PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

SHAC7 trial: all defendants found guilty. Support needed.
by support SHAC 7 Sunday, Mar. 05, 2006 at 1:23 PM

Please read carefully and follow the links at the bottom to find out how to further support the defendants.

From the shac7.com website:

"Thursday, March 2, 2006

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.

Please stay tuned for announcements on how you can
support those in prison and upcoming court dates."

Other links:
information and donations - http://www.shac7.com
contact info - http://www.shac7.com/outcome.htm

MUST READ: why this case concerns all activists
by xoxo Sunday, Mar. 05, 2006 at 1:48 PM

Please respect the request of the SHAC7 to supporters (see above) "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."

Extract from an article by Pattrice Jones published in full at
http://www.pressaction.com/news/weblog/full_article/jones06152004

"Don’t dismiss this as an overly paranoid reaction to the provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act. Our fears are now fact. The FBI’s domestic terrorism squad has arrested seven activists allegedly associated with Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC) and lodged charges against both them and the organization itself. Within the indictments, “telephone and e-mail blitzes, fax blitzes and computer blockades against HLS in order to divert HLS employees from their regular work” are characterized as a conspiracy to terrorize the company. The tactic of setting up legal pickets on public property outside of private homes is characterized as stalking.

"It’s time for the rest of the left to stand in solidarity with these activists, and not only because they might be next on the FBI’s list. Animal liberation activists like arrestee Josh Harper embrace all of the ideals of progressive activists; they simply include non-human animals among those deserving peace, justice, freedom, and self-determination. A self-described anarchist, Harper recently spoke at a conference at Syracuse University, condemning what he called “the commodification of life” and acknowledging his intellectual debts to feminist and anti-racist activists and writers."