Hi Ecofems, I apologize if this comes through twice.
It's the craziest thing. Friends made headlines with a relatively harmless
women's rights issue last summer by taking off their tops in extremely hot
weather, along with five of their male counterparts in our small Idaho town (in
front of the hospital) and winning in a court on Monday, Nov. 30, because of
obscure laws. We all thought it would go to the Supreme Court, but it didn't.
Of course our civic leaders were in the process of rewriting these laws during
Monday's hearing. These laws will now include rights for public breast feeding
and extensive legal descriptions of female pubescent breasts as opposed to
male... the public welfare and all. What happened at four in the morning to one
of these women, Lori, is no joke.
The topless deal was for all intent and purpose, coincidental. Even according
to law enforcement officers on the scene. The FBI is now involved.
She heard noises and woke to find her porch on fire. She put this fire out with
the help of drizzling rains and saw a tree on fire in her yard. It wasn't the
tree, but a burning cross leaning on her tree over three feet high. With the
help of drizzling rain and her hose she put this fire out and called the
police. It was a molotov cocktail filled with gasoline that landed on her
porch.
She and her roommates were told to stay inside during the investigation. A
severely threatening letter from the Aryan Nations was found in her mailbox
telling her to stay out of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho or fear for her life.
Lori and several others are part of a lawsuit against the city of Coeur
d'Alene... to make a long story short, about 40 of us joined thousands of
others (of two genders and all different religions, colors, beliefs) in protest
this past summer over a nazi march in the city of Lake Coeur d'Alene. Lori
hesitated briefly when police dressed in riot gear asked for her bag, she was
arrested. I saw it happen, have some of it on video. All of those arrested
(released immediately after the nazi parade, except for the one with a loaded
gun) are now suing the city for violation of civil rights. Lori gave an
interview to local papers, hence her name and address were easily accessed by
Rev. Richard Butler (http://users.powernet.co.uk/orion/nations.htm) and his
men.
We are (she is) ok that her womaness had nothing to do with burning crosses and
molotov cocktails. We are (she is) frightened, frustrated, and very angry that
she has become a focal point for the press and the target of the aryan nations.
Lori is a strong woman, excellent speaker, an extremley integral part of the
environmental feminist movement here in Idaho.
How does anyone logically deal with this? I know Lori well enough to know that
if she's forced into battle she would rather it be over humanity, critters, and
trees... not white supremacists.
An action is being planned. Any word from any or all who have been dealt this kind
of blow is appreciated by me for one, if not many. I will carry whatever you send
into this action. Thanks so much for listening.
Love
/donna
from the meeting tonight:
For Immediate Release
"WE WILL NOT BE SILENCED."
Aryan Firebomb, Crossburning Doesn't Deter Activist, Supporters
Contact: Gary Macfarlane, Lori Graves, Greg Mullen--(208) 882-9755
Dec. 2, 1988
Moscow, Idaho - This small college town mobilized last evening to
counter a hate crime against a local anti-Nazi protester. About forty
local citizens gathered in a downtown restaurant to support Lori Graves,
29, of Moscow and her roommates whose home was targeted by a Molotov
cocktail and a flaming cross early Tuesday morning, an attack widely
believed to have been committed by a member or supporter of the Aryan
Nations.
At an informal meeting, citizens planned a series of events to
unite the community in opposition to racist terror. A candlelight vigil is
scheduled for Friday, December 4, at 5:00 PM in Moscow's Friendship Square,
and a town meeting in the local community center is being planned for next
week.
"I'm scared to death right now, but I know we have to respond."
Graves said on Tuesday. "We can't just run. That only empowers them."
"I hope this will encourage Idaho to wake up," added University of
Idaho student Greg Mullen, 27, of Moscow. "There are racist thugs in our
midst, and it is time to say enough's enough."
Graves is an Earth First! activist and a graduate student at nearby
Washington State University. She was arrested for protesting an Aryan
Nations march in Coeur d'Alene this summer. Charges were later dropped,
but she has sued that north Idaho city for violating her constitutional
rights.
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