Radical Eco-Activist Imprisoned for 'Friending' Someone on Facebook

[cory777]

Source: Alternet

For years, Rod Coronado was the unofficial bad boy of the radical environmental movement. As a teenager he cut his teeth with the now well known Sea Shepherd Society and, in 1986, participated in a risky act of eco-sabotage: taking aim at Iceland’s refusal to conform to an international ban on whaling, Coronado and a partner destroyed the Hvalfjordur whaling station and sank two of the country’s whaling vessels, causing some $2 million in damage. Coronado went on to wage an underground war against the fur industry, targeting research facilities and fur farms across North America. (His story, and the story of the modern American environmental movement, is told in Dean Kuipers recent book, Operation Bite Back: Rod Coronado’s War to Save American Wilderness). Coronado was a divisive figure: his use of arson and increasingly radical stance alienated even those who sympathized with his views.

In 1995, Coronado was arrested for his role in an arson attack on research facilities at Michigan State University. Since then he has moved back and forth between prison and some form of house arrest or parole. He has done time for allegedly demonstrating the use of an incendiary device, dismantling mountain lion traps, and destruction of government property.

Coronado has plenty of street cred but apparently he wasn’t hip to the perils of Facebook. In early August, the seasoned activist was sentenced to four months in prison for violating the terms of his probation. The charge: “friending” a figure the FBI describes as, “a well-known environmental activist who has a history of condoning direct action and violence as a means of protest or demonstration.” That activist is Mike Roselle, the author of Tree Spiker, a confrontational and outspoken opponent of destructive environmental practices, from mountaintop removal to deforestation, who claims to have been arrested at least 50 times.

According to the Missoula Independent, Coronado’s probation officer, Rhonda J. Wallock, reported that the activist violated the terms of his supervision by becoming Roselle’s “friend” and for using an unauthorized computer. “In monitoring Mr. Coronado’s Facebook account,” the court document reads, “this officer found Michael Roselle to be a “friend” of Mr. Coronado.”

Read more: http://www.alternet.org/environment/148052/radical_eco-activist_imprisoned_for_%27friending%27_someone_on_facebook

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[Radical Activist]

1. Pathetic.

The FBI doesn't have anything more important to do?

After reading a couple of the links, I can't help thinking that these two are relics of the past. First, because anti-terrorism laws and surveillance make it much more difficult to pull off anything more than once. Second, because they're not working on the #1 issue: climate change. Hypothetically, if someone were foolish enough to pick a target for that kind tactic it needs to be the fossil fuel industry, not fur coats.

[depakid]

3. "The FBI doesn't have anything more important to do?"

Given that torturers, war criminals, corrupt public officials, banksters, financial fraudsters, mining executives and managers, food poisoners... corporate criminals of all types have been placed off limits- they've got to have something to do with their time.

[Radical Activist]

6. You prove once again

that you can turn any post on any topic into an attack on Obama that ignores action he has already taken. I'm impressed by your obsessiveness.

[slay]

2. Big Brother is watching

any time you fight back, you'll get treated just like Coronado. Yes, he did some extreme actions but the rich and powerful get to fuck up the environment and the planet EVERY DAY in such a sick way purely in the name of profit and if you don't like it - go to jail. Fucking sucks. We have no party that represents the people anymore - just the rich, powerful, and corporations. :(

[Dead_Parrot]

4. Welcome to the future

To be fair, though, when your bail conditions include "Don't associate with anyone from Earth First!", "Don't use other computers" and "have your computer use monitored", friending Mike Roselle from your mate's PC probably isn't the smartest move.

[Anakin Skywalker]

5. Whatever Happened to Just Phone Calls?

Oh wait.....They are monitoring those too! Thanks, G.W. (Glorious Wonderboy) Bush and the "Wiretapping for Terrahris um Act"

[ck4829]

7. Yet, Scott Roeder can be caught with the phone number of Cheryl Sullenger in his car

She's a ex-con / anti-abortion militant.

But that's OK, no terrorist conspiracy there. Just move on.