FW: [AR-News] PEACEFUL ARA'S ARRESTED -- NEED YOUR SUPPORT

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endspeciescideTo: ar-news (AT) googl (DOT) comSubject: [AR-News] PEACEFUL ARA'S ARRESTED -- NEED YOUR SUPPORTSun, 28 Mar 2010 09:03:33 -0700

 

 

 

 

 

Drop The Charges: Call-in In Support Of Minneapolis Fur Protesters

March 29; Drop the charges!: Call-in In Support Of Minneapolis Fur Protesters

As fur protesters and avid animal lovers Isaac Peter and Michael Lawson

stood chanting anti-fur slogans on the sidewalk outside of Ribnick's Furs in downtown Minneapolis on March 2, neither expected to be spending their evening undergoing booking at the Hennepin County jail.

They had been protesting in the same location, using the same chants

for over 5 months --why would March 2 be any different? Officers

(including sargents) had often assuring them "You can chant as much as

you want, scream to the top of your lungs for all I care, just don't

block the sidewalks". But (date of arrest) took a turn for the worst;

when two Minneapolis police officers

who Peter and Lawson had never seen before arrived on the scene,

entering into the storefront without attempting to engage in dialogue

with either protester. After speaking with owner Bill Ribnick, they

exited, informing both protesters they were being charged with

disorderly conduct for being "too loud". Both protesters attempted to

tell the officers of the circumstances, and that previous officers had

given them assurance that they were acting within their rights. The

male officer's response was immediately that he "wasn't interested".

Peter and Lawson were taken to the Hennepin County jail until bail was

posted. When it came time for their arraignment, it became clear that

this was not an ordinary "disorderly conduct" charge. Bill Ribnick,

owner of Ribnick's Furs – who was not even a party to this case -- was

in attendance with a very expensive and affluent attorney by his side,

talking with a city prosecutor, as she hugged him and gave him her

condolences. In a disgusting attempt to curb free speech, and a

shocking example of a prosecution pandering to the interests of a

wealthy businessman – the city offered to drop the charges in exchange

that Isaac and Michael not be allowed to exercise their right to

protest at Ribnick's Furs for a year. Both Isaac Peter and Michael

Lawson refused the deal, citing outrage at the back-room bribery that

had taken place and a undeterred dedication to the mink, fox,

chinchilla, and other animals killed for fur . Defendant Michael

Lawson released this statement after the arraignment; "If Ribnick

thinks he's the only person that can pressure the prosecutor; he's

wrong. We may not have the money or political connections that Bill

Ribnick has, but we have a broader network of people committed to free

speech and compassion towards animals than he could ever hope to have.

The voice of the people will always beat back-room scheming" Peter and

Lawson can't beat Ribnick in money, but they intend to beat him in

community support. That's why we need compassionate folks to call

prosecutor Susan Segal and tell her that scheming with Ribnick Furs and

other businesses to criminalize legally-protected boycott and protest

is unacceptable" They are now asking people to call the city

prosecutors office and tell them to "Drop the Charges against Isaac

Peter and Michael Lawson" immediately. Call-in for Isaac and Michael

When? Monday March 29th, all day

Who? Susan Segal, City Attorney: 612-673-3272Email: minneapolis311@ ci.minneapolis. mn.us Address: City Hall, Room 210 350 S. 5th St. Minneapolis, MN 55415 What? Demand she drop the the charges against

Isaac Peter and Michael Lawson and tell her that we won't standby while

our rights to free speech and peaceful protest is being thrown out the

window. Please keep calls polite but insistent.Show your support by RSVP-ing on Facebook: Link to the post: http://www.animalal erts.org/ 2010/03/drop- the-charges- call-in-in- support-of- minneapolis- fur-protesters/Link to Animal Alerts.org: http://www.animalal erts.org

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