Since 1776, the U.S. Government has been run by and for only the wealthy white man and - especially as of late - his corporate interests. Over this time, this regime has waged a continuous genocidal campaign against Native American nations, an oppressive and murderous campaign against African Americans, against Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, Puerto Ricans, women and the poor. The natural environment has been decimated by industries and governmental agencies that prioritize monetary gain over the protection of the Earth. Our air is becoming too polluted to breathe, water too contaminated to drink, and our food supply compromised by chemical herbicides, pesticides and genetic engineering. Millions of animals are used, abused, and slaughtered in the United States annually not out of any necessity, but for purposes of human vanity, fraudulent medical experimentation and product testing, unhealthy dietary consumption, and sadistic entertainment. This is in addition to the millions of people the U.S. government and corporations have killed and displaced internationally as a direct result of U.S. foreign policy interests and imperialism. This Country Must Change is an effort to further the discussion of the necessity of a fundamental political and social revolution in the United States. This book contains essays by twelve activists and authors, all who have demonstrated a lifelong commitment to revolutionary change. It is as inspiring as it is educational and a must read for anyone involved with or considering advocating for political or social change within the U.S. Arguing that reformist measures cannot be relied upon to correct the fundamental problems caused by the corporate elite and political structure in the United States, the contributing authors in this book are unified in their call for a significant revolutionary change in the United States of America.
A political activist since the early 1990s when he opposed the Gulf War, Craig Rosebraugh is best known for his role as the national spokesperson for the Earth Liberation Front and Animal Liberation Front. From 1997 through 2001, Craig was the public face of the Earth Liberation Front, representing the group to the international news media and public. He was the co-founder of the North American Earth Liberation Front Press Office (NAELFPO) in 2000. Despite being threatened with imprisonment, two raids by federal authorities on his homes and businesses, eight federal grand jury investigations, a forced appearance in front of U.S. Congress, FBI and ATF questioning, and hundreds of death threats, he did not reveal the identities of members of the movements.In addition to his work as a spokesperson for direct action movements, Craig was a volunteer organizer for People for Animal Rights (Portland), co-founded and served as Executive Director for the Liberation Collective organization (Portland), has co-organized two national conferences against animal experimentation, was the National Organizer for the 1997 Regional Tour of the Seven Regional Primate Research Centers, was the National Organizer for the 1999 Primate Freedom Tour (a three-month caravan protesting primate research centers across the U.S.), organized marches, protests and benefits in support of political prisoners and against police brutality, participated in a dozen civil disobedience actions nationwide in support of human, environmental and animal liberation, drafted legislation to change post-conviction relief laws in Arizona, owned and operated an organic vegan restaurant, and is the founder and Managing Editor of Arissa Media Group. Craig has been featured in hundreds of news media stories, including: New York Times and NY Times Sunday Magazine, National Geographic, Inc. Magazine, Los Angeles Times, Denver Post, Seattle Times, Maxim, Details, Rolling Stone, The Guardian, Christian Science Monitor, USA Today, Time, Newsweek, Village Voice, Outside Magazine, National Public Radio, 60 Minutes, 20/20, The Today Show, Court TV, CBS/NBC/ABC Evening News, Fox News, PBS Nova/Frontline, and Dateline Australia. He has lectured on environmental protection, animal liberation and the necessity of a revolution in the United States at dozens of locations across the United States, including: National Conference on Organized Resistance (Washington, DC), World Congress on Animal Rights (Washington, DC), Land, Air, Water Environmental Law Conference (Eugene, OR), Animal Law Conference (Lewis & Clark College, Portland, OR), Fresno State University (CA), University of Arizona (Tucson), Vassar College (NY), Virginia Tech (VA) , University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia), Reed College (OR), Oregon State University (Corvallis), University of Wisconsin (Madison), Portland State University (OR), University of Oregon (Eugene), Pacific University (OR), and the Evergreen State College (WA). Craig is the author of Burning Rage of a Dying Planet: Speaking for the Earth Liberation Front and The Logic of Political Violence: Lessons in Reform and Revolution. Additionally, he has written articles for the Earth First! Journal, No Compromise magazine and Toward Freedom, in addition to a feature-length screenplay, One Earth, based on the Earth Liberation Front. Craig holds both a bachelor of arts and a master of arts in political science and is currently working toward a law degree. He may be contacted directly through his website at: www.craigrosebraugh.com.
Craig Rosebraugh has been a political activist since the early 1990s and is a cofounder of the North American Earth Liberation Front Press Office (NAELFPO). He lives in Tempe, Arizona. Jalil Muntaqim is a former member of the Black Panther party, the Black Liberation Army, and is one of the world&;s longest-held political prisoners, having been imprisoned since 1971. Jonathan Paul Phoenix has been an activist for animals and the environment since the early 1980s and has co-founded Global Investigations, Forest Defenders, Sea Defense Alliance, and Ocean Defense International. He is currently serving a 51-month sentence at the federal correctional facility in Phoenix, Arizona. Jeff Luers was convicted in 2001 of the arson of three trucks at the Joe Romania Chevrolet dealership and attempted arson at the Tyree Oil Company, both actions occurring in Eugene, Oregon. His sentence is almost served. During his imprisonment, he has remained active in the struggle for social and environmental justice. Jake Conroy has been active since 1995 in a wide variety of struggles, including environmental, Native American, anti-death penalty, civil rights, rights, and animal liberation. He is currently serving a 48-month sentence for his role with Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty. Ronald Kuykendall is an instructor of political science at Trident Technical College in South Carolina. He is the author of Social Crisis and Social Demoralization. He lives in Greenville, South Carolina. Bill Dunne Inez was arrested in 1979 after the attempted liberation of Artie Ray Dufur, who was a fellow member of the San Francisco-based WellSprings Communion revolutionary group. He was sentenced to 90 years in prison in 1980. As a political prisoner, he has continued to be involved advocating for the disadvantaged from behind bars. Peter Young is a former political prisoner and the first ever prosecuted for &;animal enterprise terrorism.&; He has spoken at over 100 universities and events since his release from prison, speaking on the subjects of direct action, activist repression, and animal liberation theory and praxis. Rob Los Ricos is a revolutionary activist and former political prisoner. Jaan Laaman was one of the original Ohio-7 defendants, who were convicted of being members and militants of the United Freedom Front (UFF). He has been in prison for the past 25 years as part of a 98 year sentence. Ramona Africa is the sole adult survivor of the May 13, 1985 massacre of 11 members of the MOVE organization. Since her release from prison, she has worked on the behalf of the MOVE 9, Mumia Abu-Jamal, and all political prisoners and prisoners of war. Leslie James Pickering was a founder and spokesperson for the North American Earth Liberation Front Press Office. He is the author of Mad Bomber Melville. He lives in Buffalo, New York.
