Steven Donziger joined us for an exclusive interview this week, describing his experiences in prison for the crime of exposing Chevron’s environmental destruction. He was just released last week to serve the rest of his sentence at home. Steven still isn’t free, but as we discuss in this episode, there’s hope that his supporters can turn the tide — in his case and beyond. Advocacy from leftist groups and organizations, coverage from independent media, and outreach from everyday people contributed to a shift in public perception of his case. In turn, this shift changed the way that Steven’s case was treated in prison, he says.
While a grassroots movement rallied together in support of Steven, establishment media was notably silent. Only on the day of his sentencing did a mainstream news outlet step up to bring attention to the case. While their interests remain vested with Chevron and with other capitalist behemoths, ours remain with Steven — remembering that sharing his story and fighting together for his release can have a measurable impact, now and in struggles to come.
Episode 52 Audio: Steven Donziger