Los Angeles Indymedia : Activist News

A man claiming membership in the Earth Liberation Front has told The Los Angeles Times that he helped firebomb a San Gabriel Valley car dealership and vandalize three others last month and said Josh Connole, arrested by the FBI last week, had nothing to do with the crimes. Communicating via three e-mails and in two telephone interviews over the last three days, the man provided details of the attack that authorities said were known only by investigators and those involved in the incidents. He refused to give his name, say where he lives or agree to be interviewed in person. Read LA Times Article.

At aproximately 12:30AM, Friday, September 12, 2003, unmarked law enforcement cars swarmed the intersection of Bradford and Alvarado in Pomona and arrested Josh Connole, 25, on multiple counts of arson and felony vandalism relating to the firebombing (photo) of an Hummer SUV dealership in West Covina, CA, resulting in over a million dollars in damage, and the vandalising of several others; an incident claimed by the radical environmentalist group Earth Liberation Front (ELF). A joint task force consisting of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and the West Covina Police Department kept Connole's residence under tight surveillance throughout the rest of the day and eventually forced the residents out to raid them, leaving lives torn apart in their wake. A West Covina Police Officer was caught on camera by an Indymedia photographer reading a journal before either of the search warrants had been signed.

Family, close friends, and housemates of Josh say the authorities have the wrong man. The law enforcement agencies claim he resembles a man on a security video taken at the scene of the crime. Several roommates of Josh report that he was helping two new residents move into the house while the crimes were allegedly taking place. "I know nothing about the crime I supposedly committed," said Josh in a phone call from his cell, "I've never been arrested for anything. I don't feel that breaking the law is the way to change things."

Josh Connole is a member of an enviromentally friendly co-op called the Regen V Cooperative. The residents of the house believe that they have been targeted and are being persecuted because of their political views; promoting environmental sustainability, a vegetarian diet, and a desire for world peace. They question the motives for the broad reaching search warrants, the methods used to carry them out, and the results that left all of the co-op members shaken and angry. "I'm probably the only person in this house who's never been to a protest," said Kathe, one of Josh's housemates, "But I think that's going to change now."

UPDATE: Josh Connole Has Obtained Lawyer, Members of Regen V Cooperative Plan on Filing Lawsuit for Civil Rights Violations.

Read the Press Release from Regen V Cooperative
Upcoming Actions to Support Josh Connole

Newswire stories on Josh Connole & RE-GEN: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

SHERMAN WAS TRANSFERRED TO OKLAHOMA, PENDING PERMANENT PLACEMENT IN A MEDIUM SECURITY FACILITY IN ARIZONA
The San Bernadino Detention Center was flooded with phone calls, letters, e-mails, and faxes requesting Sherman's transfer to a permanent facility. Prison officials commented on the overwhelming amount of support that he was receiving--they seemed surprised that he had such a large and diverse support group on the outside. He still needs legal assistance and funds to pay for it! The family and friends of Sherman are asking that folks write letters to Dianne Feinstein in response to her rather nasty press release about Sherman, issued the day he turned himself in. Read more! Or contact jmi46@sbcglobal.net for more information.

GOOD NEWS, for a change. Josh Connole was released, and he's free. They didn't have the evidence to hold him. Around fifty supporters from all over, from Costa Mesa to the IE, came out to protest, and celebrate.

report from the demo

Cancun's been called Seattle Part 2 - because the talks have not only broken down, they've become dominated by the concerns of farmers and the poor countries. It's a blow against the West, and in Cancun, an overpriced tourist mecca for Americans in the heart of Third World Neoliberalism.

WTO Breakdown Media Links at Foodfirst
WTO Collapses [la]
A Great Discussion[la]
Portland Indymedia
Arkasnas Indymedia
Global Indymedia

While most of the word immediately thinks of the WTC/Pentagon attacks in 2001 whenever the date "9/11" is mentioned, we should also remember another tragedy that happend 30 years ago on that date in 1973, the U. S. encouraged [if not sponsored] bloody coup which toppled and killed the democratically elected, leftist President of Chile, Salvadore Allende, and replaced him with the brutal dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. On the subject of this anniversary: The Workers World Party will host a discussion of 'the lessons learned from the 1973 Chile coup" at their meeting, Friday September 12, 2003 at 7p.m. at 422. S. Western Ave., Los Angeles.

Update 9/13/03
Two Years and Many Tears Later
The tragedy of September 11th continues to be confused in the minds of America. The destruction of The World Trade Center has changed the way many in this country view their position in the world while the unprovoked aggression in Iraq has changed the way the world sees the U. S. The Administration’s exploitation of the tragedy to advance it’s NeoCon agenda has been breathtaking. Are we just now beginning to see structural cracks in those solid poll numbers?
The cycle of destruction will end; the planet demands a better way. September Eleventh Families For Peaceful Tomorrows have turned dreams into action. Read Statement.