I recently interviewed with Dylan Powell about the AETA 4, Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty, Obama, mainstream media, and DC hardcore. I think it turned out to be one of the most interesting radio discussions I’ve been part of, because Dylan is so well-versed on these issues and we had a great conversation trying to pull [...]

Read Full Post »

Four animal rights activists are facing charges under the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act for chanting, demonstrating with masks covering their faces, and chalking defamatory slogans on the sidewalk. If convicted, the “AETA 4,”—Joseph Buddenburg, Maryam Khajavi, Nathan Pope, and Adriana Stumpo—could be sentenced to 5-10 years in prison.
The AETA 4 case is a startling example [...]

Read Full Post »

“Animal Voices,” on CIUT 89.5 FM in Toronto, has uploaded their recent show on the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act. We had a great conversation about the history of the law, recent arrests (the AETA 4), and the implications for animal rights activists, environmental activists, and everyone else.
Unravelling the Acronym: Will Potter Exposes the AETA (Animal [...]

Read Full Post »

I was on 91.7 KVRX FM in Austin discussing Communication Management Units and the far-reaching implications of the government labeling activists as “eco-terrorists.” You can listen to it on the program website, “On the Fringe.”

Read Full Post »

[ March 29, 2009; 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm. 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm. 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm. ] [caption id="attachment_1508" align="alignright" width="233" caption="AETA 4 Benefit with Peter Young and Will Potter"][/caption]

Hey Portland: Another benefit for the AETA 4 when I’m in town. This one with former animal liberation prisoner Peter Young. Young was prosecuted using the original version of the Animal Enterprise Protection Act for releasing mink from fur farms. The recent arrests, [...]

Read Full Post »

When four animal rights activists were arrested under the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, it was unclear how prosecutors would proceed, and what specific accusations the activists would face. Now, the government indictment, available here for the first time, makes it strikingly clear that prosecutors intend to use terrorism laws to target First Amendment activity.

Read Full Post »

[ March 28, 2009; 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. ] [caption id="attachment_1221" align="alignright" width="231" caption="AETA 4 Flier for Portland Benefit"][/caption]I’m heading off in a few weeks for a mini speaking tour on the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act and the Green Scare (I’ll post the details for other events as they’re finalized). I’ll be in Portland, Oregon to speak at a benefit for the AETA 4, [...]

Read Full Post »

The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act has a chilling effect on First Amendment activity.
March 4, 2009
Dear Member of Congress:
When I testified before the House Judiciary Committee about the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act in 2006, I argued that such sweeping legislation risks criminalizing First Amendment activity as “terrorism” and chilling free speech. Members of the committee, including [...]

Read Full Post »

Careless talk costs lives.After reading the federal complaint for the arrest of animal rights activists on Animal Enterprise Terrorism charges, which I wrote about yesterday, this case still doesn’t add up. Some of you have posted comments that if these activists had actually assaulted someone, or if there was an imminent threat of violence, they [...]

Read Full Post »

FBI federal complaint on Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act arrests.When I first reported on the arrest of four animal rights activists in California under the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, few details were available. The only information was the FBI press release (which mainstream media outlets have regurgitated nearly verbatim as news articles). I now have a [...]

Read Full Post »