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*Please click here for court reports* **T-shirts available! Update January 13, 2010 Dear friends, Today marks the fourth year of Eric's incarceration. These are not the kind of milestones we would like to be writing about to you. While other people have been celebrating the New Year, we have been incredibly conscious of the passage of time in an entirely different way. For four years, New Years has served as a reminder to us – as it probably does to millions of others - of how long we have been separated from our loved one. While others are celebrating new beginnings, we are faced with the reality that, so far, there has been no new beginning as far as Eric's physical freedom is concerned. Some things remain painfully the same. Eric is still locked away by the state. Please remember that this time of year can be particularly difficult for folks who are locked up. Take a minute to write Eric – or another political prisoner – and let them know that folks on the outside are still thinking of them and supporting them. Appeal Update How to Help If you cannot donate money, there are other ways you can help. Eric is locked away from his loved ones and his communities and he doesn't have access to a lot of information. Receiving news from the outside helps him feel a little more connected to the issues he cares about. If you run across a good article from an independent media source that you think Eric might like, please send it his way. Just keep in mind that Eric is still in the appeals process, and everything he receives is read by the authorities. Even unsolicited mail can result in sanctions against prisoners. Be prudent with your choice of material. Our thanks to everyone for all of your support these last 4 years. Update October, 2009 This is just a quick note to let you know that we were finally able to update the site. The appeal brief has been posted in the Court Documents section, as well as the transcripts from both Zachary Jenson and Lauren Weiner's sentencing hearings. The government has asked for a 60 day extension for filing their response to Eric's appeal. Their response is now due on December 18. Also, we mentioned a while
ago that Eric might be getting transferred soon to a low security
facility. Eric has since been informed that because of his "management
variable" he will not be getting moved.. Update September 2009 Hello friends, We are incredibly relieved to finally be able to tell you that the opening brief for Eric's appeal was filed on September 17. This is only the first step in a very long process, but after over a year's worth of delays, it was a welcome development. The government's response to Eric's brief is due on October 15 - although it is quite possible there will be more delays. We will post the opening brief on Eric's website soon (we're currently dealing with some technical difficulties). We also want everyone to know that after a recalculation of his points (what the BOP uses to determine in what security level prison to place someone), Eric realized he qualifies for a low-security facility. He has put in a request to be moved and is awaiting a response. We will let you all know as soon as we hear anything. Eric's birthday is on October 7. It would be great if everyone could send him a quick note of support to remind him we haven't forgotten about him. You can send cards and letters to: Eric McDavid 16209-097 Please remember that everything you send and write to Eric is read by the authorities. For more information on how to write Eric, please visit the how to help section of the website. Yours, P.S. Update 5/29/09 Hello everyone, There are a few things we would like to share with you in this update. Below you will find information on Eric's current situation, the tour in June, site updates, and the status of the appeal. Eric sends his hellos to you all. Thanks so much for your continued support. We hope to see many of you soon! The Mail Situation The Northwest in June The presentation will be followed with amazing musical performances by folks from the Anarchozarkian Music Collective - Spokepants of the Flowering Skillet and Nora and Gnoll. Other local musicians will be joining us along the way. You don't want to miss it! Here is a quick list of what we've got so far: June 5: Reno, NV More dates are in the works. Site Updates Appeal Status Eric has been in jail or prison for 3 1/2 years now. His strength and courage continue to remind us all of what it means to stay true to ourselves and the things we hold dear. Our sincerest thanks to all of you who have helped make this journey more endurable. Yours,
Update 3/20/09: Support Eric Tour Headed to the North West - Your Help Needed! Dear Friends, We've almost made it through Winter and now we're itching to get back on the road and continue our tour. Eric has been locked in a cage for over three years now, and we refuse to remain silent about his case and the wider implications it carries for anyone engaging in dissent. Eric has suffered enormous injustices at the hands of the state – and we want to do everything we can to make sure that people don’t forget about Eric, that they understand how his case was created, and to ensure that people learn what they can from our experiences these past 3 years. To that end, we will be heading to the northwest to educate folks about Eric’s case, which we will use as a lens through which to study the basic concepts of entrapment, the use of informants, and government repression in general. Unfortunately, the use of these tools by the state is becoming more and more prevalent, and it’s imperative that people understand how they work. In addition to the presentation itself, we will be accompanied by friends who will bring us some beautiful musical catharsis. Nora & Gnoll and Spoke Pants of the Flowering Skillet, from the Anarchozarkian MusicCollective will be touring with us, straight from the bowels of the midwest. We assure you, you won't be disappointed. (See below for links to music) If you are interested in scheduling a presentation in your community, please contact us at: tour@supporteric.org. We will be on the road during the month of June. Below is a rough estimate of when we’ll be in specific areas. For background information about Eric and his case, please click here. We hope to see you soon! (Very) Tentative “Schedule” San Francisco, CA: June 5-7 Arcata, CA: June 8-10 (OR July 1-2) Eugene, OR: June 11-13 (OR June 29-30) Portland, OR: June 13-16 (OR June 25-28) Astoria, OR: June 16-17 (OR June 23-24) Olympia, WA: June 18-20 Seattle, WA: June 20-22
Spoke Pants
of the Flowering Skillet
Update 3/2/09: Eric Moved Back to Medium II Hello everyone, Just a quick note to let you know that Eric was moved back to the Medium II facility on Saturday. His address is: Eric McDavid
16209-097 We'll keep you posted as we get more info. Yours, Update2/25/09: Prison on Lockdown and Eric in the Hole After Alleged IED Discovered Hello everyone, On Friday, February 13, Victorville's Medium II facility went on lockdown. Media reports indicated that an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated upon detection, but that no injuries were reported. The reports originally claimed that the device was found at the penitentiary at Victorville, but later reports indicated that the incident actually occurred at the Medium II facility. We have just received a letter from Eric detailing his experiences following these incidents. What follows is based on that letter. At around 1pm on Saturday, the 14th, the prison began blocking out the windows on the cells so that inmates couldn't see into the dayroom. Shortly after the water to the toilet in Eric's cell was turned off. Ataround 2 pm they pulled the cardboard from Eric's window, revealing squads of cops in full riot gear waiting outside of the cell. Eric and his cellmate were made to strip down to boxers and shower shoes. His cell mate was thrown in the hole, and Eric was escorted to a van. He and two others were taken to the hole at the Medium I. Eventually he was escortedinto a room where two FBI agents were waiting to question him. They claimed that an IED had minorly harmed a staff member at the Medium II (contrary to media reports which claimed no one was injured) and that theywould need to take DNA samples as part of their investigation. Eric denied their request and they threatened to get a court order. At thatpoint he gave them his lawyer's information and they stopped questioning him and escorted him back to the cell. There is a sign taped to the door of the cell saying that he has a "3 man hold" - which apparently means hemust be escorted by three guards anytime he leaves the cell. At this point in time we have no way of knowing how long this"investigation" will take. We are also uncertain if Eric can receive visitors during this time. Since he currently has no phone or email access, we must wait for letters to get any updates about his situation. Unfortunately, he also has no access to commissary - so he may not be able to send letters because he is out of stamps. This is a difficult time for Eric and his loved ones. Please keep Eric in your thoughts and take a minute to write him a letter of support. Information on how to write Eric and his current address can be found here. Remember that he more than likely cannot write you back right now. Thank you all for your support. We'll keep you updated as more news becomes available. Yours,
Update 2/16/09 Eric Update - Lockdowns, Moves, and New Address Dear friends, Last month marked the 3rd year that Eric has spent behind bars. His arrest and imprisonment were a direct result of government infiltration and entrapment - Eric has spent the last three years of his life in a cage for what amounts to thought crime. Those years have been full of challenges and struggle, but Eric has met all of them with the utmost courage and integrity. Most recently, Eric has been enduring lockdowns at the prison, the loss of phone and internet access, and a move. On December 23, a "riot" broke out at Victorville, sending 6 inmates to the hospital and forcing 17 to be treated at the prison for injuries ranging from stab wounds to blunt trauma. We waited for two weeks to hear from Eric - not knowing whether or not he was ok. On January 5 he was finally able to call and let us know he was ok. Victorville remains on lockdown, but they were easing up on restrictions and he was able to receive visitors two weeks ago (although that has changed yet again...). During the lockdown it became difficult for Eric to get vegan food. Normally this is not a problem for him - chowhall has plenty of vegan options, and he can supplement this with items from the commissary to round out his diet. But during the lockdown, prisoners only had access to the food brought to them in their cells. This greatly limited Eric's diet. Fortunately, after trying various avenues for redress, the food situation improved and Eric is now (last we heard) receiving enough food. However, as part of the attempt to get vegan food, an "illegal" (according to the prison) phone call was made. As punishment for trying to get himself food, Eric's phone and email access was turned off for 60 days. Other than letters and face to face visits, which are difficult and costly for friends and family (and as a result, they don't happen very often), phones and email are Eric's main lifeline outside the prison. Unfortunately, this is not the only thing... Over the weekend, an incident at one of the facilities at Victorville (it is unclear which facility) caused both the Medium I and the Medium II facilities to go on lockdown, which means visitation has been canceled until further notice. After discovering this, we checked to make sure that Eric was still at the Medium II facility and found that he has, in fact, been moved to the Medium I at Victorville. This is difficult news for a variety of reasons. We are left wondering why Eric was moved in the first place, but also it means that Eric's life has been uprooted and scrambled once again. It is doubtful that he got to take much - if anything - from his previous cell with him. It's possible he lost letters, addresses, pictures, etc. Eric now has to start all over in a new environment, which can be extremely complicated and stressful when that environment is a federal prison. We will keep you updated on this situation as we find out more. The appeals process has been delayed multiple times. Eric's opening brief is now due March 5. He has multiple strong arguments on appeal, and we look forward to getting the process moving. If all goes well, everything could be filed for review by the appeals court sometime this summer. Thank you all for your continued support. Eric has been receiving your letters and they have definitely helped him through these winter months - especially during these lockdowns when he has not been able to have contact with his loved ones. Please remember that Eric has been moved - which means he has a new address: Eric McDavid
16209-097 We'll keep you updated as things moved forward with the appeals. Yours,
Update 11/5/08: Update and Writing from Eric Dear friends, We also just want to remind everyone that Eric’s appeal is still moving forward, and he continues to need your support during this time. Eric has been standing his ground since the day of his arrest, refusing to give in to the ridiculous charges against him – even in the face of a 20 year prison sentence. Please do not forget about him – there are still things you can do. One of the most helpful things for Eric at this time is donating to his commissary fund. He uses this money to pay for vegan food to supplement what he can get at the chow hall, and to pay for things like stamps, paper, and phone calls to loved ones. These are two of his few remaining connections to the outside world, and as such are extremely important for his sanity and health. Information on how to donate to Eric’s commissary fund can be found here. You can also donate to Eric’s general support fund. This will help pay for things like hiring an investigator, ordering books for Eric, and helping cover travel expenses for loved ones to visit Eric. To make a donation to Eric’s support fund, please send a check or money order to: SPS Please make sure that the check/money order is made out to “Sacramento Defense Fund” – otherwise we will not be able to deposit it. Thank you all for your support! Below is a piece that Eric recently wrote. He has asked us to send it to you with an invitation to take a look, if you like… Yours, ------------------------------------------------------------- The questions
brought up here have been with me for some time, & forgive i ran into
an exceptional writer’s creation (Baldwin’s No Name on
the [This may
be redundant but i’ve just got to get it out of me or i’m
go’n To those
familiar with debates, it’s known that when one side establishes [Sorry,
this following bit of constructive criticism may be hard for some Another
aspect of this undoing feels like it’s been manifesting itself
for Here, society
at large, smiling a sigh of relief & giving a knowing nod, And where do the costs arise? No matter
what choices we make, we’re always allowed back into the fold. From my
perspective the type of Death we’re Dancing with here is the
fear What are
the definitions which define your reality? Basically:
How do you wish to Live your Life? Update
10/01/08: News and Letter from Eric Our apologies for taking so long to get this to you… First of all, we would like to thank everyone who helped us with the tour during the past month. It was an amazing success, and it would not have been possible without all of your support. Finally getting to meet so many folks who have been working for Eric these past few years was inspiring and rejuvenating in more ways than you know. Our deepest, most heartfelt thanks to all of you. For those of you who don’t already know, we learned earlier this month that Eric received an “infraction” for “unpermitted contact with the media.” This apparently stems from a phone call Eric made to his family's home during which he spoke with a journalist who was at the house. Leaving aside the inherent absurdity of the charge itself, the ramifications for Eric have been quite real. His phone and email access were immediately cut off, leaving him with no real ties to the outside world other than letters (which can sometimes take weeks to reach their destination) and visits. This has been difficult for him and his loved ones, to say the least. Unfortunately, he will be without phone and email indefinitely. It could take weeks for the issue to be resolved, and even afterwards there is no guarantee that he will regain access to either ofthese “privileges.” We will keep you updated as things progress. Eric’s birthday is October 7th! We realize this is right around the corner – and as mail tends to take its time reaching the prison, you should drop your birthday note in the mail as soon as possible. Please keep in mind that Eric might not be able to write you back… read more about that in his note below. (And for more information on how to write Eric, please click here) Finally, Eric asked that we send out the following letter to you all: it’s presently a
Pisces Full Moon so i’m running on Intuition while In Solidarity,
Yours,
Update 7/5/08: Documents, Interviews & Commissary Update Click here to listen to a recent and very informative interview with Eric's attorney, Mark Reichel Click here to read Reichel's cross examination of "Anna" during Eric's trial Click here for an online version of the recent Elle article which featured an interview with "Anna" Please click here for information on donating to Eric's commissary Thank you for your continued support!
Update
6/19/08: Word from Eric Yesterday we finally heard from Eric. He is settling in at Victorville, and adjusting to his new surroundings. He applied for a job assignment at the library and is waiting for the paperwork to be processed. In the meantime, he's playing softball (they put him in left field, which kept him busy), guitar, and readjusting to the feeling of stepping foot outside without shackles on. After 2 1/2 years of not feeling the earth and grass beneath his feet, he is excited to be experiencing these new sensations (apparently there are also many huge crows in the area, and Eric has been enjoying their presence as well). He is hopeful that soon he will also have access to email. The prison seemed prepared for his dietary needs, and he has been receiving vegan food since his arrival. For some unknown reason, his commissary account has not followed him to Victorville (it's possible that this is because all prisoner's commissary accounts are processed through an office in Des Moines, which is currently experiencing massive flooding). If you would like to donate to Eric's commissary account, you can do so through Western Union. For information on how to deposit funds, visit: http://www.bop.gov/inmate_programs/money.jsp#Quick_Collect You will need Eric's name and registration number (16209-097). Please read the instructions carefully, as there are a number of specific steps you need to take when calling or making payments online. Thanks to everyone for their continued support. Yours,
Update
6/13/08: Eric Arrives in Victorville, CA! This morning Eric was moved to what should be his final destination - Victorville, Medium II in southern California. This is a huge relief to Eric and his loved ones - while he is now housed 6.5 hours from his family, everyone is relieved that he did not end up across the country. Please start sending those letters! Eric's new address is: Eric McDavid
16209-097
We'll send more information about how Eric is doing when we hear from him. Thanks to you all! SPS
Update 5/17/08: Eric Moved & T-Shirts Hey all, Eric is still awaiting his move to a federal facility, but they recently moved him to a new cell (again) in Sacramento County. His new address is: McDavid,
Eric x-2972521 7E113 Please keep sending Eric your letters of support during this difficult time. Also, the wonderful folks at In Our Hearts are still making t-shirts for Eric. See the info below to order one. Yours, -------------------------- I am writing to promote t-shirts to support political prisoner Eric McDavid. They are available in four colors and four sizes (orange on dark brown, green on dark brown, green on blue, or black/brown on blue in small, medium, large or extra large). Small and medium shirts are $15 each as they are printed on organic and fair trade t-shirts, and are printed brown on blue. Large and extra large are $12 each, as they are from the last batch printed on standard cotton shirts and are printed black on blue. Shipping is an additional $3. All proceeds from the sale of these shirts go to Sacramento Prisoner Support to cover Eric's legal and commissary expenses. Contact the In Our Hearts Anarchist Network at inourhearts[at]gmail.com to place an order for yourself or a bulk order (10 or more shirts) for your group or area, or for any additional information.
Update 5/11/08: Sentencing Notes Dear friends, Yesterday was a difficult day. We all knew what Eric was facing, and we understood the vehemence with which the government was pursuing this case. But nothing could ever fully prepare us for the kind of heinous sentence that Eric received. It is clear from the reports in the media and the statements made by the US Attorneys that Eric was entrapped and used as an example to anyone who dares to dream of how things could be different in this world. After passing through the metal detectors downstairs, everyone attending Eric's sentencing was required, by order of Judge England, to pass through a line of Marshall's outside the courtroom and undergo the metal detector wand, as well as a complete search of any bags. This ridiculous spectacle was clearly an attempt to harass Eric's friends and loved ones who came to show their support. The courtroom was nearly full of Eric's family and friends. There were not enough seats behind the defense table to accommodate everyone, forcing others to spill over into the prosecutor's side of the court. Thanks to everyone who came out yesterday. It was clear from the first few sentences spoken by the judge that his mind was already made up. The same lies that were used at trial to convict Eric were repeated over and over again throughout the sentencing hearing. The government even had the audacity to claim that Eric had never had a re-ocurrance of pericarditis - despite the fact that his lawyer filed a memo with the court in November detailing Eric's worsening condition. Despite the fact that the jail received so many phone calls from Eric's supporters during that time that they posted a note on their website specifically asking people to stop calling. They had the audacity to claim that Eric was at no risk of harsh treatment in prison - despite the fact that he has ALREADY undergone 2 1/2 years of isolation at the Sacramento County Main Jail. Despite the fact that probation recommended a sentence of 156 months (13 years), Judge England deferred (as usual) to the government's recommendation of 235 months (19 years and 7 months). The length of Eric's sentence was due largely to the application of the Terrorism Enhancement. The government has argued quite vociferously all along for this enhancement. The basis of their argument is that Eric's targets included government facilities (such as the IFG) - a point which was never proven during trial, and was, in fact, denied by the government's own witnesses. But the judge applied the enhancement anyway. The judge ordered 3 years of supervised release after Eric's sentenced is served, the collection of a DNA sample and registration as an "arson offender". Now is the time to be outraged and make noise. The government just sentenced Eric to 20 years for a crime that was never committed. This is the longest sentence we have heard of in an American environmental case. Eric's case and sentence have illustrates the lengths the government goes to , and how much they can get away with, in their pursuit of those who voice their dissent - who maintain their integrity and stay true to their principles and all that makes them human. Please help spread the word about Eric, his case, and it's implications for everyone who cares about effecting real change. Eric says he can feel all the love being sent his way. Please keep it up. Take a moment to send Eric a note of support during this difficult time. His address is: McDavid, Eric x-2972521
7E128 Eric could be moved any time in the next month or two to a federal facility, but please don't let that deter you from writing! We will let everyone know as soon as we get word that he is being moved. Until then, keep the letters coming. Eric will now be appealing his conviction. Unfortunately, this can be a very long process. Please don't forget about Eric during this time. He will continue needing your support throughout his time in prison. When he reaches a federal facility we will send out a statement about his support needs at that time. Thanks again to all of you. The amount of love and support you have given has been truly amazing. We are so thankful to have all of you helping us through these difficult times. Yours, Update May 7th: Sentencing Memo & Declarations Sentencing is taking place tomorrow at 1:30pm at 501 "I" Street, Courtroom no. 7. Please consider attending to show your support for Eric! If you're able to join us, please come dressed for court. The government is pushing for a 20 year sentence. It goes without saying that we are in for a tremendous battle tomorrow. Below are the documents filed by Eric's attorney in preparation for sentencing: We will post the outcome of tomorrow's hearing as soon as we're able to. We ask that you keep Eric in your thoughts and hearts. This will be an immensely difficult day for him and everyone who loves him (and there are many).
Thanks to some great folks in New York (and the fellow who designed them!), Support Eric shirts are available for purchase online. You can contact NYCABC, who produces them, directly. Orders or inquiries can be sent to nycabc@riseup.net. They are selling them for $10 in person, $15 national mail order and $10 wholesale for orders over 10 shirts. Money from these shirts will go to Eric's legal defense.
Let's all keep breathing...and keep fighting. Please click here for older support updates |
