Equal Justice Alliance Hosts AETA Briefing On The Hill
Wednesday, March 21, 2007 * 2:00 to 3:30pm

Do your elected officials know about the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA)? Do they understand its negative impact on First Amendment rights of free speech and assembly?

1. DOWNLOAD flyer to email to:
        YOUR federal Representative and Senators.
        Right-click image and SAVE IMAGE AS
2. Include a brief note about why you want AETA repealed.
        See talking point in press release below flyer.
3. For a HIGHER RESOLUTION copy of flyer to Congress, email:
        kinshipcircle@brick.net
4. DELETE ALL REFERENCES TO KINSHIP CIRCLE BEFORE
        SENDING FLYER/COMMENTS TO REP AND SENATORS.
        The message is from YOU, not Kinship Circle

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Obscure Law Criminalizes Free Speech And Brands Activists "Terrorists"
CONTACT: Dawn Moncrief, 301-530-5838, 202-468-4834 or farm.campaigns@verizon.net

PRESS CONTACTS / TO SCHEDULE AN INTERVIEW:
Peter Muller, Chair, Equal Justice Alliance • 845-790-5050 or petermuller@verizon.net
Odette Wilkens, Executive Director, Equal Justice Alliance • owilkens@nyc.rr.com
Will Potter, freelance journalist • 202-486-3623 or info@willpotter.com

Bethesda, MD * March 15, 2007 — Anyone who values First Amendment rights to free speech and assembly ought to worry about the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA).

AETA ostensibly inflates criminal prohibitions and penalties for violent actions and threats against animal enterprises (i.e, agribusiness, biomedical industry, fur farms, breeding mills, etc.) In reality, the law shields animal-use corporations from legal protest and criminalizes protected free speech.

Yet last November President Bush signed AETA into law, after Congress sidestepped overwhelming opposition from the social justice community. AETA never registered on the public's radar screen. It deserves media attention now, in light of the GOP's ongoing crackdown on civil liberties.

In response to AETA, animal and social-justice advocates formed the Equal Justice Alliance (EJA) to preserve free speech and fair treatment under the law. The coalition works to dismantle AETA and prevent future repressive legislation.

• AETA denies free speech and assembly, constitutional rights under the First Amendment.
• AETA imposes disproportionately harsh penalties for peaceful protest. AETA proposes up to one year for an offense involving no threatened or actual economic damage or bodily harm, or up to 20 years in prison for economic damage!
• AETA is excessively broad and vague. It casts a wide net over the actions of most animal/social advocates and the industries they oppose. Under AETA, "animal enterprise" includes virtually every U.S. retailer.
• AETA brands activists as "terrorists."
• AETA is excessive. Disciplinary measures already exist for vandalism, property loss, criminal trespass, harassment, assault and bodily injury.
• AETA hampers investigation of animal enterprises that violate federal animal cruelty laws.
• AETA is not genuinely targeted to fight terrorism. In fact, it wastes taxpayer money on illusory "bad guys" and interferes with prosecution of authentic terrorism against the American people.

Several hundred organizations nationwide vigorously oppose AETA, including Equal Justice Alliance, FARM, League of Humane Voters, National Lawyers Guild, New York City Bar Association, Natural Resources Defense Council, etc.

EJA hopes to neutralize AETA by convincing federal district attorneys and courts to refrain from actual prosecution under the law because its obtuse language would result in numerous legal challenges, causing cases to be tied up in court. The coalition also networks with key legislators, Justice personnel and defenders of civil liberties to deliver its message to Congress:  AETA is impractical and unconstitutional. It should be repealed now.

KINSHIP CIRCLE / AETA RESOURCES:

Kinship Circle is a nonprofit organization. Donations help us meet expenses for the literature, website, research and campaigns - that let YOU take action for animals. Please donate to Kinship Circle. Thank you!
DONATE: www.kinshipcircle.org/donation/donations.html

BEAR WITNESS. SPEAK. DEMAND. ACT.
KINSHIPCIRCLE - Action Campaigns  I  Literature  I  Voice For Animals
Nonprofit working in animal protection/cruelty + animal disaster relief campaigns
info@kinshipcircle.org, kinshipcircle@brick.net
www.KinshipCircle.org • www.kinshipcircle.org/disasters/default.html

SUBSCRIBE TO EMAIL LISTS
Kinship Circle maintains two separate mail lists:

KINSHIP CIRCLE PRIMARY: Action campaigns for animal cruelty and protection issues worldwide + updates		TELL US: 1. Subscribe to Kinship Circle Primary 2. If you live in St. Louis, Missouri or nearby area
KINSHIP CIRCLE ANIMAL DISASTER RELIEF: Animal rescue coordination and news in disasters		TELL US: 1. Subscribe Kinship Circle Animal Disaster Relief 2. If you're a resident of Louisiana or Mississippi

*DISCLAIMER: The information in these alerts is verified with the original source. Kinship Circle does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of the information or for the consequences of its use. Nothing in this email is intended to encourage illegal action in whatever country you are reading it in. Kinship Circle does not engage in, nor support, any form of harassment or unlawful activity. Nothing in this alert serves to promote such conduct.

*Kinship Circle cannot guarantee the validity of email addresses. During a campaign, recipients may change or disable their email addresses.