Darren Thurston’s support committee has posted an open letter responding to what seems to be widespread condemnation by other activists that Thurston and others “snitched,” or cooperated with the government (as opposed to the non-cooperating defendants), in hopes of receiving reduced sentences in the Operation Backfire cases. Here’s an excerpt, or also take a look at the full letter for yourself.
As many of you reading know, Darren decided to co-operate with the FBI investigation into his case in May of 2006 after being incarcerated for almost six months. He based his decision on the information that besides his charges in Oregon he would face additional charges in California of handling an incendiary device (albeit by conspiracy) at the Lichtfield action, which would carry a *mandatory minimum* sentence of 30 years on top of the 5-10 he was already facing. He was further made aware of the fact that three people with whom he had done the Lichtfield action had already agreed to testify against him, and that he would face the further charges in California alone (the other three indicted separately in Lichtfield were Rebecca Rubin, Joe Dibbee and Justin Solondz – all currently missing and considered fugitives by the US Government).
To put it simply, Darren was facing 35 years to life in prison and was set up for his most contentious trial entirely alone with an array of people lined up to testify against him. He had no way of winning his case, and he knew it. What he also knew when he co-operated was that eight other people had already provided information before him and so he would be providing very little (if any) new information. In this context he agreed to meet with the FBI and the US prosecutor’s office. After a lifetime of eschewing the state and decrying movement “snitchesâ€, he did not take this decision lightly. But it is true that in making his plea agreement Darren met with the FBI and prosecutors on several occasions for debriefing sessions during which he gave information about his action at Lichtfield, additional sites he reconnoitered with others and described the activities he and Chelsea engaged in during their years underground together (2002-2005). And it is also true that he named some of the people he worked with – all of whom were already known to the FBI and most of whom were in custody.
It’s a rather long letter, and you should read it for yourself, but it seems that two points resurface throughout:
*Even though Thurston “named names,” his supporters say he didn’t give the government anything they didn’t already know.
*People should ask themselves what they would do facing similar, seemingly overhwhelming circumstances, and “act out of love for the world and out of forgiveness for myself and others in every way that I can.”
What do you think?