It’s not often that we talk about a man on his way to prison as a hero, but I’m talking about Tim DeChristopher, the man who protected thousands of acres of pristine wilderness from spoilage at the hands of the Bush Regime. He committed an act of nonviolent civil disobedience, knowing that the likely cost was his own freedom.
A Utah man lionized by environmentalists for crashing a 2008 government auction of energy leases near two national parks was sentenced to two years in prison and fined $10,000 on Tuesday.
U.S. District Judge Dee Benson in Salt Lake City ordered Tim DeChristopher taken into custody immediately.
"I’m not saying there isn’t a place for civil disobedience," Benson said, according to the Salt Lake Tribune, "but it can’t be the order of the day."
In March, a jury convicted DeChristopher, 29, of two felonies: making a false statement and violating laws on oil and gas leasing. He was not allowed to testify about his motivations for bidding.
DeChristopher could have received up to 10 years in prison and a $1.5-million fine.
Before his sentencing, dozens of supporters — including Peter Yarrow of the folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary — gathered near the federal courthouse, wearing orange sashes and waving puppets representing wildlife and "Big Oil." Yarrow led about 100 protesters in a singalong.
Just before President George W. Bush left office, DeChristopher won bids on 22,000 acres in Utah’s red rock country, near Arches and Canyonlands national parks. Environmentalists had accused the Bush administration of trying to ram through the sale of the environmentally sensitive land before President Obama was sworn in… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <LA Times>
Civil disobedience is a powerful form of protest, because the protestor knows in advance and accepts the potential consequences, but considers it worth it. He deserves our gratitude and praise.
13 Responses to “Hero Sentenced”
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Tell me the point again of disrupting a federal mineral rights auction and not having the means to pay for the rights bid on and going to jail over land that will just wind up in the next auction and this time the oil and gas companies will be better prepared and even more able to assist in the prosecution of the next person to stand up for the land.
His point was well taken but when you piss in the wind you’re the only one that gets wet. Better to have the money to legitimately purchase the leases and keep them pristine, he has not stopped anything only delayed the destruction. The Obama administration does not even have this guy or his protest on the radar once they brought federal charges against him.
Once again Obama is the best republican I wish I never voted for.
Mark, it this case, Obama pulled several of the parcels from the auction
I’m beginning to agree with you about O! This is an upsetting story – thanks for bringing it out!
YVW
There is a petition on change.org to release him. I signed this AM. Sorry I don’t have the link.
Is this the petition support you were thinking of?
http://www.change.org/petitions/sign-this-petition-and-tell-tim-you-support-him
Thank you both!
His picture is next to the word HERO in the dictionary.
Amen, Blue.
I wonder why he was not allowed to testify in his defense? Isn’t that the law in all cases? He could probably appeal that on the basis he was allowed to testify – that just seems weird to me. 😯
He was allowed to testify, Lisa. He was not allowed to testify about what motivated him to do it. Few courts allow a jury nullification defense.
Republicans are experts at unfairly creating victims. In addition to this poor fellow, just look at what they’ve done to the poor and middle class!
Amen, Pope Jack!