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Bay Area Activists From SHAC Arrested for Domestic Terrorism
Federal agents have accused three local animal rights activists of domestic terrorism.
Wednesday, the Justice Department indicted members of the animal rights group SHAC, or Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty. Seven people were arrested, with three from Pinole, including SHAC president Kevin Kjonnas, Lauren Gazzola, and Jacob Conroy.
Prosecutors say the group orchestrated a nationwide campaign to terrorize managers, employees, and shareholders of Huntingdon, a New Jersey company that uses animals for laboratory research and testing.
Authorities say SHAC's website encourages members to harass research firms and destroy property. Investigators believe the group bombed the Emeryville biotech company Chiron last August.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=350&e=5&u=/kpix/20040527/lo_kpix/10200
http://cbs5.com/news/local/2004/05/26/Bay_Area_Activisits_Arrested_for_Domestic_Terrorism.html
NEWARK, N.J. -- Federal agents in four states on Wednesday arrested seven people charged with organizing a campaign of intimidation and harassment against a British company that tests pharmaceuticals on animals.
Those arrested are charged in an indictment against Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty USA that was unsealed with the arrests.
The nonprofit group and the individuals are charged in a multiyear conspiracy to terrorize Huntingdon Life Sciences, which has labs in New Jersey. The charge carries up to three years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Their actions included "telephone and e-mail blitzes, fax blitzes and computer blockades against HLS in order to divert HLS employees from their regular work," the indictment charged.
The group and three of the suspects are also charged with conspiracy to engage in interstate stalking and three counts of interstate stalking. Each of those charges carries up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The stalking charges accuse the activists of placing three people, and their families, in fear of death or injury.
The investigation into SHAC is continuing, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie said.
"My view of these people is that they are violent fanatics and that any type of fanaticism that leads to violent acts is wrong, and that the people who engage in that must be brought to justice," Christie said.
The indictment cites inflammatory Web postings by SHAC, which Christie said crossed the line from free speech to criminality.
"We believe that the conduct they've engaged in is not a lawful exercise of their First Amendment rights," he said. "People were frightened by what was being done to them. It's no question that it created an atmosphere of fear."
SHAC could not immediately be reached for comment. Phone and e-mail messages were not immediately returned.
Huntingdon Life Sciences issued a statement from its U.S. base in East Millstone. "So many people have been victimized by this lawless campaign. These indictments are in keeping with this nation's long tradition of standing up to bullies and demonstrate the United States' continued determination to insure the safety of its people," it said, in part.
The indictment charged that SHAC targeted Huntingdon workers and shareholders, as well as companies that provide services to Huntingdon, by posting personal information about targets on its Web sites and encouraging followers to "operate outside the confines of the legal system."
Protesters have appeared at the homes of at least three Huntingdon employees after such postings, overturning a car at one house and slashing tires and spray-painting slogans at another, the indictment said.
In December, computer hackers disabled the Huntingdon Web site. The SHAC Web site attributed the attack to Russian computer hackers, the indictment said.
Three greens at the Meadow Brook Club in Jericho, N.Y., were damaged on the eve of a Senior PGA golf tournament in July 2002 after the SHAC Web site announced that a director with Huntingdon's insurance broker would be attending, the indictment said.
The Web site later posted a message in which the Animal Liberation Front claimed responsibility for the vandalism. Less than two months later, the director's home was spray-painted after a demonstration.
Other attacks described in the indictment included a barrage of more than 2 million e-mails sent in a few hours on July 11, 2001, to a Jersey City brokerage that handled Huntingdon stock, damaging its operations.
The brokerage, which was not named, got a letter Sept. 10, 2002, from one of the suspects, asserting that if the brokerage stopped handling Huntingdon "this should bring a prompt end to the phone calls and faxes and e-mails your company is receiving."
Although the indictment did not give the names of any targets, it mentioned a smoke bomb attack in Seattle on July 10, 2002, that caused the evacuation of a high-rise building.
Police there have said two smoke bombs were set off on the 20th and 23rd floors, by offices for two subsidiaries of Marsh. The worldwide risk and insurance firm has come under attack elsewhere SHAC.
The indictment cited that attack as among those that were part of the conspiracy by SHAC and the seven individuals. It did not identify who placed the smoke bombs.
The arrests came just over a year after the members of the FBI's domestic terrorism squad raided SHAC's headquarters in Franklin Township as well as a house near the University of Washington in Seattle, seizing computers and printed materials.
Among those arrested Wednesday in Seattle was a resident of that house, Joshua Harper, 29, a self-proclaimed anarchist and longtime animal-rights activists.
Arrested in California were former New Jersey residents Kevin Kjonas, 26, identified as president of SHAC; Lauran Gazzola, 25, SHAC campaign coordinator; and Jacob Conroy, 28. They now live in Pinole, Calif., authorities said.
Agents in New Jersey arrested Darius Fullmer, 27, of Hamilton, and John McGee, 25, of Edison, while Andrew Stepanian, 25, of Huntington, N.Y., was arrested on Long Island, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Newark said.
On the Net: U.S. Attorney's Office in Newark: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/publicaffairs/NJ_Press/break.html
ALSO:
SHAC ACTIONS REACH TO THE TOP!
On May 18th, 2004 the Senate Committee on the Judiciary heard testimony on the topic of Animal Rights: Activism vs. Criminality… and guess who the focus of 75% of the hearing was – Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty!
This hearing confirms not only the heavy impact that the SHAC campaign is having on vivisection, but the near crisis level shockwaves it is sending to animal abusers everywhere. Story after story captured the grip the SHAC effort has had on the lifelines of the vivisection industry and how the campaign’s tactical ingenuity has left the FBI stumped time and time again.
Besides the obvious [demands for] longer sentences and increased fines, these repression zealots are advocating that campaigns like SHAC, that legitimately strive to end abuses and businesses it finds morally repugnant, not just be restrained, but made completely illegal (and they call *us* extremists!). In their Orwellian world, trying to shut down a fur shop, boycott the sponsors of a rodeo, or placing too many calls to veal-serving restaurants is akin mafia-like activities, and even worse – terrorism.
Make no mistake however, as pathetic as these Senate hearing rantings are, and as much of a testament to the campaign’s effectiveness as it is, it also serves as the clearest warning to date that our opposition is on the attack. The confines of their assault will not be restricted by constitutional impediments (you can buy your way around that), media objectivity (ahem… Fox News), or unholy alliances with those in our own ranks (just ask Iams what the Humane Society’s sale price was).
Be proud to support animal rights and be proud to fight tooth and nail to achieve it.
SHAC: http://shacamerica.net Huntingdon: http://www.INSIDEHLS.com
http://www.infoshop.org/inews/stories.php?story=04/05/27/2265459
Prosecutors say the group orchestrated a nationwide campaign to terrorize managers, employees, and shareholders of Huntingdon, a New Jersey company that uses animals for laboratory research and testing.
Authorities say SHAC's website encourages members to harass research firms and destroy property. Investigators believe the group bombed the Emeryville biotech company Chiron last August.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=350&e=5&u=/kpix/20040527/lo_kpix/10200
http://cbs5.com/news/local/2004/05/26/Bay_Area_Activisits_Arrested_for_Domestic_Terrorism.html
NEWARK, N.J. -- Federal agents in four states on Wednesday arrested seven people charged with organizing a campaign of intimidation and harassment against a British company that tests pharmaceuticals on animals.
Those arrested are charged in an indictment against Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty USA that was unsealed with the arrests.
The nonprofit group and the individuals are charged in a multiyear conspiracy to terrorize Huntingdon Life Sciences, which has labs in New Jersey. The charge carries up to three years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Their actions included "telephone and e-mail blitzes, fax blitzes and computer blockades against HLS in order to divert HLS employees from their regular work," the indictment charged.
The group and three of the suspects are also charged with conspiracy to engage in interstate stalking and three counts of interstate stalking. Each of those charges carries up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The stalking charges accuse the activists of placing three people, and their families, in fear of death or injury.
The investigation into SHAC is continuing, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie said.
"My view of these people is that they are violent fanatics and that any type of fanaticism that leads to violent acts is wrong, and that the people who engage in that must be brought to justice," Christie said.
The indictment cites inflammatory Web postings by SHAC, which Christie said crossed the line from free speech to criminality.
"We believe that the conduct they've engaged in is not a lawful exercise of their First Amendment rights," he said. "People were frightened by what was being done to them. It's no question that it created an atmosphere of fear."
SHAC could not immediately be reached for comment. Phone and e-mail messages were not immediately returned.
Huntingdon Life Sciences issued a statement from its U.S. base in East Millstone. "So many people have been victimized by this lawless campaign. These indictments are in keeping with this nation's long tradition of standing up to bullies and demonstrate the United States' continued determination to insure the safety of its people," it said, in part.
The indictment charged that SHAC targeted Huntingdon workers and shareholders, as well as companies that provide services to Huntingdon, by posting personal information about targets on its Web sites and encouraging followers to "operate outside the confines of the legal system."
Protesters have appeared at the homes of at least three Huntingdon employees after such postings, overturning a car at one house and slashing tires and spray-painting slogans at another, the indictment said.
In December, computer hackers disabled the Huntingdon Web site. The SHAC Web site attributed the attack to Russian computer hackers, the indictment said.
Three greens at the Meadow Brook Club in Jericho, N.Y., were damaged on the eve of a Senior PGA golf tournament in July 2002 after the SHAC Web site announced that a director with Huntingdon's insurance broker would be attending, the indictment said.
The Web site later posted a message in which the Animal Liberation Front claimed responsibility for the vandalism. Less than two months later, the director's home was spray-painted after a demonstration.
Other attacks described in the indictment included a barrage of more than 2 million e-mails sent in a few hours on July 11, 2001, to a Jersey City brokerage that handled Huntingdon stock, damaging its operations.
The brokerage, which was not named, got a letter Sept. 10, 2002, from one of the suspects, asserting that if the brokerage stopped handling Huntingdon "this should bring a prompt end to the phone calls and faxes and e-mails your company is receiving."
Although the indictment did not give the names of any targets, it mentioned a smoke bomb attack in Seattle on July 10, 2002, that caused the evacuation of a high-rise building.
Police there have said two smoke bombs were set off on the 20th and 23rd floors, by offices for two subsidiaries of Marsh. The worldwide risk and insurance firm has come under attack elsewhere SHAC.
The indictment cited that attack as among those that were part of the conspiracy by SHAC and the seven individuals. It did not identify who placed the smoke bombs.
The arrests came just over a year after the members of the FBI's domestic terrorism squad raided SHAC's headquarters in Franklin Township as well as a house near the University of Washington in Seattle, seizing computers and printed materials.
Among those arrested Wednesday in Seattle was a resident of that house, Joshua Harper, 29, a self-proclaimed anarchist and longtime animal-rights activists.
Arrested in California were former New Jersey residents Kevin Kjonas, 26, identified as president of SHAC; Lauran Gazzola, 25, SHAC campaign coordinator; and Jacob Conroy, 28. They now live in Pinole, Calif., authorities said.
Agents in New Jersey arrested Darius Fullmer, 27, of Hamilton, and John McGee, 25, of Edison, while Andrew Stepanian, 25, of Huntington, N.Y., was arrested on Long Island, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Newark said.
On the Net: U.S. Attorney's Office in Newark: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/publicaffairs/NJ_Press/break.html
ALSO:
SHAC ACTIONS REACH TO THE TOP!
On May 18th, 2004 the Senate Committee on the Judiciary heard testimony on the topic of Animal Rights: Activism vs. Criminality… and guess who the focus of 75% of the hearing was – Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty!
This hearing confirms not only the heavy impact that the SHAC campaign is having on vivisection, but the near crisis level shockwaves it is sending to animal abusers everywhere. Story after story captured the grip the SHAC effort has had on the lifelines of the vivisection industry and how the campaign’s tactical ingenuity has left the FBI stumped time and time again.
Besides the obvious [demands for] longer sentences and increased fines, these repression zealots are advocating that campaigns like SHAC, that legitimately strive to end abuses and businesses it finds morally repugnant, not just be restrained, but made completely illegal (and they call *us* extremists!). In their Orwellian world, trying to shut down a fur shop, boycott the sponsors of a rodeo, or placing too many calls to veal-serving restaurants is akin mafia-like activities, and even worse – terrorism.
Make no mistake however, as pathetic as these Senate hearing rantings are, and as much of a testament to the campaign’s effectiveness as it is, it also serves as the clearest warning to date that our opposition is on the attack. The confines of their assault will not be restricted by constitutional impediments (you can buy your way around that), media objectivity (ahem… Fox News), or unholy alliances with those in our own ranks (just ask Iams what the Humane Society’s sale price was).
Be proud to support animal rights and be proud to fight tooth and nail to achieve it.
SHAC: http://shacamerica.net Huntingdon: http://www.INSIDEHLS.com
http://www.infoshop.org/inews/stories.php?story=04/05/27/2265459
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The people in that organization also were very active out here opposing tribal hunting: http://www.thesunlink.com/news/may99/daily/0512a4a.html
You're not going to get any sympathy for these guys from most people. If activists want to picket, email, write letters, buy stock, etc that's fine. But when you harrass people at home, follow their spouses during the day and night, follow their children to school, scream at them, harrass their friends, then it has gone WAY beyond the line. That is stalking, and it's illegal. This is one of the problems with younger "activists". They seem to think that because they "know" they are right, it means the law does not apply to them because they are "right". Wrong.
You seem to "know" or "think" that you are right too, SMres, and I am sure that the folks at HLS and others out there that torture animals so called testing "know" and "think" that they are right. So when does the madness stop, by locking up those that are trying to protect the abuse life, or by stopping the continuing abuse of animal and human life in the pursuit of profit.
Attempts to shut down HLS and other abusers of life will most likely not stop by locking these folks up, and the people who profit from these disgusting acts of abuse will continue to have a difficult time living with what they are doing. Whether that means folks harrassing the in their personal lives or at the office.
Bring the struggle to the suburbs!!
Attempts to shut down HLS and other abusers of life will most likely not stop by locking these folks up, and the people who profit from these disgusting acts of abuse will continue to have a difficult time living with what they are doing. Whether that means folks harrassing the in their personal lives or at the office.
Bring the struggle to the suburbs!!
my feeling: It is probable that the world needs some fanatics. It was the nonfanaticism of the many that permitted segregation and sexism and slavery to go on so long w/o much objection. But, why can't certain people throw their energies into the things that deserve it the most. There are lots of environmental causes that rank much higher than Huntingdon.
Have you read in the science section of the paper today how global warming is starting to cause a massive die off of various types of vegetation, kind of like when the glaciers receded, as the climate patterns start to change at a rate exceeding the dispersal rate/growth rate of trees, and this is a large part of what is behind big forest fires in the west in the early 2000s? That is going to kill off a heck of a lot more animals than there are beagles at SHAC. What about the sea level changes. What about the fact that poverty is a large part of what is preventing people from taking back their governments, which would allow them to solve these problems.
Have you read in the science section of the paper today how global warming is starting to cause a massive die off of various types of vegetation, kind of like when the glaciers receded, as the climate patterns start to change at a rate exceeding the dispersal rate/growth rate of trees, and this is a large part of what is behind big forest fires in the west in the early 2000s? That is going to kill off a heck of a lot more animals than there are beagles at SHAC. What about the sea level changes. What about the fact that poverty is a large part of what is preventing people from taking back their governments, which would allow them to solve these problems.
q: what's the difference between animal "rights" activists and pro "life" activists?
a: the feds go after the former.
real question: now why is that?
a: the feds go after the former.
real question: now why is that?
Ok... heres the real deal...
Hunington Life Sciences wont end global warming with its closure, it wont end animal suffering.
But look at it this way... the SHAC campaign since its starting has cause so much economic damage that Huningtons first financial backer refused to renew there loans... so hunington had a anonymous backer take there back, whose contract is up next year..... but why would they renew it? almost no busines'es will do business with Hunington... hunington is having to file backrupcy... again!
hunington because of SHAC is a dying corperation....
now your asking... well, how is thsi going to change anything?.... simple.... mainstream Activists dont get anything done, but SHAC has proven that if you attack supporters of the company, you can take down the beast....
the only reason hunington keeps being bailed out by the government and anonymous backers is becuase they know (and we know) that you take down the first Huge lab.....then another on the list will be the new target.... the rest will fall...
The government doesnt want Hunington to become an Example of how successful SHAC is.
ALSO! for the person who put a picture of a child and talked about wanting to kill children....
Go and read up on the success of animal testing. Animal testing almost never brings anykind of actual cure for any desease. Animals anatomys (even our closest primate relatives) are made up so completely different that testing them for human problems is a fucking joke.
For example... testing for alzheimer's disease on monkies and dogs.... monkies and dogs dont get alzheimer's disease... so they "simulate" the desease... how do they? they cut open the brain and cut cords.
Then they give them medicine to try to cure it?
How the fuck can you cure a desease that doesnt happen in that species!?
Or for the problem with stillborns, or other child deseases.... simulating the death, or desease, by killing infant animals, or causing the pregnant monky to smoke crack (which drugs have different effects on animals then humans, so the science there is just as flawed.... for example the fact the tiniest ammount of arsnic is deadly to humans... while sheep can eat almost an endless amount with no effects what so ever) doesnt do anything, but show they can get monkies addicted to crack and kill mor einfants.
The only science that brings results and actual change is clinical testing... plain and simple.
Fuck the Labs.... bring them down.
Hunington Life Sciences wont end global warming with its closure, it wont end animal suffering.
But look at it this way... the SHAC campaign since its starting has cause so much economic damage that Huningtons first financial backer refused to renew there loans... so hunington had a anonymous backer take there back, whose contract is up next year..... but why would they renew it? almost no busines'es will do business with Hunington... hunington is having to file backrupcy... again!
hunington because of SHAC is a dying corperation....
now your asking... well, how is thsi going to change anything?.... simple.... mainstream Activists dont get anything done, but SHAC has proven that if you attack supporters of the company, you can take down the beast....
the only reason hunington keeps being bailed out by the government and anonymous backers is becuase they know (and we know) that you take down the first Huge lab.....then another on the list will be the new target.... the rest will fall...
The government doesnt want Hunington to become an Example of how successful SHAC is.
ALSO! for the person who put a picture of a child and talked about wanting to kill children....
Go and read up on the success of animal testing. Animal testing almost never brings anykind of actual cure for any desease. Animals anatomys (even our closest primate relatives) are made up so completely different that testing them for human problems is a fucking joke.
For example... testing for alzheimer's disease on monkies and dogs.... monkies and dogs dont get alzheimer's disease... so they "simulate" the desease... how do they? they cut open the brain and cut cords.
Then they give them medicine to try to cure it?
How the fuck can you cure a desease that doesnt happen in that species!?
Or for the problem with stillborns, or other child deseases.... simulating the death, or desease, by killing infant animals, or causing the pregnant monky to smoke crack (which drugs have different effects on animals then humans, so the science there is just as flawed.... for example the fact the tiniest ammount of arsnic is deadly to humans... while sheep can eat almost an endless amount with no effects what so ever) doesnt do anything, but show they can get monkies addicted to crack and kill mor einfants.
The only science that brings results and actual change is clinical testing... plain and simple.
Fuck the Labs.... bring them down.
This is how there "Science" looks... sure looks like it to me that there findinga a cure to help children...
Oh wait!.... hunington tests motor oil, and Products (almost forgot they are a "product testing firm".... no children deseases being cured there.)
Oh wait!.... hunington tests motor oil, and Products (almost forgot they are a "product testing firm".... no children deseases being cured there.)
i dont know if that followup is directed at me, but im not defending HLS in the least. i dont know what they do with animals or who they work with.
however, dont invoke a psuedo scientific arg.ument (only clinical testing does anything) to discredit animal testing in science, because your point is really off. were not as different from animals as you think.
however, dont invoke a psuedo scientific arg.ument (only clinical testing does anything) to discredit animal testing in science, because your point is really off. were not as different from animals as you think.
q: what's the difference between animal "rights" activists and pro "life" activists?
a: the feds go after the former.
real question: now why is that?
NO --- Actually the feds DID go after the "Rigth to Lifers" on similar charges. But they lost the case in court. They are simply trying it on again under more favorable conditions.
I don't think they will do any better where the charges relate to HLS itself. I think the court may not convict on THOSE charges just like it did in the case of the anti-abortion activists. BUT (very big but) I think the SHAC folks are going to go down on the charges related to simialr actions they took against secondary targets -- the ones they attack because these "enable" HLS. I suspect that in this case the court will NOT allow the "necessity" defense, deny that there is any DIRECT connection to what the SHAC folks are trying to prevent.
The main argument getting the anti-abortion folks off was "no financial gain" which is usually thought critical in "racketeering" cases. That may not work on the charges related to secondary targets because "monetary gain" isn't the ONLY thing "racketeerring" has been used for. We would not be surprised to see conviction were that "political" (vote for or support or don't oppose some measure). That's what I think may make the difference here. The SHAC folks may not be allowed to argue that threatening A to prevent A doing ANY business with HLS is directly linkable to the fact that HLS harms animals. They may be asked to defend against the acusation "threatening A to force A to join our boycott of HLS" (a "political" action) and NOW the "racketeering" charge might be upheld in spite of no financial gain.
In any case, federal court rulings initially apply to federal court district and the feds, if they lose in one district, ofter try to see if the judges in a different district will rule differently..
a: the feds go after the former.
real question: now why is that?
NO --- Actually the feds DID go after the "Rigth to Lifers" on similar charges. But they lost the case in court. They are simply trying it on again under more favorable conditions.
I don't think they will do any better where the charges relate to HLS itself. I think the court may not convict on THOSE charges just like it did in the case of the anti-abortion activists. BUT (very big but) I think the SHAC folks are going to go down on the charges related to simialr actions they took against secondary targets -- the ones they attack because these "enable" HLS. I suspect that in this case the court will NOT allow the "necessity" defense, deny that there is any DIRECT connection to what the SHAC folks are trying to prevent.
The main argument getting the anti-abortion folks off was "no financial gain" which is usually thought critical in "racketeering" cases. That may not work on the charges related to secondary targets because "monetary gain" isn't the ONLY thing "racketeerring" has been used for. We would not be surprised to see conviction were that "political" (vote for or support or don't oppose some measure). That's what I think may make the difference here. The SHAC folks may not be allowed to argue that threatening A to prevent A doing ANY business with HLS is directly linkable to the fact that HLS harms animals. They may be asked to defend against the acusation "threatening A to force A to join our boycott of HLS" (a "political" action) and NOW the "racketeering" charge might be upheld in spite of no financial gain.
In any case, federal court rulings initially apply to federal court district and the feds, if they lose in one district, ofter try to see if the judges in a different district will rule differently..
might as well join up with operation rescue. y'all'd get away with more too....
SHAC!SHAC!SHAC!SHAC!SHAC!SHAC!SHAC!SHAC!SHAC!
you start threatening the system,here they come,just after melissa's harassment after liberation weekend,wait wasnt kevin jonas a speaker there?
more are on the way i guess.
you start threatening the system,here they come,just after melissa's harassment after liberation weekend,wait wasnt kevin jonas a speaker there?
more are on the way i guess.
do you speak it?
r e a d i n g c o m p r e h e n s i o n p r o b l e m s ?
i asked you to decide how many monkeys your life was worth. its your equation, not mine. 1 monkey? 2 monkey? 3 monkey? 4? 4 is a lot.
what are you worth nessie? how many monkeys? how many piggies? how many little lambs?
r e a d i n g c o m p r e h e n s i o n p r o b l e m s ?
i asked you to decide how many monkeys your life was worth. its your equation, not mine. 1 monkey? 2 monkey? 3 monkey? 4? 4 is a lot.
what are you worth nessie? how many monkeys? how many piggies? how many little lambs?
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