Environmental activist Marie Mason has been sentenced to an unprecidented 21 years in prison for her role in an arson that caused $1 million in damage to a GMO research lab at Michigan State University.
Mason’s arrest stemmed from last year’s dumpster discovery of personal items and plans that linked to Mason’s former husband, Frank Ambrose. Ambrose cooperated with the investigation and received a lighter sentence of 8 years.
The always-insightful Will Potter at Green is the New Red points out that the sentence expected to be handed to four racist men who beat three black teenagers on the night of Obama’s election will be roughly half that of Mason’s sentence. And Mason caused no physical harm to anyone.
Potter also derided the FBI for warning the press that “eco-terrorist groups” would be present to protest at Mason’s trial. In fact, groups like the Earth Liberation Front do not engage in public protests and such a warning does nothing but frighten members of the public away from supporting Mason’s cause.
For more information on the continuing “Green Scare,” check out Will Potter’s beginners guide.
Photo Credit: eschipul on Flickr under Creative Commons license.