bettina

Some of you may have been following the
SHAC 7 case, they are animal rights activists indicted under the controversial Federal Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act. The Act punishes anyone who "physically disrupts" an animal enterprise. The charges stem from these activists' alleged participation in an international campaign to close the notorious product testing lab Huntingdon Life Sciences. I just found out about this today, very disheartening:

Today the jury in the SHAC 7 case returned a guilty
verdict on all counts as to all defendants. Five of
the six individual defendants were ordered into
custody with a possibility of bail pending sentencing
in the next few days. Sentencing has been set for June
6th. Some of the defendants face a maximum of 23
years, although it is expected all defendants will
receive sentences less than 10 years.

While it is sad to see yet another blow to our civil
liberties and another attack on the animal rights
movement, we still have a battle ahead of us. The
defendants will be appealing these convictions, and
needs in regards to support for the defendants will be
emerging over the next several days. The conviction is
just another example of our eroding civil liberties in
this country and a battle to be fought in the higher
courts.

The six are being held at Monmouth County Jail and the
judge has agreed to order that the jail provide
vegetarian meals. At this time, no calls to the jail
are needed and visiting spots are being reserved for
family and close friends of the defendants.

The tremendous outpouring of support from the activist
community has helped carry the defendants through this
difficult trial and will undoubtedly help them through
the struggle ahead.

Anyone who knows the campaign to close Huntingdon Life
Sciences knows that it is much bigger than these six
defendants and that it will undoubtedly carry on.

The defendants at this time implore the activist
community to not publicly comment on the case, to keep
their frustration with the outcome in check, and to
remember that the scrutiny on them and actions
perceived to be on their behalf can do nothing but
hurt them at this point.

****

I just saw this on the Food FIght! website, from the SHAC 7 support committee:

Now is the time that the SHAC 7 again really need your help. In addition to writing those defendants who are in jail, we desperately need to raise funds to hire experienced First Amendment attorneys to appeal this outrageous conviction. Unfortunately, attorneys fees are very expensive and we need to get the ball rolling immediately. I know many of you have donated to this case in the past, and we hope that you can do so again.

Donations can be made payable to NJARA and earmarked for the SHAC 7 appeal. Donations can be sent to:
SHAC 7 c/o
NJARA
PO Box 174
Englishtown, NJ 07726

You can also donate online at SHAC 7.

We are all stunned by this verdict but are hopeful that it will be thrownout on appeal. Right now our friends and fellow activists sit in jail facing substantial prison time. Let's all do what we can to win this.

Sincerely,

The SHAC 7 Support Committee"




This is bad news not just for animal rights activists, but for anyone interested in social justice or awareness-raising of any kind. I'll update on the cheery good news of my life later, I am too sad right now. I need to think of ways I can help out, maybe a benefit show, or maybe selling some prints...hmmm.