On September 3, 2003, Sherman Austin, webmaster of
RaisetheFist.com,
surrendered himself to federal authorities to serve out his one year sentence. Within 48 hours of his transfer to the
San Bernadino Central Detention Center, a temporary holding facility, the guards moved him into protective custody because of
death threats against him by white supremacists. The white supremacists responsible for the threats have been located, and Sherman's family is planning on taking legal action against them. Because of the imminent threat of danger, the family is also asking that people
send letters/faxes/emails to the prison, as well as making phone calls, requesting his immediate transfer to a federal detention facility.
Last month, U.S. District Court Judge Steven V. Wilson, a Reagan appointee, sentenced Sherman Austin to a year in federal prison, three years of strict probation and a $2,100 fine. Nearly two years ago federal law enforcement agents raided Austin's Sherman Oaks, CA home and seized all his computers and other possessions. In late 2002, after months of legal limbo and harassment in between, federal prosecutors formally accused Austin of distributing information on explosives with the intent that the information be used in furtherance of a federal crime of violence, namely arson. The offending web material was part of an Internet tract called the "Reclaim Guide" that Austin didn't author or post, but for which he had offered free hosting on his server, and had a link to it from his site.
If you have any questions please e-mail jmi4678@netscape.net.
ACTION ALERT!