Domestic terror law to be used against animal welfare activists (NJ)

[struggle4progress]

Posted on Thu, May. 26, 2005

DAVID PORTER

Associated Press

NEWARK, N.J. - The avowed goals of Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty are contained in the animal welfare group's name, but federal prosecutors plan to paint a far less altruistic picture when seven of its members go on trial in Trenton next week.

SHAC's tactics in a long-running battle with Huntingdon Life Sciences, a Britain-based company with animal-research labs in New Jersey, have included threats and harassment against company officials and destruction of property, according to court papers.

The defendants are the first to be charged in New Jersey under the expanded federal Animal Enterprise Protection Act, a 2002 law that equates their alleged activities with domestic terrorism and provides for harsher penalties than its 1992 predecessor.

Prosecutors say that in recent years the homes and property of Huntingdon employees and employees of companies that did business with Huntingdon were vandalized after SHAC posted their names and home addresses on its Web site. <snip>

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/11746526.htm

[Robbien]

1. Not one person has been tried as a terrorist, until now it seems

Three and a half years after 9/11 and not one person has had to stand before a judge as an alleged terrorist.

Looks as if animal lovers will be the first. Tree huggers will probably not be far behind.

[jukes]

2. tree-huggers bad

anti-abortion clinic activists good!

the activities of fundy anti-choice people is laden w/ property destruction, intimidation, threats, & violence up to & including murder, but these monsters are NOT considered by our government or the Department of Vaderlund Sekurity to be terrorists.


we all live in occupied territory...