Such a great band, such a great video. For you.

Come Support Briana Waters - She Testifies Wednesday
author: Civil Rights Outreach Committee
e-mail:civilrightsoutreach@gmail.com

Briana Waters is expected to take the stand in her own defense as early as Wednesday, February 27, in Tacoma's federal courthouse (1717 Pacific Ave.). Ms. Waters is on trial for allegedly acting as a lookout during the arson of the University of Washington's Center for Urban Horticulture in 2001. Ms. Waters, a 32-year-old mother and violin teacher, steadfastly maintains her innocence. Civil Rights Outreach Committee

If convicted, Waters faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 35 years in prison. This trial is another chapter in the federal government's "Operation Backfire," also dubbed the "Green Scare," in which the government has hounded the environmental activist community, overcharged a number of individuals, and branded them as terrorists, even though none of the events resulted in a single injury.

The prosecution rested its case against Ms. Waters on Friday, February 22, after two weeks. The government's case is not based upon any concrete or forensic evidence, but instead almost entirely relied on the testimony of two informants who confessed to setting the University of Washington fire and who will receive vastly reduced sentences in exchange for their testimony.

The defense began presenting its case on Monday, February 25, and is expected to conclude by the end of the week. The defense impeached several of the government's witnesses, including the informants, by demonstrating that their accounts are inconsistent and unreliable. "Several witnesses were clearly testifying in order to reduce or eliminate the government's threat of their own lengthy prison sentences," said attorney Lauren Regan of the Civil Liberties Defense Center of Eugene, Oregon.

Saturday was Trish's birthday, and she wanted to spend it with Michelle at the Korean Women's Day Spa in Lynwood.

Orion and I would spend the day with Guido, Gavin and William. And Rayanne and Dean, as it turns out... in Monroe.

We left Tumwater before breakfast, so we stopped at the Kirkland Brown Bag Cafe (No Sissy Food Here!).

IT S GOOD TO BE SATISFIED

It was packed! They said it would be a twenty-minute wait, so we used the facilities and started looking at the menu (pdf). Trish spotted the word CHIPOTLE in a spicy breakfast item called the Diablo.

Julienne spicy chicken sautéed with fresh jalapeños, cilantro, tomato, red and green bell peppers, onions and spices. Made with spicy black beans, cheddar and sour cream topping. Served with a side of chipotle salsa. This one is hot as the devil. 10.95

Served with hash browns and toast

Our server asked, "Omelette style or skillet style?" We asked, "Skillet style? What's that?" She replied, "With the hash browns on the bottom." So we tried that with Rye toast.

I spent an hour and a half at the free coffee event at Olympia Coffee Roasting Company on Cherry Street. The place has a wonderful character with mosaic tile inlaid floor and dark wood furniture. Two bands played with very different styles...one more along the folk line and the other high energy. Olympia Coffee Roasting Co. was generous with the coffee and their claim to have well-trained baristas is well-founded.

There is a table with chairs on the sidewalk outside with a view of the Olympics. I enjoyed the coziness of the place and would definitely meet with friends for a great cup and a chat.

Check these out. The other side of the story. More juicy details and possible inconsistencies.

washington state patrol report.pdf

thurston county sheriff report.pdf

olympia police department report.pdf

Docent edit (eoc): hope wildleaf doesn't mind, but I posted them on scribd for easier reading: