SHAC 7

About me:

We need your support! The SHAC 7 are six individuals--Lauren Gazzola, Kevin Kjonaas, Jake Conroy, Josh Harper, Andrew Stepanian, and Darius Fullmer--and the organization Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (USA). They are all serving lengthy prison sentences for simply speaking out!

They were found guilty on all charges on March 2nd, and are were sentenced on September 12th in Trenton, NJ. They received the following sentences:

Kevin Kjonaas: 72 months

Lauren Gazzola: 52 months

Jacob Conroy: 48 months

Joshua Harper: 36 months

Andrew Stepanian: 36 months

Darius Fulmer: 1 year, 1 day
Note: Darius was released on September 29, 2007!

The SHAC 7 represents a frightening new frontier in the war on speech. Indicted for protest activity against a criminally abusive animal-testing lab, their alleged modern forms civil disobedience and traditional free expression is being heralded as terrorism by big business and their pocketed politicians.

The college graduates, law school student, EMT, and social justice volunteers draw a sharp contrast from the ‘Osama bin Ladens’ of the world, but are being pursued no differently. Charged under the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act they face millions in fines and up to twenty-three years in jail for protected political speech and an unabashed support of controversial forms activism.

Their conviction is constitutionally flawed and imperils not just those who speak out on behalf of animals, but anyone who has something controversial to say. The stand they now take is a stand for civil liberties of us all.