Join the Coalition to Abolish the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act

[Guest guest]

Hi,We are writing today to invite you to join the nationwide grassrootsCoalition to Abolish the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA), acritical venture protecting your right to dissent that needs youractive participation.As you know, last November Congress passed and the President signedinto law the AETA. Proponents of the bill, includinganimal-exploiting industry groups, corporations and the politiciansthat represent them, pushed for the passage of AETA ostensibly tocrack down on violent animal and environmental rights extremists—eventhough there has not been a single injury or death caused by anyoneinvolved in an animal or environmental action. The bill criminalizeslegal, constitutionally-protected activity in order to silencepolitical dissent targeting animal/natural resource-abusingindustries.The AETA:• sweeps up free speech activities such as boycotts, whistle

blowing,protests, media campaigning, picketing, audio/video recording, or anyother activity that "interferes" with the operation of an "animalenterprise" resulting in a loss of profits.• singles out animal and eco-activists for exceptionally harshpenalties based solely on political ideology.• is not needed to curb violent actions; federal and state lawsalready protect corporations from criminal activity.• was designed to eliminate the threat that effective activism posesto the profits and power of the animal and natural resourceindustries,.• is so vague in its language that it could be used to criminalizeanyone protesting the activities of an animal enterprise, which couldimpact labor unions, community groups, health organizations and socialand economic justice movements.• does not provide an exception for those engaged in labor disputeswhich is contrary to established law.We believe that this threat

to free speech is part of a larger effortby corporate interests to use the terrorism label to constrain socialactivism.We invite you to join us in building a national grassrootsmobilization to demand the AETA be repealed and deemedunconstitutional. With your participation, we hope this Coalition canbe a way to more strategically coordinate grassroots outreach andaction, legislative advocacy, and media attention to more effectivelyreverse this erosion of rights. You may join the Coalition as anindividual or as a partnering or endorsing organization. Please seethe attached sign-on form for more details about these levels ofmembership.We will be having a nationwide call on Thursday, November 29, 2007 at5:00pm PST / 8:00pm EST to formally create our coalition and begin ourwork. The call's agenda will include:1. Introductions (10 min.)2. Discussion of DRAFT Principles of Unity

(25 min.)3. Discussion of decision-making structure and ground rules (25 min.)4. Discussion of Coalition plan and work; establishment of WorkingGroups (25 min.)To join us for the call, please emailabolishtheaeta<abolishtheaeta for thecall-in number and code. If you are interested in joining theCoalition please fill out and return the attached sign-on form andreview the DRAFT Principles of Unity, which we hope to discuss andagree upon during our first call.In the meantime, please circulate this invitation to anyone you thinkwill be interested in joining us and contact us atabolishtheaeta<abolishtheaeta with anyquestions or thoughts.We look forward to working with you to abolish the AETA,Lauren Regan, Attorney & Director, Civil Liberties Defense Center,Eugene, ORLauren Melodia, Education & Outreach Associate, Center forConstitutional Rights, New York, NYDana McPhall, Attorney & Director, Campaign Humane, a project of theInt'l Humanities Ctr., Los Angeles, CA http://www.myspace.com/fortheanmals My Cafepress shop: http://www.cafepress.com/allforthem