Who is Tre Arrow

Environmentalist and political prisoner, Tre Arrow has been incarcerated in Canada and the US since March 13th 2004. For almost four years, Tre was imprisoned while contesting extradition to the United States. Like the 125 000 American draft dodgers who came to Canada between 1964 and 1977, Tre came to Canada hoping to escape persecution in the United States. This became Tre's only option when his life in Portland, Oregon was unjustly turned upside down in the Summer of 2002. The US government is laying charges that could see him locked up for the rest of his life if convicted. After working tirelessly for years to protect some of the only ancient forests left in the North Western U.S., Tre had become an extremely well-known and important organizer. Like other peaceful organizers, Tre found himself at the forefront of an environmental movement which successfully interfered with industrial powers; he therefore became a target. Environmental journalist Tim Ream wrote in reference to Tre's case, "If you garner increasing popular support, you are a threat to everything the state stands for. You must be stopped."

Eagle Creek

Eagle Creek is an ancient forest which provides drinking water to over 185 000 Oregonians and is the home to endangered species. For years it has been a battleground between environmentalists and corporate interests. In 1996 the U.S. Forest Service and VanPort Manufacturing paved a deal to cut Eagle Creek. However, public opposition to the deal was widespread and the community began organizing. Numerous peaceful groups were formed to save Eagle Creek, including the Cascadia Forest Alliance (CFA).

On July 7, 2000, the U.S. Forest Service and State Marshals, using paramilitary tactics, forcibly raided two ‘base camps’ in Eagle Creek. Throughout the course of the day, the Forest Service used life-threatening tactics to remove peaceful activists and arrested several people. These 'base camps' were the centre where citizens could place their bodies on the line to help preserve Eagle Creek. That evening in Portland, hundreds of people rallied at the US Forest Service Regional Headquarters to protest the raid. It was during this rally that Tre spontaneously climbed 30 feet to a ledge on the side of the building.

Perched on a 9-inch ledge outside the office window of Harv Forsgren, the Regional Supervisor of the U.S. Forest Service, Tre refused to move from his post for 11 days. Tre would spend his days speaking to international media and the large crowd which had gathered below. On the tenth day of Tre's peaceful protest, police issued a warning that Tre would be forcibly removed if he did not descend within 24 hours. On July 17th, refusing to allow violence to enter this inspiring, peaceful demonstration, Tre returned to the ground. Hundreds of people gathered, including a host of both local and national TV cameras and print journalists.

For the next two years Tre worked intensively with CFA to support the efforts to save Eagle Creek. Tre organized countless people to go out to Eagle Creek and he supplied the new 'base camps' with what they needed to continue their struggle. He had an extraordinary ability to organize and motivate people to take peaceful action against the destruction of the ancient forest. After many years the battle for Eagle Creek was successful, and in the Spring of 2002 the sale was canceled. Members of the environmental community were able to prevent about 70% of logging from happening.

Vote Arrow for Congress

While he was acting as one of the main organizers in the CFA office, Tre engaged the environmental movement using a different approach: in the fall of 2000, just four months after descending from the ledge, Tre ran for Congress as a member of the Pacific Green Party. Tre ran a campaign “to take back the power from the powers that be and put it back where it belongs: into the hands of the people.” Sighting his occupation as a Childcare Provider and Musician, Tre launched an effective campaign. Although he lost to incumbent Earl Blumenauer, Tre still garnered over 15 000 votes.

Christian Futures in God's Valley

In early 2001, the Cascadia Forest Alliance learned of a contentious sale planned for God's Valley. The “Acey Line Timber Sale” was to see a Springfield, Oregon-based corporation, Christian Futures, log the largest and oldest trees of the Coastal Range. Tre, along with dozens of other CFA members occupied trees in Area II and IV of the Acey Line Timber Sale. These dedicated environmentalists were living in ‘tree sits’ 100 feet above the ground. 'Tree sitting' is a very effective and peaceful tactic used to save trees. In October, 2001, The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), along with Christian Futures and the State Police, launched an intense counter-campaign to remove the 'tree sitters'. They first removed all ground support, essentially stopping all supplies from reaching the demonstrators. The authorities then began training floodlights, music and wailing sirens to expose the individuals in the trees to an intense level of anxiety and sleep deprivation. Tre was one of the people they decided to target.

Because of his dedicated work with the CFA and his well-known 'ledge-sit', the ODF focused their attention on coercing environmental folk hero Tre Arrow from his perch in a tree. They hoped this would then start a chain reaction which would see the others climb down as well. Initial attempts to remove Tre were unsuccessful. An 'extraction' team climbed 98 feet up to Tre. The goal of the 'extraction' team was to use physical force to restrain Tre and lower him to the ground; however, they were unable to reach him. Next, the ODF and the State Police sent up one of Christian Futures' loggers to cut all the branches below Tre. Fearing the logger would cut the branch he was on, Tre jumped to a neighbouring tree. Without the safety of his ropes and harness, Tre was in great danger of falling. The logger cut all the branches below him; he was stuck!

Denied food and water, and bombarded by floodlights, wailing sirens and bullhorns, Tre was prevented from sleeping for 48 hours. Tre was thoroughly exhausted by the physical, emotional and psychological abuse tactics that the ODF had been using on him. In this state of exhaustion, Tre passed out at 2 am on October 6th, 2001 and fell 98 feet to the ground. “I had a dislocated left shoulder, severed pelvis in multiple places, severed ribs in my left side, one of which pierced and collapsed my lung. My lung was bleeding. I had a severe concussion and other internal organs were bleeding.” Tre survived but spent the winter months recovering from his life-threatening injuries. Sadly, Christian Futures and the ODF were able to cut the rest of the ancient forest in the ‘Acey Line Timber Sale’. Logging was completed in early 2002.

Tre was an amazing organizer in Portland. His ability to work 16-hour days organizing people and supplies was astonishing, but it also made him a target. Just like other effective organizers, namely Martin Luther King, Abbie Hoffman, Angela Davis and Jaggi Singh, Tre was placed under scrupulous surveillance by the authorities.

Life turned upside down

On April 15th, 2001, three concrete trucks owned by Ross Island Sand & Gravel were destroyed by fire. Less than two months later, two Schoppert logging trucks were also destroyed by fire. Jacob Sherman, a 21-year old University student was subsequently arrested by the FBI and interrogated on four separate occasions. Sherman was under a great deal of FBI pressure. This, in addition to his knowledge of the case of Jeffery 'Free' Luers, a man who received over 22 years for burning three SUVs, led to Sherman naming two others who had participated in the crimes: Angela Cesario and Jeremy Rosenbloom. Sherman, facing the possibility of life in prison if he did not cooperate, also offered the name of a third individual whom he said was the mastermind behind these arsons: Tre Arrow.

What is interesting about this case is the degree of FBI involvement in connecting Tre with these crimes. The primary evidence affiliating Tre with these crimes is the statement of convicted arsonist Jacob Sherman. Sherman entered a plea bargain with the FBI, receiving a sentence reduction from a potential 80 years to 3½ years. In Oregon in 2001, a precedent of over 22 years for Political Arson was set by Luers. Questions certainly arise concerning why Sherman was sentenced so minimally for his crimes. Was it because he finally helped the FBI to connect Tre with a crime that could potentially put him away for life?

Fearing the looming set up by the FBI and state officials, Tre headed to Canada for asylum. Then on March 13th, 2004, Tre was arrested in Victoria, B.C. and was held for being in the country illegally. He has now been incarcerated for over two years, awaiting a possible extradition to the United States.

Hospitalization

Tre's case has gained massive international attention while he has been incarcerated, including coverage of an astonishing 44-day hunger strike “in solidarity with all those suffering around the world as a result of corporate agendas which leave in their wake poisoned water, contaminated air and lack of adequate food.” After ending this peaceful demonstration, similar to the action of peace-loving Ghandi, Tre was given vegetarian status at the Pre-Trial Centre. Being a Vegan Raw Foodist, an individual who eats uncooked, unprocessed vegetables and fruit, Tre was unable to sustain a nutritionally balanced diet in prison. As a result of his 44-day hunger strike, Tre’s weight dropped from 150lbs to 130 lbs. After coming off of the hunger strike, Tre was given a ‘vegetarian’ diet of fried fish and chips, which he could not eat. Over the next three months Tre’s weight sank to a frightening 81 lbs. He was admitted to the hospital and his family flew up from Florida to be at his bedside. Tre was so weak, he was unable to even lift his head from his pillow.

Immediately after being admitted into the Intensive Care Unit at a Vancouver hospital, Tre was able to receive the raw vegan food he required. Doctors at the hospital allowed Tre's support group to deliver foods which provided him with the necessary nutrition for rebuilding his body. Tre spent over three weeks in the hospital and was able to gain 20 lbs during that time. The doctors refused to release Tre back to the Pre-Trial Centre until the Centre agreed to feed Tre a diet of raw food. After several months on the new raw food diet, Tre was able to regain and maintain his weight as it was prior to incarceration.

Media as Judge

The Corporate Media has played a consequential role in Tre's case. In 1928 a book entitled Propaganda, written by right-winged member of the elite Edward Bernays, illustrated the true face of Corporate Media: “The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society. Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society constitute the invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country.”

It is lobbyists and Public Relations groups like 'Stop Eco-Violence' and 'Center for the Defense of Free Enterprise', which have a considerable role in convicting Tre before his trial has even begun. Ron Arnold, Vice-president of the 'Center for the Defense of Free Enterprise', who coined the term 'Eco-Terrorist', is completely funded and directed by large multi-national companies who have billions invested in the destruction of the environment.

Propaganda Specialist Ron Arnold and the FBI have teamed up to disseminate fear and to intimidate the Environmental Community. They have successfully implemented the most effective tactic known from the Roman Empire to the current state: the tactic of divide and conquer. The level of intimidation they have been able to circulate has fractured the environmental movement and has successfully discredited the reputation of peaceful activists like Tre. Most Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), like the numerous organizations for which Tre worked so diligently back in Portland, are now unwilling to support Tre because of the fear that their funding and reputation will be destroyed.

The Corporate Media has continued this cycle by regurgitating the press releases, reports and information received from PR groups like 'Center for the Defense of Free Enterprise'. Although Judge Redden, in his ruling on the 2003 arson case against Jacob Sherman, stated that, “The term 'terrorist' is not to be used in reference to this case or the defendants,” the FBI and the Corporate Media continue to sell news by branding Tre as an 'Eco-Terrorist'. Their ability to broadcast false information and lies has evolved into an absolute conviction within their corporate headlines. National papers like the National Post and even local papers like the Oregonian in Portland have refused to use the word 'accused' or 'suspected' in their headlines: “Eco-Terrorist wages war from Hospital” – National Post, “Eco-Terrorist ill after refusing most jail food” – The Vancouver Sun and “Eco-terrorist arrested” – Oregonian. It is this misinformation which will make it impossible for Tre to receive a fair trial in Portland. In this post-9/11 era where the word 'terrorist' evokes fear, and when the Corporate Media stands to lose profit through the actions of peaceful activists such as Tre, it becomes difficult to imagine any twelve jurors untainted by this slander.

Extradition

In July 2005 Judge Kirstie Gill of the Supreme Court of Canada ruled in favour of Tre’s extradition to the United States, stating that she has no jurisdiction to consider the constitutional issues that Mr. Russell (Tre’s lawyer) had presented. This decision is currently being appealed at the ministerial level with pressure being put on the Canadian Minister of Justice to take a stand against the inequities in the current extradition act as well as against the injustices which Tre will face if handed over to the United States.

If Tre is extradited he will be facing the possibility of life imprisonment for the charges stemming from the arsons. The U.S. is seeking a lengthy trial, potentially lasting for over a year. They are most certainly attempting to disseminate fear among the public by setting an example of Tre. What is happening to Tre Arrow could conceivably happen to any peaceful defender of the planet and its people. By supporting him in this time of need, we show each other that friends will not be left behind.

• To join the letter writing campaign in support of Tre see the ‘how you can help’ link at the bottom of this page

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