Who is Leah-Lynn Plante and why is she so important
[Update Oct 19 – Leah-Lynn has been released since Oct 17th, she is recovering from it. She read the many comments on the myriad posts about her and is righteously pissed about the endless misogyny and sexism which was rampant in them.
And both Matt and KteeO are in general population and in need of support. Please read this post with that in mind.]
On July 25 of this year 40 riot gear clad FBI agents and Joint Terrorism Task Force officers from the Seattle/Portland region broke down the door of this dangerous criminal. They handcuffed her and her housemates and held her at gunpoint.
Leah-Lynn Plante is imprisoned without charge*
Their warrant was for computers, black clothes and anarchist literature. There was no warrant for her arrest. There still is not one. But those imprisoned as part of the same set of raids are in solitary confinement, without direct access to their lawyers, unable to get visitor request forms and with no access to sunlight or fresh air. She could be there for 18 months.
When asked why she was being imprisoned, the FBI would only say she was suspected of being involved in “violent crimes”. However, the reason she is being imprisoned is that she is refusing to cooperate with this grand jury. You maintain your right not to self incriminate at a grand jury, but if you don’t answer their questions they can throw you in jail for contempt.
So while there is lots of digital ink being spilled over the presidential election, there is a need for people who care about the right to protest to pay attention to things which will be problematic under both Obama and Romney, and this is a clear example of one. So instead of spending hours fretting and arguing over who to vote for or if you should vote, I would ask you to do something for this prisoner and the other two being held similarly.
For some of the better articles on this case see the Sparrow Project, Her video statement, and Pakalert Press.
Things you can do if you have very little money:
“Like” the Facebook groups for both of the prisoners who remain in jail.
If you don’t have experience writing to prisoners please read this.
You can also send these prisoners paperback (only) books. I would suggest political fiction, Le Guin, Piercy and Starhawk jump to mind – apparently they need to be new books but any of these authors’ works is likely inspiring for prisoners.
There is also now a new benefit album, appropriately entitled “Say Nothing,” you can purchase, the proceeds of which go to the defense fund.
- Grand Jury Resister Benefit Album
If you are good with wiki’s you can continue editing the wikipedia entry I started on Leah-Lynn. A public domain picture, or one with permission to repost given would be a good addition.
All three of these activists are in solitary confinement, their only crime is silence.
| Send Letters to Matt at: Matthew Kyle Duran #42565-086 FDC SeaTac P.O. Box 13900 Seattle, WA 98198 Send books to Matt of his book wishlist! Send Letters to KteeO at: Katherine Olejnik #42592-086 FDC SeaTac, P.O. Box 13900 Seattle, WA 98198 Please write to KteeO!! She is specifically interested in news and information about the Basque region, and reading material related to linguistics and social anthropology. |
If you have some money, even a small amount (for all three resisters) please donate
If you are into t-shirts or pins
*Plante was not charged with any crime when they broke down her door, she is being imprisoned for failing to cooperate with a grand jury three times.
[Edited by Judy Youngquest]
your passport to complaining 