DONATE TO THE:
Peter Young Support Fund
740A 14th St. #237
San Francisco, CA 94114
info@supportpeter.com

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SPRING 2005 EARTH FIRST! JOURNAL ARTICLE

On March 21, Peter Young was arrested in San Jose, California, as a result of dumb luck on the part of local police. The activist community leapt into action immediately, recognizing the importance of the arrest and the imminent legal battle. It had been seven years without a peep from Young, who disappeared after his indictment on animal enterprise terrorism charges in 1998. Young is being held at the Santa Clara County Jail on local charges, but he will ultimately be transferred to Wisconsin, where he will face federal charges for a series of fur farm raids in 1997.

Young’s case has taken on marked significance in the activist community, symbolizing the increased demonization of social movements over the past several years. Like many activists currently facing serious jail time, Peter is being painted with the terrorism brush for nothing more serious than allegedly releasing animals into the wild. It is up to all of us to fight this and support Peter.

Upon arriving in jail, Peter refused to take the tuberculosis (TB) test, as it contains animal products. Instead of exercising the alternate option for a TB test (a chest X-ray), jail authorities put him in solitary confinement, informing him he was forfeiting his “privileges,” including daily phone calls, reading materials, and contact with other inmates. As an ethical vegan, Young found getting food to been a problem because, in solitary confinement he had no access to other inmates to trade food.

Activists and attorneys on the outside have been working to fulfill Peter’s needs—a chest X-Ray, access to the commissary to purchase food and writing materials, glasses so that he can see, and a restoration of his rights as a prisoner. Literally hundreds of phone calls have poured into the jail, demanding proper care for Peter, and support letters have already begun to arrive. In response, the jail finally granted Peter a chest X-ray, declared him TB free and allowed him to meet with is lawyer. He should be out of solitary soon, and he is now receiving vegetarian meals. All the calls made a deifference!

Case Background
In October 1997, five fur farms in Wisconsin and surrounding states were raided. Thousands of mink were released causing fur farms to lose more than one million dollars. The raids were never claimed by any group.

Peter Young and Justin Samuel were pulled over by police in the vicinity of the farms after suspicious fur farmers brought them to the attention of the authorities. A vehicle search allegedly yielded animal rights literature and other “suspicious” items. In September 1998, a federal grand jury indicted the duo on charges of animal enterprise terrorism and unlawful interference with interstate commerce, and they both dropped out of sight.

One year later, Samuel was arrested in Belgium and extradited to the US. Despite an enormous outpouring of support from the activist community, Samuel entered into a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s office in which he implicated Peter Young and promised to testify against him at any future trials or hearings. Now Young could pay the price for Samuel’s betrayal.

How Can I Help?
Write a Letter: Letters are one of the only lifelines to the outside world for prisoners. Please take a few minutes to send letters to Peter. Let him know what is happening beyond the prison. However, please remember that all letters are read by authorities.

Financial Support: As an ethical vegan and someone who is receiving a lot of mail that needs responses, Peter needs money in his account to purchase food, writing materials, and other necessities. Money orders can be sent to him directly. Please visit the website for the most current information on where and how to send money.

In addition to commissary money, Peter needs legal funds. He is facing serious federal charges and a lengthy prison sentenceAs a result, he needs the best legal assistance possible.

Books: Prison can be a very boring place. Peter has asked supporters to send books to help him pass the time. Check the website for updated information on how to send books to Peter.

Court Support: Unfortunately, Wisconsin is not a hot bed of activism. While there are some supporters there, more are always need. Get the word out to sympathetic people in the Madison area. Supporters—especially at his Wisconsin court dates—will offer a moral boost and show that he is not alone.

Remember, Peter is in there for the animals and the activist community should be there for him.

Send letters of support to Peter Young, #05015987, Santa Clara County Department of Corrections, 885 North San Pedro St., San Jose, California, 95110, USA. Email messages can be send to letters@supportpeter.com. They will be printed out and sent to him regularly.

Funds for his legal defense and for general support can be sent to Peter Young Support Fund, 740A 14th St. #237, San Francisco, CA 94114 (make checks payable to Peter Young Defense Fund).

For more information, contact the Peter Young Support Committee, info@supportpeter.com.

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