Who is Daniel McGowan? Afewof thosein dctemanageo · Who is Daniel McGowan? Daniel McGowan is an...
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Who is Daniel McGowan? Daniel McGowan is an environmental and social justice activist from New York City. He grew up in Rockaway Beach, Queens, New York, and is a much loved member of the community. He has worked on projects such as the demonstrations against the Republican National Convention, counter-military recruitment efforts, organizing free markets in his neighborhood, and supporting political pris- oners such as Jeff "Free" Luers. Daniel was also earning a Master's degree in acupunc- ture and was working at WomensLaw.org, a nonprofit that helps abused women navigate the legal system, when he was arrested by federal marshals on December 7th, 2005. Daniel was originally charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit arson, 14 counts of arson and 2 counts of use or pos- session of a destructive device. All of these charges were connected with various envi- ronmental actions that had taken place throughout previous decades. Coincidentally, the statute of limitations for these crimes was about to expire. If found guilty, he could have been sentenced to life in prison. Daniel had two choices: cooperate by informing on other people, or go to trial and potentially spend the rest of his life in prison. His only real option was to plead not guilty until he could reach a resolution of the case that permitted him to honor his principles. As a result of months of litiga- tion and negotiation, Daniel was able to admit to his role in these two incidents, while not implicating or identifying any other people who might have been involved. Arrest and Operation Backfire In 2004, the FBI merged seven inde- pendent investigations from its Portland, Oregon field office and began what became known as "Operation Backfire." The focus of this operation was to investigate actions carried out by the Earth Liberation Front (ELF) and the Animal Liberation Front (ALF). These groups are underground organizations that engage in economic sab- otage and guerrilla warfare to stop the exploitation and destruction of the environ- ment and animals. Beginning on December 7, 2005, a series of arrests took place targeting indi- viduals who allegedly participated in actions carried out by the ELF and ALF. At first six individuals were arrested (Chelsea Gerlach, William Rodgers, Kendall Tankersley, Kevin Tubbs, Daniel McGowan and Stanislas Meyerhoff). They were charged with various actions, including arson and what the U.S. government deemed "domestic terrorism." Others (Jonathan Paul, Suzanne Savoie, Joseph Dibee, Rebecca Rubin and Josephine Overaker) were also indicted for ELF and ALF activities. A few of those indicted managed to avoid arrest. To this day, Dibbee, Rubin and Overaker have yet to be caught and are believed to be out of the country. The group was accused of 19 separate attacks between 1996 and 2001, spanning over five states (California, Colorado, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming) causing over $23 million in damage. On December 22, William "Avalon" Rodgers was found dead in his cell in Flagstaff, Arizona, from an apparent sui- cide. Some still question the suspicious cir- cumstances of Rodger’s death. Early on it was discovered that the gov- ernment has a confidential informant, Jake Ferguson, who has been cooperating with authorities since September 2004. His betrayal and the possibility of serving life sentences prompted others to cooperate in exchange for reduced sentences. Stanislas Meyerhoff, Kevin Tubbs, Chelsea Gerlach, Kendall Tankersley, Suzanne Savoie and Darren Thurston chose to cooperate with prosecutors. However, Jonathan Paul, Joyanna Zacher, Nathan Block and Daniel McGowan refused to provide information about other's activities. Daniel McGowan and Jonathan Paul
Transcript of Who is Daniel McGowan? Afewof thosein dctemanageo · Who is Daniel McGowan? Daniel McGowan is an...
Who is Daniel McGowan?
Daniel McGowan is an environmentaland social justice activist from New Yo r kC i t y. He grew up in Rockaway Beach,Queens, New York, and is a much lovedmember of the community. He has workedon projects such as the demonstrationsagainst the Republican NationalConvention, counter-military recruitmente fforts, organizing free markets in hisneighborhood, and supporting political pris-oners such as Jeff "Free" Luers. Daniel wasalso earning a Master's degree in acupunc-ture and was working at Wo m e n s L a w. o rg, anonprofit that helps abused women navigatethe legal system, when he was arrested byfederal marshals on December 7th, 2005.
Daniel was originally charged with twocounts of conspiracy to commit arson, 14counts of arson and 2 counts of use or pos-session of a destructive device. All of thesec h a rges were connected with various envi-ronmental actions that had taken placethroughout previous decades. Coincidentally,the statute of limitations for these crimes wasabout to expire. If found guilty, he couldhave been sentenced to life in prison.
Daniel had two choices: cooperate byinforming on other people, or go to trial andpotentially spend the rest of his life inprison. His only real option was to pleadnot guilty until he could reach a resolutionof the case that permitted him to honor hisprinciples. As a result of months of litiga-tion and negotiation, Daniel was able toadmit to his role in these two incidents,while not implicating or identifying anyother people who might have beeni n v o l v e d .
A rrest and Operation BackfireIn 2004, the FBI merged seven inde-
pendent investigations from its Portland,Oregon field office and began what becameknown as "Operation Backfire." The focusof this operation was to investigate actionscarried out by the Earth Liberation Front(ELF) and the Animal Liberation Front(ALF). These groups are underg r o u n do rganizations that engage in economic sab-otage and guerrilla warfare to stop theexploitation and destruction of the environ-ment and animals.
Beginning on December 7, 2005, aseries of arrests took place targeting indi-viduals who allegedly participated inactions carried out by the ELF and A L F. A tfirst six individuals were arrested (ChelseaGerlach, William Rodgers, KendallTa n k e r s l e y, Kevin Tubbs, Daniel McGowanand Stanislas Meyerhoff). They werec h a rged with various actions, includingarson and what the U.S. governmentdeemed "domestic terrorism." Others(Jonathan Paul, Suzanne Savoie, JosephDibee, Rebecca Rubin and JosephineOveraker) were also indicted for ELF andALF activities.
A few of those indicted managed toavoid arrest. To this day, Dibbee, Rubin andOveraker have yet to be caught and arebelieved to be out of the country.
The group was accused of 19 separateattacks between 1996 and 2001, spanningover five states (California, Colorado,Oregon, Washington and Wyoming) causingover $23 million in damage.
On December 22, William "Av a l o n "Rodgers was found dead in his cell inF l a g s t a ff, Arizona, from an apparent sui-cide. Some still question the suspicious cir-cumstances of Rodger’s death.
Early on it was discovered that the gov-ernment has a confidential informant, JakeF e rguson, who has been cooperating withauthorities since September 2004. Hisbetrayal and the possibility of serving lifesentences prompted others to cooperate inexchange for reduced sentences. StanislasM e y e r h o ff, Kevin Tubbs, Chelsea Gerlach,Kendall Ta n k e r s l e y, Suzanne Savoie andDarren Thurston chose to cooperate withp r o s e c u t o r s .
H o w e v e r, Jonathan Paul, JoyannaZ a c h e r, Nathan Block and DanielMcGowan refused to provide informationabout other's activities.
Daniel McGowan and Jonathan Paul
Plea Agreement and SentencingOn November 9, 2006, McGowan and
co-defendants Jonathan Paul, JoyannaZacher and Nathan Block pled guilty andsigned a non-cooperation plea agreementwith the government. This agreement didnot require cooperation (informing on oth-ers) on the part of the defendants.
Paul pled guilty to conspiracy and arsonat the Cavel West Horse Meatpacking Plant.Paul was sentenced to 51 months. Zacherand Block each pled to conspiracy andarson at the Joe Romania Chevrolet Tr u c kCenter and Jefferson Poplar Farm. Bothwere sentenced to 7 years and 8 months.McGowan pled guilty to conspiracy and thearson attacks against the Superior LumberCompany and Jefferson Poplar Farm. Hewas sentenced to seven years in prison.
Since his imprisonment, McGowan hascontinued to be politically active. He hasbeen relentless in support of other politicalprisoners from all liberation movements.His support for freedom has been undying.
We encourage people to contactMcGowan and remind him that he is
not alone. Please write to him at:
DANIEL MCGOWAN#63794-053
P.O. Box 1000Marion, IL 62959
USP Marion
Local groups working with McGowan:
JERICHO AMNESTY COALITIONPO Box 34186
Los Angeles, CA 90034
Anarchist Black Cross Federation(ABCF)
PO Box 11223Whittier, CA 90603email: [email protected]
www.abcf.net
YOU CAN HELP BY GIVING POLITICAL PRISONERS A VOICE
AND VISIBILITY
THE TRUTH CAN SET THEM FREE!
Daniel McGowan
ANARCHIST AND E N V I R O N M E N TA L A C T I V I S T
S E RVING 7 YEARS INP R I S O N
Free Daniel McGowan
