On March 24, 2004, long-time earth and animal liberation activist Rod
Coronado was arrested for his involvement in an Earth First! campaign
against the killing and removal of mountain lions in the Sabino Canyon
recreation area outside Tuscan, AZ, an area usually closed to hunting. In
December 2005 he was found guilty of “conspiring to impede or injure an
officer of the U.S.,” a felony, “interference with a U.S. Forest Service
Officer,” and “aiding and abetting the depredation of government property,”
both misdemeanors. On August 7, 2006 Rod was sentenced to eight
months in federal prison and three years of supervised release (probation)
in which he is forbidden to write, publish or speak about the animal and
earth liberation fronts, Earth First!, or encourage illegal activities practiced
by those groups.

While serving his federal sentence, Rod Coronado shared with
Sangamithra Iyerhis thoughts on recent animal enterprise terrorism
legislation, his changing perspectives on direct action, and the magic of
Harry Potter.

Can you talk a bit about the Sabino Canyon case?
The depredation of government property stems from the alleged
destruction of a mountain lion snare set in the canyon by a federal lion
hunter. The trap was never damaged, only sprung, but that never came
out in court. Our efforts were very public, and I served as spokesperson for
the people who represented the lions. When all legal measures to stop the
hunt were exhausted, AZ Earth First! was contacted by the Center for
Biological Diversity to help intervene as we were the only group opposing
these trophy hunts authorized by Arizona Fish and Game. I was arrested
in Sabino Canyon along with a reporter from Esquire magazine after being
chased by a helicopter and cornered by federal and state officers. We had
succeeded in stopping that hunt, but learned in our trial that after media
attention died down, hunters returned to the area killing four lions and
capturing more.

What are your thoughts about recent federal legislation targeting
animal and environmental activists? What do you think it means for
the future of animal activism in this country?
This recent legislation is typical for a society that uses law enforcement as
a means to resist social change while also protecting the special interests
of industries with powerful friends in Washington. It reminds me of the
abolitionists of the 19th century who were faced with prosecution under the
Fugitive Slave Act for aiding runaway slaves, something we consider
downright heroic today. Just as rich landowners were frightened at the
prospect of losing slave labor, corporations today worry about the impact
on their profit margins should they ever be held responsible for committing
large-scale animal cruelty and environmental [destruction].

With animal welfare it is economically unfeasible to be compassionate
while remaining profitable. I read about the global threat to fisheries if
pollution and overfishing continue unabated, yet the fishing industry
assures us everything is fine. When it comes to the environment we have
a historic record of showing scarcity of a resource simply drives up the
market value, fueling industries to relentlessly exploit it until total ecological
and market collapse. With such a record of inaction no one should be
surprised that some people become frustrated and find no other avenue
besides lawlessness. If Congress truly wanted to prevent “animal
enterprise terrorism” they would generate greater responsibility in
managing the natural resources of the earth instead of dragging their feet
when a serious environmental catastrophe is at our doorstep.

Since 9/11 the political climate makes it far too easy for actions that
destroy property to be seen as a form of terrorism. In response, we can
best adapt our activities towards avenues, which do not result in some of
our brilliant young leaders being criminalized as terrorists. We have to shift
the blame to where it belongs, with irresponsible profit-driven corporations
and public policies that cater to them. At the same time we need to return
to a very grassroots approach and not allow animal and environmental
activism to be relegated to the work of national and international
organizations who operate as corporations themselves, capitalizing on
societal concerns for animals and the environment. We need to return to a
level of democracy where it’s not lawyers representing our interests, but
the affected communities themselves.

Has your position on direct action changed?
Yes, personally and politically. When I began my career as a direct action
activist, animal rights and environmentalism were still very fringe issues to
the mainstream. Now thanks in part to direct action these issues have
extended to the forefront of society. We have Prime Ministers and former
Vice Presidents sounding the alarm we were ringing years ago. Of course
law enforcement has responded with draconian laws that categorize direct
action on the same level as terrorism. Dealing with political actions against
corporate interests and property more severely than most physical crimes
of violence.

In my opinion, direct action in first worlds like the U.S. have served their
purpose and it is time for us to evolve strategies away from a focus on
what’s wrong with our world and direct our energies toward what is right.
Those who have been sounding the alarm now have a chance to show
disenchanted citizens our vision of a peaceful, harmonic and sustainable
way of living. There is a greater example to be made by us through mutual
aid and cooperation, free education, organic gardening, etc. than any act
that seeks to attack our destructive system.

I could continue to do what I have done for the past 20 years, but what
would come of it? Martyrdom and a life sentence. No, I want to be part of
the rebuilding. I want to watch my children grow and live the way I believe
we should.

Do you have any regrets?
Of course, who doesn’t? I regret my children suffer from my separation. I
regret not having learned the things I now know before they began causing
pain. I regret externalizing my unhappiness with the world onto others
rather than first endeavoring to change myself. I regret having hurt people I
love. But I am human and like most of us, we learn from our mistakes. I
learned that nothing helps us prevent future acts of insensitivity like our
past acts of insensitivity. It’s just a question of whether we are courageous
enough to accept what we have done wrong. If only our government could
do the same.

One thing I don’t regret is accepting the challenge to live in a way that
doesn’t make me a pawn of our political climate or a slave to the dogmatic
self-defeating patriarchal worldview.

What advice do you have for fellow activists?
We make our lives the model of how we want others to live. I believe in
relating to people as a counter measure to the corporate media and fear-
mongers who portray us as extremists. What we represent should never
be termed as extreme because nothing could be simpler than living with
consideration towards others. What should be labeled extreme are political
agendas at the expense of all life on earth.

All of us want to see an end to suffering, but we have to accept that many
others have tried and sacrificed, often more than we ever will, only to see
the injustice they fought outlive themselves. And while it is important to
stand up for what we believe in, little is gained from being knocked down.
Let’s not do the state’s work and allow our actions to resemble the terrorist
acts they allege them to be. Let’s embody what we represent: love,
compassion, respect and peace and leave out the war, destruction and
greed. People are smart. They will be able to tell the difference, but not if
our actions represent those of the system we are trying to stop. It’s not
going to be a handful of individuals attacking the state that effects change,
but the multitudes of oppressed standing in solidarity as victims of
injustice. It’s our job to win people over without lying to them and by
offering realistic solutions they can understand and embrace.
Most importantly be happy. There is great joy to be discovered in helping
others.

I understand this incarceration has been a transformative experience
for you.
This time in prison has been transformative just as it would be for anyone
imprisoned for their political actions or views. What I see as my current
state of transformation began earlier this year when for the first time I
began to reflect, not just on my political activities, but on my personal
actions as well. In pursuit of my activist career, I hurt a lot of people very
close to me, always keeping my “eyes on the prize” and never questioning
the hypocrisy of my own actions. Last winter, the pain I was causing
became too great to ignore and I was ashamed of how I had been
justifying my personal behavior that was nowhere near embodying the
respect, compassion and love that I have endeavored to represent. That’s
when I decided to “retire” from my confrontational politics and antagonistic
positioning and focus on a simpler way of practicing what I want to preach.
As a father and a partner in a relationship that meant working on being
emotionally, spiritually and physically available to those who teach me
about love more than any type of actions against violent injustice.

It’s been a whole new revelation and more rewarding than any
“revolutionary” action I had previously engaged in. More importantly, it
taught me to live life with the great level of joy we all desperately need to
survive and sustain ourselves in the coming years of turmoil.

It has also helped me find common ground with “enemies” and see that
however misdirected we both might be, there is enough commonality for
us to discover a mutual way of resolving conflict without violence. I no
longer believe in “good vs. evil.” I believe we are all capable of good and
evil, it’s just a matter of being accountable.

What’s really sad and frustrating is not being able to convince my past
opponents of my willingness to work towards change in a different way.
The system is totally unforgiving and unwilling to look past my actions of
before to see the potential in working together now. When I was sent to
prison, I accepted the punishment, but really would have liked for Arizona
Fish and Game to ask for a sentence of community service so that we both
might learn an alternative form of conflict resolution that is less punitive.
Still, whatever injustice I personally suffer will not sway me from extending
myself to explore a different way of dealing with social and ecological
problems. The system can refuse to change but I won’t.

What have you enjoyed reading in prison?
I’ve really enjoyed J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books, which are a
wonderful exploration into a parallel world where magic still exists. They
are beautiful stories that remind us that more important than power and
control is friendship, respect, unity and tolerance. It’s funny but ever since I
became a parent, I’ve found such inspiration in children’s books. So often
the heroes are those who rescue animals or risk their lives to save their
loved ones—important lessons that many grown-ups could benefit from
learning again.

What gives you hope?
I know there is much pain in the world. I’ve seen the faces of thousands of
animals suffering in cages, the destruction of ancient forests…No one
needs to remind us of the dark times we face. But if we are going to make
it through, we are going to make it by helping one another. This world is
still a wonderful place. They haven’t destroyed it all yet, and there’s still
enough to inspire hope. We are a crazy species, but smart enough to pull
ourselves out of this nosedive if we act now and stop pointing our fingers
at others. We just have to hold on tight to what we love, our children, each
other, the Earth and I think we will be all right.

For more information visit www.supportrod.org. To learn more about Rod,
read the two-part 1997 Satya interview “Freedom from the Cages”
www.satyamag.com/interviews.html.