Could We Call This Domestic Terrorism?
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Alleged ALF members strike more South
Bay restaurants | |
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The group, which the FBI calls a
domestic terrorist organization, takes credit for two more fast-food
vandalism incidents. By Larry Altman Daily Breeze The militant Animal Liberation Front claimed responsibility Monday for vandalism attacks at two South Bay fast-food restaurants, spray painting slogans and smashing windows in a campaign to bring an end to animal consumption. The latest attacks occurred early Sunday at a KFC at Carson and Figueroa streets in Carson, and at a McDonald's restaurant in Torrance that was struck a week earlier. The attacks became the third and fourth in the South Bay since November, when a McDonald's in Harbor Gateway was severely damaged, also by vandals who spray painted "ALF" and other messages on walls and windows. "There's obviously a cell of the Animal Liberation Front operating in the area," said Jerry Vlasak, a spokesman for the organization. "For some reason they have chosen that area." The FBI deems the ALF a domestic terrorism organization that is responsible for vandalism at fast-food restaurants across the country. Torrance police Lt. Brad Wilson said detectives would huddle with Sheriff's Department detectives in Carson, as well as Los Angeles police investigators working on the Harbor Gateway case. Employees at the McDonald's at 24650 Crenshaw Blvd. discovered the vandalism when they arrived for work at 5 a.m. Sunday. Several windows were smashed and graffiti including "ALF" and "McKillers" was sprayed on walls, Wilson said. Vandals also smashed windows and sprayed graffiti on the walls at the KFC at Carson and Figueroa streets between midnight and 7:30 a.m. Sunday. Slogans included "ALF," "KFC Kills" and a misspelled statement of "Until the slaughter stops, neither will we." Carson sheriff's Capt. Todd Rogers said damaged was estimated at $20,000. According to the ALF statement, "McDonald's has been designated a poster-company for the fast food, meat and dairy industries, which are responsible for massive and unimaginable animal cruelty, as well as participating in environmentally destructive practices and anti-union efforts." The animal-rights organization, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, recently targeted KFC, asking the company to buy and kill chickens from growers that provided them with larger cages than are currently in use. "The animal liberation movement is vehemently opposed to such acts of animal welfarism, which only serve to appease those who exploit and kill animals for human pleasure," the statement said. Vlasak said the group commits vandalism to obtain publicity because it must compete with multibillion-dollar advertising campaigns. The South Bay might have been targeted repeatedly because they enjoyed the amount of attention provided by print and television news media last week. "All I can think of is they are getting their message out and they are being successful in what they are doing and obviously they are not getting caught by the police," Vlasak said. Vlasak said animals "have a right to not be oppressed and suffer at the hands of human beings." "The ultimate goal is for human beings to pursue a plant-based diet," Vlasak said. "It would be healthier for the planet and the animals who are being slaughtered." | |
Source: http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/articles/1264127.html
If The HSUS Is Doing........
WA
H.B. 1579 Animal Fighting
Bill Number: H.B. 1579
HSUS Position:
Support
CA
S.B. 156 Animal Fighting Penalties
Bill
Number: S.B. 156
HSUS Position: Support
MS
S.B. 2354 Hog Dog Fights
Bill Number: S.B. 2354
HSUS Position:
Support
Isn't It Really The AR Doing This?
INTRODUCTION
OF BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS -- (Senate - February 15, 2005)
By Mr. ENSIGN (for himself, Mr. SPECTER, Ms. CANTWELL, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. DEWINE, Mr. KENNEDY, Mr. KYL, Mr. KOHL, Mr. LUGAR, Mr. VITTER, Mr. LEAHY, and Mr. SANTORUM):
S. 382. A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to strengthen prohibitions against animal fighting, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?r109:32:./temp/~r109inZfBO::
_______________________________________________________
LAS VEGAS SUN
WASHINGTON -- Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., wants to ban interstate sale of tools designed for dog and cock fighting and create tougher consequences for those who participate in the activity.
Ensign, who was a veterinarian before entering politics, said he is "fully committed to bring about the demise of this abhorrent activity."
He re-introduced a bill Tuesday that makes transportation of animals for fighting a felony, creates a maximum penalty of two years in prison and bans the sale of knives and other tools used in animal fights.
"Animal fighting is a cruel and disgusting practice that should have no place n our society," Ensign said in a statement Tuesday.
He has introduced the bill before, but it has not succeeded. The Senate included it in a larger bill during the last session of Congress but it was taken out during final negotiations.
Ensign's office said the bill, known as the "Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act of 2005," has support from 158 police and sheriffs' departments across the country, the Agriculture Department, the National Chicken Council, the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Humane Society of the United States.
"Not only is animal fighting itself gruesome, but it often involves illegal gambling, illegal narcotics and human violence," Ensign said. "Children are brought to the fights for entertainment, and some dog fighters allow trained fighting dogs to roam neighborhoods and endanger the public.
"There are also growing concerns about the potential for cockfighting to spread virulent diseases that jeopardize poultry flocks and public health. There is no end to the list of reasons why animal fighting must be stopped."
Source: http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/lv-gov/2005/feb/16/518301450.html
Could We Call All This Legislative Terrorism?
S.382
: A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to strengthen prohibitions
against animal fighting, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen
Ensign, John [NV] (introduced 2/15/2005) Cosponsors
(11)
Committees: Senate Judiciary
Latest Major Action:
2/15/2005 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary.
Source: http://www.congress.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/R?d109:FLD010:+@eq+20050215
COSPONSORS(11),
| Sen Cantwell, Maria [WA] - 2/15/2005 | Sen DeWine, Mike [OH] - 2/15/2005 |
| Sen Feinstein, Dianne [CA] - 2/15/2005 | Sen Kennedy, Edward M. [MA] - 2/15/2005 |
| Sen Kohl, Herb [WI] - 2/15/2005 | Sen Kyl, Jon [AZ] - 2/15/2005 |
| Sen Leahy, Patrick J. [VT] - 2/15/2005 | Sen Lugar, Richard G. [IN] - 2/15/2005 |
| Sen Santorum, Rick [PA] - 2/15/2005 | Sen Specter, Arlen [PA] - 2/15/2005 |
| Sen Vitter, David [LA] - 2/15/2005 |
Re: Fri 11 Feb 2005
From The OGBA News Comes......
Rebuttal to article in the Ada Evening News dated 02-11-2005.
Let me start by stating that I don’t think the Ada Evening News has the editorial integrity to print a rebuttal to “ROOSTER BOXING”.
I think this article was prompted by one of the most active Animal Rights Activist in Oklahoma, which resides in the Ada area and is affiliated with The Humane Society of the United States. My question is “WHO” knighted the HSUS as the true spokesman, with know it all knowledge and expertise to oppose cock fighting and impose their beliefs on all citizens of Oklahoma and the rest of the United States?
It is easy to quote the 56% win percent of the vote, but not disclose that the vast majority of the total yes votes were cast in Oklahoma and Tulsa counties. Again displaying that urban Oklahoma will control what happens in rural Oklahoma, without regards to the economic impact of rural counties.
Again the same old verbiage that lawsuits were filed against Ms. Halliburton, is being used in the newspaper releases. Just to set the record straight, I believe that gambling, prostitution, and drugs is a felony in Oklahoma. By continuing to print this verbiage the news departments of all news media and the ARA’S are calling the sheriffs, deputies, district attorneys and assistant district attorneys in all of the counties that had one of the 42 operating testing facilities ineffective, not caring, shady and not performing their jobs that they were duly elected and sworn to perform.
When and where do we use and approve tradition? It appears that the ARA’S use if freely in reference to cock fighting. They suggest that the tradition of over 200 years here in the USA and back to biblical times should be forgotten. The rest of the world uses it as an indicator and reflection of the past, regardless of the events. The ARA’S think we can do away with all of the history books and deal with reality as it happens day by day.
Do your research and you will find a true picture of the ARA’S. The annual budget of the HSUS is over 100 million dollars. Less than 3% of that total is spent on animals, fish, birds or fowl. The remaining funds are spent on salaries, expense accounts and overhead, which includes a vengeance to instill their beliefs into all citizens of the USA. [1] Everyone is to release all animals, fish, fowl and birds to it’s natural habitat. [2] Every citizen is to become a vegetarian. [3] Do away with the Judo/Christian religion. [4] Raise the legal status of animals, fish, fowl, and birds to that of humans.
I urge you to do your research. Reference is made to the business section of the Tulsa world of 02-02-2005. The loss of cock fighting has and will continue to cost Oklahoma jobs and revenue. It was to improve our image to attract many more companies to move here. The above referenced article will prove that not only did the outlawing of cock fight cost Oklahoma jobs, but employment in rural counties. From the chart you will see Oklahoma is ahead of 9 surrounding states on economic growth up to April 1, 2003. After that date, there is a steady decline in economic development and revenue to the state. There is also a loss of business, not a gain as predicted by the ARA’S. Just maybe they are full of lies.
If this is what the citizen of Oklahoma want, then continue to support the efforts of the ARA’s. WHAT? You don’t think they can do that to you. They just succeeded, in England, to achieve one of their major goals, FOX HUNTING. It took them years and lots of money but was successful thru campaign contribution to politicians. Just like they are doing here in Oklahoma.
The bottom line is, not one single Oklahoman gave two hoots or a huff about cock fighting until the out of state ARA”S came to town with their troops and bottomless pockets and started the campaign to eradicate the game cock and a 100 million dollar rural industry. Now all of Oklahoma is paying for the lies and beliefs of the Animal Rights Activist, and the HSUS is a member.
Valdon Holland
Davis, Oklahoma 73030Opening statements heard in animal cruelty case
By JEFF MARTIN Journal Staff Writer
EAST LIVERPOOL - Opening statements were made in East
Penni White-Knoedler and her ex-husband, Eric Knoedler, have been charged with two counts of animal cruelty, respectively, with Eric facing an additional charge of obstruction of official business.
White-Knoedler, who Columbiana County Assistant County Prosecutor Tim McNicol said Tuesday operates a "so-called" animal rescue called Angels 4 Horses, was charged in Municipal Court in June 2004 for what County Humane Officer Bill Fast and Salem Humane Society President Pete Johnson called "terrible" treatment of horses and one mule.
Responding to several complaints of animal abuse and poor living conditions, both Fast and Johnson arrived at the White property first on April 25, 2004. McNicol said both men discovered a two-acre property with approximately 14-15 horses and numerous other animals, all of which were living in deplorable conditions.
McNicol said the property was covered in "mud, urine-soaked," its hillside "manure-covered" and the air full of a "foul odor." McNicol said the horses, left to graze in a mud-filled and grassless pasture, had suffered injuries and scrapes, and at least one horse was close to extreme malnutrition. Horses, one of which was pregnant and ready to foal, reportedly were fed by a manure spreader, which spread the hay into the muddy field.
Both Fast and Johnson testified Tuesday during opening statements, and both stated that they were concerned for the animals' well-being, specifically the lack of food and the poor housing conditions.
"I'm no vet," Fast said, "but I know when a horse hasn't been fed or isn't feeling well."
Fast, who said he did not have a warrant when he arrived unannounced on April 25, said he told White that first visit to make sure the horses had more hay than the three bales he saw during the initial visit. Fast said he would return to the property the following day, and when he did, Fast discovered that hay still had not been purchased.
Believing she had been appropriately warned, Fast, Johnson and veterinarian Eric Gordon returned on May 1, 2004, and removed five horses. On May 3, another horse was sent from the property, reportedly by White.
All those horses taken from the property are reportedly alive at other farms.
Defense attorneys Rick Luther, representing White-Knoedler, and William Taylor, representing Eric Knoedler, argued several points, namely that White is in the business of nursing horses back to health.
"The shape these animals were in when she got them was bad," Taylor said. "When you have horses you rescued from Sugarcreek, you bet they're skinny and malnourished."
Taylor added that horses were provided an attached field to enter and graze as they nursed themselves back to health. In all, Taylor said the acreage of the property totaled seven acres, an amount Fast said he could not dispute because he had not checked county records.
Taylor said the case is an "emotional one" and that it would "boil down to experts," specifically witnesses who live near the White property and veterinarians who have been subpoenaed because of their expert knowledge in animal care.
Taylor said one veterinarian will state that the horses, half of which Fast and Johnson agreed Tuesday were in good, healthy condition, were on their way to "improving."
Johnson called the property a "disgusting, terrible sight," the facilities "atrocious" with water running off the hill. He said one of the horses had "the body language of death," referring to its malnourished state.
"I've never smelled anything like it before," he said. "It was an absolute, disgusting mudhole."
Johnson said that once the horses were removed, including the pregnant horse, they were tested. Results showed the animals were infected with worms, a concern for Johnson at the outset when he first arrived at the property to find hay on the mud-covered ground.
Johnson said Eric Knoedler lightly shoved him when he attempted to initiate the move of the pregnant horse, an incident which eventually led to the obstruction of justice charge. But defense attorneys argued that Knoedler had the right to feel emotional over the possible relocation of the animal during such a sensitive time.
The horse, which gave birth without complication soon after, was moved to Angels For Animals in Greenford. It is currently in the possession of that organization's owner.
Johnson said he and authorities were willing to risk moving the pregnant horse because White's facilities posed a greater risk than moving the animal approximately 25 minutes north.
One organization, the Virginia-based People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), has shown interest in the trial, stating in a press release last Friday that White could be classified as an "animal hoarder," or someone who obsessively accumulates animals. Officials at PETA said that White, if convicted, should undergo a psychological evaluation and counseling and be banned for life from processing animals "because repeat crimes are the rule rather than the exception among animal hoarders."
Statements are expected to continue this morning at 8:30 a.m.
Source: http://www.morningjournalnews.com/news/story/0215202005_new03news16.asp