No matter your “good intentions”, if you burn down someone’s business, you go to jail. That fact seems to have dampened the eyes of our friends at Democracy Now!….
Wednesday, October 31st, 2007
EXCLUSIVE: Hours Before Beginning 4-Year Jail Sentence, Animal Rights Activist Jonathan Paul in First Interview Since Arrest
One of the best-known animal rights activists in the Pacific Northwest is heading to prison today to begin a 51-month sentence. Jonathan Paul was arrested almost two years ago as part of the so-called Green Scare when federal agents detained 10 activists connected to the Animal Liberation Front and the Earth Liberation Front. His sister Catherine Paul recently summarized his activism like this: “He crept into animal laboratories to free dogs. He dismantled corrals to release wild mustangs. He impersonated a fur buyer to film the treatment of minks. He put himself between whales and whalers despite warnings that his boat would be impounded and that he would be jailed.”
One of the best-known animal rights activists in the Pacific Northwest is heading to prison today to begin a 51-month sentence. Jonathan Paul was arrested almost two years ago as part of the so-called Green Scare when federal agents detained 10 activists connected to the Animal Liberation Front and the Earth Liberation Front. In November Paul pled guilty to one court of conspiracy and one court of arson for his role in the 1997 fire at the Cavel West horse meat slaughterhouse in Redmond, Oregon. The destroyed the plant and led to its permanent closure. Even though no one was injured in the fire, federal prosecutors described it as a “classic case of terrorism.”
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His sister Catherine Paul recently summarized his activism like this: “He crept into animal laboratories to free dogs. He dismantled corrals to release wild mustangs. He impersonated a fur buyer to film the treatment of minks. He put himself between whales and whalers despite warnings that his boat would be impounded and that he would be jailed.”
Boo hoo.
AMY GOODMAN: I wanted to ask you about a quote that you made, you said in 1999. You said, “We compare ourselves to the Underground Railroad, to some guerrilla movements that are trying to free themselves from oppressive governments. The only thing that’s different about us is that we expand our thinking to other species and to the planet as a whole.” This is a quote that you made to the Oregonian. Do you still agree with that position?
JONATHAN PAUL: Well, yeah. I mean, we are a — I mean, you know, groups like the Animal Liberation Front, we definitely feel like we are the Underground, because we’re rescuing animals that are being tortured by humans. So, yeah, I still feel that way.
Criminal liberals comparing their being busted to a form of slavery, thus the “Underground Railroad comparison.
Shameless….
Read HERE
Of course, the Underground railroad helped set up the escapees in new lives and supported them establishing themselves. ALF opens the door and says “See Ya!”