CJF Faster Ted Glick Faces Jail.
Despite the Gulf disaster, no one from BP has been arrested and sent to jail. But today I write to inform you that one of America's best global warming activists, and a Climate Justice Faster, is probably facing several months of jail. Why? Because he peacefully dropped two banners on Capitol Hill that said: "GREEN JOBS NOW" and "GET TO WORK."
Ted was convicted by a jury May 13th of peacefully dropping the banners inside the U.S. Senate Building last September, and is due to be sentenced on July 6th. You can see a three-minute video of Ted's September "crime" right here. He's the guy toward the end simply lowering the banners. Period.
Now Ted is facing up to three years in jail. Based on the judge's comments, it really does appear that he will be incarcerated for at least a month or two. So here's what you can do: Please write a respectful but firm letter to Judge Frederick H. Weisberg telling him why you think Ted should not go to jail (below is a letter a few of us have sent on behalf of all Climate Justice Fasters around the world).
The judge's address is
Judge Frederick H. Weisberg
DC Superior Court
500 Indiana Ave., NW Washington, DC 20001
The letters should be respectful. Describe the urgency of the climate issue and the need to pressure the US government to take action on it; Give your views on what would be a justice-based approach by the legal system toward nonviolent actions of the kind Ted took part in.
You can email Ted at ted@chesapeakeclimate.org, or you could send by regular mail to Ted's attention at CCAN, P.O. Box 11138, Takoma Park, Md. 20912.
CJF Letter
Dear Judge Weisberg,
We are writing this letter to you on behalf of all the participants of the Climate Justice Fast, an international fast which took place from November 6 to December 19 2009, and included Ted Glick, who is due to be sentenced by you on July 6th.
Over 10,000 people from all over the world participated in the fast, and together, we would like to plead with you for leniency in Ted's case. We are deeply saddened at the prospect that while the corporations that are creating massive environmental catastrophes face no criminal penalties, Ted, this peaceful, compassionate and honest man, could soon be locked up in jail, simply for peacefully unfurling a banner that held a positive message about climate change – the most pressing issue our generation faces.
We would like, if possible, to draw your attention to the scientific and political consensus that unless global warming is constrained to an increase of less than 2°C, our world will meet with a disaster of unprecedented magnitude, and to the absolute failure of world governments to safeguard us all from this tragedy.
And we would like, if possible, to draw your attention to the fact that it is the political stagnation of the USA, home to only 5% of the world's population but producer of 25% of its greenhouse emissions, that is the primary obstacle in the road of humanity meeting this crisis, whose current victims are largely disadvantaged people in poorer nations who have done little to bring the crisis about.
Somehow, and someway, we have to urgently wake up our politicians, and our populations, to the gravity and the urgency of the terrible threat we are all facing. That is why 10,000 of us took part in the Climate Justice Fast last year – three of us drinking water only for over 40 days. And that is why Ted Glick, peacefully, and with dignity, decided to unfurl his banner and its all-important message.
It was an act undertaken out of love for humanity, and love for our beautiful earth. And it was an act that did not harm a single soul.
Please protect the freedom to peacefully protest against injustice. Please don't put Ted Glick behind bars. There are few who deserve such a fate less.
Sincerely,
Anna Keenan, Annalies Aerts, Anthony Gleeson, Chuck Cain, Clare Hanrahan, Jean Sireyjol, Joanna Dafoe, Kathryn Blume, Keely Boom, Marcella Brassett, Neel Bannerjee, Paul Connor, Paul Thompson, Rowan Barber, Ruah Swennerfelt, Satya Vayu, Siobhan Leslie, Sue Lennox, & Uygar Ozesmi
