AETA 4 - First Amendment Free Speech..?

This case relates to animal rights activism, and also not, because if prosecution of these 4 activists is successful it means the First Amendment is being toyed with, so the case likely will have broader implications.

June 8 Court Appearance postponed
supportcommittee schrieb am 29. May 2009

The scheduled June 8th court appearance for the AETA4 has been postponed. Please do not bother to make the trip out. The re-scheduled appearance is set for:

Monday July 13
9:00AM
Courtroom 6, 4th Floor
280 South 1st ST.
San Jose, CA 95113

From the Civil Liberties Defense Center
supportcommittee schrieb am 26. May 2009

...Charges against the AETA 4 include protesting, chalking the sidewalk, chanting and leafleting –, and the alleged use of “the Internet to find information on bio-medical researchers.” These actions are clearly and traditionally protected by the First Amendment.

The Department of Justice has brazenly called these activists “terrorists” under the auspices of a little known law called the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA). Passed by Congress towards the end of the Bush administration, the AETA aims to suppress speech and advocacy by criminalizing activities protected by the First Amendment, including protests, boycotts, picketing and whistleblowing.

http://aeta4.org/