Above: Judi Bari's bombed Subaru, photo courtesy of Oakland Police Department.
The Car Bombing of Judi Bari A Community Remembers
On May 24, 1990, on the cusp of their organizing work for “Redwood Summer” (a summer long encampment campaign to preserve California’s ancient redwood forests), Judi Bari and her organizing partner Darryl Cherney were car-bombed in Oakland on their way to a protest at UC Santa Cruz. The FBI and Oakland Police department attempted to frame Bari and Cherney for the crime committed against them.
Judi Bari, locally renowned for her activism fighting for preservation of the redwood forest, was an inspiring orator, skilled grassroots organizer, artist, author, fiddler, songwriter, feminist, fundraiser, labor organizer, campaign and legal strategist, and mother of two children. In 1988, she joined the Earth First! movement, a radical, environmentalist advocacy group, and became a leading organizer of protests. Bari also endeavored to build bridges between environmentalists and people in the timber industry - from the loggers, millworkers and truckers to the small, independent logging company owners.
The FBI and Oakland Police falsely blamed Bari and Cherney for bombing themselves. Bari and Cherney sued both the FBI and Oakland Police department for violations of the first amendment, illegal search and seizure, and false arrest. Their lawsuit ended in 2002 with a jury verdict of a $4.4 million award to Bari’s estate and Cherney for violations of the US Constitution.
Judi passed away in 1997 from breast cancer. She did not live to hear the verdict of the case. A fighter to the end, Judi reminded everyone of her adopted quote “Don’t mourn - Organize”!
Left: Judi Bari, photo credit Greg King. Copyright © and Reproduction by permission of the artist only.
Puppet
The puppet was put into action at the first “Fiddle Down the FBI” event in 1998, at the Federal Building (FBI) in San Francisco. The puppet was a feature used in many protests and made an appearance at the lawsuit victory party at the Ukiah Brewing Company in Ukiah in July, 2002. Fiddle made by “Art and Revolution” circa 1998
Right: Puppet on exhibit at the Mendocino County Museum. Collection of Alicia Littletree Bales Mendocino County Museum.
Fiddle Down the FBI
“The Fiddle Down the FBI Rallies became an annual event marking the day of the bombing, with the rallies held at the federal courthouse in San Francisco. The fiddle became a symbol because the FBI seized Judi Bari’s fiddle as part of the evidence 'against her' in the bombing case, the pretense being that the bomb might have been inside the fiddle case or just under it. Judi’s fiddle itself was damaged but not destroyed. Activists gathered to chant 'Free the Fiddle' while many fiddlers known and unknown would come to play in Judi’s memory. Speeches were made and songs were sung and one year a giant 10 foot high Paper Mache fiddle was airlifted by helium balloon out of a huge fabricated jail cell.” –Darryl Cherney
Background: Fiddle Down the FBI, photo credit Hall Carlstad.
A Quote by Judi Bari
“The Bomb was meant to kill me, and it nearly did. It shattered my pelvis and left me crippled for life. My organizing companion, Darryl Cherney, who was riding with me in the car, was also injured, although not as seriously. Then, adding to the outrage, police and FBI moved in within minutes and arrested me and Darryl, saying that it was our bomb and we were knowingly carrying it. For eight weeks, they slandered us in the press, attempting to portray us as violent and discredit Redwood Summer, until they were finally forced to drop the charges for lack of evidence. But to this day, no serious investigation of the bombing has ever been conducted, and the bomber remains at large.”
The Feminization of Earth First! - Ms. Magazine, May 1992 (Timber Wars)
Left: Judi Bari shows bombed car photo, photo credit Evan Johnson.
Headwaters Forest and Redwood Summer
Numerous organizations including the Environmental Protection Information Center, Mendocino Environmental Center, and a multitude of environmental groups and individuals fought relentlessly for the protection of 60,000 acres of Headwaters Forest. This significant grove was recognized, mapped, named, and made an issue by Earth First! Redwood Summer of 1990, co-founded by Judi Bari and Darryl Cherney, was a significant breakthrough in expanding support for the campaign. An activist passing through gave them the idea to base a season-long series of demonstrations based on the Freedom Summer campaign that took place in Mississippi in the early 1960’s. The original Freedom Summer aspired to increase the number of black registered voters to strengthen their voice and power. White activists and college students in particular, joined African American protesters in an effort to draw attention to the issue and combat intimidation and discrimination. The original name of Redwood Summer was “Mississippi Summer in the California Redwoods.”
The radical Earth First! used the platform of Redwood Summer to draw attention to and combat the clearcutting of old growth forests. Efforts included blockades, rallies, and tree-sits. Hundreds of protesters were arrested in Mendocino and Humboldt Counties that year. The attention contributed to a new awareness of the necessity for environmental protection from corporate interests.
“I was attracted to Earth First! because they were the only ones willing to put their bodies in front of the bulldozers and the chainsaws to save the trees. They were also funny, irreverent and they played music.” - Judi Bari Ms. Magazine 1992 (Timber Wars)
Background: Headwaters Forest, photo credit Greg King. Copyright © and Reproduction by permission of the artist only.
Carlotta Gate
Judi Bari took the lead in organizing three mass rallies at the Pacific Lumber’s Fisher Gate in Carlotta, CA, one of the entrances to the Headwaters Forest Complex. This photo, taken in March 1995, was of the first of the rallies, drawing approximately 500 people. The next rally held in September of 1995 drew a much larger crowd nearing 2,000 people, of which, 246 were arrested for blockading the road. A year later, in September of 1996, Bari led a rally of 5,000 people and featuring singer Bonnie Raitt. A total of 1,033 people were arrested in non-violent civil disobedience for blockading the Fisher Gate. It was the largest single day peaceful mass arrest for an environmental cause at the time. In September 1997, six months after Judi’s passing, over 7,000 people gathered for Headwaters Forest in Stafford, CA in Humboldt County.
Right: "Big Tree Headwaters Forest," photo credit Greg King. Copyright © and Reproduction by permission of the artist only.
Evidence
Cherney (in partnership with Bari until her death) continues to investigate the bombing. Cherney negotiated for the transfer of evidence to him in exchange for taking less money after the lawsuit victory. The possession of evidence allowed him and the legal team to continue investigating the bombing. Cherney and the legal team have tested the evidence for DNA, fingerprints, typewriter samples and more. Some of this evidence has yielded results. For example, the “Lord’s Avenger” letter describing the bomb parts accurately, and taking credit for the bombing, contains DNA results pointing to an “unknown female.” Also, a death threat and a police informant letter—both directed at Bari—were typed on the same typewriter and contain identical DNA to each other—that of a male suspect. Unfortunately, after approaching numerous law enforcement agencies, Cherney has been unable to get support to further review the evidence he has collected. The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Department agreed to maintain an open investigation, in the event more evidence is gathered linking the crime to Mendocino County.
Bomb Fragments: These are the actual bomb fragments that exploded under Bari’s driver’s seat. The bomb consisted in part of a 2” steel pipe that, that when exploded, blew out the windows and left a large hole in the sheet metal directly below the driver’s seat.
Duct Tape: Duct Tape The FBI attempted to link duct tape strapped to the bomb that almost killed Bari to a roll they found in Bari’s home.
Pipe Bomb: The Cherney-Bari legal team fabricated this replica of the pipe bomb from a 2-inch pipe with nipples on each end. Not shown is the rest of the bomb as it was designed, which included plywood, a pocket watch for a timer, a battery, light switch and a motion trigger consisting of a ball bearing in a small porcelain “cup” designed to connect two wires once Bari’s car was moving. An intact model of a 1981 Subaru and this pipe bomb replica was used to show the “before” picture and how a pipe this size could fit perfectly underneath the driver’s seat of that model vehicle.
Blue Towel: It is theorized that a blue towel was wrapped around the bomb to hide its appearance. This is a piece of that towel gathered by law enforcement after the explosion on Park Boulevard in Oakland.
Elmer’s Glue: The FBI searched Bari’s home, claiming that they were looking for bomb components. Among what they gathered were her children’s arts and craft supplies, like this bottle of Elmer’s Glue.
Ball Bearing: This is a ball bearing found and collected as evidence at the site of the bombing. The presence of the ball bearing indicated, according to law enforcement reports, that the bomb contained a motion trigger device. The FBI and Oakland Police were publicly accusing Bari and Cherney of transporting the bomb to an unspecified location, yet held evidence that the bomb was designed to go off in a moving vehicle.
Key Chain: Judi Bari’s keychain from the day of the bombing.
Background: Oakland Police Department Evidence tag from May 24, 1990.
Death Threat Museum
Earth First! activists have traditionally embarked on “Roadshows,” where they perform original topical songs, give rousing speeches, show slides and organize for upcoming actions. The Death Threat Museum was created for Earth First! singing organizer, Darryl Cherney to take on the road as he continued to organize and educate the public on his and Judi Bari’s lawsuit against the FBI and Oakland police, and to continue recruiting activists to come to the redwoods for ongoing protests.
Background: "The Death Threat Museum" on exhibit at the Mendocino County Museum. Private collection of Mendocino County Museum.
Button and Birkenstock
“The Birkenstock was found at her house after her death and gifted to me by her Willits landlady, Joanne Moore, Esq. There was only one. It was not the sandal she was wearing at the time of the bombing, just like she wasn’t wearing that jacket. However, the jacket was in the car and confiscated along with the button, which is in the exact same place and has never been moved. The “Warrior Woman” button was hand drawn by Judi, who was a graphic artist back when graphic arts were done by hand.” - Darryl Cherney
Note* The Birkenstock was a key element in the song lyrics the “FBI Stole My Fiddle.”
“This was a favorite hat of Judi Bari’s that she was traveling with at the moment of the explosion. Earth First! raised money selling t-shirts, hats, bumper stickers, music, books and more to raise funds for protests. The Earth First! fist was originally drawn by movement cofounder Mike Roselle, an artist and songwriter himself. He said it was a left fist because he drew it with his right hand and used his left fist as the model.” - Darryl Cherney
Background: "The Car Bombing of Judi Bari" exhibit at the Mendocino County Museum.
Quilt
This quilt, created by many environmentalists and supporters, helped raise money for Judi’s trust. The raffle winner donated the quilt back to the collection of Judi Bari’s belongings saved by Alicia Littletree Bales.
Left: Clipping from Mendocino County Museum archives, original source unknown.
The FBI Stole My Fiddle
This presentation was created by the Mendocino County Museum, with special thank you to content curators Darryl Cherney and Alicia Littletree Bales. View more digital exhibits and learn more about our institution by visiting www.mendocinocounty.org/museum.