Tim DeChristopher, recently made famous by his courageous act of civil disobedience disrupting a BLM oil and gas lease auction in Utah, is the son of Buena Vista Town Finance Director Christine DeChristopher.
DeChristopher said her son, who did not grow up here, has always been an idealist unafraid to take a stand and do the right thing. She hopes he has the support of others across the nation who share his views because, like any good mom, she’d really hate to see her son go to prison.
DeChristoper also noted her son, who’s studying economics at the University of Utah has an affinity for the wilderness landscapes he was trying to prevent from exploitation. He had been a guide, leading troubled teens deep into Utah’s desert wilderness for Outback, a wilderness therapy program based in Lehi, UT.
Tim DeChristopher participated in the lease auction knowing full well he didn’t have the money or intent to pay for the leases he bid on. There was no pre-screening of bidders and Tim simply walked in and was issued bidding paddle #70. As he drove up the bids on the parcels, oil and gas industry auction veterans became suspicious, the lease auction was halted and DeChistopher was removed and questioned and now faces potential federal charges which could result in prison.
But before he was evicted from the proceedings he won bids totaling $1.7 million on parcels totaling 22,500 acres on land near Arches and Canyonlands National Parks near Moab, UT. DeChristopher’s parcels were among those hotly contested by environmental groups trying to block them from inclusion in the auction.
Now Tim’s busy raising money to both pay for the leases as well as funds to pay for his mounting legal expenses.
His story has been featured on such national news programs outlets as Businessweek Air America’s Rachel Maddow Show, National Public Radios’s Democracy Now, Backpacker magazine, Utah TV, print and radio outlets.
A website has been set up to raise money to help Tim actually purchase the leases and pay for his legal defense.
The deadline for Tim to provide the BLM with a $45,000 downpayment on the land is this Friday, Jan. 9.
Editor’s note: the link in the article to Tim’s website, originally broken, has been fixed. Thanks to Ryan for pointing out our error.
Dear DeChristopher Family – First of all, thank you for your part in bringing up your son, Tim. I could not be more impressed with his genuine human-ness and deep concern for the future of our planet.
I was at the auction where he chose to act out of conscience. I live in Moab and was there protesting the lease-sales the only way I felt was available. Your son took a higher road. What he did in a very peaceful way was more effective than years of maneuvering in the current legal system. He brought the light of awareness to a broken system and showed that one person really can make a difference.
I am a real estate broker and right now, the most important thing I’m doing, is working to help spread the story of peaceful civil disobedience. I want you to know that there is a strong group that has formed that is committed to keeping Tim free to spread his passion. We don’t need nor want a martyr… we need passionate, peaceful activists, like your son, teaching that we must become the change we want to see.
Take care, rest well – your family has great karma! Julianne Fitzgerald
Great job bringing this out Lee!
The link is incorrect. I was redirected to a ‘page not found’ site. If you can, ceck that out. In the meantime, interested parties should go to http://www.bidder70.org. Tim’s almost there! I threw $20 on the table, and on an artist’s salary, I know a lot of you can do at least the same. Deadline is FRIDAY! Tim’s at over $37,000 dollars of his $45,000 down payment. Let’s throw some momentum his way!
Thanks again for sound coverage, and as always, thanks to the Citizen for collecting sound issues to discuss!
Ryan O’Brien
Salida CITIZEN