Injured antiwhaling activist indicted - what's wrong with this story?

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URGENT NEWS ADVISORY

Friday / May 5, 2000

 

 

 

INJURED WHALE PROTESTER

INDICTED FOR 'VIOLATING

EXCLUSIONARY ZONE'

 

TACOMA, WA - Erin Abbott - the Ocean Defense International anti-whaling

activist run over by a Coast Guard boat April 20 - was arraigned on federal

charges here in U.S. District Court Friday for allegedly " violating the

moving exclusionary zone " around the controversial Makah whale hunt.

 

Ms Abbott's trial date is June 12 in Tacoma.

 

Another ODI crew member, Erin O'Connell, also arrested that day off the

coast of Neah Bay, was also indicted this week on the same charges. Charges

against activists by Clallam County for driving their vessels " recklessly "

have been dropped.

 

Ms. Abbott, 24, was hospitalized with a broken shoulder, and cracked ribs

after a U.S. Coast Guard boat ran her over during a protest against the

killing of a whale by Makah hunters. The whale escaped after the

confrontation.

 

" The Makah can shoot innocent whales with anti-tank weapons, and the U.S.

Coast Guard can brazenly run over a non-violent demonstrator and they

aren't charged. But, a person concerned about the killing of a whale is

indicted, and must stand trial. Something is wrong with all this, " said

Jake Conroy, ODI spokesperson.

 

Apparently a federal jury also had a problem with the prosecution of whale

activists. Wednesday a jury acquitted Scott Hopper of " gross negligence in

the operation of a vessel, " a charge stemming from his participation in

water protests against the Makah whale hunt in 1999

 

The U.S. Attorney's Office originally charged eight activists in connection

with protests against the 1998 and '99 hunts. The first case was dismissed

in February when charges were dropped against Brett Siler of Nehalem,

Oregon. Cheryl Rorabeck-Siler will be tried in Tacoma on Monday. The trial

of Sea Shepherd activist Allison Lance has been postponed.

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