Action Report- Solidarity Demo with the Spanish 12
On Friday, June 24, 2011, staff and volunteers from Farm Animal Rights Movement (FARM) and the Equal Justice Alliance (EJA) protested outside the Spanish Embassy in Washington DC. This was an international day of action in solidarity with the “Spanish 12”, with protests in 19 countries across the globe, including additional protests organized by FARM/EJA in San Francisco and New York.
The “Spanish 12” animal activists have been recently arrested and charged with “eco-terrorism” for merely working at above-ground animal rights organizations conducting undercover investigations and open rescues.
For the duration of the one-hour protest in DC, activists in front of the Spanish Embassy expressed outrage at the current treatment of animal advocates by the Spanish government by chanting messages and carrying large signs reading “Stop Activist Repression,” “Activism is NOT a crime,” “Protect Free Speech,” “Free the Spanish 12” and “Drop All Charges”. The vocal protesting garnered attention from embassy workers and the secret service.
Prior to the demonstration, Green is the New Red author Will Potter accompanied two FARM activists to deliver a letter addressed to the Spanish Ambassador, Jorge Dezcallar de Mazarredo. The letter and fliers, which the front desk attendant and several Spanish diplomats promised would be given to the Ambassador, demanded that the Spanish 12 get served vegan meals and that all charges be dropped against.
FARM and EJA will continue to speak out against these injustices until the charges against the Spanish 12 are dropped. These arrests mirror the attacks on activists worldwide, including the cases of those recently acquitted in Austria and those in the US who are victims of designer legislation. Activism is not terrorism – we must combat all oppression committed against animals and their activist allies around the world.
Special Thanks to the dedicated volunteers who came out today and stay tuned for more updates and actions on the FARM Blog (www.blog.farmusa.org)!
Until all are free!
June 27, 2011 at 4:42 am
This is great, keep up the action!
Please help spread the word on a Baltimore benefit show for ELF prisoner Marie Mason on Sat 7/16! We will have music, speakers on the green scare, and screening of the doc If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front. We need help with promotion both on the internet (Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=157789377622195) and distribution of flyers. Anyone in the Baltimore/DC please come and show solidarity with this long term prisoner! ACTIVISM IS NOT TERRORISM!