Ben Manski wrote: Hi everyone - I received the following email, thought, "this is important," and marked it for further action down the road. Then I received it a second time, looked at it again, and saw the name of the activist facing prison time (I have amended the subject header to include his name). I met Ted Glick almost 15 years ago, when the Independent Progressive Politics Network (IPPN) held its national meeting in Madison. I served with him on the IPPN Steering Committee. Ted and I collaborated with a handful of others in convening the first conference calls that formed United We March for Peace and Justice, later, United for Peace and Justice, the largest anti-war coalition in the country. I remember Ted's run for U.S. Senate in New Jersey, as a Green, in which he really pushed the envelope on key issues of political corruption and structural racism. I've had differences with Ted over strategy. But I've always known him as a warm, serious, and highly ethical political activist and person. For most of the past decade, Ted Glick has devoted himself to organizing the climate justice movement in response to global warming. Please take a few minutes to support Ted -- and to resist this heavy-handed suppression of non-violent civil disobedience -- by responding to the appeal below. - Ben Manski ~ ~ ~ ~ Dear Friends, Despite the Gulf disaster, no one from BP has been arrested and sent to jail. Despite safety violations at coal mines, no one from Massey Energy has been handcuffed. But today I write to inform you that one of America's best global warming activists is probably facing several months of jail. He's been convicted by a D.C. jury, and now he awaits sentencing on July 6th. Why? Because he peacefully dropped two banners on Capitol Hill that said: "GREEN JOBS NOW" and "GET TO WORK." I'm not joking. Ted Glick of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network was convicted by a jury May 13th of peacefully dropping the banners inside the U.S. Senate Hart Office Building last September. The DC U.S. Attorney's office clearly has decided to make an "example" of Ted because of his previous two -- count 'em, two -- convictions related to peaceful acts of climate civil disobedience. Can you believe it? 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 last week, it really does appear that he will be incarcerated for at least a month or two. So here's what you can do: First, please write a respectful but firm snail-mail letter to Judge Frederick H. Weisberg telling him why you think Ted should not go to jail. The judge's address is below. Just type something up, print it and mail it off. Explain why only a suspended sentence is fair, especially given all the real injustices out there on global warming. There is reason to believe that that a large number of thoughtful, well-reasoned letters to the judge could bring leniency. Second, take an action right now that will help create a world where global warming is no longer such a threat and people like Ted won't have to drop banners and get arrested in the first place! Sign the "Windmills, Not Oil Spills" petition to stop new offshore drilling in America and promote clean energy alternatives instead. Thanks for your support, your activism, and your prayers as CCAN fights to keep a morally innocent staff member out of jail during this time of great global crisis. Sincerely, Mike Tidwell Director, Chesapeake Climate Action Network --- Here's the judge's address: Judge Frederick H. Weisberg DC Superior Court 500 Indiana Ave., NW Washington, DC 20001 **Please keep in mind** The letters should be respectful. Suggested topics include: * If you personally know Ted and have shared experiences with him, tell the judge; * Describe the urgency of the climate issue and the need to pressure our 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. Please let other people know about this campaign. And it would be helpful if you could send us a copy of your letter to Judge Weisberg, or if you could let us know that you have sent a letter. You can email Ted at ted@chesapeakeclimate.org <ted%40chesapeakeclimate.org>, or you could send by regular mail to Ted's attention at CCAN, P.O. Box 11138, Takoma Park, Md. 20912. Mike Tidwell Director, Chesapeake Climate Action Network MTidwell@ChesapeakeClimate.org <MTidwell%40ChesapeakeClimate.org cell: 240-460-5838 www.ChesapeakeClimate.org