The two activists, Kevin Johnson, 27, and Tyler Lang, 25, will appear in a federal district court in Chicago on Thursday to plead for the federal charges to be dismissed<\/a>. Lawyers for the defendants will argue that the counts, brought under an obscure 2006 law, are an inappropriate use of the concept of terrorism that threatens to stop free speech across the animal rights movement.<\/p>\n The hearing marks the first time that the law, the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA), will be legally challenged as a violation of the US constitution.<\/p>\n Congress passed the AETA eight years ago under heavy lobbying from the pharmaceutical, fur and farming industries. Under its terms, anyone who damages the property or the profit line of an animal business and who uses \u201cinterstate commerce\u201d such as a cellphone or the internet to carry out the action can be convicted of terrorism even though no violence is involved.<\/p>\n That applies to the two defendants, who were served the federal charges last July even though they have never been accused of any act of violence.<\/p>\n \u201cThese charges demean the definition of terrorism. They not only violate the defendants\u2019 individual rights, but also serve to chill the first amendment rights of an entire movement,\u201d said Rachel Meeropol, a staff attorney with the Center for Constitutional Rights who is representing the men.<\/p>\n The two Los Angeles-based activists have already served sentences under state law of up to 30 months after their car was searched in a routine traffic stop in Illinois<\/a>. Police found bolt and wire cutters, ski masks and camouflage clothing.<\/p>\n The equipment was deemed to be \u201cburglary tools\u201d and they were prosecuted. Lang was released from prison on a plea deal in November and is out on bond, while Johnson remains in custody awaiting the federal trial. They have both pleaded not guilty to the terrorism charges.<\/p>\n
![\"foxinchokehold\"](\"https:\/\/animalliberationpressoffice.org\/NAALPO\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/foxinchokehold.jpeg\")
<\/a>Two men will plead for dismissal of federal charges under obscure 2006 law for which damaging property or profit line of animal businesses can carry terrorism conviction despite absence of violence<\/strong><\/p>\nTwo animal rights activists who have served prison terms for releasing mink and foxes from fur farms in the US midwest are facing federal charges that could see them sentenced to a further 10 years and branded for life as terrorists.<\/p>\n
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