activities and provided them with bomb-making information, money to buy the raw materials, transportation and a cabin to work in, and produced consensual audio and video recordings of their activities.According to "Anna", McDavid threatened to kill her if she turned out to be working with law enforcement.
Defense attorney Mark Reichel argued that "Anna" acted as an agent provocateur
Agent provocateur
Traditionally, an agent provocateur is a person employed by the police or other entity to act undercover to entice or provoke another person to commit an illegal act...
: encouraging the group to focus on a target, paying for meeting arrangements and supplies, and urging the group to act when they wavered. Reichel stated at the trial, "the crisp $100 bills and a Dutch Flat cabin where the group lived in the days leading up to the trio's arrest--all supplied by "Anna" thanks to her FBI sponsors...That's the creation of a case...Without 'Anna,' you have nothing."
Arrest, Conviction, and Appeal
On January 13, 2006, the three were arrested outside a store where they had purchased household chemicals, presumably for bomb-making. None of the three had prior convictions. McDavid formally declared a hunger strikeHunger strike
A hunger strike is a method of non-violent resistance or pressure in which participants fast as an act of political protest, or to provoke feelings of guilt in others, usually with the objective to achieve a specific goal, such as a policy change. Most hunger strikers will take liquids but not...
due to the jail's refusal to provide him with vegan food. He has been given vegan food intermittently. At their 2008 trials, Weiner and Jenson both pled guilty and testified against McDavid. McDavid's defense attorney, Mark Reichel
Mark Reichel
Mark J. Reichel is currently a criminal and civil attorney in Sacramento, California and a partner in the law firm Reichel & Plesser, LLP. He is also the vice chairman of the Sacramento board of the American Civil Liberties Union. Reichel has been involved in several prominent criminal and civil...
, has argued that he was the victim of entrapment
Entrapment
In criminal law, entrapment is conduct by a law enforcement agent inducing a person to commit an offense that the person would otherwise have been unlikely to commit. In many jurisdictions, entrapment is a possible defense against criminal liability...
, but was found guilty of conspiring to use fire or explosives to damage corporate and government property and sentenced to nearly 20 years in prison. On May 6, 2009, McDavid's attorney filed an appeal, which is pending.
Reference in popular culture
- Tom Frampton of the Riot-Folk Collective wrote a song on his album As Marion Delgado, called "Benedict". It is an early interpretation of what happened the night McDavid, "Anna", Jensen, and Weiner were arrested.
- Tom GabelTom GabelThomas James "Tom" Gabel is the lead vocalist, songwriter, and a guitarist for Gainesville, Florida punk rock band Against Me!, as well as a solo artist. He was born on Fort Benning, Georgia a US Army post, where his father was stationed. At age 17, he dropped out of high school and formed Against...
, the lead singer from Against Me!Against Me!Against Me! is an American punk rock band formed in 1997 in Naples, Florida and relocated to Gainesville, Florida in 1999. Their first full-length album, released on No Idea Records in 2002, was Against Me! Is Reinventing Axl Rose. They have released music on Misanthrope Records, Crasshole Records,...
, wrote a song on his solo album Heart BurnsHeart BurnsHeart Burns is the debut solo EP by Against Me! frontman Tom Gabel. It was released October 28, 2008 on Sire Records.- Track listing :- Bonus tracks :-Personnel:* Chuck Ragan – Background vocals and harmonica on "Anna Is a Stool Pigeon"...
, called "Anna is a Stool Pigeon." It is written about the situation that McDavid, "Anna", Jensen, and Weiner were all in.