A.L.F. Witch Hunt: Second Activist Subpoenaed
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
Receive updates via email: Subscribe here.
