Tim DeChristopher released from prison, speaks on "Democracy Now" for Earth Day

From "Democracy Now" Broadcast and Peaceful Uprising

Earth Day: Apr. 22, 2013

Tim DeChristopher, climate activist and founder of the Peaceful Uprising climate crisis action group, was released yesterday, Apr. 21, 2013, after 21 months of imprisonment for bidding in an illegal oil and gas auction because he wanted to save public lands from exploitation.

Tim DeChristopher, climate activist, then a University of Utah student, speaks on "The Case for Extremism" during the Aug. 1, 2009, Protect the Earth workshops at Northern Michigan University in Marquette. This photo appears on Amy Goodman's "Democracy Now" interview with DeChristopher today, one day after his release from 21 months in prison for civil disobedience. (Keweenaw Now file photo © 2009 and courtesy Gabriel Caplett)

Journalist Amy Goodman interviewed Tim DeChristopher on her news broadcast, "Democracy Now," today.

During the interview, Goodman asks DeChristopher about his motivation for bidding at the oil and gas auction and how he feels about it today. Here is his reply:
"Well, I was primarily motivated by the threat of climate change. I saw that what we were doing as a movement wasn’t working, and we needed to be taking more serious action. And I honestly can’t say that when I got into this in 2008 I understood everywhere that it would lead and the impact that it would have on me. And now, in retrospect, I’m even more glad that I did it. It’s been a more positive experience than I ever could have anticipated. And it’s been a great growth experience for me, including my time of incarceration."

To watch Goodman's interview or read the transcript, see See "Earth Day Exclusive: Tim DeChristopher Speaks Out After 21 Months in Prison for Disrupting Oil Bid."

Tim DeChristopher to speak at Q and A following premiere of film Bidder 70

To celebrate DeChristopher's release, Peaceful Uprising  has organized community screenings today across the Nation of the film Bidder 70, which tells the story of DeChristopher's experience.

"Tim will make his first public appearance since his incarceration immediately following the film in an hour long Q and A that will be streamed live to over 50 different venues," Peaceful Uprising reports on their Web site.*

*Click here to watch the livestream of the Q and A session with Tim DeChristopher that begins at 8:15 p.m. (Mountain Standard Time) tonight, Apr. 22, in Salt Lake City. (This should be at 11:15 p.m. EDT.) Editor's Update: We regret an error in the time posted here. Apparently this program started an hour earlier.