Support Briana

Page updated June 12th, 2009

UPDATE 1: "Fiddlin' Mamas" Benefit Concert June 17, 2009
Information: Venue is "Freight & Salvage" at 1111 Addison (near San Pablo Ave.), Berkeley. Show starts at 8:00pm. Tickets are $18.50 in advance, $19.50 at the door. Advance tix available at the Freight and at www.freightandsalvage.org.

Performances:

Maria Muldaur: Sultry blues diva, Kweskin Jug Band fiddler.

Irene Sazer: Jazz composer and Turtle Island String Quartet alumna.

Kaila Flexer: Middle Eastern fiddle music.

Suzie Thompson: American roots music master.

Bobbi Nikles: Wake the Dead; Celtic to contradance.

Stairwell Sisters & Misters: Special “boys included” version of all-gal stringband.

UPDATE 2: Briana's Current Situation
Briana continues to struggle with the emotional heartbreak and devastation of separation from John and Kalliope. She works very hard at maintaining contact with them. Plans are in the works for John and Kalliope to move East to an area near Danbury so they can visit Briana on a regular basis. Nothing else means more to Briana.

The appeals process continues. Briana's lawyers finalized her formal appeal and filed it with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in early April. It is expected that the oral argument could be made by September.

Thank you so much to everyone who has donated both time and precious resources to support Briana through this terrible ordeal. We have made it past year one, and her family thanks you from the bottom of their hearts. Your generosity and friendship are truly heroic!

We continue to gratefully accept donations for both Briana's appeal and her expenses while she is detained. Thank you again!

UPDATE 3: Good-Time Bill
The Good Time Bill, recently reintroduced to Congress, is an effort to restore the former system of good time allowances toward service of Federal prison terms. For more information, please visit the website.

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About Briana

Briana Waters is a devoted and loving mother of her four-year-old daughter. She is a professional musician and violin teacher based in Oakland, California. On March 15, 2006, she was falsely accused of participating in a politically motivated arson which took place at the University of Washington in May 2001.

Briana steadfastly maintains her innocence. She is a peaceful woman who believes in non-violence. In 2001, she directed a documentary, entitled Watch, which tells the moving true story of a peaceful campaign that built a coalition between environmentalists, loggers, and the residents of Randle, Washington to save the old-growth forest on Watch Mountain.

Briana's family, friends, and supporters were heartbroken and left in disbelief when a federal jury found her guilty of two counts of arson on March 6, 2008. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals denied Briana's request for release on bail pending appeal in early July, 2008. In August of 2008, Briana was transferred from Seatac in Washington state to the Danbury, Connecticut Federal Correctional Institution where she was designated to serve a six year sentence.

Briana's designation to Connecticut was a huge disappointment to her. Judge Burgess, the trial judge, had recommended that Briana be designated to Dublin, California, which would have placed her close to home, family and friends. This is what Briana hoped for more than anything, so she could have frequent and regular visits with her partner, John and their four year old daughter, Kalliope.

An appeal for summary reversal, based on the closure of the pre-trial hearing proceedings was also denied by the 9th Circuit in December 2008, another in a series of crushing blows for Briana.

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Links

For extra info visit:

http://portland.indymedia.org (Search for Briana waters)
IndyMedia.org (Greenscare page)
Seattle Weekly Article
Seattle Times Article 1 (newer)
Seattle Times Article 2

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Briana's Documentary

Briana's documentary video, entitled Watch, tells the moving true story of a campaign to save an old growth forest in Washington state. If you are interested in ordering a copy, please email dvd@supportbriana.org for more information. All proceeds will go directly to Briana's legal defense fund.

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Testimonials

I was blessed with the opportunity to midwife Briana through the pregnancy and birth of her daughter. From the very start of her pregnacy she took her role as mother seriously, making responsible and thoughtful choices about how to best bring her child into the world. I still remember during our initial interview sitting at the kitchen table with Briana and John drinking tea and answering questions about pregnancy, birth, and midwifery care. I was happy when they called my midwifery partner and said they wanted to work with us. I look back with great admiration toward Briana for creating such an intentional and loving beginning for her daughter.

Often clients send me updates and photos of their babies that I helped deliver. This is one of the pleasures of being a midwife -- watching children and families grow. It is tragic for me to see photos of Briana and her daughter in the context of criminal charges and possible incarceration. It makes no sense, and is cruel and unjust. Briana is a loving, kind, responsible, and caring woman and mother. It is devastating to think of the impact that this devastating situation is having on Briana, her daughter, and her family. I hope and pray that Briana and her daughter are not deprived of the opportunity to nurture and let grow the relationship that they have so lovingly and consciously started.

Kristen, LM CPM
Taos, NM

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Briana has been my daughter Valencia’s violin teacher since early 2006. Although I have only known her for a short time, I am certain of her innocence. She is warm, gentle and loving—I knew this from the very first time I met her. I trust and believe her completely. She is a great mama, a loving partner, an amazing friend to all those around her, and a gifted musician. I look forward to her teaching violin to Valencia for MANY years.

In peace,

Virginia
El Cerrito, CA
Mother of a budding musician…

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Briana Waters is one of the most loving, caring, supportive, gentle people I've ever met on this planet. Her presence is a joy and inspiration to all around her, and her laugh is irresistably infectious. Aside from the fact of her innocence (of which I have no doubt), the world needs her to be free, so that she can continue to spread the love & happiness & music that are her gift to the world. And her daughter needs & deserves the undying devotion that this exemplary mother bathes her with daily.

Peter
Briana's friend & musical collaborator

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This is a testimonial for one of the most radiant loving women I have ever known...Briana Waters is creative, caring, supportive, a loving friend, amazing mother and she is so full of life. I have spent lots of time with Briana and her family and I can say there is no way a women like this could do anything to hurt another person, there is NO WAY!

My heart is full of hope that these unfair accusations will meet an ending worth rejoicing for and Briana and her family (together) will be able to keep spreading all of the amazing love that they have.

Sincerely,
Kristan

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I met Briana in the summer of 2001, we shared a house together in 2002, and she lived on and managed my property for me in 2003. We remain close friends. I know Briana to be an incredibly ethical person, who cares deeply not just about those close to her, but all living beings. She is careful to walk a path of harmlessness, and makes an effort to bring joy into the lives of all she interacts with. She is a thoughtful, compassionate, and loving person. I had the privilege of watching her throughout her pregnancy, and now through more than 2 years of Kalliope's life. As the mother of an 8-month-old, I feel so lucky to have the example of Briana to follow. She has taught me so much about what it means to be a mother, and how to nurture another human being with all the love and fortitude I can muster. Briana is such an incredibly positive influence on her daughter, her partner, her family, and her friends. We are all richer for having her in our lives. I support Briana wholeheartedly, and look forward to the day when her innocence is proven, and we can all make a joyful noise together!

in peace,
Daria
Garden educator, mother, friend

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We have had the pleasure of knowing Briana for over 20 years and have watched her evolve into the beautiful caring young woman and mother that we know today. We first came to know Briana through our church community. She not only shared her musical talents with us, but also embraced the concern for world peace and human and animal rights that so many of our members embrace. As a young girl Briana had the rare gift of being able to relate to people of all ages with personal interest and care. On occasion she spoke during our services and participated in many of the activities we held to promote consciousness for equal rights and care of the earth. Briana is a very gifted person and has so much talent and love to share with the many lives she touches. She continues to be the sunny, loving person we have always known and we support her honesty and forthrightness whole-heartedly. We believe in Briana’s innocence and stand behind her.

Jennifer, Teacher / M.Ed.
Gary, Retired Pastor, Teacher / M.Div.: M.Ed.

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I am writing to express my support for Briana Waters. My name is Lisa Blanton and I am currently working at a non-profit farm in Ohio that is run by Dominican nuns. I had the pleasure of volunteering with Briana on forest advocacy campaigns from 1998 to 2001. I lived in Washington and Oregon during that time. Briana was a busy student and musician as well as an activist. She was involved in very public, non-violent activism advocating for the protection of public lands. My impression of her was of a really friendly person who could talk to all sorts of people. While she felt strongly about the need to protect the environment, she was very articulate without coming across as dogmatic. The campaign that we worked on the most was to protect an area in Washington called Watch Mountain. We were involved in a treesit that was legally permitted by the Forest Service. This campaign was a very good model of diverse groups of people working together to cooperatively achieve a desired goal. Briana did a lot of public outreach for this campaign. Briana was also very well known for sharing her beautiful fiddle music with everyone. I find it very sad that she is facing such heavy charges. It would be a complete travesty for her to go to prison. I am confident that she would not and did not participate in destructive activities. Society will not be served by wrongfully convicting this talented and caring person.

Sincerely,

Lisa