May 5th, 2011 by Kezia

Vegan Outreach is a national nonprofit that has distributed millions of pieces of literature worldwide. Its college-based program alone has reached five million students on more than 1,800 college campuses. Its regional outreach coordinator Nikki Benoit, who famously asked Obama that vegan question while he was on the campaign trail, was recently arrested at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, Calif., for handing out pamphlets outside of a designated free speech zone. Civil rights experts do not consider it constitutional to restrict free speech to certain areas on campus.

We spoke to Nikki for her side of the story.

What the hell happened?

When leafleting, many college campuses want outside organizations, even non-profits, to: a) sign in / apply for permission to leaflet; b) stand only in a “free speech zone” (they decide what’s suitable); and c) some will only let you table versus hand out literature. All of this is unconstitutional both at the state and federal levels. California is more liberal with this than most states.

Bryan Pease, attorney and Executive Director of the Animal Protection and Rescue League in San Diego, has been reiterating that we don’t need to abide by these rules, and if we’re cited or arrested, he will represent us and work within the system to change campus policies. Simple. His wife and co-pilot, Kath Rogers, and I were stopped while leafleting a private college in San Diego last month and she demonstrated how this civil disobedience action works. When the officer called in to dispatch to get the exact code to cite us with, he learned there isn’t one! Also, he said the school can ask us to sign in, but we really don’t have to. Clearly Bryan’s engaged with San Diego PD enough that now they know what our rights are. Two weeks ago I was freed from a citation at Southwestern College in Chula Vista for the same reason. There just needs to be enough cage-rattling to stop the madness.

What implications do you think this has for activists? It used to be that leafleting was considered a “low impact” tactic. Do you think this will hamper your work in the future?

Not at all. Leafleting is as peaceful and low-key as you can get. Most people see the positive influence this type of outreach has for raising awareness and feel empowered by its efficacy.

I’ve heard of other vegan advocates across the country standing their ground before, but I’ve not heard of anyone else being arrested. My legal representation is stellar. These charges are as good as dropped. They were in the wrong. People have been leafleting for ages. Vegan Outreach alone has had over 2,000 leafleters (mostly volunteers) distribute almost nine million leaflets across the globe – these are just the recorded figures. Just one activist intentionally pushing the peanut, knowing it will open doors for future activists, surely won’t eclipse the overwhelming benefits of leafleting.

Do you feel your arrest is at all related to the general climate in the country that wants to paint animal activists as dangerous “eco-terrorists?”

No. I don’t think people find leafleting to be a threat – on the surface. I honestly think these policy makers feel they’re within their rights to “protect” their students and “run the show” on campus. I’d paint this as more of a misguided control issue.

You’re taking action to get the criminal charges dismissed. Will you pursue a civil case against the school, or what other options are you considering?

We’re going to sue for violating my civil rights and for battery from the campus security officer.

What advice do you have for people who want to be more active for animals and might be put off by your experience?

Raising awareness of the facts is the only way we’ll garner community support against violence to animals. There is nothing to lose and everything to gain by leafleting. Not everyone has to take a stand like I did. Bryan is a free speech force – there is no doubt that he’ll loosen the chokehold that’s been smoldering our rights for too long, statewide.

Just imagine the ease leafleters will feel when they can just stroll on the campus of their choice, bang out a few hundred leaflets, and call it a day – drama free! The real shame is for groups like Vegan Outreach to have to waste time and resources, having staff drive to colleges, pay to park, only to be stifled, stuck in a corner and reach fewer people than if left alone. The animals don’t have time for this bureaucratic nonsense, and I’m happy to support VO and give Bryan a chance to work it.

For more analysis please see Vegan Activist Arrested for Leafleting on College Campus. Although the legal case is being handled pro bono, supporters are welcome to contribute to Vegan Outreach or APRL.

activist, animal rights activist, legal, Vegan Outreach

February 11th, 2011 by Gary Smith

Walter Bond was sentenced to five years in prison for arson today. Walter’s statement to the court is courageous, truthful and inspiring. You can read more about Walter and his case at his support website: http://www.supportwalter.org/

Walter’s Final Statement to the Court at his Sentencing:

“I’m here today because I burnt down the Sheepskin Factory in Glendale, CO, a business that sells pelts, furs and other dead animal skins. I know many people think I should feel remorse… for what I’ve done. I guess this is the customary time where I’m suppose to grovel and beg for mercy. I assure you, if that’s how I felt, I would. But I am not sorry for anything I have done. Nor am I frightened by this court’s authority because any system of law that values the rights of the oppressor over the down trodden is an unjust system. And though this court has real and actual power, I question its morality. I doubt the court is interested in the precautions that I took to not harm any person or by-stander and even less concerned with the miserable lives that sheep, cows and mink had to endure, unto death, so that a Colorado business could profit from their confinement, enslavement, and murder.

Obviously, the owners and employees of the sheepskin factory do not care either or they would not be involved in such a sinister and macabre blood trade. So I will not waste my breath where it will only fall on deaf ears. That’s why I turned to illegal direct action to begin with, because you do not care. No matter how much we animal rights activists talk or reason with you, you do not care. Well, Mr. Livaditis (owner of the Sheepskin Factory), I don’t care about you. There is no common ground between people like you and me. I want you to know that no matter what this court sentences me to today, you have won nothing! Prison is no great hardship to me. In a society that values money over life, I consider it an honor to be a prisoner of war, the war against inter-species slavery and objectification! I also want you to know that I will never willingly pay you one dollar, not one! I hope your business fails and you choke to death on every penny you profit from animal murder! I hope you choke on it and burn in hell!

To my supporters, I wish to say thank you for standing behind me and showing this court and these animal exploiters that we support our own and that we as a movement are not going to apologize for having a sense of urgency. We are not going to put the interests of commerce over sentience! And we will never stop educating, agitating and confronting those responsible for the death of our Mother Earth and her Animal Nations. My vegan sisters and brothers, our lives are not our own. Selfishness is the way of gluttons, perverts and purveyors of injustice. It has been said all it takes for evil to conquer is for good people to do nothing. Conversely, all it takes to stop the enslavement, use, abuse and murder of other than human animals is the resolve to fight on their behalf!

Do what you can, do what you must, be vegan warriors and true animal defenders and never compromise with their murderers and profiteers. The Animal Liberation Front is the answer. Seldom has there been such a personally powerful and internationally effective movement in human history. You cannot join the A.L.F. but you can become the A.L.F. And it was the proudest and most powerful thing I have ever done. When you leave this courtroom today don’t be dismayed by my incarceration. All the ferocity and love in my heart still lives on. Every time someone liberates an animal and smashes their cage, it lives on! Every time an activist refuses to bow down to laws that protect murder, it lives on! And it lives on every time the night sky lights up ablaze with the ruins of another animal exploiters’ business!

That’s all Your Honor, I am ready to go to prison.”

If you are inspired to support Walter, please go to: http://www.supportwalter.org/

ALF, animal rights activist, vegan