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Animal rights 'terrorists'? Legality of industry-friendly law to be challenged
Source: The Guardian
Animal rights 'terrorists'? Legality of industry-friendly law to be challenged
Ed Pilkington in New York
Thursday 19 February 2015 13.17 GMT
Two animal rights activists who have served prison terms for releasing mink and foxes from fur farms in the US midwest are facing federal charges that could see them sentenced to a further 10 years and branded for life as terrorists.
The two activists, Kevin Johnson, 27, and Tyler Lang, 25, will appear in a federal district court in Chicago on Thursday to plead for the federal charges to be dismissed. Lawyers for the defendants will argue that the counts, brought under an obscure 2006 law, are an inappropriate use of the concept of terrorism that threatens to stop free speech across the animal rights movement.
The hearing marks the first time that the law, the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA), will be legally challenged as a violation of the US constitution.
Congress passed the AETA eight years ago under heavy lobbying from the pharmaceutical, fur and farming industries. Under its terms, anyone who damages the property or the profit line of an animal business and who uses “interstate commerce” such as a cellphone or the internet to carry out the action can be convicted of terrorism even though no violence is involved.
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Ed Pilkington in New York
Thursday 19 February 2015 13.17 GMT
Two animal rights activists who have served prison terms for releasing mink and foxes from fur farms in the US midwest are facing federal charges that could see them sentenced to a further 10 years and branded for life as terrorists.
The two activists, Kevin Johnson, 27, and Tyler Lang, 25, will appear in a federal district court in Chicago on Thursday to plead for the federal charges to be dismissed. Lawyers for the defendants will argue that the counts, brought under an obscure 2006 law, are an inappropriate use of the concept of terrorism that threatens to stop free speech across the animal rights movement.
The hearing marks the first time that the law, the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA), will be legally challenged as a violation of the US constitution.
Congress passed the AETA eight years ago under heavy lobbying from the pharmaceutical, fur and farming industries. Under its terms, anyone who damages the property or the profit line of an animal business and who uses “interstate commerce” such as a cellphone or the internet to carry out the action can be convicted of terrorism even though no violence is involved.
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Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/feb/19/animal-rights-activists-challenge-federal-terrorism-charges