The ExxonMobil Defendants

On that day in May 2003, some of the protestors were pepper sprayed and arrested. Some spent two days in jail. Thirty-six individuals, even some not directly engaged in protesting, were arrested for criminal trespass, a class B misdemeanor. In addition, all were charged with riot and/or engaging in organized criminal activity -- which are potential felonies. Who are these individuals facing possible criminal charges for exposing an environmental villain? Following are brief profiles of some of the defendants of ExxonMobil.

Gregory Sotir- Los Angeles, California 42 years old

This educator enjoys living what he teaches. As a language arts teacher who works with inner city youth, he often speaks about their rights to freedom of speech and how some of those rights are being challenged. Sotir was proud to participate in the protest against ExxonMobil, which he calls "an irresponsible and reprehensible company, which is putting the ecological security of myself, my students, all people at risk." Sotir thinks his students would be proud of his participation in an act of peaceful civil disobedience. "It is important to speak out because we must model these truths for all others who are not able to speak or act."

Malcolm Carroll- Stafford, United Kingdom, 48 years old

This Baptist minister and father of two considers Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. a hero, and was present during a public meeting when the then UK Government Environment Minister said that climate change threatened the survival of humanity. Since then Carroll has been active in speaking out on the dangers of climate change and feels that ExxonMobil is the worst company contributing to this global crisis. Following in the vein of his hero, Carroll did not think twice of participating in this protest. "ExxonMobil is a giant corporation and all you have as an individual is your body to peacefully put in the way and tell its own tale," he says. "Civil disobedience can make people re-think and we need big re-thinking if we are to save the planet from destruction."

Ann Harkness-Dallas, Texas, 45 years old

In many ways for Harkness, activism is a family affair, as she was arrested side by side with her 20 year old son, Milo, during the protest against ExxonMobil. The protest against ExxonMobil is not new territory for the mother and filmmaker. When she wanted to stop a McDonald's from coming into her neighborhood, she not only went to the city council but she chained herself to a bulldozer. This act of peaceful protest did not stop the construction of the McDonald's, but it did spark Harkness's activism. Currently she is working on a documentary about the Angola 3 (political prisoners who have spent 30 years in solitary confinement ) and spends her free time gardening and playing with her cat, Zora.

Christina Jones-Dallas, Texas, 30 years old

Jones has never owned a motorized vehicle, takes her job as a bike messenger seriously and is involved in many social causes in the Dallas area. Although Dallas is considered a politically conservative city, Jones says it has a close knit activist community with progressive ideas. Jones was especially interested in campaigning against ExxonMobil because she says, "The company has sabotaged efforts to responsibly and effectively confront the problem of global warming." Jones spends her free time writing songs (though she admits she cannot read music), going to potlucks, and hanging out with her Mom on Sunday.

Cesar Maxit-Dallas, Texas, 27 years old

This architect is proud of his organic vegetable garden, especially his giant Texas watermelons, as well as his work designing a youth oriented presidential campaign but he is most proud of his strong commitment to pursuing social justice. "The scientific community calculates that one million species will go extinct within our lifetimes because of global warming," he says. "That fact alone should motivate all Americans to oppose ExxonMobil and their dangerous policies."

Jeremy Wells-New York, New York, 33 years old

Wells currently works as a rickshaw driver in New York City and plans to return to graduate school to study cultural anthorpology at New School University. Wells has been involved in the campaign for quite some time as a Greenpeace regional organizer in New York. He says: "Since ExxonMobil's policies and actions are directly causing global warming, there is not issue or campaign that I feel is more pressing. My participation in the Texas protest was a powerful experience and I am working hard to continue the momentum of this campaign."

D. Mehmet McMillan

Although born in Turkey, McMillan grew up in Louisiana before coming to the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. With dual degrees in Zoology and Biology, McMillan resigned from the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality with the hopes of effecting change through grassroots activism. He became an Urban Forest Manager for a group called the TreePeople and in 2001 launched the non-profit organization, WildPlaces Ecological Restoration and Education. Today he is an active member of many community and grassroots organizations including Sierra Club, Audobon's Kern River Reserve and California Wilderness Coalition.