Re: FINALLY ... some of my s/heroes will get to mount the kind of defense they and we deserve... tears of gratitude...

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V Jacobi

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Oct 16, 2017, 4:58:55 PM10/16/17
to Osc_earth Action

so much loving gratitude to each of you on this list for caring... please share the below and other climate disruption messages!  We are so in this together.  (I am feeling very un-alone and very supported at this moment, even though I am far from Sonoma County currently.)

 


On , wrote:

justpeople_MN.jpg
The Minnesota Team: Attorney Tim Philips, Emily Johnston, Annette Klapstein, Ben Joldersma and Steve Liptay

Veronica --

I can't tell you how excited I am right now. This weekend we got word from our Minnesota legal team that Emily, Annette, Ben and Steve - all charged for their involvement in shutting down Enbridge's tar sands lines 4 and 67 last year - are granted permission to mount a full climate necessity defense at their trial. THIS IS BIG NEWS!

But first, we are deep in preparations for Leonard Higgins' trial in Fort Benton, Montana. He is scheduled to start November 21st. If you are in Montana or are planning on traveling for the trial, please be sure to fill out the RSVP form and join the Facebook event.

CLIMATE NECESSITY DEFENSE IN MINNESOTA: What does it mean?
It means that the two valve turners, and the two support people there making safety calls and videos, will be able to present a true and honest picture to the jury of what they were doing, and why exactly they were there. And if they are able to muster sufficient evidence, those jurors may go back to deliberate whether impending (and present) climate catastrophe is a greater harm to society than turning off the pipelines that fuel it. If they decide yes, that Emily and Annette's actions are justified, this could be a watershed moment for climate direct action across the country.

As Bill McKibben said when he heard the news"The whole planet will be inside a single courtroom the day this trial begins--it's a rare chance to explain precisely why we need to act, and act now."

Of course this doesn't guarantee that the judge will instruct the jury to deliberate on necessity, nor does it guarantee an acquittal. But it gets us one step closer to getting the truth about the climate crisis to the American people, which our goal. Our team is now scrambling to coordinate expert witness schedules and lawyers schedules. The judge placed a tentative date on the calendar of December 11th. WANT TO ATTEND THE TRIAL? SIGN UP HERE.emily_video.jpgWe are also continuing our series of videos featuring the five valve turners, with Emily Johnston. Emily, a poet and cofounder of 350Seattle, is eloquent and determined. Check out her awesome video above.

Buoyantly Onwards,
Jay O'Hara
for the tar sands valve turners

PS. Thank you to all who donated to support the valve turners after Michael and Sam's convictions. Your are keeping these folks well loved, and well supported as they fight for all of us. Legal fees are still pilling up, you can still donate here.
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Climate Disobedience Action Fund - 154 Dutton Rd, China, ME 04358
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