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A gifted and inspiring speaker who was widely regarded as the principal leader of the Earth First! movement in Northern California, Judi led Earth First! in her region to embrace the use of nonviolent direct action and to renounce the use of tree-spiking, or any other tactic that could lead to injuries to timber and mill workers. Coming from a labor organizing background, she was quick to point out that it was not the workers but the giant corporations who should be the target of environmental reformers.
In a 1992 Ms. Magazine article, Judi said. "I was attracted to Earth First! because they were the only ones willing to put their bodies in front of the bulldozers and the chainsaws to save the trees. They were also funny, irreverent, and they played music. But it was the philosophy of Earth First! that ultimately won me over. This philosophy, known as biocentrism or deep ecology, states that the Earth is not just here for human consumption. All species have a right to exist for their own sake, and humans must learn to live in balance with the needs of nature, instead of trying to mold nature to fit the wants of humans."
Music was an integral part of Judi's organizing style. She rarely showed up at any rally, demonstration, or public appearance without breaking out the fiddle and joining others in playing a few songs. She used songs as a unifying tool in the tradition of labor organizing, but also as a weapon on the front lines against her targets, and as a morale booster around the campfire or while on the road.
In 1990, the Forests Forever Initiative, Proposition 130, was slated for California's fall ballot, and it was vehemently opposed by the timber industry. If passed, it would cost the corporations many millions of dollars annually by restraining the rapid overcutting of forest resources that Judi labeled "liquidation logging."
In the spring of 1990, Judi and Darryl Cherney had the idea to try to bring thousands of college students from around the country to the redwoods in an effort inspired by the Mississippi Summer civil rights campaign of the early `60s. They first called the campaign "Mississippi Summer in the Redwoods," but it was soon known as "Redwood Summer."
On May 24, 1990, Judi was nearly killed in a still-unsolved terrorist attack when a motion-triggered pipe bomb wrapped with nails exploded directly under her driver's seat. She and Darryl were driving through Oakland, California when the bomb exploded. They were on a concert and speaking tour recruiting for Redwood Summer.
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But instead of investigating the bombing as attempted murder, as the evidence clearly showed, the FBI, with the willing collaboration of the Oakland Police (OPD), tried to frame Judi and Darryl for the bombing, further victimizing them by false arrest and accusing them of knowingly transporting the bomb that nearly killed them.
It was a deliberate, politically motivated effort to target and "neutralize" Judi, Darryl, and Earth First!, and to discourage people from traveling from all over the nation to join in Redwood Summer. The sensational false charges made headlines nationwide, and the FBI and their Oakland Police accomplices kept a two-month media smear campaign going with a series of false claims about physical evidence linking Judi to building the bomb.
But after delaying arraignment for seven weeks, when it was finally time for the District Attorney to present evidence in court and file formal charges, the FBI and Oakland Police didn't actually have any. The D.A. announced he would not file charges, citing the lack of evidence. The Oakland Police closed their "investigation," but the FBI continued theirs, telling the media that Judi and Darryl were their only suspects.
The FBI then used the pretext of investigating the bombing as cover for a nationwide investigation of Earth First!, sending agents to create dossiers on over 500 people whose only crime was to have received a long-distance phone call from Judi, Darryl, or one of 14 other people associated with them.
A year after the bombing, Judi and Darryl filed a federal civil rights suit against the FBI and OPD, "Judi Bari vs. the United States of America." The suit claimed false arrest and unlawful search in violation of the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It also claimed a politically-motivated conspiracy in violation of the First Amendment which attempted to suppress and chill their free speech by discrediting them in public perception as violent extremists.
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The evidence was presented in a jury trial that began on April 8, 2002, and ended June 11 of that year with a stunning vindication of Judi and Darryl, and a $4.4 million award of damages.
After the trial, the Oakland City Council proclaimed the date of the bombing, May 24, to be "Judi Bari Day." The city of Arcata chose November 7th, Judi's birthday.
Whereas, November 7th is the birthday of Judi Bari, a dedicated activist, who worked for many social and environmental causes, the most prominent being the protection and stewardship of California's ancient redwood forests; and
Whereas, examples of Judi Bari's efforts include the preservation of the Headwaters Forest in Humboldt country, the protection of the Cahto Wilderness and the Albion River Watershed in Mendocino County; and
Whereas, prominent environmental activist David Brower stated on the occasion of her untimely death on March 2, 1997 from cancer at the age of 47, "Judi always projected an unwavering commitment to her values and her continued urgings to affect apathy into action. We will miss her commitment and compassion, her strength, courage and conviction. We can honor her by sharing it."
Now, therefore, the City of Arcata hereby designates November 7th as Judi Bari Day and celebrates and honors the work of Judi Bari in advancing the causes of forest protection, labor organizing, bridge building between environmentalists and timber workers, and civil rights for political activists; and
Be it further proclaimed that the City shall encourage its schools, civic institutions and citizens to memorialize Judi Bari's work through art, media, festivals, school assignments and other creative means.
Dated: November 5, 2003
(Signed) Robert J. Ornelas, Mayor
Courtesy www.judibari.org
May 23-24, 2010 Events: 20 Years After the Bombing of Judi Bari
Events marking the 20th anniversary of the 1990 pipe bomb attack on Judi Bari and Darryl Cherney will take place in the Bay Area over the course of 2 days:
On Sunday, May 23, an event dubbed "Revolutionary Ecology" (the title of one of Judi's best essay collections) will take place at La Pena Cultural Center in Berkeley, with a panel of speakers, music, film, and an exciting historical exhibit. Speakers include Ramona Africa from Move in Philadelphia and other Activists. Live music will feature Darryl Cherney, Alicia Littletree, and others. The event will include a film tribute to Judi, exciting historical exhibit and more.
On Monday, May 24, the actual anniversary, people from near and far will gather at the site the bomb exploded under Judi's car seat, nearly killing her and forever changing the Earth First! movement. The location is on Park Blvd. in Oakland just south of the MacArthur Freeway. There will be speakers, music, and a speak-out. The site is in front of Oakland High School, near E.33rd on Park Blvd.
To make tax-deductible donations: www.HeadwatersPreserve.org (enter "Judi Bari" in the notes box.) All funds go directly to support the event.
For more information: www.HeadwatersPreserve.org
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TOC for Forest & River News, Spring 2010