Woman Sentenced to 2 Years for Rescuing Dog, “Terrorists” Rescue More Animals in Retaliation
Jul 23rd, 2008 by Will Potter
As both the US and UK governments (and many others) are cracking down on animal rights and environmental activists, labeling them as terrorists and hitting them with outrageous prison sentences, supporters say it is for a few reasons. First, they say that these activists are national security threats. Second, they say that this boot-on-the-throat approach will deter future illegal activity by underground, “eco-terrorist” groups like the Animal Liberation Front.
But here’s a recent example of how this “Green Scare” plays out in real life.
A UK activist named Sara Whitehead was just sentenced to 2 years in prison for rescuing a beagle from an abusive home. That’s right, two years. Neighbors had filed complaints with the police and the RSPCA, to no avail. When Whitehead rescued the dog, cops pounced surprisingly quickly: it turns out Whitehead, like many activists, was already under police surveillance.
So has this use of police resources, to crack down on a woman rescuing an abused dog, deterred illegal activity by “eco-terrorist” groups like the Animal Liberation Front?
Far from it.
Bite Back Magazine has published an anonymous communiqué that says:
“Animal liberation volunteers are claiming responsibility for the direct intervention in the animal farming industry, as an act of solidarity with Sarah Whitehead who is currently behind bars for doing the right thing. While Sarah remains locked in her cell for freeing animals from pain and misery, volunteers successfully liberated 50 Turkeys from an Eastern factory farm.
This action means these sentient beings were spared from constant suffering, their lives destined to be cut short with the blade of slaughterhouse machinery. No longer will their existence be to fill the mouths of a salivating and greedy nation. They now exist as valued individuals, remaining happy and free.
Love and liberation for Sarah and all other captive individuals!
Animal Liberation Front”
This isn’t a new phenomenon. After a US court convicted the SHAC 7 on “animal enterprise terrorism” charges for running a controversial website, underground activists retaliated. And after lawmakers passed the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, underground activists retaliated.
The outrageous prison sentences, the scare-mongering legislation, the spying: it’s not deterring underground activists. It’s only giving them one more reason to fight.
But lets stop for a moment so we can truly appreciate the absurdity of this situation. This is what the global “War on Terrorism” has become: an “animal rights terrorist” sentenced to two years in prison for rescuing a dog, and the method of retaliation chosen by the “terrorists” is… saving more lives.
So I always read your blog and I must say its awesome. But today when I opened up the bulletin from myspace and clicked on the link to read on, just as I always do, myspace took me to a page saying that the link was spam and that
I couldn’t view it. Its pretty sad when you see people like rupert murdoch censoring “extreme” ideas through myspace. I know its not really anything new but I just thought it kind of ironic due to the said blog being about wasted resources…
That’s very strange. Thanks for letting me know. Anyone else having that problem?
yup - same problem, but the link to indymedia works…
Yeah I had the same problem.
You forgot to mention that Sara was arrested in 2006 for stealing hundreds of animals from a pet shop and When arrested, Whitehead had papers on her relating to operations against Huntingdon Life Sciences and people who worked directly or indirectly for the company.
Why would an activist need that sort of information?
Yep… and i don’t believe it’s the first of your blogs that i’ve not been able to link too.
Grr. I’m going to have another post up today, so maybe I’ll give it another shot before contacting Myspace. If anyone knows what’s going on, please chime in! Thanks, Will
Joe:
“Why would an activist need that sort of information?”
Perhaps so she can be an activist?
[...] Green Is The New Red: “A UK activist named Sara Whitehead was just sentenced to 2 years in prison for rescuing a [...]
I read stories such as these and I ask myself what would I do in such a situation? - would I let the dog continue to suffer while those charged with protecting him from such abuse fail to do so? I very much hope my answer is a resounding “No!”.
Whitehead acted; she did something that I believe most people who are similarly situated would, and she is arrested while those abusing the dog are not. In defense of “property” I suppose. How can that be justified?
[...] Woman Sentenced to 2 Years for Rescuing Dog, “Terrorists” Rescue More Animals in Retaliation [Green Is The New Red] Will writes about a UK activist who was just sentenced to two years in prison for rescuing a dog after animal agencies wouldn’t respond to calls of abuse. [...]
Zach Jenson sang like a bird … so did Lauren Wiener … oh well, no honor among militants.