Justice is done

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===== A message from the 'makahwhaling' discussion list =====

 

FROM WASHINGTON CITIZEN'S COASTAL ALLIANCE

-----------------------------

 

SCOTT HOPPER: INNOCENT AND " FEELING PRETTY GOOD "

 

(Gathered from Sea Shepherd Conservation Society)

May 3, 2000

 

NEAH BAY 8 MINUS 2

USCG loses case against second Makah whale hunt activist

 

The jury of six men and six women took less than two hours to deliberate

before acquitting Scott Hopper of " gross negligence in the operation of a

vessel, " a charge stemming from his participation in water protests against

the Makah whale hunt in 1999. Today's " not guilty " verdict came down after

three days of testimony from the Coast Guard, Makah whalers, and expert

witnesses at the federal district courthouse in Tacoma.

 

The U.S. Attorney's Office originally charged eight activists in connection

with protests against the 1998 and '99 hunts. The first case was dismissed

in February when charges were dropped against Brett Siler of Nehalem,

Oregon, after it was found that the government's case hinged on the

testimony of Coast Guard Commanding Officer R. A. Coster, which contained

" little factual account, " and was " merely conjecture and, in fact, somewhat

contradictory. " David J. Kantor, Deputy Chief at the USCG Office of Maritime

and International Law, ordered the violation dismissed.

 

Commander Coster was back for a repeat performance against Hopper this week,

maintaining that Hopper " used obscenities and swore " at him over the radio

and " threatened him politically. " Hopper denied the accusations. Another

Coast Guard officer accused Hopper of transmitting unlawfully over " Channel

16, " maintaining that this is a private radio channel reserved for

government use. It was pointed out that he was mistaken and Channel 16 is a

public channel.

 

The jury also disregarded the testimony of Makah whaling crewmembers Wayne

Johnson and Theron Parker, who stated that Hopper " hit a whale and rolled it

over, " interrupted the hunt on several occasions, and diverted the whaling

canoe. After viewing all news videotape of Hopper's boat on the water, the

prosecutor admitted that all these charges were obviously false.

 

Hopper turned down all offers from the government -- before and during the

trial -- to take a plea. " I took a stand for whales that have learned to

trust us; I took on the federal government and won. I feel pretty good, " he

said.

 

Cheryl Rorabeck-Siler will be tried in Tacoma on Monday. The trial of Sea

Shepherd activist Allison Lance has been postponed.

*****

 

 

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