Earth First! Responds to Car Bombing

Earth First! activists Judi Bari and Darryl Cherney, both of Northern
California, were injured when a pipe bomb that was planted in their car
exploded. (On 24th of May. Eds.)

Bari, 40, a long-time political activist, remains in serious condition at
Highland Hospital with a broken pelvis and other injuries.  Cherney, 33, was
treated for injuries at the hospital's emergency room and then released to the
Oakland Police and the FBI for questioning.

Bari and Cherney were in the San Francisco Bay area to meet with other
environmentalists and to promote the "Redwood Summer," a summer-long campaign
of nonviolent civil disobedience actions to save California's North Coast
forests.  The Oakland Police have announced that they plan to file charges
against the injured activists.  "We are absolutely outraged that victims of
attempted murder are blamed for the crime by the authorities charged with
protecting them," said Earth First! spokesperson Pam Davis.   "There are
murderers out on the street who planted this bomb; instead of pursuing the
investigation, the police and the FBI have held Darryl and subjected him to an
all-night interrogation while denying him a lawyer"    Earth First! activist
Karen Pickett said:  "This smacks of FBI tactics that were used against
political activists, like the American Indian Movement and the anti-apartheid
movement, in the 60s and 70s. Darryl and Judi are dedicated nonviolent
environmentalists who are working to ensure that the protests this summer be
deliberately and strictly nonviolent."

Pickett said: "Both Darryl and Judi have received threats in the past few
months.  Judi has received at least a half dozen serious death threats in the
last couple months.  Why aren't the authorities investigating those terror
tactics?"

Earth First! is calling for an investigation of police tactics in this case. 
The investigation should be conducted by elected representatives, say the
activists, since the FBI is involved in the ongoing harassment and attempts to
frame the bombing victims.

Expressions of love and support for Judi and Darryl, and horror at this car
bombing, are flooding in from all over the country.

"The Redwood Summer campaign of nonviolent defense of the Earth is going on
stronger than anyone anticipated.  The response to this incident has been
overwhelming," said Davis.

"We remain committed to meeting violence with nonviolence," Davis said.  There
will be a continuing 24-hour vigil at the main Oakland Police station until
Bari and Cherney are released, according to Earth First! representatives. 
Earth First! supporters have established an emergency fund for the victims. 
Contributions can be sent to the Bari/Cherney Emergency Trust Fund, 106 West
Standley, Ukiah, CA, 95482.

Eds Note: Report sent via EcoNet/Pegasus electronic network from Earth First!,
dated 25 May, 1990.  The editors believe that the charges against Darryl
Cherney were dismissed in court.