Animal rights activists deny targeting lab

The Star Ledger ^ | 6/16/04 | JOHN P. MARTIN AND BRIAN T. MURRAY

[Freemeorkillme]

Seven animal rights activists pleaded not guilty yesterday to charges that they promoted violence and vandalism against a research company that tests chemicals on thousands of animals at a New Jersey lab each year.

The 10-minute arraignment drew about 30 protesters to the federal courthouse in Trenton, and prompted the U.S. Marshal's Office to heighten security in and around the building. But the demonstration was peaceful and the court proceeding ended without incident.

[SpaceBar]

Too bad it took 9/11 for law enforcement to take any serious action against home grown terrorists.

[ICX]

"The others -- Kevin Kjonaas, Lauren Gazzola, Jacob Conroy and Joshua Harper -- are "social justice volunteers," according to online statements from the group."

I love liberal euphemisms. "Social Justice Volunteer" is much more palatable than "unemployed hippie."

Additionally, I hate how 'free speech' is used as an excuse to allow people to openly advocate and incite vandalism. Free speech is defensible up until the point where it becomes a physical threat to somebody else, something 'social justice volunteers' don't seem to understand.

[Freemeorkillme]

FBI targets 'terrorism' by animal, eco-activists

SPECIAL REPORT: PETA and PCRM Tied to SHACkled Animal Rights Militants

Animal activists charged with terrorism

Animal Rights Activists Indicted In New Jersey

Animal Rights, Abortion and Socialism

[gunnygail]

The PERFECT solution? Put these lazy hippies in a work program manned by mean-assed Leathernecks like myself! I'd work them like a three dollar whore on payday! Any and ALL types of national service. LOTS of garbage along the roadside needs picking up. Weeds in ditches need clearing, etc. They can be social CLEANUP volunteers on my "road work" crew ala chain gang!

[Pontiac]

In 1999, opponents formed SHAC and vowed to shut down the company. The indictment contends the group posted an online list of "Top 20 Terror Tactics" that encouraged attacks, threatening letters and phone calls, e-mail "bombs" to crash computers and home invasions against Huntingdon employees and business associates. Most of the actual incidents alleged to have occurred were acts of vandalism.

"All these people are really accused of is running a Web site that reports on the activities of the animal rights movement and supports direct action," Perez said. "They did not engage in illegal activity. They exercised their rights to free speech.

I guess today Free Speech includes threats, crashing a website, vandalism and home invasions. I suppose if you don’t actually kill anybody it isn’t really terrorism.

You know I did think that these things were illegal. But these people are liberals though so I guess their hearts are in the right place. After all it is the thought that counts. (/sarcasm)

[wbill]

The others -- Kevin Kjonaas, Lauren Gazzola, Jacob Conroy and Joshua Harper -- are "social justice volunteers,"

Your tax dollars hard at work.