Animal Rights Protesters Indicted on Felony Charges

On April 21st, 2002 ten people were arrested in New York City for demonstrating against a backer of Huntingdon
Life Sciences (HLS) - an animal testing lab (see below for more information on HLS**). During the protests, two posh New York apartment buildings were trashed as activists brought their objections directly to executives' doorsteps. Those arrested were charged with a battery of crimes - 2 counts each of 3rd Degree Criminal Mischief (a felony), 1st Degree Riot (a felony), 2nd Degree Reckless Endangerment (a misdemeanor), Inciting Riot (a misdemeanor), and Unlawful Assembly (a misdemeanor). After a night in jail, everyone was
released on their own recognizance

Several months later, four persons had their charges dismissed and the other six were officially indicted
on a single chage of 2nd Degree Criminal Mischief (a class D felony).

At a court date in early July, defendant Benjamin Persky was placed back in jail when the judge raised bail to $3,500 cash only. After several days in Rikers Island, Benjamin was bailed out by several friends. At his next date in front of the judge, several days later, he was again remanded to custody when thejudge raised bail again, this time to $15,000 cash only, in response to his continued activism.

Two other defendants, Jennica Tait and Joshua Schwartz, were remanded to custody after appearing in court and having $3,500 cash only bail set for them, as well. Both have subsequently been released. All defendants are strict vegans, and only one, Benjamin Persky, (who is still in custody) as a prisoner has been offered any type of vegan food. Benjamin is now getting small amounts of vegan food thanks to the efforts of a prisoner support program.

The District Attorney prosecuting the case has so far requested sentences of 1-3 years on four of the
defendants, is seeking a sentence of 2-6 years for Benjamin Persky, and is seeking 5 years of probation for a sixth defendant. It is yet unclear whether any defendants will be accepting these offers, or if all will be taking their cases to trial.

The next court date for all defendants is August 14, 9:30am at 100 Center St, court part 71 (on the 11th floor), in Manhattan.

For updates on jailings related to this case, visit http://www.spiritoffreedom.org.uk (information should be up shortly) or contact worldweeknyc6 [at] hotmail.com. Donations for prisoner support are desparately needed! Please contact the email address above for information on how to donate.

**What is HLS?
Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS) is one of the world’s largest
animal-testing labs. It operates two facilities in England and one in East Millstone, NJ. Animals are forced to inhale and ingest products such as diet pills, tanning lotions, pesticides,weed-killers, and genetically modified organisms (GMO’s) for weeks or months on end, then are killed and dissected. Every day 500 animals, including dogs, cats, mice, primates, and rabbits, die inside HLS.

HLS has been exposed in five undercover investigations revealing vicious animal cruelty and sloppy,
fraudulent science. Workers were exposed punching beagle puppies in the face, dissecting a live monkey, falsifying scientific data, and violating animal welfare laws over 600 times.

For more information about the horrors that go on behind closed doors at HLS visit http://www.shacusa.net or for UK
updates go to http://www.shac.net