About Rod

Coronado is of Pasqua Yaqui heritage and lives in Tucson, Arizona. He has a long history of activism. In 1985, at the age of 19, he joined the crew of the conservation ship, Sea Shepherd, and on November 9, 1986, he and another activist, David Howitt, scuttled two ships, the Hvalur 6 and Hvalur 7, accounting for half of Iceland's whaling fleet, which was whaling in contravention of the International Whaling Commission moratorium. Before scuttling the ships, Coronado and Howitt caused $2 million worth of damage to the Icelandic whaling station.

In 1995, Coronado was convicted and sentenced to 57 months in prison in connection with the February 28, 1992 arson attack on research facilities at Michigan State University (MSU), which caused $125,000 worth of damage. He was also involved in the release of mink from a nearby MSU mink research farm, wrecking equipment and opening animals' cages. As a condition of his sentence, Coronado was ordered to pay MSU $2 million in restitution.

Upon his release from prison, Coronado worked as an editor with the Earth First! Journal in Eugene, Oregon. He has spent time traveling the country giving lectures in support of direct action and has participated in numerous Earth First! campaigns along with the campaign against Huntingdon Life Sciences.

Until his recent incarceration, Rod was living in Tucson, Az with his partner and her daughter. Rod also has a five year old son who he loves dearly.

Rod is currently serving an 8 month prison term for his role as a sabatouer of a mountain lion hunt that took place outside of Tucson in 2004. He is also facing up to 20 years in prison for a 2003 speech, in which he was asked to demonstrate how to make an incendiary device.

You can write Rod at:

Rodney Coronado #03895000
CCA Central Arizona Detention Center
PO Box 6300
Florence, Arizona 85232