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Kevin's Letter - read at the Your Mommy Kills Animals Benefit

Greetings from FCI Sandstone,

As a Minnesotan I know that Macalester is only 100 miles from my current abode (AH-BIDE), but it feels so much further away, like another planet. A world, unfortunately, inhabited by drug dealers and child molesters. While I do hate it up here and find few aspects of it pleasant, I am safe and confident I can survive this six-year sentence if that's what it turns out to be.

These last two years have been an eye-opener for me. Not just because I've been exposed to the hideous underbelly of the U.S. Judicial system but because I've learned a lot about myself, my friends, and this political struggle for animal rights. Not all of the lessons were that of valor or truth, but having tested the bands of important relationships and the mettle of our collective determination for justice I feel I'm better off from having traveled this rocky road. I feel we all understand the seriousness of the task that lies ahead of us in attempting political change, and the very life-altering consequences a few of us caught in the crossfire will experience. That has been the nature of all 'struggles' though, and only the naive amoung us should think that advocates of radical pursuits of social justice can walk away from the fight unscathed, physically or of the heart.

Across the river from here I was a student at the University of Minnesota in the late 90's and studied political science. I learned about and romanticized the struggles of oppressed people around the world. So enamored, I read Nelson Mandela's, 'A Long Walk to Freedom' - twice. I grew up in an environment that encouraged political debate. Around the dinner table I remember conversations ranging from Walter Mondale to Michael Dukakis and the death penalty. High school introduced me to Mequiladoras along the border, contras in Guatemala and Nicaragua, and Amnesty International. College for me was just as busy as I took part in a plethora of social causes. I feel like I have been training my whole life for a moment like this. My so-called 'crimes' were not heat of the moment follies of passion. They were not youthful indiscretions that I am now remorseful about. They were, indeed, sober and rationale exercises aimed at undercutting the support of a violent practice that is morally repugnant. They were, much to the dismay of our laboratory opponents and their government allies, very successful. They were also of course legal, constitutionally protected acts of agitation, but to a corporate-funded government such success had to be stopped, regardless of how inapplicable their laws are.

My political education taught me the dangers in pursuing adventures as David vs. a formidable Goliath. In my case the slumbering giant awakened by our protest cries was that of the pharmaceutical industry; a 300 billion dollar a year monster that employs more than 1200 lobbyists in just DC alone (more than 2 for every legislator there). An industry that spends more on influence peddling than even the tobacco, oil and arms manufactures. An industry that regularly has a marketing budget in the range of 30 billion annually. This kind of monster buys an enormous media bias, a heavy handed police response, and whatever law it wants passed.

The appeal being fought by myself and the other SHAC defendants strikes out at the heart of the unchecked display of power wielded by an industry so dependant on the fallacies of animal research. More particularly this appeal takes center aim at the vivisection industries draconian new law - The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (The AETA).

The AETA seeks to criminalize any protest activity that directly or indirectly threatens the economic viability of animal exploitation - even if the means are legal or traditional forms of open civil disobedience. The law criminalizes not necessarily the actions, but the politics of your animal rights demonstrations. What is now illegal under the AETA is still for the time being, permissible when advocating for any other issue. The AETA is the canary in the coal-mine for the 1st amendment principles. If the government is successful in arguing for the AETA it will only be a matter of time before we start seeing the Environmental Enterprise Terrorism Act, the Sweatshop Enterprise Protection Act, the Haliburton Protection Act and so on and so forth.

I appreciate so many of you coming out tonight in support of this fight and to help raise the much needed proceeds for my legal appeal. I have not seen the movie being screened here tonight and therefore cannot endorse or condone it's portrayal of my cause, but I can speak affirmatively to two elements I know are included within.

The first is the criticism of those self-proclaimed leaders of our corporate animal welfare organizations, like that of the Humane Society of the United States. Over the last few years under the direction of Wayne Pacelle, we have seen our once progressive and abolition-based movement shrink as small grassroots groups are pushed out of the way through Walmart styled attacks, our philosophical high ground sold to the highest corporate bidder to market 'compassionate' meat and cruelty in a host of markets and slaughterhouses. These Humane Societies and Wayne Pacelles have failed not just all of us who have faithfully funded their endeavors and six-figure salaries over the years, but the animals we are supposed to be fighting for with their lack of imagination and courage. Threatened by a growing segment of the movement they couldn't control or squeeze for money, campaigns like SHAC were a constant source of their derision and sadly they've even publicly applauded the FBI for cracking down on activists who dared employ direct action when all else is failing. HSUS would rather sell you on the idea that our most revolutionary of political agendas' (animal exploitation upon which diets, cultures, economics, and religions are based or incorporate) can be a fun weekend activity for you - as easy as buying a vegan cupcake. When every day and year the numbers of lives taken, species exterminated, and environment destroyed such naive nonsense ceases to just be offensive, but also is dangerous.

I know this movie also apparently takes some pot-shots at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PeTA). While I'm not enthusiastic about every campaign PeTA runs, I will always have their back. PeTA is the reason I learned about animal rights. PeTA exposed the country to what happened not only inside of HLS, but countless labs, factory farms, fur farms, zoos and circuses. PeTA created a national voice for animal rights in the 1980's and hasn't backed down since. And say what you will about some for their silly stunts and 'naked' politics, when push comes to shove this courageous organization has always stepped up to the plate to support direct action and explain to the national media the horrors that would drive people into breaking down doors and freeing animals. PeTA has been, is now, and likely always will be a source of inspiration for me personally. And nobody, and I mean nobody, can go toe to toe with Ingrid Newkirk.

The second element of the movie I can stand by are the statements I make. Yes, 'All of this for animals,' and that statement is as true for me today as a convicted, imprisoned 'terrorist,' as it was for me when I made it over a year ago.

Thanks all of you for coming out tonight and lending me, the animal rights cause, our shared first amendment principles your support.

Kevin