The Spectre of Militance and Morgan, Utah: A Case Study

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“The protests don’t scare farmers the most. They’re worried someone will sneak in and release their animals” (KSTU Fox 13 News)

When I faced off with police in riot gear and over 75 mink farmers and their supporters in the mink farming capital of the U.S. Saturday, it wasn’t the threat of us waving signs outside their farms that elicited their wrath – it was the threat of the Animal Liberation Front.

This is the story of the true value of protest, as revealed by the mink farmer’s own words.

Background: In August, the Salt Lake Animal Advocacy Movement (SLAAM) announced a Fur Free Saturday march through Morgan, Utah, home of 15 active mink farms. The protest would target two mink farms: starting at the Dawson Fur Farm, finishing at the S. Francis Fur Farm one mile away.

All I spoke to in attendance referred to it as the most tense and volatile demo they had every attended. The threat of impending violence from the 50+ mink farmers in attendance was palpable.

(View video clips from the demo here, and a photo slideshow here)

I followed the media and fur industry coverage closely, before and after the protest. I listened to words directly form the mink farms at the protest, had conversations with reporters who had spoken with farmers that day, and more. The overwhelming take-home message was this:

Mink farmers don’t fear protesters, they fear the implicit threat the protesters bring: that of the Animal Liberation Front looming just out of sight. Their frenzy was not inspired by the threat of sings and chants, but of the crowd charging their farms, releasing animals, and more.

Martin Luther King stated he was only able to gain ground with opponents of the civil rights struggle with the threat of Malcolm X and the more extreme tactics he promoted looming in the background.

It is a point best made in the fur industry’s own words:

“We’ve been preparing (for the protest) for months…. My gates are locked…” (mink farmer L. Scott Francis, Standard-Examiner)

“They have a right to free speech, as long as they’re not blowing up feed plants and destroying million dollar property.” (Mink farmer Smokey Dillree, Standard Examiner)

“We will probably be nervous for a very long time (after the protest), and a lot of people will spend a lot of nights watching their farms… (My husband) was out on watch with the rest of his family last night. “ (Wife of a Morgan fur farmer)

“If you believe standing on the side of the street pounding on a bucket and holding up signs is an effective way to express your opinion and convince others then more power to you. Go for it! If you feel, however, the need to take matters into your own hands and work ‘outside the law’(as many signs and chants implied) that is a different issue.” (Morgan resident)

“The animal rights activists that are protesting the mink farms in the past have demonstrated that they will take extreme measures. These measures include trespassing, vandalism of property, and releasing the caged mink.” (Morgan resident)

“In the end, the activists will enter our community, and overstep the law as they impose their will on the local ranchers. This is what they have done in the past…” (Morgan resident, Standard -Examiner)

“Francis is also worried the protest may lead to the release of mink and the demolition of pens and sheds, similar to other protests in past years in West Haven and West Jordan.” (Mink farmer S. Francis, Standard-Examiner).

“There was a lot of damage to ranches and livelihoods, so it’s something we can’t take lightly”. (Mink farmer S. Francis, Standard-Examiner)

“Mink growers, however, worry it will turn into something more, with their property being destroyed and minks being set free.” (KSL News)

“(The mink farm protest) has the potential to incite breaches of the peace” (language from Morgan County anti-protesting ordinance)

“Stan Durrant says… he’s been spending nights at his farm worried someone might try to open his cages.” (KSTU Fox 13 News)

“Couldn’t we make them supply us their names, in case they do something later? …I don’t understand why they have the freedom not to reveal who they are.” (Mink farmer Tony Jones at the County Council meeting to ban targeting protesting)

“I know Cort, I know Pete, I know Chuck (mink farmers who had their farms raided). In a matter of 10 or 15 minutes, an entire career can be turned upside down. And that’s the last thing we want to happen here…” (County Councilperson, addressing fur farmers at the County Council meeting to ban targeting protesting).

“I’m sure you people will try and protect us…. We don’t want these people up here. We realize they have rights, we need to make rules to keep them out so we don’t have to spend our time up all night. They’re up to no good. They’re breaking the law. They’re agenda was proven last fall in Kaysville, they let 7,000 mink out… “ (Mink farmer Tony Jones at Morgan County Council meeting to ban targeting protesting)

And in a region with a long-running, vibrant and prolific animal rights movement, the head of the Fur Commission USA admits it is not the hundreds of protests which they view as a threat, but direct intvervention in their industry by groups like the Animal Liberation Front. The single action described by Teresa Platt as the industry’s “darkest hour” was not a mass convergence of protesters, but the demolition of the nations largest fur feed production plant, just outside Salt Lake City:

“(The Utah fur industry’s) darkest hour was on Mar. 11, 1997, when terrorists launched an attack on the Fur Breeders Agricultural Coop, in Sandy. An incendiary bomb was detonated inside the Co-op offices, totally destroying them.” (Teresa Platt, Fur Commission USA)

And the mink farmers seemed especially sensitive to the flier passed out at the protest listing updated info on most fur farms in Utah (view here), and the mink farm photo gallery on FurFreeUtah.com. Farmers recognize their industry is so shameful, and public support is so low, that any information made public will have adverse affects. Particularly photos and addresses of their farms:

“(Mink farmer Lynn Boyce) said he fears any inside information could lead to protests that harm specific mink ranches in Morgan.” (Standard-Examiner)

“L. Scott Francis said it was difficult to see his farm pictured on furfreeutah.com, a Web site organized by the protestors. ‘But there’s not much we can do,’ he said.” (Standard-Examiner)

The Morgan mink farm protest is a case study in a lesson more conservative elements of any social justice movement would do well to internalize: Without the spectre of militant, direct action looming just out of sight of more moderate protest activity, legal protest carries little weight.

-Peter Young

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The Mystery of the University of Iowa A.L.F. Indictment

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In one of the more interesting lapses in media fact-checking, recent reports that an activist has been charged with conspiracy to break-in to the University of Iowa labs in 2004 may be premature. At least one lawyer has said the media may be misreporting the charges altogether.

The media announced Thursday that jailed grand jury resistor Scott DeMuth had been formally indicted for Animal Enterprise Terrorism in Iowa. While every media report speculated the charge related to conspiracy to commit vandalism related to the liberation of 401 animals at the University of Iowa, the media failed to decipher the criminal codes listed in the indictment. A look at those codes show it does not specify what illegal conduct is alleged – whether threats, vandalism, or something else altogether.

The indictment (viewed here), makes no mention the University of Iowa raid. The primary evidence cited by the media that Scott DeMuth is charged with the break-in is:

*The date range on the indictment (November 9th to November 20th, 2004) matching the University of Iowa raid.

*The county (Johnson) listed on the indictment matches the location of the University of Iowa raid.

*Scott DeMuth and Carrie Feldman’s attorney’s both stated they believe the grand jury was investigating the University of Iowa raid.

However it appears DeMuth may not be charged with the actual break-in under the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act.

To shed light on the confusion, attorney Matthew Strugar has this to say about the indictment:

“[the portion of the indictment indicating the charge does not pertain to property destruction at the University of Iowa is-] the subsection of the AETA that he’s charged under. 18 USC 43(b)(1) is property destruction and 18 USC 43(b)(2) is threats (here is a link to the law). So to have a violation of the law, they have to prove a violation of 43(a) and either 43(b)(1) or 43(b)(2). Scott’s indicted for a conspiracy to commit 43(a) and 43(b)(2), which is definitely a charge for making a threat. It cites (b)(2) twice in the indictment. It would have to list 43(b)(1) if it was for property destruction, damage, theft, etc, and it doesn’t.

(more…)

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A.L.F. Witch Hunt: Second Activist Subpoenaed

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A second activist has just been subpoenaed to the grand jury in Iowa. The grand jury is believed to be investigating the 2004 Animal Liberation Front break-in at the University of Iowa, in which 401 animals were liberated. Like the first person subpoenaed, the second activist works with the Earth Liberation prisoners support group in Minneapolis.

The first activist known to be subpoenaed, Carrie Feldman, has her second grand jury appearance on November 17th in Davenport, Iowa. This is the day before the 5-year statute of limitations should, in theory, expire. However lawyers close to the case have said the statute of limitations could be circumvented if prosecutors pursue a conspiracy charge, a crime for which the statute of limitations clock is reset every time the “conspirators” communicate.

Grand juries are convened to indict people and send them to prison. It is clear that prosecutors in Iowa are intent on exactly that. It is crucial we support activists who take a non-cooperation stance, and are willing to sacrifice their freedom for as long as 18 months (the duration of a grand jury) to combat efforts to put animal liberators in prison.  Without the complicity of those subpoenaed, the malevolent work of a grand jury grinds to a halt.

-Peter Young

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Possible A.L.F. Investigation: Activist Refuses to Testify

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On October 16th, a Minneapolis activist appeared before a grand jury and read a statement that she was refusing to testify.  It is looking increasingly likely the grand jury is investigating the 2004 Animal Liberation Front raid of the University of Iowa, in which 401 animals were liberated. The activist, Carrie Feldman, was issued another subpoena to appear.

I am personally applauding Carrie Feldman for taking the only both practical and noble response to a grand jury: total non-cooperation.

As covered in the last update, it would seem the federal statute of limitations (this is a federal grand jury) for the University of Iowa A.L.F. action would expire on November 14th, 2009. However this grand jury convened on October 12th and will remain in session for 12 months. This would indicate the grand jury is investigating crimes other than the U of I liberation, or prosecutors believe one of several factors which can freeze or extend the statute of limitations may apply.

– Peter  Young

This is the statement from Carrie Feldman:

“Today I had my first appearance before the federal grand jury in
Davenport, Iowa. I was represented by a federal public defender (although
he could not be present in the grand jury with me). After reading a brief
statement expressing that I would not testify, I was released with a
subpoena to reappear before the grand jury again on the 17th of November
at 9:00 A.M. It is likely that at this time I will be held in contempt of
court for continuing to remain silent, and could face jail time up to the
length of the grand jury (it convenes for 12 months total, which leaves 11
remaining after my November appearance). We are still looking into legal
questions regarding how long they could hold me. (more…)

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Possible A.L.F. Grand Jury Investigation: Iowa

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On Tuesday, October 13th, a Minneapolis woman was pulled over by a black SUV and served a grand jury subpoena. It is not yet known what the grand jury is investigating, but evidence points to their interest being an incident in Iowa in 2004. A review of all  A.L.F. / E.L.F. actions show that during the period in question, the A.L.F. raided the University of Iowa psychology building, liberating 401 animals and doing nearly $500,000 damage to the labs.

The subpoena can be viewed here.

Grand juries are convened for the sole purpose of investigating a crime, indicting someone for the crime, and sending them to prison.

Statute of Limitations Looming

If the grand jury does relate to the University of Iowa raid, it is a move of desperation. The raid took place on November 14th, 2004. That means exactly 30 days from the time of this writing, the federal statute of limitations will expire, and (with certain limited exceptions) it will be impossible to prosecute anyone for the action. If this GJ is in fact investigating the U of I raid, it is their last desperate attempt to put in prison those anonymous activists who have 401 animals a second chance of life.

The FBI has displayed a similar pattern in past Animal  Liberation Front investigations. One month before the statute of limitations was to expire for the University of Minnesota raid (1999) in which 116 animals were liberated, and as much as  $4 million damage done to the labs, the FBI made a last minute flurry of home visits attempting to interview older activists in the area.

Statement from Minnesota Activist (more…)

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Mink Farmers On Alert in Utah

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Calling them “mink patrols”, police in Utah have increased their patrolling of Park City area mink farms due to unspecified threats received against the fur industry.

In a press release last winter, the FBI expressed concern the indictment of animal rights activists for mink releases in Utah would spark solidarity raids of additional fur farms. In the wake of charges against activists for animal liberation actions, further raids are commonly carried out in response in the weeks and months following. The actions liberate additional animals from confinement, and ensure that no matter how many activists are sent to prison, animal abusers will always suffer a net loss.

Read the Park Record (Park City, UT) article here.

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University of Iowa builds underground animal lab to protect from ALF raids

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After A.L.F. activists raided the psychology building labs in 2004, liberating over 400 animals and doing almost half a million follars damage to the lab, the University of Iowa announced plans this month to build a new animal research facility entirely underground.

“The University of Iowa has gotten the green light to build a subterranean vivarium that will house experimental animals to be used in biomedical research and offer an extra measure of protection from animal rights extremists.” (more…)

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