Wear a mask in public, go to jail. The fashion police have spoken:

On Saturday, April 12, an FBI agent arrested an animal rights activist at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. The activist was charged with wearing a mask in public—a Class 6 felony in Virginia.

On April 5, the arrested activist attended a protest at GMU and wore a mask. After the GMU Police Department identified the activist, a warrant was issued for his arrest. When he appeared at a protest one week later, he was identified and subsequently tackled and arrested. The arrested activist was protesting Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus for their history of animal abuse.

The FBI agent who arrested the activist is part of the Joint Terrorism Task Force and is based in Prince William, VA. His name is Vincent Antignano and his badge number is #1035. He was stalking the arrested activist after he protested on numerous occasions against a private company, Huntingdon Life Sciences, which conducts medical tests on animals.

The activist was arrested for violating Virginia’s law on face masks, which states “it shall be unlawful for any person over sixteen years of age while wearing any mask, hood, or other device whereby a substantial portion of the face is hidden or covered (§18.2-422 )”

Via Will Potter, who adds:

I spoke with the activist arrested, and I think it’s critical to note that neither he, nor the other protestors, were charged with anything like property destruction. He simply wore a mask at a lawful protest.

No doubt Special Agent Vincent Antignano with the Joint Terrorism Task Force of the F! B! I! received a shiny gold star from his corporate overlords at Acme Animal Abuse ™, subsidiaries of which include HLS, Ringling Brothers and Bulladelah Douchebags, Inc….but I wonder what became of the activist in the pink fro wig? If donning freakay funkay headgear isn’t already criminal, I’m sure the great state of Virginny will soon come up with a nice slice of retroactive legislation to outlaw such atrocities. Watch out, my fuzzy pink sister - teh manz should be coming for you any day now.

(Crossposted from.)

——————-

Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare activism civil liberties protest first amendment police harassment terrorism war on terra war on terror

Here’s wishing y’all a happy Sunshine Week from the dreary depths of the midwest.

Via the Bill of Rights Defense Committee*:

“Sunshine is the best of disinfectants,” said Judge Louis Brandeis about the power of public scrutiny to scrub clean the dark corners of government abuse. The American Society of Newspaper Editors has named March 16-22 of this year “Sunshine Week”, a week-long assertion of the public’s right to know what its government is doing.

The week’s events include:

* March 14 - A National Freedom of Information Day Conference, sponsored by the First Amendment Center;

* March 17 - A National Freedom of Information Day Celebration, sponsored by Collaboration on Government Secrecy;

* March 18 - Remarks by Associated Press President Tom Curley at the National Press Club;

* March 19 - Webcast Government Secrecy: Censoring Your Rights with Mickey Edwards, from the Aspen Institute, and former Republican member of Congress from Oklahoma; Ann Beeson, from the Open Society Institute, formerly with the American Civil Liberties Union; and John Podesta from the Center for American Progress, formerly president Clinton’s Chief of Staff. From 1 to 2:30 p.m. EST at the Washington Press Club, and also available online.

* March 20 - Professor Lawrence Lessig on corruption in government, sponsored by the Sunlight Foundation.

In 2007, Sunshine Week marked an effort by Congress to pass “sunshine” legislation, such as:

* A bill protecting whistleblowers (H.R. 985), which passed the House 331-94 on March 14, 2007. The bill has not made it out of committee in the Senate.

* A Freedom of Information Amendments Act (H.R. 1309), which passed the House 308-117 on March 14, 2007. H.R. 1309, however, was unable to make it through the Senate, so in mid-December, Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and John Kyl (R-AZ) pushed through a moderated version (S. 2488) on voice votes, which became law on December 31.

What You Can Do:

* Ideas for local Sunshine Week events can be found in Bright Ideas, an assemblage of insights first published in 2007.

* Campaign resources, including public service announcements, brochures and opinion editorials, are available by clicking here.

You can find out more at www.sunshineweek.org.

* They’re like the ACLU, but with principles n stuff.

(Crossposted from Smite Me! [.net])

——————–

Tagged: action alerts sunshine week politics government government transparency holidays observances bordc Bill of Rights Defense Committee aclu american civil liberties union civil liberties george w. bush war on terra Freedom of Information Freedom of Information Day Freedom of Information Act FOIA

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Bill of Rights Defense Committee - bordc [at] democracyinaction.org
Date: Jan 9, 2008 2:44 PM
Subject: Action Alert: Tell Your Senators to Let The “Protect America Act” Expire!

Please Forward Widely.

TELL YOUR SENATORS TO LET THE “PROTECT AMERICA ACT” EXPIRE!

Just before the December recess, the Senate came dangerously close to a floor vote on the Senate Intelligence Committee’s version of S. 2248, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Amendments Act. That bill was touted as a “fix” of the so-called “Protect America Act” (PAA, or more accurately, the Police America Act). The PAA was rushed through Congress last August, legalizing executive branch domestic wiretapping without warrants.

See how your Senators voted on the PAA here.

Warrantless wiretapping started BEFORE 9/11

It’s incredible that even after learning that the Bush Administration began its warrantless wiretapping program as early as February 2001 — well before 9/11 — Congress would consider rubberstamping the administration’s and telecom companies’ FISA violations. But that’s exactly what Congress is considering. The Senate Intel Committee’s S. 2248 not only falls short of restoring critical Fourth Amendment privacy protections, but it would grant retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies that enabled the Bush administration’s warrantless wiretapping program, endangering the lawsuits that have been moving through the courts.

Call or Meet With Your Senators Today

The Senate will be back in session on January 22. In the meantime, call your senators. (See Sample Script and Talking Points below.) Find both of your senators’ Washington office phone numbers at www.senate.gov OR find their district office phone numbers on their websites or in your local phone book. You may also call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask the operator to connect you to both of your senators.

(more…)

This isn’t explicitly an animal rights-related alert, but c’mon, peeps - Kucinich rocks! (And illegal spying, not so much.)

Kucinich/Wexler ‘08, perhaps?

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Democrats. com - activist [at] democrats.com
Date: Dec 19, 2007 9:50 PM
Subject: Wexler Petition Hits 100,000 But 13 Dems Remain Silent

Wexler Petition Hits 100,000 But 13 Judiciary Dems Remain Silent

On 12/14, Democrats.com was excited to announce Rep. Robert Wexler’s campaign to demand impeachment hearings for Dick Cheney. Wexler’s goal was 50,000 signatures but with your support, Wexler’s petition passed 100,000!

www.wexlerwantshearings.com

Wexler is thrilled with your response, and he will hold a virtual town hall meeting on Thursday at 9 pm ET (6 pm PT) on Florida Progressive Radio with Kenneth Quinnell, co-hosted by Democrats.com.

www.blogtalkradio.com/fpc

Wexler has the support of two Judiciary Committee Democrats, Luis Gutierrez (IL-04) and Tammy Baldwin (WI-02). Five others are co-sponsors of H.Res. 333/H.Res. 799, Rep. Kucinich’s Articles of Impeachment for Vice President Cheney: Steve Cohen (TN-09), Keith Ellison (MN-05), Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18), Hank Johnson (GA-04), and Maxine Waters (CA-35).

But that leaves 13 Judiciary Committee Democrats who have NOT called for impeachment hearings. These 6 voted to send Kucinich’s bill to Judiciary on 11/6, so they should publicly support Wexler’s efforts: John Conyers (MI-14), Bobby Scott (VA-03), Brad Sherman (CA-27), Betty Sutton (OH-13), Mel Watt (NC-12), and Anthony Weiner (NY-09).

These 7 voted to kill Kucinich’s bill on 11/6, so they need to CHANGE their positions and fulfill their oath of office to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign AND domestic: Howard Berman (CA-28), Artur Davis (AL-07), William Delahunt (MA-10), Zoe Lofgren (CA-16), Jerrold Nadler (NY-08), Linda Sanchez (CA-39), and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-20).

Please email all House Judiciary Democrats through this petition: www.democrats.com/topelosiandjudiciary

If you are represented by any of the 13 Democrats listed above, please join your local Congressional District Impeachment Committee (CDIC) and plan local actions like letters to the editor, district office visits, birddogging, honkathons, and collecting petitions and personal letters on the streets: democrats.com/cdic-find

If you don’t see a CDIC, please create one: democrats.com/cdic

(more…)

Action Alerts

Defenders of Wildlife: Don’t Let Great Cats & Rare Canines Vanish Forever
Tell Congress to do its part — and join in the effort to protect these creatures world-wide.

Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF): Stop the Spying!
Tell the government to stop surveillance of Americans’ communications without a warrant.

People for the American Way (PFAW): Tell Congress: End Warrantless Spying on Americans!
Tell your members of Congress how you feel about the Bush administration’s warrantless spying on Americans.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA): ‘Bambi Butchers’ Horror
On August 26, 2007, a PETA investigator filmed the slaughter of deer at Musicon, Inc., a deer farm and venison sales company in Goshen, New York.

Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS): Urge Congress to Hold Strong on a Clean Energy Bill!
Please tell your senators and representative that America’s new Energy Bill must include a 35 mile per gallon fuel economy standard AND a 15 percent renewable electricity standard.

(more…)

Action Alerts

American Freedom Campaign: Tell your Senators to confirm an attorney general who will defend the Constitution.
Tell Senate: No more Albertos!

American Rivers: RiverAlert: Tell the Army Corps to Close Hurricane Highway
Urge the Corps to properly close the MRGO. Comments are due Tuesday, September 4, so please act today!

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA): California: Urge Governor to Sign Pet Protective Order Bill
California Pet Protection Bill Now Before Governator! CA SB 353, a bill that will allow courts to include animals in restraining orders against batterers, has passed both houses of the Legislature.

Audubon: Last Wild Whooping Cranes Threatened
Tell the Army Corps of Engineers to put this development project on hold until proper environmental review can be conducted.

Audubon: Close the ‘Hurricane Highway’ in New Orleans
Let the Army Corps of Engineers know why restoring coastal wetlands is both good environmental policy and good for New Orleans.

(more…)

Action Alerts

DawnWatch corrected: B.R. Myers questions Michael Pollan’s thinking — Atlantic Monthly, September 2007 edition
“Hard to Swallow — The gourmet’s ongoing failure to think in moral terms.”

Kinship Circle: 8/25/07: Supervalu Is Super Cruel
Based on PETA’s “Tell Supervalu to Stop Abusing Animals!” alert

People for the American Way (PFAW): Bush’s Enabler General Steps Down
Tell your senators that they must insist on an attorney general who will represent the interests of the American people and defend the Constitution.

True Majority: Alberto Gonzales Resigns
Tell your Senators to only confirm an Attorney General who truly believes in democracy and freedom - not another Bush crony who fights to restrict civil liberties and ignores the Constitution.

Carnivals

Vegetarian Carnival #6 (August 27, 2007 @ Veggie Chic)

(more…)

Action Alerts

American Freedom Campaign: Encourage the presidential candidates to sign the American Freedom Pledge
I pledge to fight to protect and defend the Constitution from assault by any President.

Animal Welfare Institute (AWI): Pro-Animal Bills Pending in U.S. Congress: Please Visit Your Legislators
Pet Safety Protection Act, American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act & Dog Fighting Prohibition Act

Consumer’s Union: Don’t lick Elmo!
Urge your members of Congress to ensure that the products and food that end up on our shelves are safe.

Earthjustice: Stop the Owl Extinction Plan: Political Interference Puts Birds, Forests, and Science At Risk
Please take action to tell the Fish and Wildlife Service by August 24 not to bow to the timber industry while our nation’s forests, rivers, and wildlife pay the price.

Ecological Internet / Climate Ark: Jet-Setting Leonardo DiCaprio the Convenient Environmentalist
Growth in aviation threatens the Planet, celebrities flying in private jets are no friend to the environment, and shared climate sacrifice means the super-rich must swear off jet-setting ways.

(more…)

Action Alerts

DawnWatch glamour-fun alert: Farm Sanctuary Gala, Beverly Hills, Saturday September 8, 2007
The Farm Sanctuary Gala is at the classic Beverly Hills Hotel on Saturday, September 8.

Ecological Internet / The Rainforest Portal: Stop Ocean City, New Jersey from Using Ancient Rainforest Timbers for Boardwalk Decking
An important precedent must be set that industrial logging of ancient forests, even if FSC “certified”, must end

The Sierra Club: Support Legislation to Stop Global Warming
Urge your Representative to support the Sanders-Boxer Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act!

The Sierra Club: Fight Logging Road Subsidies!
We need Congress to stand firm and oppose logging road subsidies in the Tongass National Forest.

True Majority: Sign the American Freedom Petition
Tell Congress to take back their permission for warrantless spying on Americans

(more…)

Action Alerts

DawnWatch: Cage-free eggs on NY Times front page 8/12/07
“Suddenly, the Hunt Is on for Cage-Free Eggs”

The Wilderness Society: Help the Spotted Owl and Northwest Forests
The Bush Administration is now attempting to revise the Plan to undermine key wildlife protections, including habitat reserves for the northern spotted owl and other at-risk species.

World Wildlife Fund (WWF): Push for an Ocean Protection Treaty
WWF has launched a campaign to urge Sen. Joseph Biden (D-Del.), chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, to hold a hearing on U.S. ratification of the Law of the Sea Convention.

Carnivals

Carnival of Open Records #2 (August 13, 2007 @ State Sunshine and Open Records)

Vegetarian Carnival #5 (August 13, 2007 @ Country Kitchen Pantry)

(more…)

Action Alerts

Animal Protection Institute (API): Urge Congress to End the Trade in Bear Parts
The Bear Protection Act, H.R. 3029 would protect bears by prohibiting the import, export, and interstate commerce of bear gallbladders and bile

Greenpeace: Project Hot Seat: August 27-31: Week of Local Action
We need to deliver Project Hot Seat lobby packets in local offices across the country during the last week of August. And we need YOUR help to make it happen.

National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS): Federal: Animal Protection Measures included in House Farm Bill
Please call your U.S. Senators today in support of keeping animal protection provisions in the final version of the bill!

People for the American Way (PFAW): Tell Congress: End Warrantless Spying on Americans!
Tell your Representative and Senators to stand up to White House fear mongering and abuse of power!

Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS): Hold the Antibiotics!
Sign our petition to the nation’s top fast-food companies urging them to help end this dangerous practice.

(more…)

Action Alerts

American Freedom Campaign (AFC): Tell Congress: No More Warrantless Wiretapping!
Tell Congress to reverse its decision to grant President Bush more unchecked power to wiretap without a warrant.

In Defense of Animals (IDA): City of Vallejo Sells Elephants to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
“Take Action” to tell Washington Redskins owner to stop fumbling the ball when it comes to elephants’ lives

In Defense of Animals (IDA): House Votes to Temporarily Ban Horse Slaughter
Urge Senate to shut U.S. horse slaughter plants down now and forever

In Defense of Animals (IDA): Tell National Wildlife Refuge to Curb Consumptive Recreation
“Take Action” to urge Fish and Wildlife Service to ban hunting, fishing, and trapping at Lake Umbagog

Oceana: Thanks ERCO!
ERCO Worldwide, the number one mercury polluter in Wisconsin, announced that it would go mercury-free

(more…)

Action Alerts

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU): TELL CONGRESS: DON’T FAIL FREEDOM
Stand with the ACLU and demand that Congress live up to its promise to protect and defend the Constitution, starting with immediate fixes to the outrageous FISA legislation that made warrantless NSA spying on Americans legal.

DawnWatch: NPR commentary on dog fighting and canned hunting 8/8/07
“National Public Radio’s Morning Edition, Wednesday, August 8, 2007, aired a piece by commentator Frank Deford on dog fighting and on various forms of hunting”

DawnWatch: Wall St Journal front page on pig castration 7/6/07
“These Little Pigs Get Special Care From Norwegians But Meat People Squeal, And a Lot of Other Folks Are Holding Their Noses”

Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF): Pull Congress Back Into the Wiretapping Fight to Restore Your Rights
Tell your representatives to repeal this legislation and restore your rights now.

Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): Urge Congress to clean up our beaches
Your senators and representatives have the opportunity to help clean up contaminated beaches and to make sure sources of beach pollution are identified and addressed.

(more…)

Action Alerts

Ecological Internet / The Rainforest Portal: Action Alert: FSC and Big Green “Certified” Ancient Forest Logging Tragedy Worsens

National Wildlife Federation (NWF): Make the call for global warming solutions

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA): Undercover at Rubashkin’s… Again

Found on Flickr: Help “Bobo” (”Scruffy”) the Bear, via DonBaird

Campaign Updates, Press Releases, etc.

Campaign to Sack Michael Vick

Carnivals

Michael Vick Blog Carnival #1 (July 28, 2007 @ Campaign to Sack Michael Vick)

Newsletters

Best Friends Animal Society: Miracles at “Area 51″!

Petitions

Officers Find Dead, Sick Horses In N. Texas Field

Tell the Alameda Animal Shelter there MUST be a dog volunteer program!

Kill the 90-day policy at the Bergen County Animal Shelter (BCAS)

Citizens Against the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA)

(more…)