Posted in Terrorism Rhetoric on Jun 15th, 2010
An appellate court has refused to revisit the SHAC 7 case, and the lead prosecutor has compared animal rights activists to the Crips and Islamic “jihad.”
Posted in Terrorism Definitions on Apr 7th, 2010
Tea Party poster.Tea Party groups and right-wing militias have been plotting attacks on Muslims, throwing bricks through lawmakers’ windows, and issuing death threats, yet the mainstream press and the federal government have not labeled these acts “terrorism.”
By contrast, the “number one domestic terrorism threat,” according to the FBI, is the animal rights and environmental [...]
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 [...]
Posted in Activists Arrested, Legal Issues on Oct 14th, 2009
The conviction of the SHAC 7–animal rights activists hit with “terrorism” charges for publishing a website and vocally, unapologetically supporting direct action–has been upheld by a U.S. appellate court. It is a landmark free speech ruling that lowers the threshold of what types of conduct are protected by the First Amendment, and upholds a law [...]
Posted in Activists Arrested, Legal Issues on Oct 14th, 2009
Judgement in the SHAC 7 appeal has just been filed, convictions have been upheld and so has the constitutionality of the Animal Enterprise Protection Act. Reading it now and will post more soon…
Posted in Activists Arrested, Legal Issues, Prisoner Support on Jun 25th, 2009
This morning Andy Stepanian and I were on Democracy Now talking about secretive political prisons called Communications Management Units. Stepanian is believed to be the first inmate ever released from one of the secretive facilities; he is one of the SHAC 7, a group of animal rights activists convicted of “animal enterprise terrorism” for running [...]
Posted in Audio, GNR, Media Coverage on Jun 1st, 2009
“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 [...]
Posted in Activists Arrested, Legal Issues on Apr 14th, 2009
Welcome to everyone visiting from Democracy Now, Digg, BoingBoing, Reddit and elsewhere! After you read this article, you can learn more about the Green Scare, and other attacks on civil liberties in the name of fighting “terrorism.” Thank you!
The government is using secretive prison facilities on U.S. soil, called Communication Management Units, to house inmates [...]
Posted in Terrorism Definitions, Terrorism Rhetoric on Mar 11th, 2009
I have a guest blog post over at Planetsave, “10 Easy Ways to Be Labeled a ‘Terrorist’ by the Government.” Please check it out, and perhaps leave a comment (and if you like the post, please vote it up on Digg, Reddit or Stumble using the Planetsave links).
Thanks very much to Alex Felsinger at [...]
Posted in Activism & Activists' Response, Federal Terrorism Laws, Legal Issues, Legislation, Opposition, Terrorism Definitions on Feb 24th, 2009
The recent FBI arrests of animal rights activists as “terrorists” for chalking sidewalks, protesting and making fliers marks a drastic turning point in the Green Scare, and in the history of this country. The government and corporations are clearly hoping to set a legal precedent for the sweeping power of the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act. [...]
The War on Terrorism has come home. Corporations and politicians are labeling activists "eco-terrorists" and national security threats. Think red-baiting, with a green twist. Here you'll find original reporting and analysis of the Green Scare, and history repeating itself.