Posted on 03/03/2006 5:02:51 PM PST by neverdem
An animal rights group and six of its members were convicted of terrorism and Internet stalking yesterday by a federal jury that found them guilty of using their Web site to incite attacks on those who did business with or worked for a British company that runs an animal testing laboratory in New Jersey.
The case was the first test of the Animal Enterprise Terror Act, enacted in 1992 to curb the most aggressive tactics used by activists. The verdict, which came after 14 hours of deliberation, was called an insidious threat to free speech by some activists, but was cheered by research scientists, some of whom are lobbying Congress to tighten restrictions on protesters.
During the three-week trial, defense lawyers acknowledged that a Web site run by Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty posted home addresses and other personal information about animal researchers and others. But the activists said they were simply trying to shame their targets into dissociating themselves from the company, Huntingdon Life Sciences, and they disavowed any involvement with the vandalism, death threats, computer hacking and pipe bombs against those on the Web site.
Although federal prosecutors presented no evidence that the defendants directly participated in the vandalism and violence, they showed jurors that members of the group made speeches and Web postings from 2000 to 2004 that celebrated the violence and repeatedly used the word "we" to claim credit for it.
Prosecutors also produced telephone records indicating that the president of Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty, Kevin Kjonaas, called a man charged with bombing a California biotech lab shortly after the explosion.
Jurors were also shown a videotape of the group's director, Lauren Gazzola, at a protest in Boston, making reference to the previous acts of violence and warning a target, "The police can't protect you!"
The defendants...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
>>>but was cheered by research scientists, some of whom are lobbying Congress to tighten restrictions on protesters.
Oh and the left never lobbies!
They lobby to the point of terrorism!
bttt!
Amen!
Bump & a ping
Yeah, I admit, I drink too much coffee :)
I have a cup of hazel nut ;)
THAT is great Lady Jag!
There are way too many loons in this country.
They were posting contact info for people that hunt too.
Clinton Challenger Pulled From Reagan-Era Hat
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Glad to see this!
It's one thing to protest. It's another thing to threaten others with bodily harm. These dopes are so far gone, they obviously don't know the difference. About time they are held accountable.
Bout Time......anarchist and terrorists and criminals hiding behind the cloak of activism want a PC pass for their actions that more times than not threatens or takes human life.
Let their families and coworkers know they are engaging in acts of domestic terrorism.
Of course with these 6 that won't be necessary as they're going to be goods traded for cigarettes in the joint. These punks are about to find out what 'hard time' really means.
I'm thrilled about it.
L
What they better remember is that for a bunch of us, the Police are not the first, second, or even third line of defense. Such individuals better have a healthy respect for, concern about being protected from me and my firearms if they come at or after me or mine.
......;]
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