Animal rights activists arrested in California - April 21, 2009
Alleged members of the Animal Liberation Front have been charged with conspiracy, stalking and other crimes related to a campaign against researchers in California.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office says Linda Faith Greene, 61, and Kevin Richard Olliff, 22, were arrested on 16 April and arraigned yesterday. Both have pleaded not guilty (press release).
University of California, Los Angeles chancellor Gene Block said in a statement, “While we respect the rights of those who hold different views on the use of animals in research, the use of criminal tactics is deplorable. We’re grateful to UCLA’s police department for working with other law enforcement agencies to gather the evidence that led to these arrests, as well as to the district attorney’s office for recognizing the seriousness of the crimes against our researchers.”
The LA Times says:
The indictment alleged that Greene and others with the North American Animal Liberation Press Office posted claims from unidentified activists about an explosive reportedly left on the doorstep of UCLA psychiatry professor Lynn Fairbanks in June 2006. The device, which had been lighted but did not ignite, was actually planted at a neighbour’s home.The next month, prosecutors allege, Greene, Olliff and others demonstrated outside Fairbanks' house and chanted obscene slogans about burning it down.
Jerry Vlasak, an animal rights activist with North American Animal Liberation Press Office, told AP that Greene and Olliff were exercising their right to free speech.
“They’re not breaking any laws or breaking in to sabotage or destroying vehicles or equipment,” he said. “Everyone knows who they are. They’re high-profile activists who never tried to hide their identities.”
Greene and Olliff are each charged with three counts of conspiracy to commit the crime of stalking, three counts of stalking, two counts of conspiracy to commit the crime of threatening a public officer or school employee and two counts of threatening a public officer or school employee in relation to crimes against UCLA researchers and employees of the POM Wonderful Juice Co.
AP explains:
Vlasak said the activists targeted POM because they believe the company was using animal experiments to support claims that pomegranate juice could improve erectile function in men with mild impotence problems.
