AETA4 defendant Adriana Stumpo’s attorneys filed a motion to dismiss. The motion can be downloaded at:

http://dc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/149150/index.php

Robert Bloom, attorney for AETA4 defendant Joseph Buddenberg, filed a motion to dismiss the indictment today. The motion argues that the indictment is vague and inadequate, in that it does not alert the accused to the crimes alleged to have been committed. This fact violates the U.S. constitution. The motion can be read at:

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/04/19/18645116.php

Today, the government provided the defense with the Bill of Particulars, a formal statement of the accusations against the AETA4. To read, visit:

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/04/09/18644223.php

Below is the call for a weekend of support for the AETA4. Get in touch with the support team at the contact info below if you’re interested in organizing an event. :

“February 19-20, 2010 marks the one year anniversary of the arrests of Joseph Buddenberg, Maryam Khajavi, Nathan Pope, and Adriana Stumpo — now collectively known as the AETA4.

The arrests of the AETA4 mark a dramatic escalation in the federal government’s continued war on dissent, and more particularly, animal rights and environmental activism. They are being prosecuted based on
allegations of political activities such as demonstrations and leafleting. Their arrests marked the first under the Bush Administration’s controversial Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, signed into law in 2006.

The AETA statute was introduced at the behest of wealthy biomedical and agri-business industry front groups. It passed with inadequate notice, and with only a handful of Congresspersons present for the vote.

To mark this symbolic occasion and to provide them with the much-needed moral and financial support as they continue to await a trumped-up federal trial, we’re calling for the weekend of February 19-21, 2010 to be a weekend of support for the AETA4. We’re calling on concerned activists, groups, and collectives to organize benefit events in their city for the legal fund of the four.

Please get in touch with the support team at support AT AETA4 DOT org if interested in planning an event, or with any other inquiries you may have.

A support flier can be downloaded/printed out for distribution at:
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/12/09/18631943.php

And if you can’t organize/make it to an event, please consider donating to the legal defense fund.”

The defense challenge to the constitutionality of the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act was denied today by Judge Whyte.

The case moves on and the defendants need all the support they can get as they prepare for trial.

The court’s ruling can be downloaded at:

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/10/28/18627061.php

You can now get a copy of the Revolution Action AETA4 Benefit CD, “Empty Cages, Empty Cells.” It includes tracks from vegan-straightedge bands from around the world.

Details can be found on Revolution Action’s page at http://www.myspace.com/enterthecirclepit

And if you’re a little rusty on your polish, you can translate at http://translate.google.com/#

The comp isn’t available in the U.S. right now but if you are interested in acquiring one, email xbaranx@o2.pl.

Band list:

Together (Portugalia) - www.myspace.com/togetherhxc
Your Fucking Nightmare - (Czechy)- www.myspace.com/yfn2008
Young Ones (Szwecja) - www.myspace.com/youngoneshc
Gather - (USA) - www.myspace.com/gather
Sink or Swim (Niemcy) - www.myspace.com/xsinkorswimx
Surrounded (Niemcy) - www.myspace.com/surroundedv
Subvert - (USA) - www.myspace.com/subvertnow
Balaclava (Czechy) - www.myspace.com/balaclavakids
All Wheel Drive - (Polska) - www.purevolume.com/allwheeldrive
Cherem (USA) - www.myspace.com/cherem
Contend - (USA) - www.myspace.com/contendxvx
Abstientia - (Czechy) - www.myspace.com/abstinentia
The Extinction Process (USA) www.myspace.com/theextinctionprocess
Gattaca - (Czechy) - www.myspace.com/gattacaxvx
xTrue Naturex - (USA) - www.myspace.com/xtruenaturexmusic

From Will Potter’s blog, Green is the New Red

http://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/aeta-4-protesters-higher-sentences-than-cross-burners/2240/

Four animal rights activists are facing charges under the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act for chanting, demonstrating with masks covering their faces, and chalking defamatory slogans on the sidewalk. If convicted, the “AETA 4,”—Joseph Buddenberg, Maryam Khajavi, Nathan Pope, and Adriana Stumpo—could be sentenced to 5-10 years in prison.

The AETA 4 case is a startling example of how federal terrorism laws are being used to create new crimes targeting political activists, and astronomically increase sentences for existing crimes. For instance, Marie Mason was sentenced to nearly 22 years in prison for setting fire to empty buildings and taking precautions to not harm anyone.

Meanwhile, during a Congressional hearing on the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, the Justice Department proclaimed “we are apolitical in this.” But this is anything but apolitical. Animal rights activists could receive 5-10 years in prison, as terrorists, for not harming anyone or attempting to harm anyone. Meanwhile, take a look at what some others are facing for much more serious crimes:

* Burning at a cross at the home of an African-American man, close to his home, while his family is inside: 3.5 years.
* Threatening president-elect Obama with statements including, “I’m going to assassinate the new president of the United States of America. PS you have 48 hours to stop it from happening”: four years probation.
* Setting fire to a hotel with people inside: 1 year.
* Police officer rapes a girl in juvenile custody: 8 months.
* Assaulting black men on election night because Obama was elected president: about 5 years.
* Enron exec guilty of $7 million in wire fraud and securities fraud: 16 months.
* Possessing child pornography: 4 years.
* Tying up a black student and taunting him with racial epithets as part of a high school graduation party: six months.
* Mailing anthrax threats to the IRS: one year.
* “Using the Internet to threaten to destroy buildings of the Federal Bureau of Investigation by fire or explosives”: one year.
* Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte Stallworth kills a construction worker while driving drunk: 30 days.
* Threatening to bomb an Air Force base: one year.
* Drunken man drives over his brother during an argument: 1.5 years.
* Scheming to defraud an insurance company through arson: 2 years.
* Mailing anthrax threats to an assistant U.S. attorney: up to 5 years.
* Manufacturing and selling home-made explosive devices: 5 years probation
* Sending 65 anthrax hoax letters: four years.
* Dumping nearly 13 million gallons of untreated liquid waste: 15 months.
* Threatening to bomb the Oklahoma city federal building: up to 5 years.
* Setting a dog on fire and burning 50 percent of his body: 45 days.

According to the government, high sentences for animal rights activists are intended as a deterrent, they are intended to send a message.

What kind of message do you think this sends?

Note: Funds are needed for the AETA 4 legal defense. Please make a contribution. You can go to Paypal.com and send a donation to support@aeta4.org.

This petition targets the leaders of key judiciary committees, demanding a repeal of the unconstitutional Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act.  There are currently just over 2,100 signatures.  Please add your voice:

http://www.change.org/farm_animal_rights_movement/actions/view/act_now_to_protect_the_rights_of_animal_activists

Radix Media Collective has designed this poster as a fundraiser for the AETA4, four friends and activists who are being tried as “terrorists” for their alleged involvement in protesting animal cruelty in Santa Cruz and Berkeley. Here’s the image:



They are $1-5 sliding scale, or more if you feel like donating. All money beyond printing costs will be donated to the legal defense fund of the AETA4. Please consider buying a poster and showing some solidarity! If you want one, send an e-mail to: radixmedia@riseup.net

On August 19, the Government filed a motion for an order to compel handwriting exemplars of the AETA4 defendants.

According to the government’s motion, the samples will be used “to further prepare for trial on the current charges as well as possibly bring additional charges.” The government’s motion states there is an ongoing investigation regarding “related” crimes committed through the use of the United States Postal Service that they believe may have been committed by one or more of the AETA4 defendants.

The motion can be read in full at:

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/08/22/18618172.php