Circumstantial Evidence
Print This Post
Yesterday, Will Potter at Green Is The New Red posted an article, Appellate Court: Encouraging Civil Disobedience is Not Protected Speech about the SHAC7 case and the erosion of human rights.
It’s an important read for any animal or environmental activist, but quite honestly, I don’t know what to say about the issue myself. I so want to discuss the topic in a way that will encourage animal advocates to speak up and continue to make a difference, but this news comes with such sadness and fear that encouraging words are difficult to find.
For example, my reading of the ruling indicates that the evidence of the SHAC7′s crimes was not actual evidence of crime, but was rather simply association with criminals and criminal activity.
Consider this passage from the ruling:
“Harper’s personal conduct does not cross the line of illegality; to punish him simply on the basis of his political speeches would run afoul of the constitution. However, his conduct, as discussed infra, does provide circumstantial evidence from which a jury could have reasonably inferred that Harper was involved in a conspiracy to violate the AEPA.” (page 43)
This is all the more frightening because the targets of criminal prosecution are the aboveground activists, who participate in open, legal demonstrations or simply maintain a website. Make no mistake, the intent of this ruling as well as the initial conviction is to silence ALL animal advocates, regardless of the type of activity in which they participate or encourage. This much is clear.
How shall I respond to this? Where can I find the optimism? The humor? The silver lining?
How can I, after reading and understanding this, be inspiring?
Nope, nothing inspiring here… Just depressing and distressing. On a federal level we have the AETA – and on the local level they “permit” you to death if you attempt to “organize” anything. I think whether or not you are for AR, the erosion of our liberties should be of concern to everyone.
Just awful news.
.-= Bea Elliott´s last blog ..WORLD VEGAN DAY – NOV 1 SPREAD AWARENESS! =-.
Even without local laws that require permits, there is such fear in the movement that advocates are afraid to stand up for animals without permits from the government and assurances from lawyers and coddling from activists. Even just leafleting… advocates get scared and don’t want to do it. Myself included sometimes.
That’s why I’m trying to focus on work-arounds: ways to advocate for animals that are ultra peaceful and hands-off yet are effective. Like, a billboard
We’ll just feed ‘em into agreement! I know, I know it’s a very serious problem and I don’t mean to be glib. Seriously though, if our civil liberties are being taken away, we may need to rethink our activism to our immediate spheres of influence. No permit is needed to have parties (and often) in your own home where vegan food abounds and where conversation can take place around information and education.
I’m thinking, for example, of the underground church movement in China. Despite the government’s harsh crackdown on all religious activity outside of that which is “approved”, the Christian church is in explosive growth; 18,000 per day are converting (can’t remember where I saw this figure, I could be off a bit). Whether you like religion or not is beside the point. What is relevant is that these people found a way to get the gospel out in spite of the government’s routine abuse of their of their human rights. Surely, we can take many lessons from this dynamic and apply it to our own cause.
Besides, this war is not going to be won in Washington through law and policy. It’s going to be won in the human heart and at the dinner table. If we won’t eat it, they’ll stop producing it.
So cheer up! Persecution might just be a blessing in disguise.
I love the billboard! We should have one on every major road throughout the country!
And I agree with you Leslie that consumer demand should make a difference in what is produced. Unfortunately, there are enormous corporate and government influences (and corruption) that circumvent “demand”.
For example the US government buys tons of meat, dairy and eggs for the military, school lunch programs and other institutions. Just during this year there have been three dairy “buy-outs” to support farmers who had more cows/milk than the market could bear. And too, there’s the recent “contracts” with “pork” producers – a “bail out” to help them avoid financial losses.
It’s going to be very difficult to influence much just through “demand” on a global level as well… China is expected to double their meat consumption in the next 30 years. And none of this even touches animals used for (other) purposes besides “food”.
While the “war” won’t be “won in Washington”, the suppression of freedom to dissent, powerful lobbyists, forced tax dollars going to “the enemy” sure does make the battle that much more challenging.
.-= Bea Elliott´s last blog ..WORLD VEGAN DAY – NOV 1 SPREAD AWARENESS! =-.
“Unfortunately, there are enormous corporate and government influences (and corruption) that circumvent ‘demand’.”
EXACTLY!