On Friday, January 24, 2003, protesters gathered at the Westwood Federal Building on the 1 year anniversary of the raid on the home of the webmaster of
raisethefist. On that day, agents of the FBI, Secret Service, LAPD, and the Sherriffs Dept entered Sherman Austin's home and confiscated his computer equipment (including the raisethefist servers and backup cd.) Other possessions taken included much of his literature.
The raid was allegedly conducted because bomb making directions were displayed on the site. Authorities uncovered a menacing Snapple bottle with a miniscule amount of a flamible liquid. Missing from the "destructive device" was any other object such as a wick to activiate or light the "device". Austin felt he had to accept a plea bargain that included three months in jail, five months in a half-way house, and years of supervised probation. On council's advice that the current legal climate regarding terrorism and activists makes it likely that he would be given a much more serious sentence if he didnt comply, he accepted this plea bargain .
The judge threw out this agreement after it was accepted, and insists that Austin should spend more than a year in jail. Six to twelve months is the typical time that someone with Austin's record is given for the charge. More.
Protesting the Persecution Of Raisethefist Webmaster