Interview with American Political Prisoner Tre Arrow

Environment Radio's interview with Tre Arrow




Monday, April 25 2005

Environment Radio's April 8th, 2005 interview with Political Prisoner Tre Arrow

To listen to the interview, down load the MP3 at:
www.radio4all.net/proginfo.php?id=11962


Matt: Tre?

Tre: Hey man!!!

Matt: We made it; we made it past this messed up system. (laughing)

Tre: We circumvented this tragic corrupted system. (laughing) I know we're only doing preliminary stuff, just shoot for it, ask whatever you want and can and if I can answer it I will, you know.

Matt: Well I'm really really excited you called, that’s such a surprise.

Tre: Thanks so much for having me. It’s my pleasure. I'm happy to have a voice and to use it and to get the word out to as many folk as possible. It's all about awareness and consciousness and the more we can get the word out to people and have folk being aware of what’s going on, the more we can stop some of this oppression and injustice. Hopefully, we can have some reconciliation and more peace and a healthy planet.

Matt: Was wondering if you could talk a bit about what its like for you to be in jail right now. Like we know you're someone who loves mother earth, loves life and is a very healthy person holistically, and you're in a prison for something that you really didn't do. Was wondering if you could just talk about what its like to be you and what your experience has been like.

Tre: Yeah it’s definitely the most challenging thing I've ever had to endure. I've been locked up now for over a year and like you said, my connections to Earth Mother and living in nature and spending time with the trees and the animal friends is essential for me and my well being and for any human. There's a saying, a native saying “any person heart away from nature grows cold” and it’s so true. I would like to think that my heart hasn't grown cold. I still try to do what I can, I still engage in yoga, in Chi gong to keep connected with the spirit world that way, and physically active.

I am blessed to have a little bit of outside exposure, it’s basically like a court area so there's no exposure to the grass unfortunately. At least the ceiling, its basically three story walls on all sides, at least the ceiling is not enclosed. It's basically a fence so we can't scale the walls and climb out. At least I can see the sky and I can get some fresh air, and I can see Grandfather sun and Grandmother moon when they're at the right angle, and I can get some beautiful rays right on my skin and that really helps.

I'm locked up. This is a maximum security and its a remand centre, which is such an oxy- moron because the whole premise with innocent until proven guilty is basically null and void here and we're basically treated like, the system as a whole pretty much treats us like scum of the earth, like so much less than human, and its basically guilty until proven innocent which is really unfortunate.

I don't have any charges in Canada. I have charges in the US, which you and other folk probably know are related to arson, and I haven't been found guilty. I haven't even been able to state my case really, and yet I'm basically treated as guilty until proven innocent which is hard, its hard to win a case especially when I'm looking at the FBI and the government and the US basically trying to lock me up for the rest of my life. And so its definitely been mentally and emotionally very challenging in here.

The inmates on this unit, I've been moved around to several different units for various reasons, this particular unit I'm on is probably one of the best in the sense that the inmates are much more peaceful and less hostile. It's an immigration and extradition unit, which is where I belong anyway. And some of the other units, there's some very aggressive and violent, hostile folk and you know its basically like the laws of nature where the weakest is prayed upon. My pacifism and my diet and the fact that I do yoga and that I don't engage in violence is seen as a weakness and so I have definitely been prayed upon and assaulted and have had my share of difficulties with other inmates and the staff. Some of the staff are ok and other staff, they've clearly taken this job so that that they can carry out their wounds of being bullied maybe as a child. They get a bit of fulfillment and a power trip and ego trip for taking out their power on us and it’s really unfortunate cause I can really see how some people just take this job, it's just a job and they treat us well and they mean well. Other folks really have some serious wounds they haven't healed and unfortunately they take this job and instead of addressing these wounds and carrying on, that they keep that cycle of bullying and oppression going.

We're locked up because it is a maximum security and remand centre. We're very limited, I mean in a sentenced centre, I mean I've never been locked up before too. That's another thing that’s very important. I've never been locked up before so to be locked up over a year to be away from nature, at least somewhat disconnected from it, like I said I try to be as connected as I can. It has been extremely difficult.

What I have heard that even in sentenced centers, there's more programs and more access to the grass and to the outside. It's very restricted here. We're locked up here, in a 24-hour period we're locked up about three quarters of that time. That's why calling is very difficult. In certain times, when we are unlocked out of the cell, that's the only time we have to get a little fresh air, possibly have visits, make some phone calls, get some food, food that comes three times a day, breakfast lunch and dinner. Actually lunch is getting ready to be served here pretty soon but I might have to cut out for quick second and just grab it.

Matt: (laughs)

Tre: But I can continue the talk for a little bit because I won't eat it yet anyway. And sharing a space with someone has been very difficult too, cause basically most of the cells are double bunks so I have to be in a very small quarter with another person that I don't know. And you know it’s sometimes difficult to work out a harmonious interaction and relationship and I try my best to let the things roll better that are really tough and frustrating and stay connected to family and my support crew. Like I'm on the phone a lot to touch base with them and I've received a lot of letters that have helped feed my soul. Again staying connected with the outside world as much as I can, like getting some fresh air and doing some yoga out in the sun has really helped. So those are some of the things I have experienced in here.

Matt: Wow, really intense intense experience. For people who are just tuning in right now that didn't catch my interview with Ben, can you maybe just spend a few minutes talking about basically why you're being held, why the FBI is after you and that whole situation?

Tre: Ok, and again it’s extremely hard to hear you but I think I caught what you said. Basically I'm being held, I am a US citizen, my name is Tre Arrow, I'm here in Canada, I don't have any Canadian charges, I'm being held basically for extradition. The US and the FBI are trying to extradite me back to the US for charges that I have, that they have indebted me on in Oregon, around the Portland area. I've been a long time activist towards the environment, towards non-human animal issues and also for human rights issues. These particular charges and a lot of the activism I have been well known for has been involved with the environment, particularly helping to save ancient forests and endangered species and watershed areas. And so basically what happened was for many reasons. As you probably know any one person or organization that really gets in the way of the corporate agenda and government policy basically is targeted, is viewed as subversive, whether they are violent or not. And they're made out to be violent. They're made out to be a threat and there's a lot of negative propaganda that is disseminated. There's tons of effort and actions that the FBI and other government agencies engage in to basically neutralize, disrupt and dismantle any kind of movement and group and person that they view as getting in the way of corporate agenda and government policy. Whether its native folk like Leonard Peltier who has been persecuted, Fred Hampton and Martin Luther King Jr. in civil rights movements, Judy Bari and Darryl Churney in the environmental community. The list goes on and on. Basically, the FBI’s part of their MO since their inception way back in the 20s and 30s of the 1900s.

And so because I have gained a lot of international attention for the ledge sit that I engaged in which I will tell you briefly about that. Basically I free climbed the US Forest Service building in the summer of 2000 to protest the sale of Eagle Creek, which is an ancient forest, some of the last bit of ancient forest left in the northwest US. Basically I lived on a 9-inch ledge for 11 days. A lot of folks felt it was somewhat supernatural or very extraordinary. For me it was just something I felt compelled to do. It wasn't that difficult. I had a lot of support immediately and I was able to live on that 9-inch ledge for 11 days, three stories above the ground and protest the sale of Eagle Creek and what the US Government is doing to public lands. They're using taxpayer’s dollars. The same thing is happening here in BC and throughout Canada as well. They're using taxpayer’s dollars to wipe out ancient forests and peoples drinking water and endangered species.

That action again received international attention and it was very non-violent, very peaceful. It was very effective and I would say that it definitely contributed to overall cancellation of that sale which occurred less than 2 years later. Because of that, you know, I was targeted by the FBI because of my activism, because I spoke about the lies and corruption within the government and corporations. When I was on that ledge I spoke about a lot of things because they were interconnected. Again another native saying is “We as humans are just one thread in this web of life. We did not create the web of life, and what we do to the web we do to ourselves and every living thing because all things connect”. Up on that ledge I was talking about dead animals being served death on a bun from McGarbage, I was talking about landfills and I was talking about civil rights and human injustices and what corporations are doing for profit and for greed. And this is a big no no to the corporate agenda. They don't want people to know all the atrocities that they are committing. They want people to just be wrapped up in the T.V. and working their ass's off to pay all the bills, to consume all the things that they are told they need to have. They don't want people knowing and questioning what's really going on behind the scenes. So for this I was targeted, I was basically framed for these arsons that took place in 2001. There's three people that plead guilty to two separate incidents. One incident was logging trucks that burned; the other incident was sand and gravel trucks that burned. Three people plead guilty to one of the incidents. The other incident they are alleging that I was involved with this third person. Again, to clarify it, for the logging trucks there were three people involved, for the sand and gravel there was one person involved. And what the FBI is alleging is that I was involved in both of them. So, now those three people plead guilty and they received less than a 4-year sentence, less than 3 1/2 year sentence actually, and they were facing a possibility of 80 years.

Now, what the FBI is doing is saying I was the mastermind and basically brainwashed them into doing these actions. Now, not only are they charging me with the same things that these three were charged with, they're charging me with some additional pretty heavy weight charges and if I'm found guilty on those I literally will be locked up for the rest of my life for arson. I dall'empatica declare my innocence. I don't burn anything. Even when I'm in the woods spending time in nature I don't even make a little fire with dead branches because of the extra carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, which is produced. And everyone that knows me and knows me well knows that I live consciously as I possibly can with minimal impact and as little footprint on Earth Mother as possible. That’s the last thing that I would do. I don't burn anything. I wouldn't burn tires, rubber and plastic and stuff because I understand the action. And I understand why folks do those things. I don't personally engage in those actions because of the environmental impact. I realize that they are effective and that it hurts the corporation in their pocket book and I also, you know, I personally engage in non-violent civil disobedience. And it has been well documented. So basically, that’s what I'm looking at, that’s what I'm facing.

I'm in the middle of my extradition process right now. I still haven't had my first hearing, which is scheduled for June 27th. At that time if I'm committed to being surrendered for the extradition to the US, then I will begin the appeal process and stay in Canada for as long as I can. Try and get the word out to folk about the reason why I am being targeted, the corruption within the FBI and the fact that I am innocent and that we all need to become aware of what’s going on and take action in whatever form people feel comfortable doing, and the more that people are aware and the more action that is happening. Basically we can remove ourselves from the corporate agenda and the mainstream dominant culture mentality of just work, work, work, and consume, consume, consume, don't think about your health, don't think about the health of the planet. The more we can get away from that the better that we will and all be, the more that we can dismantle this entity that is so corrupt and so ubiquitous and is very destructive, the corporate monster.

Matt: What can people do that want to help you out? Besides learning more and what not, if anyone wants to contact anyone, what can people do in general pretty much?

Tre: Right, right. Well there's a lot of things and I'm glad that you're asking that. For me personally, you're asking what people can do to help me? Besides getting aware of what's going on in the world?

Matt: Yeah yeah!!

Tre: Yeah, just a quick couple of things. Like in general what I encourage people to do is to play more and work less and to engage in the arts and music, to watch less T.V. or no T.V., drive less and don't drive, bike instead of drive. You know, listen to music and play instead of watching T.V. and get in touch with nature. Again, like the more folk who can spend time in nature, even just a few minutes a day, unfortunately a lot of folk don't do that but the more we can get back to nature and listen and be part of that the truth arises and all the illusion and confusion starts to dissolve. When we're away from all this chaos, even if the folks don't realize that it's chaotic, the more we spend time in nature we realize that all this man made, person made asphalt and concrete and steel, working 9 to 5, Monday through to Friday, its all an illusion and all the dependency on money and work is so unnecessary. It really is.

Some of those things again, for me and for the broader picture, the more that folks can read and get informed, whether its going to the library and checking out all different health books and politically motivated books. Check out the website, even if you don't have a computer. I don't have a computer but I have a website. You know, you can just go to the library, go to a friends house, and a lot of places have free access to Internet. You can do all kinds of searching. Getting involved with local grass root organizations and groups that are involved with non-human animal issues like animal testing, the live stock industry, and what’s going on right now. Seals are being ruthlessly murdered and slaughtered in the Gulf of St Lawrence, which to me is such an atrocity. And that's just one small piece of the puzzle that’s going on with all the non-human animal abuse. And again with human issues, with political prisoners and indigenous rights and civil rights movements and the war not just on Iraq(), but the fact that the US military is in over 100 countries and they have US bases in all kinds of places and the oppression is so ubiquitous and so intense.

 

CONTINUED:

As far as me, I do have a website. It’s http://www.trearrow.org. My name T-r-e A-r-r-o-w. There's a whole slew of things that folk can do to get involved with not just me but also other political issues. I do a bi-weekly update. Every other week I send out an update about how I'm doing, what's going on with my case, and also current political issues. Like for example the last thing we sent out we were talking about the seals, unfortunately the slaughtering of the seals. Again that’s happening in the Gulf of St Lawrence. That just started, just started less than two weeks ago and you know other political prisoners, other folks that are arrested for civil disobedience and that are given outrageous sentences and charges. People can write letters and make donations to my campaign. And again all this information can be found on my website. I encourage folk that if they do want to write letters, again I try to have as little impact on the planet as possible and anything I'm involved with I try to have done as consciously as possible, so folks who can and want to write I definitely appreciate that. I have to admit I'm not the best letter writer, so if at this point folks want to, the best way to get a response is to include an email or phone number and I'm better at working out emails with my support crew and make phone calls. Letter writing is very difficult for me for many reasons, but I encourage people to use scrap paper and scrap envelopes or at least 100% post-consumer tree free paper. A lot of people get mail, they get envelopes and you can just scratch off the address and turn around and resend it you know, and that way it saves tress and all the chlorine bleach and all the heinous things that go into the paper production.



As far as my legal defense I have, I'm facing the rest of my life in prison, I have intense legal fees. Some of these lawyers that I have are charged $250 an hour and I by no means am wealthy and have a lot of money. I live my life as simply and freely as I can and have pretty much disconnected myself from the dependency on money. Unfortunately and ironically now that I'm locked up in a jail I have to be pretty dependent on money to make these phone calls that are outrageous. This Telus monopoly here charges its inmates an outrageous amount of money just to make a local call, let alone a long distance call and let alone all my legal fees to try to get myself free again, like acquitted or to get the charges dropped or whatever that might be.



So again, trearrow.org and writing letters. The address is on the website. And spreading the word, again getting involved with local organizations and grass roots networking local, national and international organizations and spreading the word about my case and the atrocities that are going on not only with me and my case but with all political prisoners, and the prison industrial complex in general and the oppression, the systematic oppression of the poor and activists and anyone who challenges the status quo that lives outside of the mainstream dominant culture is basically persecuted and attacked and locked up. Spreading the word, talking to friends and family, talking to members of the legislative assembly and other political figures that might be able to have some influence, talking to some organizations that might financially support me or at least publicly denounce what is happening to me and support my case and declaration of innocence. These are some really powerful things that folks can do. And again I'm all about communicating the power of the word, and so the more that folks can communicate and spread the word to friends and family and possibly celebrities and political figures, I think that the better chance that I can get all the funds for my legal defense and eventually get acquitted.



Matt: Yeah I've been spreading the word about you Tre and talking with people.



Tre: Yeah right on, thanks so much for that.



Matt: Letting people know just what's going on, like just that, what it means that honest effective activists are so often targeted by this intense police() state. Some Black Panthers are still in prison from the 70s and they're innocent people who just want to have community and they’re just wasting their lives away in prison. Yes, it’s just insane.



Tre: This oppression is unfortunately growing. At least the resistance is as well. And it’s really disconcerting, again I have heard about what’s happening to the seals in eastern Canada, and I've heard about the wildlife arctic national refuge in the Queen Charlotte Islands. And it’s so disconcerting the destruction and abuse, the oppression again is so ubiquitous, whether its a seal or a native, African folk in Nigeria, the environment, trees, the water, it’s so pervasive and it’s really intense. And it’s really encouraging to know that elderly women are locking down, are getting arrested in Oregon, to help save ancient forests. Grandma Betty, here in Canada has been a wonderful great grandmother inspiration to so many folk. And women of the world are rising up and so many people are really taking a stand against this oppression and it is very encouraging and inspiring and I’m really happy to see that and hear that. And I'm really glad to be on the radio with you Matt and shout out to all the folk out there. Just a couple quick things, I gotta go here pretty soon. I think you do too. Something to keep in mind, we only have one planet and planets are hard to come by. The more we can do to protect our planet, and help each other to work together, to communicate, to live more in circles, and cooperatively and helpfully, the more we can really circumvent this dependency on money and corporations and the less we can contribute to the destruction of our own health and every living species. It’s all about education and taking back the power from the powers that be and putting it back into our own hands and using our voice and not living in fear, living in love and living in trust and honor and respect and knowing that the folks that are operating out of fear are living a lie. And the more that we can transcend that fear and stand strong and the more that we can break down this corruption and oppression and live more healthfully and more peacefully and more happily for every living thing.



Matt: Um, we basically only have a few minutes. Any closing words you want to say, anything that you have learned about life or anything else you want to say?



Tre: Yeah man, I appreciate you giving me the chance, again my deepest blessing to you and all the folk listening, namaste to you all, thanks for giving me this opportunity. I again would be happy to do follow up interviews and continue to keep in touch. And again things that folk can do is continue to spread the word not only about my case, but in general about what's going on at the hand of corporations at the hand of government policies, basically allowing it to happen and basically geared to let it happen, to make it happen. And it’s not the way we have to live or really should be living, in my opinion. If you take a step back and look at all the people that are miserable, that are depressed, that are sick that are working jobs that they don't like. This is not the way we have to live. We can live in harmony, we can live in peace, we can live in a place where we can enjoy every day and every minute. And we play, dance, and listen to music, engage in arts and tap into that happiness and creative spirit, spend time with nature, honor nature and live in harmony with nature instead of against it and trying to oppress it and control and dominate it. It’s not healthy for any living thing. Take a step back and look at how many people are sick, how many people are pumping themselves with some kind of drug. Whether its processed white sugar, whether it’s a T.V., whether it’s beer, whether it’s cocaine or some kind of pharmaceutical drug. So many people are on some kind of drug, some kind of numbing agent. People are living lives they don't want to live and we can take that step and make a change, create lives that bring us joy and that are respectful to every living thing and again there's another native saying, “In every deliberation you must consider the next 7 generations”. That’s generations of all life, not just human. Every tree, every rock, every plant, every animal. The more we can educate ourselves and take action at whatever level people feel comfortable in doing, the more we are active and aware, the more we can really affect positive change. Thanks so much for everything and thanks to all the folk out there.



Matt: Thanks so much Tre.



Tre: Have a great day. All right, thanks man. Namaste.



www.trearrow.org

tre@riseup.net