Demonstrators were physically assaulted, Bari's car was rammed by a logging truck, and she began receiving death threats. Within minutes of the explosion, FBI Special Agent Frank Doyle arrived on the scene. But the FBI investigates terrorist activity. As Bari lay in the hospital undergoing surgery just three hours after nearly being blown to pieces, she was charged with transporting the explosive device that nearly killed her. Cherney was charged 12 hours later.
Nothing inspires the media to professional irresponsibility faster than allegations of terrorism.
And they dutifully conveyed the FBI's version of the bombing to the public. The facts, however, contradicted nearly every aspect of Doyle's case. And as an FBI bomb expert would later testify, the explosive was a sophisticated booby trap whose detonation was triggered by a ball bearing setup that used the vehicle's motion as a catalyst. In other words, someone clearly tried to kill Judi Bari that spring day in Oakland. The FBI never produced a shred of evidence against Bari or Cherney.