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<font size=4><b><a name="1"></a>Minneapolis Activist Indicted for
Conspiracy to Violate Animal Enterprise Terrorism
Act</b></font><font size=3> <br><br>
Posted: 20 Nov 2009 10:06 AM PST<br><br>
Scott DeMuth, a Minneapolis activist, has been indicted for conspiracy to
violate the <a href="http://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/aeta/">Animal
Enterprise Terrorism Act</a>, apparently in relation to a 2004 Animal
Liberation Front raid at the University of Iowa. He faces up to 5 years
in prison. His indictment marks a continued expansion of the scope of the
new terrorism law, which has already been used to target activists who
release mink from fur farms, and the
<a href="http://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/animal-rights-activists-indicted-as-terrorists-for-home-protests/1657/">
AETA4, who are accused of protesting and chalking on public
sidewalk</a>s. <br><br>
The
<a href="http://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/wp-content/Images/demuth_indictment_aeta.pdf">
indictment</a> comes after DeMuth and another local activist, Carrie
Feldman, were found to be in contempt of court refusing to cooperate with
a federal grand jury investigated that ALF burglary and vandalism. They
were handcuffed and taken to jail for refusing to testify about their
political beliefs and political associations.<br><br>
I have written previously about Feldman’s refusal, and her statement to
the grand jury
(<a href="http://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/carrie-feldmaniowa-grand-jury-alf/2331/">
Activist to Iowa Grand Jury: “We will not be intimidated. We will not
cooperate.”</a>). <br><br>
In a statement prepared prior to the grand jury hearing,
<a href="http://davenportgrandjury.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/scott-and-carrie-held-hostage-by-the-state/">
DeMuth said</a>:<br><br>
</font>
<dl>
<dd>“Grand juries can be very disempowering for us all, and especially
for those targeted by them. We face questioning without legal counsel
present or a right to remain silent. We can be threatened, coerced, and
jailed. However, no punishment could be worse than surrendering our
values. “<br><br>
</dl>There has been some speculation about what, exactly, DeMuth’s
conspiracy charges entail. Is the indictment for conspiracy to damage
property? Or is it for conspiracy to instill a “reasonable fear”?
<br><br>
The truth: neither. <br><br>
Bear with me for a moment. The indictment lists sections 43(a) and
43(b)(2) of the
<a href="http://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/aeta/">Animal Enterprise
Terrorism Act</a>, and says the conspiracy was to commit economic damage
in the amount exceeding $10,000. Section 43(a) is simply the offense
section. Section 43(b)(2) spells out penalties for damages exceeding
$10,000. The indictment does not specify whether the charges are for
violating<br>
43(a)(2)(A) (damaging property) or 43(a)(2)(B) (instilling fear). Does
that make sense? I know it’s a little tedious, but I think it’s important
to clear up. (I just spoke with Matthew Strugar, who was quoted on
<a href="http://voiceofthevoiceless.org/the-mystery-of-the-university-of-iowa-alf-indictment/">
Peter Young’s blog</a>, and he agreed.)<br><br>
Local press
<a href="http://www.qctimes.com/news/local/article_f77ee8a0-d527-11de-81f3-001cc4c002e0.html">
has been speculating</a>. But regardless of what, specifically, DeMuth is
charged with conspiring to do, one thing is clear: conspiracy charges
have been used throughout U.S. history as a catch-all when prosecutors
can’t get anything else to stick. That’s exactly what happened in the
case of the <a href="http://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/shac-7/">SHAC
7</a>, under the previous version of the Animal Enterprise Terrorism
Act.<br><br>
I have personally met both Scott DeMuth and Carrie Feldman, on multiple
occasions. They were involved in organizing a
<a href="http://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/green-scare">Green
Scare</a> speaking event in Minneapolis. They are both incredibly kind,
passionate, activists who are involved in a variety of local issues,
including organizing public lectures and supporting the RNC 8. They are
lawful, above-ground activists who have organized against the Green
Scare. Now they, themselves, have become targets, and they need your
support. <br><br>
You can write letters to Carrie Feldman and Scott DeMuth, and email them
to: davenportgrandjury@wordpress.com. You can also donate to their legal
support at
<a href="http://davenportgrandjury.wordpress.com/" eudora="autourl">
http://davenportgrandjury.wordpress.com/<br><br>
</a></i>Related posts:
<ol>
<li>
<a href="http://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/carrie-feldmaniowa-grand-jury-alf/2331/">
Activist to Iowa Grand Jury: “We will not be intimidated. We will not
cooperate.”</a>
<li>
<a href="http://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/utah-aeta-arrests-response/1122/">
Utah Activists Resisting “Animal Enterprise Terrorism” Witch Hunts</a>
<li>
<a href="http://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/william-mitchell-aeta-law-event/1008/">
Minneapolis Event: “The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act: Examining the
Chilling Effect of Eco-Terrorism Legislation”</a><font size=3>
</ol><br>
</font><h1><b><a href="http://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog">Update from
Green Is The New
</a><a href="http://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog">Red.com</a> <br><br>
</b></h1><x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
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