Andy Stepanian is an activist from Long Island, NY. He is currently serving a 36 month sentence in the Federal Correctional Institution at Butner, North Carolina. On March 2, 2006, Andy and his co-defendants were found guilty of multiple federal felonies for their alleged role in campaigning to close down the notorious animal testing facility, Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS). They were not accused of actually smashing windows, liberating animals or even attending demonstrations, but rather for reporting on and encouraging others to engage in legal protest against HLS. The convictions involved the controversial Federal Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act. This act is supposed to punish anyone who "physically disrupts" an animal enterprise. These activists were never charged with committing any sort of physical criminal acts. However, under the guise of fighting "domestic terrorism", the government has seen fit to criminalize such activities as operating a web site, maintaining a newsletter and holding legal demonstrations. Andy was convicted on only one charge, conspiracy to violate the AETA. A conspiracy charge is typically very vague, difficult to prove, and yet it's very easy to imply guilt of such a thing. These sorts of charges have a long history of use for political purposes during periods when the administration in power wishes to curtail protest activity. For more information on this case, and Andy's co-defendants, Jake Conroy , Darius Fulmer , Lauren Gazzola , Josh Harper , & Kevin Kjonaas , please visit www.shac7.com . Andy and his co-defendants are beginning the appeals process and need your support!
The SHAC 7 are six individuals-- Lauren Gazzola , Kevin Kjonaas , Jake Conroy , Josh Harper , Andrew Stepanian , and Darius Fullmer --and the organization Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (USA). They are all in prison for a number of years for simply speaking out!
The SHAC 7 case represents a frightening new frontier in the war on speech. Indicted for protest activity against a criminally abusive animal-testing lab, their alleged modern forms civil disobedience and traditional free expression is being heralded as terrorism by big business and their pocketed politicians.
The college graduates, law school student, EMT, and social justice volunteers draw a sharp contrast from the ‘Timothy McVeighs’ of the world, but are being pursued no differently. Charged under the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act they face millions in fines and up to twenty-three years in jail for protected political speech and an unabashed support of controversial forms activism.
Their conviction is constitutionally flawed and imperils not only those who speak out on behalf of animals, but also anyone who has something controversial to say. The stand they now take is a stand for the civil liberties of us all.
This profile is maintained by Andy's support committee.
