Animal Rights & Liberation

The federal government's Green Scare campaign took another depressing turn Tuesday morning as a federal district judge in Iowa ordered the detainment of Twin Cities activists Scott DeMuth and Carrie Feldman at a contempt hearing. As previously reported, DeMuth and Feldman were subpoenaed to a grand jury in Davenport, Iowa, compelling them to testify regarding a animal rights-related vandalism incident at the University of Iowa.

Feldman and Scott spoke to the local press and 30 to 40 supporters at a rally beforehand in Davenport, then refused to testify. At the contempt hearing, the judge offered both immunity, but they still refused to talk, and were taken away. The judge believes they will remain in jail until they comply or the jury ends (likely in 11 months). 

Related: Feldman Interviewed by Peter Young | New Support Info | Press Release from EWOK!, Statements from Carrie and Scott |  Video of Davenport Support Rally | TCDP: Minnesota EWOKs Jailed in Iowa (Photo credit) | Dallas, TX: Grand jury resistance action Previous Coverage: Second subpoena issued | Subpoena PDF |  Video: Feldman on Grand Juries & Luce Guillen-Givens on the Green Scare | Local Activist Subpoenaed to Grand Jury in Iowa Also: Bogus Subpoena Against US Indymedia | Feds' Search of G20 Twittering Anarchist Upheld

Grand Juries and the Green Scare

Almost a month after Twin Cities activist Carrie Feldman was subpoenaed to an Iowa grand jury, another activist was served a subpoena on the same street corner at the same time and same day of the week.  Late Monday afternoon, Scott DeMuth's car was surrounded by a gaggle of local and federal unmarked vehicles on 31st Street near Powderhorn Park.  Several men got out, nervously walked to the car, and handed DeMuth the subpoena requesting his fingerprints.

Both activists have been asked to appear next Tuesday before the Davenport, Iowa grand jury that appears to be investigating a 2004 Animal Liberation Front action targeting vivisection at the University of Iowa.  At the time, Feldman was a 15-year-old high school sophomore in Minneapolis.

Related: Subpoena PDF | Statement from DeMuth/Support Info | Thursday: Grand-Jury Send-off Potluck and Hip-hop Show @ Seward Cafe | 10-14: Local Activist Subpoenaed to Grand Jury in Iowa | Solidarity Rally Also: Bogus Subpoena Against US Indymedia | Video: Carrie Feldman on Grand Juries & Luce Guillen-Givens on the Green Scare

“Little Guantanamo” Exposing the CMU by Daniel McGowan, Spring 2009

On Wednesday, April 22, the Woodbury city council is expected to vote, and
pass, an ordinance banning residential picketing in the city of Woodbury.

This ordinance is being proposed in response to a half dozen pickets that
happened at the homes of 3M executives this past summer because of 3M's
connection to an animal testing company called Huntingdon Life Sciences.
The police themselves have stated that no laws were broken, the protesters
were peaceful, and the protesters even cooperated with the police when
asked to leave.

Messed up news as another political prisoner drifts through the modern American gulag archipelago. Hits BoingBoing @ least, & our friend Will Potter breaks out the case... This appears to be mainly about the government's interest in information warfare -- IE blacking out supporters' connection to the defendant. Judge & hierarchy unhappy McGowan has a website, oh noes! ...

Why is PETA suing animal rights organizations?

Predictably, the article below shows how little corporate media and police understand decentralization, and doesn't include a single quote from activists.

Woodbury may ban protests in residential areas after 3M execs' homes targeted by animal-rights group
Proposal follows group's picketing at 3M execs' houses
By Bob Shaw
bshaw@pioneerpress.com
Updated: 02/19/2009 11:43:29 PM CST

Animals have rights, but so do homeowners.

An aggressive protest tactic — picketing at people's homes — is getting a thumbs-down from Woodbury officials.