Marie Mason
Encyclopedia
Marie Mason is an environmental activist from Cincinnati, Ohio
, who in 2009 was sentenced to 22 years after admitting 13 counts of arson
and property damage amounting to US$
4 million. Mason, a member of the Earth Liberation Front
, was prosecuted for a 1999 attack on a building at Michigan State University
, East Lansing
, Michigan
, that caused more than US$1 million in damages, undertaken as a protest against research into genetically modified
crops. A further US$3 million in damages included attacks on homes under construction, and on boats owned by a mink
farmer.
Supporters claim that this case represents a form of political persecution, as part of the Green Scare
phenomenon, when an overly long sentence is given to an individual who only committed property crime.
organizer and a volunteer for a free herbal-healthcare collective. She is 49 years old and a mother of two children. Mason and her husband at the time, Frank Ambrose, ignited an office that held records related to research on moth-resistant potatoes. The resulting fire burned her hair, preventing her from finishing the message "No GMO" on the wall, a reference to "Genetic Modified Organisms". She was arrested on March 10, 2008, by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI) and was charged with involvement with this arson in December 1999 at a Michigan State University genetics laboratory at Agriculture Hall, and a January 2000 arson of logging equipment in Mesick
, Michigan. Both arsons were claimed by the Earth Liberation Front
.
At the trial, the prosecution argued that "A good cause does not justify the worst means. That's not how society works."
During the three-hour hearing, Mason said, "I am genuinely sorry to those who were personally frightened by my actions. ... I meant to inspire thought and compassion, not fear." After the sentence, defense lawyer John Minock stated that he would appeal, commenting, "I'm shocked. It's grossly out of proportion to other cases."
During the sentencing, the FBI sent out a press release to the local media warning about the possibility of protests being carried out by members of the Animal Liberation Front
and the Earth Liberation Front. This warning was denounced by supporters as an attempt to scare people into showing at the event to express support, as these forms of protest are not used by these sort of groups.
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, who in 2009 was sentenced to 22 years after admitting 13 counts of arson
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
and property damage amounting to US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
4 million. Mason, a member of the 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...
, was prosecuted for a 1999 attack on a building at Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
, East Lansing
East Lansing, Michigan
East Lansing is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located directly east of Lansing, Michigan, the state's capital. Most of the city is within Ingham County, though a small portion lies in Clinton County. The population was 48,579 at the time of the 2010 census, an increase from...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, that caused more than US$1 million in damages, undertaken as a protest against research into genetically modified
Genetically modified organism
A genetically modified organism or genetically engineered organism is an organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. These techniques, generally known as recombinant DNA technology, use DNA molecules from different sources, which are combined into one...
crops. A further US$3 million in damages included attacks on homes under construction, and on boats owned by a mink
Mink
There are two living species referred to as "mink": the European Mink and the American Mink. The extinct Sea Mink is related to the American Mink, but was much larger. All three species are dark-colored, semi-aquatic, carnivorous mammals of the family Mustelidae, which also includes the weasels and...
farmer.
Supporters claim that this case represents a form of political persecution, as part of the Green Scare
Green 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....
phenomenon, when an overly long sentence is given to an individual who only committed property crime.
Background
Mason has worked as a gardener, musician, writer, Earth First!Earth First!
Earth First! is a radical environmental advocacy group that emerged in the Southwestern United States in 1979. It was co-founded on April 4th, 1980 by Dave Foreman, Mike Roselle, Howie Wolke, and less directly, Bart Koehler and Ron Kezar....
organizer and a volunteer for a free herbal-healthcare collective. She is 49 years old and a mother of two children. Mason and her husband at the time, Frank Ambrose, ignited an office that held records related to research on moth-resistant potatoes. The resulting fire burned her hair, preventing her from finishing the message "No GMO" on the wall, a reference to "Genetic Modified Organisms". She was arrested on March 10, 2008, by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
(FBI) and was charged with involvement with this arson in December 1999 at a Michigan State University genetics laboratory at Agriculture Hall, and a January 2000 arson of logging equipment in Mesick
Mesick, Michigan
Mesick is a village in Springville Township, Wexford County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 447 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all land.-Demographics:...
, Michigan. Both arsons were claimed by the 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...
.
Trial
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Hagen Frank, about the prosecution seeking a 20-year sentence, this would be "the most onerous sentence imposed in a case of this sort".At the trial, the prosecution argued that "A good cause does not justify the worst means. That's not how society works."
During the three-hour hearing, Mason said, "I am genuinely sorry to those who were personally frightened by my actions. ... I meant to inspire thought and compassion, not fear." After the sentence, defense lawyer John Minock stated that he would appeal, commenting, "I'm shocked. It's grossly out of proportion to other cases."
During the sentencing, the FBI sent out a press release to the local media warning about the possibility of protests being carried out by members of the Animal Liberation Front
Animal Liberation Front
The Animal Liberation Front is an international, underground leaderless resistance that engages in illegal direct action in pursuit of animal liberation...
and the Earth Liberation Front. This warning was denounced by supporters as an attempt to scare people into showing at the event to express support, as these forms of protest are not used by these sort of groups.
See also
- Green AnarchismGreen anarchismGreen 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...
- Genetically modified foodGenetically modified foodGenetically modified foods are foods derived from genetically modified organisms . Genetically modified organisms have had specific changes introduced into their DNA by genetic engineering techniques...
- Green ScareGreen ScareThe 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....
- Rod CoronadoRod CoronadoRodney Adam Coronado is a Native American eco-anarchist and animal rights activist. He is an advocate and former activist for the Animal Liberation Front and a spokesperson for the Earth Liberation Front...
- Jeff LuersJeff LuersJeffrey "Free" Luers is an political activist from Los Angeles, California, who served a ten year prison sentence for arson in the U.S. state of Oregon. On February 14, 2007, The Oregon Court of Appeals overturned Luers' sentence, instructing the Lane County circuit court to determine a new sentence...
- Eric McDavidEric McDavidEric 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...
External links
- Free Marie Mason
- Support Marie Mason
- Reed, Henry. Between Orwell and McCarthy: the crucifixion of Marie Mason, from the Fifth Estate, Spring 2009
- Goldenberg, Suzanne. Serving 22 years: the environmentalist who fell victim to US anti-terror laws, The Guardian, March 24, 2009.