Chelsea is in Seattle

Chelsea has been moved to the SeaTac Federal Dentention Center just outside of Seattle. Her new mailing address is:

Chelsea Gerlach
#69097-065
FDC SeaTac
P.O. Box 13900
Seattle, WA 98198
We've learned that she was moved on the 24th but it took a while for us to figure out both that she had been moved and where she had been moved to. If you sent her anything after the 24th, it will likely be returned to you.
Please send her mail and any encouragement you can. She really needs your support right now.
Unfortunately, FDC SeaTac only allows visits from the family. But please send her a note to tell her you're thinking about her!
Thanks for your continued support!

Chelsea was sentenced to nine years

Chelsea's statement to the media:

It's becoming increasingly clear that the continued exploitation of the Earth is causing drastic consequences: global warming, toxic pollution, mass extinction.
Fundamental changes are needed in our society to achieve peace and sustainability. We all need to take personal responsibility for healing our relationship with the land and with each other.

The family's statement:

Chelsea is a very special person and we know that she will use her time in prison to the betterment of those around her. As her family, we appreciate the kindness Judge Aiken showed in reducing her sentence by a year. However, the government made the very rare decision to reverse its recommendation and allow her to be released pending prison and we're very disappointed that the court didn't approve that request. With how impressed both sides of the table were with her transformation, we're frankly shocked that the court didn't give that much more consideration in reducing her sentence.



As regards the statements against her parents:

We recognize and respect the decision of the court, however, the judge did not fully understand Chelsea's exceptional early maturity and accomplishments that earned our respect and trust. She had never given any indication of poor judgement or criminal intent and her parents trusted her. It wasn't benign neglect.
We share the grief of the tragedy of these crimes, but it wasn't caused by parental neglect.
In all, this experience has brought us closer to Chelsea and closer together as a family and in that way we are grateful for it.

Her statement made to the court

"Thank you for the opportunity to say a few things.


I would like to first apologize to everyone who has been hurt by my actions. It was not my intention to hurt anyone or to invoke fear. I'm sorry my actions had that effect.

These actions were motivated by a deep sense of despair and anger at the deteriorating state of the global environment and the escalating inequities within society. But I realized years ago this was not an effective or appropriate way to effect positive change. I now know that it is better to act from love than from anger, better to create than destroy and better to plant gardens than to burn down buildings.
I have taken responsibility for what I've done and will make amends by being a voice for peace in an increasingly hostile and polarized world.

Thank you."