U.S. Terror Hunt Targets Animal Activists

[Clara T]

U.S. terror hunt targets animal activists
Kevin Kjonaas set up a website with details about businesses that use animals for research information, and now he and five other activists have been convicted of inciting terrorism
Mar. 13, 2006. 07:49 AM
THOMAS WALKOM

TRENTON, N.J.—Kevin Kjonaas is an unlikely casualty of George W. Bush's war against terror. No one, including the U.S. government attorneys who just finished prosecuting him for so-called animal enterprise terrorism, says that the 28-year-old Minnesota native killed anyone — or even hurt anyone.

He's never planted a bomb or sent anthrax through the mail. The government doesn't claim Kjonaas damaged property — or knowingly provided material assistance to anyone who did.

"I've been an ass," Kjonaas acknowledged days before a Trenton jury found him guilty of inciting terrorism. "Some of the things I've done have been just rude, and I wouldn't do them again. But am I legally responsible (for the crimes the government accused him of)? No."

However, earlier this month, Kjonaas and five others ranging in age from 27 to 31 became the first people convicted under a 1992 U.S. law — significantly beefed up after 9/11 — that defines as terrorists those who damage firms involved in the animal business.

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[tularetom]

1. Boy will I sleep better tonight

now that some animal rights activist has been convicted of terra-ism. Of course its still o-tay to blow up abortion clinics or kill abortion providers and you won't be labelled a terraist for doing so. Is this a great country or what?

[BlackHeart]

4. Just curious

What is the penalty for blowing up an abortion office compared to blowing up an animal reaerch center; let's assume no one is injured in either crime?

[Bridget Burke]

25. When was the last Animal Research Center blown up?

And why aren't those who kill abortion doctors considered Terrorists?

[atommom]

2. Somehow I'm not surprised. Costing corporations money

(or even threatening to cut into their profits) is now terrorism.

[DavidMS]

3. Realy?

I am suprised that its treated as terrorism. Its more like Rackiteering.

[atommom]

5. You mean like the Animal Liberation Front?

There definitely are some activists using very unsavory tactics. I just think it's odd that so much time and energy is going into the government's investigation of them.

The Foundation for Biomedical Research calculates illegal acts by animal and environmental extremists have increased 1,000 per cent over the past decade. But even so, the absolute numbers (82 incidents in 2005) remain miniscule.

FBI spokeswoman Cathy Milhoan says there have never been any deaths or injuries in the U.S. attributable to animal rights or environmental terrorism.

By comparison, radical right-wingers killed 168 people in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. Since then, according to a Southern Poverty Law Center report, police have uncovered 60 more right-wing plots, including plans to assassinate judges, bomb synagogues and destroy mosques.

Yet in spite of this, as the Alabama-based law centre points out, the U.S. government has decided the radical right presents little or no threat. And the FBI says illegal activities of the extreme right have been eclipsed by the "special interest terrorism" of the animal rights and environmental movements.

[formercia]

10. They have to justify their budgets

even so, it looks prety stupid to spend tens of Billions tho convict a few people of 'inciting terrorisn'. Sounds like the old Sedition laws with new terms.

[LisaLynne]

12. Ding ding ding.

We have a winner. It's because it might cost some corporations some money. We can't have that! So, let's divert resources from finding actual terrists and go after activists.

[president4aday]

6. the terror hunters found something to do.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

9. boy, do you have that right.

search long enough for an enemy, and you will find one.

[leveymg]

7. The same overly-broad definition will be applied to any who oppose

by unlawful acts -- including nonviolent civil disobedience -- corporate or governmental policies.

It's not that far down the slippery slope until we hit rock bottom.

[dusty64]

8. Thats EXACTLY what

this is about and now we have the rethugs trying to make it legal for * to spy on anyone HE feels is a threat or a "terraist".

[AndyA]

11. Would someone please tell me why an "animal business" would be

protected under U.S. terrorism laws? What connection to terrorism could a research lab that uses animals as test subjects possibly have?

If this is so the Chimp in Chief has yet another way of spying on Americans without cause, we need to make sure anyone who backed this law is voted out of office because it's ridiculous.

[Maraya1969]

14. Jane Goodall is under attack.

[Maraya1969]

13. Don't buy Iams or Science Diet animal food because they DO test

on animals, which I find particularly revolting since they market foods for animals. They gave a group Beagles to use for testing a human bug deterrent.

Oh, and come arrest me you dickheads.


"This is just the starting gun," says David Martosko, research director of the Center for Consumer Freedom, an organization funded by the U.S. restaurant industry and a fierce opponent of animal rights.

He says the government should move against more mainstream organizations like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals or the Humane Society of the United States, which he calls "the farm teams for the eco-terror problem."

[Patiod]

15. And yet interfering at abortion clinics is NOT terrorism

or racketeering.

[saigon68]

22. Killing the doctor

Is ok too

[The Stranger]

16. Kicked and recommended.

[Coventina]

17. Gee, I wonder how long until all Vegans are labeled terrorists

If you ain't eating tainted beef, you ain't a good Amurikan!

[oneighty]

23. Oh yes

everybody must eat meat.

Or else.

180

[fshrink]

18. Need to control applies to *anyone*. That's the purpose.

As in England where every single car can now be tracked in real-time.

[rodeodance]

19. this is scary. What the hell else is in these terror bills that will hit

someone, sometime?

.....that defines as terrorists those who damage firms involved in the animal business.

[Kolesar]

20. Another GOP divisive "culture war" issue--make the activists a target

of right wing, red state ire. Ridicule them and make them look stupid and weak.

[HuffleClaw]

21. "...the government should move against... ...the Humane Society..."

according to "David Martosko, research director of the Center for Consumer Freedom, an organization funded by the U.S. restaurant industry"

the HUMANE SOCIETY ?????

what a loon.

[donkeyotay]

24. Back when the Pat Act was first passed

Seems there was a quote from Prez. Serial Liar saying not to worry that this would never be used against CITIZENS! Shortly thereafter, Asscroft redefined terrierists to include environmentalists and the animal rights people, and has the evil bastard in washington has recently made obvious, this govt. now admits that they give a fuck about citizen's rights.

[Minnesota Libra]

26. What the eff is this all about?? I can't even defend my pets and other...

.....animals now???:grr: What is going on here?? Man's best friend - whether they meow or bark - needs someone to stand up for them.:wtf: :cry:

[Lorien]

27. So do all the wild and endangered ones they seek to exterminate:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/764703144?z00m=76234&z00m=76234<l=1142354823

[file83]

28. Gee, I wonder if Gov't operations like COINTELPRO conducted

those bombings and life threatening phone calls to discredit SHAC-USA?

A modern day version of COINTELPRO? No way, our government would never do anything like that. :sarcasm:

[anotherdrew]

29. the deal: shutup and do as your told or we will kill you. the mask slips

a little more every day

is the pot boiling yet fellow frogs?