Comments on: “Joint Terrorism Task Force” Arrests Activist on Felony Charge for Wearing a Mask http://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/2008/04/27/mask-felon/ Reporting on "Eco-Terrorism" Witch Hunts, Blacklists and the Green Scare Fri, 25 Jul 2008 08:15:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: wtf http://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/2008/04/27/mask-felon/#comment-152461 wtf Mon, 26 May 2008 02:16:38 +0000 http://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/?p=417#comment-152461 video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5386487651203625811 this is pocket change compared to the past actions.. this is bigger than anyone knows right now.. video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1656880303867390173 video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5386487651203625811

this is pocket change compared to the past actions.. this is bigger than anyone knows right now..

video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1656880303867390173

]]> By: TheArtfulDodger http://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/2008/04/27/mask-felon/#comment-152080 TheArtfulDodger Fri, 23 May 2008 16:03:06 +0000 http://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/?p=417#comment-152080 I was there... and its fucking disgusting. Rather than the people that the citizens are fed up with being charged (with animal cruelty), the citizens get tackled and shackled... welcome to a police state you cannot avoid I was there… and its fucking disgusting. Rather than the people that the citizens are fed up with being charged (with animal cruelty), the citizens get tackled and shackled… welcome to a police state you cannot avoid

]]> By: wysirwygoagd http://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/2008/04/27/mask-felon/#comment-151979 wysirwygoagd Thu, 22 May 2008 23:21:19 +0000 http://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/?p=417#comment-151979 George Washingtons wife must have said at least once, "Whats that sound George? Has the revolution started yet?" George Washingtons wife must have said at least once, “Whats that sound George? Has the revolution started yet?”

]]> By: baileys http://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/2008/04/27/mask-felon/#comment-151113 baileys Thu, 15 May 2008 11:13:28 +0000 http://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/?p=417#comment-151113 [...] for his arrest. When he appeared at a protest one week later, he was identified and subsequently tachttp://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/2008/04/27/mask-felon/Chainsaws, Outdoor Power Equipment and Tree Care Supplies from ...Bailey&39s is proud to offer this [...] [...] for his arrest. When he appeared at a protest one week later, he was identified and subsequently tachttp://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/2008/04/27/mask-felon/Chainsaws, Outdoor Power Equipment and Tree Care Supplies from …Bailey&39s is proud to offer this [...]

]]> By: andrew http://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/2008/04/27/mask-felon/#comment-149854 andrew Mon, 05 May 2008 09:53:29 +0000 http://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/?p=417#comment-149854 cruelty to animals is a biblical issue. exposing cruelty to animals by buisnesses exposes a corrupt government system that trangresses the laws of God and is an accessory to cruelty. financially these buisnesses contribute to the economy of the nation and are protected by the state. cruelty to animals is a terrible thing. and as a commandment in the bible must thereby incur the wrath or punishment of God. mans inhumanity to the animal species is but a reflection of mans inhumanity to his own species. the next time theres a terrorist attack or a tidal wave or a tornado, ask yourselves, is this the punishment described in the bible that we incurred because we rejected the principles of God and chose greed over being humane. those who fight for the rights of those who cant speak or fight for themselves are blessed maybe not in this life but somewhere down the road the good that you did will return to you. im sorry the world is so wicked and persecutes those trying to make it a better place. if your fighting for poor defenceless animals to be treated humanely, then your seving your country and all of humanity, i wish you every success . they shot ghandi and dr king and they beat the freedom riders and they might beat you too, but you will know in your heart you did the right thing, cruelty to animals is a biblical issue. exposing cruelty to animals by buisnesses exposes a corrupt government system that trangresses the laws of God and is an accessory to cruelty. financially these buisnesses contribute to the economy of the nation and are protected by the state. cruelty to animals is a terrible thing. and as a commandment in the bible must thereby incur the wrath or punishment of God. mans inhumanity to the animal species is but a reflection of mans inhumanity to his own species. the next time theres a terrorist attack or a tidal wave or a tornado, ask yourselves, is this the punishment described in the bible that we incurred because we rejected the principles of God and chose greed over being humane.
those who fight for the rights of those who cant speak or fight for themselves are blessed maybe not in this life but somewhere down the road the good that you did will return to you.
im sorry the world is so wicked and persecutes those trying to make it a better place. if your fighting for poor defenceless animals to be treated humanely, then your seving your country and all of humanity, i wish you every success . they shot ghandi and dr king and they beat the freedom riders and they might beat you too, but you will know in your heart you did the right thing,

]]> By: GMU Alumnus http://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/2008/04/27/mask-felon/#comment-149773 GMU Alumnus Sun, 04 May 2008 18:15:24 +0000 http://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/?p=417#comment-149773 I was present at the GMU protests and no one knew of the mask law. To say "it’s a legit law that he probably knew about before," is incredibly presumptuous. I didn't know about the law and I have been an activist at GMU since 2004. "No, you can’t wear a mask on Halloween." You demonstrate that you don't know what you are talking about. VA's mask law states "it shall be unlawful for any person over sixteen years of age while wearing any mask...[except] persons wearing traditional holiday costumes. (VIRGINIA Section 18.2-422)" Think, before you post. I was present at the GMU protests and no one knew of the mask law. To say “it’s a legit law that he probably knew about before,” is incredibly presumptuous. I didn’t know about the law and I have been an activist at GMU since 2004.

“No, you can’t wear a mask on Halloween.” You demonstrate that you don’t know what you are talking about. VA’s mask law states “it shall be unlawful for any person over sixteen years of age while wearing any mask…[except] persons wearing traditional holiday costumes. (VIRGINIA Section 18.2-422)”

Think, before you post.

]]> By: GMU protester http://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/2008/04/27/mask-felon/#comment-149622 GMU protester Sat, 03 May 2008 22:09:00 +0000 http://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/?p=417#comment-149622 I was at all of those GMU circus protests, and none of us, even those who have protested many times in Virginia, were familiar with that law. If one of the protesters hadn't vaguely remembered something to do with masks after the first weekend of protests, we wouldn't have looked it up and found out before the second weekend. So I wouldn't call it common knowledge, and the police didn't have the decency to tell us, although they had ample opportunity. I don't really think they knew about the law themselves, because although they were looking for reasons to call the activists "disruptive" and get them away from the doors of the Patriot Center, they let protesters stand there with masks at all of the first weekend's protests. Their only comment was that they'd received a complaint that the masks were "scaring children." Nothing about it being illegal. I was at all of those GMU circus protests, and none of us, even those who have protested many times in Virginia, were familiar with that law. If one of the protesters hadn’t vaguely remembered something to do with masks after the first weekend of protests, we wouldn’t have looked it up and found out before the second weekend. So I wouldn’t call it common knowledge, and the police didn’t have the decency to tell us, although they had ample opportunity. I don’t really think they knew about the law themselves, because although they were looking for reasons to call the activists “disruptive” and get them away from the doors of the Patriot Center, they let protesters stand there with masks at all of the first weekend’s protests. Their only comment was that they’d received a complaint that the masks were “scaring children.” Nothing about it being illegal.

]]> By: Becky http://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/2008/04/27/mask-felon/#comment-149354 Becky Thu, 01 May 2008 21:55:30 +0000 http://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/?p=417#comment-149354 I live in Virginia, and just so you know, the mask law is pretty common knowledge. I mean, everyone I know who lives in Virginia knows about it. I understand the need to cover your face at protests, I'm an activist too, but I never wear anything during protests in Virginia. The law has a purpose; it dates back to when the KKK was big in Virginia. It was meant to limit hate crimes. At least, that's what I've been told. I totally agree that the motives behind his arrest were not honorable, that he had every right to be protesting, in fact, I'm glad he was protesting the circus, but it's a legit law that he probably knew about before. And I definitely wouldn't have tried to get away with it at a circus protest. Those are always closely monitored since PETA hosts them frequently and tends to go a little overboard (I once heard that almost every PETA circus protest has at least one naked woman running around to get people's attention). And @Elaine Vigneault, no, you can't wear a mask on Halloween. You probably won't get arrested, but the police would be well within their rights to if they wanted to. Welcome to Virginia. I live in Virginia, and just so you know, the mask law is pretty common knowledge. I mean, everyone I know who lives in Virginia knows about it. I understand the need to cover your face at protests, I’m an activist too, but I never wear anything during protests in Virginia. The law has a purpose; it dates back to when the KKK was big in Virginia. It was meant to limit hate crimes. At least, that’s what I’ve been told.
I totally agree that the motives behind his arrest were not honorable, that he had every right to be protesting, in fact, I’m glad he was protesting the circus, but it’s a legit law that he probably knew about before. And I definitely wouldn’t have tried to get away with it at a circus protest. Those are always closely monitored since PETA hosts them frequently and tends to go a little overboard (I once heard that almost every PETA circus protest has at least one naked woman running around to get people’s attention).
And @Elaine Vigneault, no, you can’t wear a mask on Halloween. You probably won’t get arrested, but the police would be well within their rights to if they wanted to. Welcome to Virginia.

]]> By: Will Potter http://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/2008/04/27/mask-felon/#comment-149221 Will Potter Thu, 01 May 2008 00:05:59 +0000 http://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/?p=417#comment-149221 Pessimist: Absolutely. Sorry for not being quite explicit about that. I think there should be no doubt that arrests like this (along with the "terrorism enhancement penalties" in Operation Backfire, and legislation like the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, etc.) are testing the waters. If unchallenged, tactics like this will only spread further (and we're seeing that already). I think one of the reasons animal rights and environmental activists are experiencing this is because those movements have been pushed aside as "fringe" by more mainstream groups, so they're easier to attack. To use a non-animal rights analogy, these groups are just the canaries in the mine. Pessimist:

Absolutely. Sorry for not being quite explicit about that. I think there should be no doubt that arrests like this (along with the “terrorism enhancement penalties” in Operation Backfire, and legislation like the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, etc.) are testing the waters. If unchallenged, tactics like this will only spread further (and we’re seeing that already). I think one of the reasons animal rights and environmental activists are experiencing this is because those movements have been pushed aside as “fringe” by more mainstream groups, so they’re easier to attack. To use a non-animal rights analogy, these groups are just the canaries in the mine.

]]> By: Pessimist http://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/2008/04/27/mask-felon/#comment-149218 Pessimist Wed, 30 Apr 2008 22:43:11 +0000 http://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/?p=417#comment-149218 Will, Could it not be a test of the waters? Go after the small fringe groups first, see what you get away with. After a norm has been set among protesters, carry it across to the larger groups. Sort of like a broken window policy, (ie. Crack down on the small stuff to build momentum into tackling the bigger "problem") Yes, I know I'm a cynic. I just inherently distrust all means of government. Will,

Could it not be a test of the waters?
Go after the small fringe groups first, see what you get away with. After a norm has been set among protesters, carry it across to the larger groups.

Sort of like a broken window policy, (ie. Crack down on the small stuff to build momentum into tackling the bigger “problem”)
Yes, I know I’m a cynic. I just inherently distrust all means of government.

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