Feature Archives

6/22 Update: No activists testified today in S.F.
Photos from the rally: 1 | 2

Ten Bay Area residents, who include animal advocates, alternative media members, prisoner rights activists, and members of the greater Bay Area progressive community, have been subpoenaed to a Federal Grand Jury in San Francisco. The first hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, June 22nd. Supporters of the Bay Area residents, as well as all those who seek to defend and keep free speech rights, have been invited to attend on a show of solidarity with those subpoenaed. The hearing will take place at 9am in the Federal Courthouse at 450 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco. The date is subject to change, so people who plan to attend are encouraged to check FBIwitchHunt.com for updates. Animal Liberation supporters believe that the grand jury is an effort to intimidate them. Read More

In addition, as of 6/20, at least eight activists in San Diego have received grand jury subpoenas, and the Activist San Diego house in City Heights was visited by three federal agents. Audio

Listen to Grand Jury Teach-in Audio · Fault Lines article · Other Press: 1 | 2

FBI's New Heightened Focus on ALF, SHAC, and ELF
Related Congressional Hearings
Recent Indybay Coverage: 1 | 2 | 3

Recently, a family dog fatally mauled a 12-year old boy, an elderly woman was attacked by dogs, and others in public parks have been attacked by escaped dogs, all in San Francisco. In consideration of these recent tragic events, SFDOG will be hosting a town hall forum on aggression in dogs Tuesday, June 21st, 7:30pm. A panel of experts will discuss what we as individuals, a community, and a city can and should do to address the problems caused by aggressive dogs. The discussion will be moderated, with an extended period for questions from the audience. People are encouraged to attend this informational forum on how to deal with aggression in dogs. Read More on Forum

Since the attacks, some have defended Pit Bulls by organizing a Dog Walk in SF June 11th (Photos · TV Coverage). These fans and defenders of the breed plan to hold another walk in Sacramento July 2nd. Others meanwhile, such as PETA's Ingrid Newkirk, have discussed banning pit bull breeding all together.

In Defense of Animals (IDA) and BAARN co-sponsored a protest at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) to return the spotlight on the University's determination to conduct painful heart experiments on hundreds of dogs. Several advocates brought their dogs to remind people that the animals used in experiments are living beings with feelings and personalities. This event was similar to the Dog March that the groups held in April, which drew public and media attention to the plight of UCSF's animal victims. Before UCSF's students and staff left for summer break, they held a follow-up dog protest. This time it was at the main campus of UCSF (a different location than original), on May 25, Wednesday, at 10 A.M. A number of activists took the morning off to go with their canine companions. Dr. Katz of In Defense of Animals was there again and the groups received more media attention for the plight of animals at UCSF including broadcast news coverage.

Photos | UCSF Fact Sheet | IDA's www.vivisectioninfo.org
Post-Protest Call to Action

Indybay Coverage of Previous UCSF Demo

5/26/2005: Nine local activists have been subpoenaed in the last week to appear before a federal grand jury convened in SF. Federal agents have been increasingly targeting animal rights activists in the Bay Area recently. They arrested 7-year fugitive Peter Young in San Jose, have followed and detained others, raided two homes, and posted a new bulletin for a "wanted" suspect.

In recent decades, the federal government has increasingly used the grand jury to intimidate and harass activists pushing for social justice. Pressure on the animal rights, environmental justice, anti-war and anarchist movements has been escalating. At a recent hearing before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, John E. Lewis, Deputy Assistant Director of the Counterterrorism Division of the FBI, testified that, "Investigating and preventing animal rights extremism and eco-terrorism is one of the FBI's highest domestic terrorism priorities."

An Emergency Grand Jury Teach-in was held on Tuesday May 31st at 7pm at 3030-B 16th Street near Mission in San Francisco. Speakers included Mark Vermeulen from the National Lawyers Guild, Claude Marks from Freedom Archives, former grand jury resister Anita Carswell, and local activists with grand jury experience. Enemy Combatant Radio provided a live stream of the audio.

Links for more information about grand juries: ECR archived audio of teach-in | Faultlines Article | Things you should know about grand juries | Who to contact if you are detained or contacted by the FBI about the Peter Young case | Just Cause Law Collective's Grand Juries Page | No Compromise's grand jury articles: 1 | 2 | More about the teach-in | More info on harassment of animal rights activists

Peter Young was arrested on March 21st in San Jose, CA. He has been "WANTED" since 1998 after being indicted on charges of violating the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act by releasing mink from five Midwestern fur farms. The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act makes humane acts like liberating animals from horrible conditions and even attempting to gain access to areas where animals are held an act of terrorism. Prosecutors say Young and accomplice Justin Samuel set out to cripple the fur industry in 1997, freeing more than 7,000 mink from their cages at five farms in Iowa, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Bob Anderson, an assistant U.S. attorney, said Young committed "an act of terrorism" by trying to impose his will on others by using violence. He said the crime spree cost farmers $569,000 in lost livestock and other damages. Anderson said the prosecution will send a "message to persons either considering these actions or perpetrating these actions that this is not a legitimate form of free expression." Read More

Previous Indybay Coverage | Peter Young Support Website

Various activists gathered at San Francisco’s Korean Trade Expo to urge attendees to join the campaign by Animal Freedom Korea and In Defense of Animals to get the South Korean Government to withdraw a back-door effort to legalize dog meat. Attendees were shocked to learn that the Korean Ministry of the Office for Government Policy Coordination announced in March plans to “hygienically control” dog meat. As Animal Freedom Korea have indicated, “Whether or not the Office officially legalizes it, by managing and inspecting dog meat, the Government is essentially permitting it.” Hygienically controlling dog meat is nothing more than a euphemism for legalizing it. If this proposal succeeds, millions of dogs will continue to suffer, but now with the Government's watchful approval. Cats don’t fare any better: ­viewed as pest animals, they are boiled alive so their “juices” can be extracted for health tonics purported by butchers to alleviate symptoms of rheumatism. According to In Defense of Animals, dog slaughter involves, "...two million South Korean dogs are electrocuted, strangled, or bludgeoned to death each year. Then they're boiled, skinned, browned by a torch, chopped up and eaten". Also according to IDA, "Thirty percent are stolen from families that love them. Most are homeless dogs, captured by butchers and sold in open markets".

Report & Photos from Korean Trade Expo: 1 | 2
Further Info on Korean & U.S. Anti-Dog Meat Efforts: 1 | 2
IDA's What You Can Do

This week, East Bay Animal Advocates (EBAA) unveiled the findings of their investigation into the California dairy industry, the largest in the nation. Their graphic documentation reveals systematic animal neglect at dairy farms across the state. EBAA documented conditions at farm operations in five of California's top producing dairy counties (Merced, San Joaquin, Sonoma, Stanislaus, and Tulare). In California, dairy concentrated animal feeding operations commonly confine several thousand cows on limited acreage. Cows are denied adequate protection from severe weather conditions. The pasture-less dry lot system increases the incidence of infection, disease and injury among the cow population. According to California’s South Coast Air Quality Management District, California dairies pose a serious threat to humans living in surrounding rural communities. In 2004, the California Pollution Control Financing Authority allocated $70 million in state bond funds to expand large dairy operations, which produce significant amounts of pollution from cow manure. These findings seem to counter the "Happy Cows" marketing campaign, which each year the California Milk Advisory Board spends $37 million to promote.

Last week, the state Supreme Court denied review of an appeal by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) — which had sued the Milk Board for for false advertising and unfair business practices — leaving stand a previous ruling which declared that government agencies are immune from lawsuits over the truthfulness of their ads.

Reports: EBAA's Inside Dairy Production · KPFA | PETA vs CA Milk Producers