US protester in court for contempt

http://www.latimes.com

Animal rights activist convicted of contempt of court

Pamelyn Ferdin violated an injunction against demonstrations near the
homes of UCLA researchers. Sentencing is set for Nov. 18.

By Larry Gordon
November 7, 2008

Pamelyn Ferdin, an activist who has protested the use of animals in
scientific experiments, was convicted of contempt of court Thursday for
violating an injunction against demonstrations near the homes of UCLA
researchers.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge John L. Segal, who conducted
Ferdin's hearing in Santa Monica, scheduled sentencing for Nov. 18,
according to a court clerk.

Ferdin was found to have violated an injunction, issued in April at
UCLA's request, when she demonstrated in June near the Westside homes of
UCLA faculty members and distributed fliers that included scientists'
home addresses and phone numbers.

Reached by telephone Thursday, Ferdin said she planned to appeal her
conviction but was proud of her involvement in the protests. She said
the injunction covered other people and did not name her.

"I have every right to hand out the leaflets," said Ferdin, 49, of
Agoura Hills.

In cases that remain under investigation by the FBI, the homes of UCLA
animal researchers have been targeted in recent years with flooding and
attempted firebombing. No arrests have been made in those incidents and
Ferdin said she had nothing to do with them.

UCLA Chancellor Gene Block said he was heartened by Thursday's court
decision.

"It's important to send a message that the tactics used by anti-animal
research extremists are illegal and will not be tolerated," Block said
in a statement.

UCLA has said that all animals used in the university's research are
treated humanely and that their use is important to find cures for disease.