ARA arrested by FBI for wearing mask at protest

April 17, 2008

UNBELIEVABLE! What if it's cold???? Our tax dollars at work. Taken from the EF! Alerts list.....An animal rights activist was arrested on FELONY charges by the FBIat protests of the Ringling Brothers circus at the Patriot Center,George Mason University, in Virginia near DC.From DCIndymedia:http://dc.indymedia .org/newswire/ display/142963/ index.phpFELONYarrest at circus demo- JTTF involvedOn April 11, an undercover FBIagent associated with a Joint Terrorism Task Force, based in PrinceWilliam County, arrested an activist on FELONY mask charges at theRingling Brothers protest at the Patriot Center.http://dc.indymedia .org/usermedia/ audio/4/mini_ green_scare. mp3Plus PHOTOS of FBI agent involved!This is the latest and mostserious in a string of suspicious arrests, all but one of animalrights activists, in the DC area. The JTTF involvement solves a lotof mysteries concerning harassment of activists in this area.Due toboth the pattern of arrests and severity of this latest case, we'vegot a "mini Green Scare" right here in the DC area. Since FBI agentVinvent Antignano, badge #1035(the one involved Friday) and hisbuddies are based in Prince William County(and also involved in anti"gang" and other roundups of immigrants by the FBI, we know wherethey get their ideas.While this does not rise to the level of themassive raids and deportations of immigrants around here(no doubtcontrary to Vinvent's

wishes!), nor to the decades in prison facedby Green Scare defendants elsewhere, the possibility of 9 months ina VA jail hellhole is nothing to sneeze at-and that's what's atstake in this latest case.Here's the kicker-GMU students protestingWITHOUT masks have bee subject to campus "discipline" that caninclude expulsion, while masked protesters are treated as"terrorists" and prosecuted on felony charges. The effect of this isto ban ALL protest at the circus, in clear contravention of theright of free speech.This kind of thing creates an incentive toreplace speech(where cops have time to respond) with directaction(where they do not when groups like the ALF deploy atnight).In fact, this case and previous cases at HLS demos fit thetime-honored pattern where ALF et all put points on the board andnever get caught, so cops arrest above-ground, legal protestersinstead, like they just did in Virginia.One final point-at

previousHLS demos, when I chased Vinvent Antignano with my camera, he ranlike a rabbit pursued by howlingwolves!***** ********* ********* ********* ********* ********* Here is thecommunique that went out concerning this case:FBI Agent ArrestsAnimal Rights Activist at George Mason UniversityOn Saturday, April12, an FBI agent arrested an animal rights activist at George MasonUniversity in Fairfax, VA. The activist was charged with wearing amask in public—a Class 6 felony in Virginia.On April 5, the arrestedactivist attended a protest at GMU and wore a mask. After the GMUPolice Department identified the activist, a warrant was issued forhis arrest. When he appeared at a protest one week later, he wasidentified and subsequently tackled and arrested. The arrestedactivist was protesting Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circusfor their history of animal abuse.The FBI agent who arrested theactivist is part of the

Joint Terrorism Task Force and is based inPrince William, VA. His name is Vincent Antignano and his badgenumber is #1035. He was stalking the arrested activist after heprotested on numerous occasions against a private company,Huntingdon Life Sciences, which conducts medical tests onanimals.The activist was arrested for violating Virginia's law onface masks, which states "it shall be unlawful for any person oversixteen years of age while wearing any mask, hood, or other devicewhereby a substantial portion of the face is hidden or covered(§18.2-422 )"Prior the protest, the arrested activist was convictedon trumped up charges involving a fur protest. A Washington,D.C.–based judge originally sentenced the activist to nine-months injail but suspended the sentence on condition that the activist notviolate law in the next year. On account of the mask arrest, theactivist may have to spend those nine months in jail.Virginia' s

masklaw is obscure and rarely enforced. The same weekend the arrestedactivist was issued an arrest warrant, three other activists werealso issued arrest warrants. Those three activists are current orformer students at GMU. The arrest warrants were later droppedexcept for the individual who was arrested on Saturday, April12.Please help animal rights activists at George Mason University.GMU campus police identified the activist and selectively enforcedVirginia's mask law. Additionally, activists have been harassed atGMU by campus police in the last week while protesting RinglingBrothers Circus.Voice your outrage to Christine LaPaille, VicePresident of University Relations for George Mason University. Here-mail address is clapaill (at) gmu.edu and her phone number is703-993-8860. Christine LaPaille can be reached via fax at703-993-8899. Also, please voice your outrage to Ben Crandall,Associate Director of University Operations for George MasonUniversity. His e-mail is bcrandal (at) gmu.edu and his phone numberis 703-993-4503. He can also be reached via fax at703-993-2850.Sincerely,Animal Rights Activists at George MasonUniversityFairfax, VA __.___ http://pets.Fortheanimals7/join

April 17, 2008

I wonder if there is a way that we can contact the FBI about it as

well. I'm not in favor of the use of the mask, but the way most

circus animals are treated appalls me and the guy does have the

right to free speech.

, Shannon Morgan

<fortheanmls wrote:

>

> UNBELIEVABLE! What if it's cold???? Our tax dollars at work.

>

> Taken from the EF! Alerts list.....

>

> An animal rights activist was arrested on FELONY charges by the FBI

> at protests of the Ringling Brothers circus at the Patriot Center,

> George Mason University, in Virginia near DC.From DC

> Indymedia:

> http://dc.indymedia .org/newswire/ display/142963/ index.phpFELONY

> arrest at circus demo- JTTF involved

>

> On April 11, an undercover FBI

> agent associated with a Joint Terrorism Task Force, based in Prince

> William County, arrested an activist on FELONY mask charges at the

> Ringling Brothers protest at the Patriot Center.

>

> http://dc.indymedia .org/usermedia/ audio/4/mini_ green_scare. mp3

>

> Plus PHOTOS of FBI agent involved!This is the latest and most

> serious in a string of suspicious arrests, all but one of animal

> rights activists, in the DC area. The JTTF involvement solves a lot

> of mysteries concerning harassment of activists in this area.Due to

> both the pattern of arrests and severity of this latest case, we've

> got a " mini Green Scare " right here in the DC area. Since FBI agent

> Vinvent Antignano, badge #1035(the one involved Friday) and his

> buddies are based in Prince William County(and also involved in

anti

> " gang " and other roundups of immigrants by the FBI, we know where

> they get their ideas.While this does not rise to the level of the

> massive raids and deportations of immigrants around here(no doubt

> contrary to Vinvent's wishes!), nor to the decades in prison faced

> by Green Scare defendants elsewhere, the possibility of 9 months in

> a VA jail hellhole is nothing to sneeze at-and that's what's at

> stake in this latest case.Here's the kicker-GMU students protesting

> WITHOUT masks have bee subject to campus " discipline " that can

> include expulsion, while masked protesters are treated as

> " terrorists " and prosecuted on felony charges. The effect of this

is

> to ban ALL protest at the circus, in clear contravention of the

> right of free speech.This kind of thing creates an incentive to

> replace speech(where cops have time to respond) with direct

> action(where they do not when groups like the ALF deploy at

> night).In fact, this case and previous cases at HLS demos fit the

> time-honored pattern where ALF et all put points on the board and

> never get caught, so cops arrest above-ground, legal protesters

> instead, like they just did in Virginia.One final point-at previous

> HLS demos, when I chased Vinvent Antignano with my camera, he ran

> like a rabbit pursued by howling

> wolves!***** ********* ********* ********* ********* *********

Here is the

> communique that went out concerning this case:FBI Agent Arrests

> Animal Rights Activist at George Mason UniversityOn Saturday, April

> 12, an FBI agent arrested an animal rights activist at George Mason

> University in Fairfax, VA. The activist was charged with wearing a

> mask in public—a Class 6 felony in Virginia.On April 5, the

arrested

> activist attended a protest at GMU and wore a mask. After the GMU

> Police Department identified the activist, a warrant was issued for

> his arrest. When he appeared at a protest one week later, he was

> identified and subsequently tackled and arrested. The arrested

> activist was protesting Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey

Circus

> for their history of animal abuse.The FBI agent who arrested the

> activist is part of the Joint Terrorism Task Force and is based in

> Prince William, VA. His name is Vincent Antignano and his badge

> number is #1035. He was stalking the arrested activist after he

> protested on numerous occasions against a private company,

> Huntingdon Life Sciences, which conducts medical tests on

> animals.The activist was arrested for violating Virginia's law on

> face masks, which states " it shall be unlawful for any person over

> sixteen years of age while wearing any mask, hood, or other device

> whereby a substantial portion of the face is hidden or covered

> (§18.2-422 ) " Prior the protest, the arrested activist was convicted

> on trumped up charges involving a fur protest. A Washington,

> D.C.–based judge originally sentenced the activist to nine-months

in

> jail but suspended the sentence on condition that the activist not

> violate law in the next year. On account of the mask arrest, the

> activist may have to spend those nine months in jail.Virginia' s

mask

> law is obscure and rarely enforced. The same weekend the arrested

> activist was issued an arrest warrant, three other activists were

> also issued arrest warrants. Those three activists are current or

> former students at GMU. The arrest warrants were later dropped

> except for the individual who was arrested on Saturday, April

> 12.Please help animal rights activists at George Mason University.

> GMU campus police identified the activist and selectively enforced

> Virginia's mask law. Additionally, activists have been harassed at

> GMU by campus police in the last week while protesting Ringling

> Brothers Circus.Voice your outrage to Christine LaPaille, Vice

> President of University Relations for George Mason University. Her

> e-mail address is clapaill (at) gmu.edu and her phone number is

> 703-993-8860. Christine LaPaille can be reached via fax at

> 703-993-8899. Also, please voice your outrage to Ben Crandall,

> Associate Director of University Operations for George Mason

> University. His e-mail is bcrandal (at) gmu.edu and his phone

number

> is 703-993-4503. He can also be reached via fax at

> 703-993-2850.

>

> Sincerely,Animal Rights Activists at George Mason

> UniversityFairfax, VA __.___

>

> http://pets.Fortheanimals7/join

>

April 17, 2008

Even the protesters from the University who DIDN'T wear masks were expelled, and they were completely legal on public property. What the hell is this country coming to? Melissa <kachow_now wrote: I wonder if there is a way that we can contact the FBI about it as well. I'm not in favor of the use of the mask, but the way most circus animals are treated appalls me and the guy does have the right to free speech. , Shannon Morgan <fortheanmls wrote:>> UNBELIEVABLE! What if it's cold???? Our tax dollars at work.> > Taken from the EF! Alerts list.....> > An animal rights activist was arrested on FELONY charges by the FBI> at protests of the Ringling Brothers circus at the Patriot Center,> George Mason University, in Virginia near DC.From DC> Indymedia:> http://dc.indymedia .org/newswire/ display/142963/ index.phpFELONY> arrest at circus demo- JTTF involved> > On April 11, an undercover FBI> agent associated with a Joint Terrorism Task Force, based in Prince> William County, arrested an activist on FELONY mask charges at the> Ringling Brothers protest at the Patriot Center.> > http://dc.indymedia .org/usermedia/ audio/4/mini_ green_scare. mp3> > Plus PHOTOS of FBI agent involved!This is the latest and most> serious in a string of suspicious arrests, all but one of animal> rights activists, in the DC area. The JTTF involvement solves a lot> of mysteries concerning harassment of activists in this area.Due to> both the pattern of arrests and severity of this latest case, we've> got a "mini Green Scare" right here in the DC area. Since FBI agent> Vinvent Antignano, badge #1035(the one involved Friday) and his> buddies are based in Prince William County(and also involved in anti> "gang" and other roundups of immigrants by the FBI, we know where> they get their ideas.While this does not rise to the level of the> massive raids and deportations of immigrants around here(no doubt> contrary to Vinvent's wishes!), nor to the

decades in prison faced> by Green Scare defendants elsewhere, the possibility of 9 months in> a VA jail hellhole is nothing to sneeze at-and that's what's at> stake in this latest case.Here's the kicker-GMU students protesting> WITHOUT masks have bee subject to campus "discipline" that can> include expulsion, while masked protesters are treated as> "terrorists" and prosecuted on felony charges. The effect of this is> to ban ALL protest at the circus, in clear contravention of the> right of free speech.This kind of thing creates an incentive to> replace speech(where cops have time to respond) with direct> action(where they do not when groups like the ALF deploy at> night).In fact, this case and previous cases at HLS demos fit the> time-honored pattern where ALF et all put points on the board and> never get caught, so cops arrest above-ground, legal protesters> instead, like

they just did in Virginia.One final point-at previous> HLS demos, when I chased Vinvent Antignano with my camera, he ran> like a rabbit pursued by howling> wolves!***** ********* ********* ********* ********* ********* Here is the> communique that went out concerning this case:FBI Agent Arrests> Animal Rights Activist at George Mason UniversityOn Saturday, April> 12, an FBI agent arrested an animal rights activist at George Mason> University in Fairfax, VA. The activist was charged with wearing a> mask in public—a Class 6 felony in Virginia.On April 5, the arrested> activist attended a protest at GMU and wore a mask. After the GMU> Police Department identified the activist, a warrant was issued for> his arrest. When he appeared at a protest one week later, he was> identified and subsequently tackled and arrested. The arrested> activist was protesting Ringling Brothers and

Barnum & Bailey Circus> for their history of animal abuse.The FBI agent who arrested the> activist is part of the Joint Terrorism Task Force and is based in> Prince William, VA. His name is Vincent Antignano and his badge> number is #1035. He was stalking the arrested activist after he> protested on numerous occasions against a private company,> Huntingdon Life Sciences, which conducts medical tests on> animals.The activist was arrested for violating Virginia's law on> face masks, which states "it shall be unlawful for any person over> sixteen years of age while wearing any mask, hood, or other device> whereby a substantial portion of the face is hidden or covered> (§18.2-422 )"Prior the protest, the arrested activist was convicted> on trumped up charges involving a fur protest. A Washington,> D.C.–based judge originally sentenced the activist to nine-months in>

jail but suspended the sentence on condition that the activist not> violate law in the next year. On account of the mask arrest, the> activist may have to spend those nine months in jail.Virginia' s mask> law is obscure and rarely enforced. The same weekend the arrested> activist was issued an arrest warrant, three other activists were> also issued arrest warrants. Those three activists are current or> former students at GMU. The arrest warrants were later dropped> except for the individual who was arrested on Saturday, April> 12.Please help animal rights activists at George Mason University.> GMU campus police identified the activist and selectively enforced> Virginia's mask law. Additionally, activists have been harassed at> GMU by campus police in the last week while protesting Ringling> Brothers Circus.Voice your outrage to Christine LaPaille, Vice> President of University

Relations for George Mason University. Her> e-mail address is clapaill (at) gmu.edu and her phone number is> 703-993-8860. Christine LaPaille can be reached via fax at> 703-993-8899. Also, please voice your outrage to Ben Crandall,> Associate Director of University Operations for George Mason> University. His e-mail is bcrandal (at) gmu.edu and his phone number> is 703-993-4503. He can also be reached via fax at> 703-993-2850.> > Sincerely,Animal Rights Activists at George Mason> UniversityFairfax, VA __.___> > > > > > http://pets.Fortheanimals7/join> http://pets.Fortheanimals7/join