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LOCAL News :: Animal Rights : Civil & Human Rights : Prisons

Animal Rights Activist Could Face 82 Years in Jail and Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars in Fines

Author

  • Ted Forsyth

Date Created

  • 24 May 2005

Date Edited

  • 24 May 2005 09:45:54 PM

Rating

  • Current rating: 2

License

public domainThis work is in the public domain.
 
Animal Rights Activist Charged with Domestic Terrorism
support peter graphic 1.jpg
Madison, WI – (May 24, 2005) Chicago animal rights activists drove to Madison to lend solidarity to Peter Young, who was arraigned today on charges of violating the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act and conspiracy to interrupt interstate commerce. The maximum penalty he faces is 82 years in jail and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines.

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 freeing more than 7,000 mink from five Midwestern fur farms.

Young’s lawyer, Mr. Chris Kelly, entered the plea of not guilty to the alleged crimes being prosecuted against his client by the United States government represented by Mr. Robert Anderson. Young was not alone as about 40 people showed up to lend support from across the Midwest packing the courtroom.

The hearing was held to address three items: 1) to enter a plea, 2) to set up a date to have a telephonic scheduling conference with Judge Crocker, and 3) to determine if Young could be released from detention.

The presiding judge, Judge Theresa M. Owens, stated that Young could be a flight risk and would not grant release from detention. Young’s lawyer, Kelly, stated that his client would preserve the right to have a subsequent hearing on the matter. The presiding judge agreed and the prosecution had no objections.

Young is currently being held in Dane County Jail with the possibility of being moved to Jefferson County Jail.

For information on sending books or writing directly to Peter, or donating money to his legal defense fund please see: SupportPeter.com

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Re: Animal Rights Activist Could Face 82 Years in Jail and Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars in Fines

Current rating: 0
25 May 2005
by hmm
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While an important animal rights case, you wanna explain how this is a local story? - and not just a pet interest of the writer - so to speak.

Any local defense work being done on this?
 

Re: Animal Rights Activist Could Face 82 Years in Jail and Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars in Fines

Current rating: 0
26 May 2005
by "support" peter? why?
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No matter what you think about fur production - I happen to think that it is wrong, and would like to see it go away - breaking into a fur farm is illegal, and if you do it, you should be prepared to face the consequences.

More importantly though, if you support Peter and his "freeing" of fur mink, you're supporting a very destructive practice. Mink releases distrupt local ecosystems very severely, and introduces a voracious predator species into an area where they are either not present, or present in much smaller numbers prior to these releases.

Does he deserve 82 years in jail? Probably not. But think twice about who and what you're supporting.
 

Re: Animal Rights Activist Could Face 82 Years in Jail and Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars in Fines

Current rating: 0
26 May 2005
by Ted F.
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The local tie in is that 8-10 activists from chicago drove to see the arraignment in Madison. There are talks of having benefits to raise money and awareness of the case within chicago. Be on the lookout of that.
 

Re: Animal Rights Activist Could Face 82 Years in Jail and Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars in Fines

Current rating: 0
26 May 2005
by J.
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Whether or not you agree with the actions of the defendant (I really don't,) the FBI is using a machine gun on a flea. Why are they wasting resources on something like this, when they claim to be fighting a "war on terror"? Have they run out of Osama Bin Ladens to chase?

I'll tell you why. Because they wan't to terrorize every environmentalist in the country. That's why.

Anyone who does any environmental work at all, even those who (like me) are totally legal with their tactics, and anyone who supprts such people, should support this victim of state terrorism.
 

Re: Animal Rights Activist Could Face 82 Years in Jail and Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars in Fines

Current rating: 0
26 May 2005
by why
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"I'll tell you why. Because they wan't to terrorize every environmentalist in the country. That's why."

That's not really true. First of all, this doesn't have thing one to do with environmentalism; how the animal rights movement co-opted environmentalism, I'll never understand, but it's something that will always irk me. Secondly, if he broke the law, he broke the law. I think the penalties are totally out of wack, but the FBI doesn't come up with the sentencing guidelines - Congress does.
 

Re: Animal Rights Activist Could Face 82 Years in Jail and Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars in Fines

Current rating: 0
27 May 2005
by yellow canary
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The government is going after animal rights activists because they're a fringe movement who get stuff done. The government is refining their tactics on animal rights activists so they can go after other social and political movements.

Remember when there was all that hoopla over spies and grand juries being put against anti-war activists? Animal rights activists have been dealing with grand juries since the early 90's. Above-ground teenage activists have had warnings put on drivers' licenses calling them "domestic terrorists".

Peter Young faces 82 years. Most rapists face 3, max. Does this seem like justice to you? Watch out, what happens to the animals rights and environmental movement will happen to other movements soon.

If illegality is something you're actually worried about, support a group who is completely above ground and legal- and about to be thrown into jail for 25 years.

<While You're Supporting Peter, Support the SHAC 7

 

Re: Animal Rights Activist Could Face 82 Years in Jail and Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars in Fines

Current rating: 0
27 May 2005
by J.
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Oh no, this is a threat to every environmentalist.

Whether you like it or not, the animal rights people are part of the movement. Personally, I do not in any way support what this guy did, but that doesn't make him any less a part of the movement. That's why he was targetted by the FBI. Since when does federal law enforcement get involved in theft of livestock?

Just last week, the FBI repeated their canard that the environmental movement is the number one source of "domestic terrorism."

And, though my involvement in environmentalism is totally legal, that will be no protection against the state terrorism practiced by the FBI. Look at what they're doing to Critical Art Ensemble -- it didn't help them that their actions are legal. They'll be spending tons of dough, and all their time, trying to prove that in court.

What's happenning here is COINTELPRO all over again.

Again, I don't support what this guy did. But, when the FBI targets anyone in the environmental movement for persecution, that is a threat to us all.

This guy deserves our support, not because of what he did, but because of what's being done to him.
 

Re: Animal Rights Activist Could Face 82 Years in Jail and Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars in Fines

Current rating: 0
27 May 2005
by TDF
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Please mark your calendars, the rest of Peter Young's court dates have been set! It is important to have a strong showing of support at all of his court appearances! More detailed information will be sent out as the dates get closer.

July 27 at 10am: Preliminary pre-trial conference

August 26 at 9am: Final pretrial conference

Sept 2 at 3pm: Final trial readiness hearing

Sept 6-8: Trial

All hearings will take place at 120 N. Henry St in Madison, WI.

Peter's next court date is two months away. Please continue to write him!!!

Peter Young #223341
Dane County Jail
115 West Doty St
Madison, WI 53703

Funds are still desperately needed to help pay for his lawyer! Donations for can be made payable to "Peter Young Support Fund" and sent to:

Peter Young Support Fund
740A 14th St. #237
San Francisco, CA 94114

See www.SupportPeter.com for more info.
 

Re: Animal Rights Activist Could Face 82 Years in Jail and Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars in Fines

Current rating: 0
29 May 2005
by Jon
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What was the total cost in damages to the lost or destroyed livestock in this case?
 

Re: Animal Rights Activist Could Face 82 Years in Jail and Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars in Fines

Current rating: 0
29 May 2005
by Ted
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I believe I read in another story, the AP one, that is was something just over the $500,000 mark.
 

Re: Animal Rights Activist Could Face 82 Years in Jail and Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars in Fines

Current rating: 0
05 Jun 2005
by yeah
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I live in one of the towns were the mink were let out years back. Over fifty percent of them died by being run over on the highway. The local who owned the place went belly up and had to lay off his workers. In the end a stupid ass move in a state were corporate farms are destroying family owned ones... The mink are now being raised by a much larger more cruel group. A lesson to be learned here think before you act, Oh thanks for setting the animal rights movement back twenty years here.
Anyway the jail time behind this is fucked up. Just please people take down corporate farms, it will help us in the upper mid-west instead of hurt us.
 

Re: Animal Rights Activist Could Face 82 Years in Jail and Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars in Fines

Current rating: 0
05 Jun 2005
by yeah
Reply to this comment
I live in one of the towns were the mink were let out years back. Over fifty percent of them died by being run over on the highway. The local who owned the place went belly up and had to lay off his workers. In the end a stupid ass move in a state were corporate farms are destroying family owned ones... The mink are now being raised by a much larger more cruel group. A lesson to be learned here think before you act, Oh thanks for setting the animal rights movement back twenty years here.
Anyway the jail time behind this is fucked up. Just please people take down corporate farms, it will help us in the upper mid-west instead of hurt us.
 

Direct Action Gets the Goods!

Current rating: 0
10 Jun 2005
by commie militant
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when black men are being lynched in the south, tens of thousands of women are raped or sexually assaulted every year, thousands are the victims of gun violence, the state deports thousands more while containing over two million in prisons, LGBTTIAQ peoples are assaulted all over and the youth are left homeless, tens of thousands are homeless in chicago alone, and millions of animals are mistreated/tortured/inhumanely killed by business...

when we live in an imperialist society that maintains a global system of inequality, poverty, malnutrition, exploitation...

and our imperialist government states that the biggest domestic terrorist threat are activists who save animals from slaughter and destroy the property that is used to devastate the environment, how dare any of you ask why TDF and our other comrades are supporting Peter Young, a man who attempted to do right in a world of wrong and is being given the worst labels and suffering repression beyond what any of you will probably ever risk, how dare you ask why he is being supported.

think before you act

yeah, i would agree. and i think that the only think TDF forgot to think about before he went to Madison to support comrade Young was to call me if there was an extra seat in the car!!!
 

Re: Animal Rights Activist Could Face 82 Years in Jail and Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars in Fines

Current rating: 0
10 Jun 2005
by imperialist
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Commie militant,

Well, if I had my way, then you would already be in jail playing bitch to Big Bubba.
Time for McCarthy REDUX!
 

Re: I live in one of the towns were the mink were let out years back. Over fifty percent of them died by being run over on the highway.

Current rating: 0
10 Jun 2005
by militant fur war
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This was the same argument some people had in defense of slavery. What would black people do, where would they go if they were freed?

Answer: Freedom is sweeter then slavery. Even if you live shorter that way.


Maybe we should be trying to abolish the fur trade, as opposed to making excuses for "mom and pop" farms, animals being stripped of their instincts, and our highway culture.
 

Re: Animal Rights Activist Could Face 82 Years in Jail and Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars in Fines

Current rating: 0
11 Jun 2005
by Joshua
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Well, that'll teach him to be fucking with other people's property. I would have shot him if I found him breaking into my place. So I guess he is lucky.
 

Re: Animal Rights Activist Could Face 82 Years in Jail and Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars in Fines

Current rating: 0
15 Jun 2005
by Teresa
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To the person who said this hurts local family owned farms, let me get my kleenex out! Also, how did you mathematically figure out that 50% got run over?! Have you ever seen these animals killed?! ALL fur farms need to go. And to say that this sets the movement back 20 years:Hogwash! Honey, this IS the movement! Animals need to be liberated. I support all activists 100% for saving innocent lives by any means necessary. It's not about you or us: it's about the animals. Period.
 

Re: Animal Rights Activist Could Face 82 Years in Jail and Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars in Fines

Current rating: 0
15 Jun 2005
by tinterhook
Reply to this comment
Livestock farms, family owned or otherwise, screw with the environment by depositing animal waste into local water ways and by using deisel and fossil fuel for transporting live and slaughtered animals, among other things. Turning an animal into a coat also involves treating their skin and fur with highly toxic chemicals that prevent decomposition, act as pesticides, and condition the fur. Last I checked polluting ground water, manufacturing pesticides, and burning fossil fuels didn't constitute environmentally friendly procedures.
Any industry that deals in the mass production and consumption (and if you're farming something, you're mass producing it) of anything, but animals in particular, is going to have a major impact on the surrounding ecosystem. When you consider that these items are often for global consumption and consider the refrigeration and gasoline involved, the area of impact widens tremendously. Asking how the animal rights movement highjacked the environmental movement misses the point completely. Now do you understand?
 

Re: Over fifty percent of them died by being run over on the highway

Current rating: 0
17 Jun 2005
by kaitlin
Reply to this comment
As opposed to the 100% that would have died by being gassed or anally electrocuted?
 
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