Legal Update on Scott DeMuth, Fundraising Plea, & Upcoming Events!

http://davenportgrandjury.wordpress.com/updates/

In this update:

1. Legal update on Scott’s case
2. Defense funds and fiscal sponsor still needed
3. April 9: Community Dinner in Minneapolis
4. April 9: Potluck in Rock Island, IL
5. April 12: Rally at the federal courthouse and come to court!
6. April 16: “The Green Scare: Targeting Environmental and Animal Rights Activism” at CUNY
7. April 24: Art auction

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1. Legal update on Scott’s case

From the legal team: “Since our last hearing on February 23, we have been reviewing materials in preparation for trial, and have been filing motions to dismiss the government’s superseding indictment. We have moved to dismiss based on the language of the indictment being so vague and open-ended that it fails to state the scope of the alleged conspiracy or what supposed role Scott played in it. Another motion has been filed based on the statute of limitations, since the superseding indictment came over five years after the ALF action at Spence. We are also in the process of drafting additional motions, including others which will seek to dismiss the charge against Scott.

In addition, we filed a motion for Bill of Particulars, requesting that the government clearly state what criminal acts they are alleging Scott
participated in. Along with this, we filed a motion for Rule 12 notice, requiring the government to state what specific evidence they intend to
introduce at trial. The Magistrate Judge ruled against us on both these motions and we have moved for the trial judge to reconsider the Magistrate’s rulings.

Our next court date is a pretrial conference scheduled for Monday, April 12 at 10:30 in front of Magistrate Judge Shields, which will address open
discovery matters and specifics regarding trial. The trial is set to begin on Monday, May 3 and we are preparing for it to start on schedule, even though we hope the trial judge rules in our favor and the case is dismissed before then.”

2. Defense funds and fiscal sponsor still needed

As we’ve known all along, Scott’s legal fees will increase considerably as we approach trial. We just got an estimate from his legal team about his expected expenses: $50,000! We need help raising this money!

Please consider donating to his defense through PayPal at http://davenportgrandjury.wordpress.com, or by making a check out to Coldsnap Legal Collective with “EWOK!” in the memo line, and sending it to EWOK! c/o Coldsnap, PO Box 50514, Minneapolis, MN 55405. And please spread the word to all your loved ones!

We’re also still looking for a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization to act as our fiscal sponsor so that folks can make tax-deductible donations to the defense fund. If you have any leads, please email us at scottandcarrie@riseup.net.

3. April 9: Community Meal in Minneapolis, MN

* When: Friday, April 9th, 7:30-9:00
* Where: PPNA Building, 821 E. 35th St.

If you’re in the Twin Cities, come enjoy a free community meal. We’re getting together to share food, fun, and conversation as Scott prepares for his next pre-trial conference.

4. April 9: Potluck in Rock Island, IL

A few days before Scott’s next pre-trial conference, friends of SCSC will be hosting a potluck benefit to raise awareness of Scott’s and Carrie’s
situations. If you’re in the Quad Cities area, come on by! The event will be fun and informal, and there’ll be updates from SCSC and information
about resisting grand juries.

* When: Friday, April 9, 7pm
* Where: The Artery, 715 2nd Ave

5. April 12: Rally at the federal courthouse and come to court!

Scott’s next hearing is on Monday, April 12th, at 10:30 am at the federal courthouse in Davenport, IA. Join us for a rally at 9:30 am outside the courthouse! Show Scott and the Judge that he has a community of supporters behind him, and don’t let Cronk get away with this abusive prosecution! We’re asking as many people as possible to come to court on the 12th to watch the proceedings. Contact us at scottandcarrie@riseup.net to carpool from Minneapolis.

6. April 16: “The Green Scare: Targeting Environmental and Animal Rights Activism” at CUNY

* When: Friday, April 16th, 4:15pm
* Where: The Graduate Center, City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, Room 9204/9205
* Free and open to the public (with state issued ID for building access).

This event will explore the emerging use of the category of “eco-terrorism” to criminalize the work of environmental justice and animal rights activists, as well as its significance for academic research. Panelists will discuss the impacts of the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA) on civil rights and liberties; how the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act and other laws have been used to quell animal rights litigation; and the case of Scott DeMuth, a University of Minnesota graduate student currently facing conspiracy charges under AETA for his research on the animal rights movement.

The event is part of the Third Annual Conference on “Rightist” Movements, this year focused on the production of “new enemies” in the name of security and the national interest in the post-September 11 context. A reception will follow.

Panelists include:
-Will Potter, Independent Journalist, GreenIsTheNewRed.com
-Raphi Rechitsky and Meghan Krausch, University of Minnesota, Scholars for Academic Justice, http://scholarsforacademicjustice.org
-Odette Wilkens, Executive Director, Equal Justice Alliance, http://www.noaeta.org/
-Delcianna Winders, Animal Rights Attorney and Law Instructor

Moderated by Professor Michael Blim,
Ph.D. Program in Anthropology, The Graduate Center, CUNY

Co-sponsored by:
The Center for the Humanities, The Graduate Center, CUNY;
The Center for Place, Culture & Politics, The Graduate Center, CUNY;
Ph.D. Program in Anthropology, The Graduate Center, CUNY

7. April 24: “Supporting Earth Warriors Through Art”

* What: Supporting Earth Warriors through Art
* When: Saturday, April 24th, 2010, 6PM to 10PM (auction starts at 6 PM and ends at 9 PM)
* Where: Purity Bakery Building Art Gallery, 36th Ave and 5th St, Minneapolis

We will be having an Art Exhibition and Auction to help support our comrades Carrie Feldman and Scott DeMuth, two Minneapolis activists who were unjustly taken hostage by the state in November 2009, and Eric McDavid, who has been imprisoned since 2006 and is currently facing almost 20 years in prison for a crime that never happened.

For more information on Eric’s case and ways to support him, please visit: http://www.supporteric.org.

Help be part of the creative resistance against state repression and send questions and/or the following details to explosiveexpressionsmpls@riseup.net:

-Name
-Contact information
-Starting bid on the auction item
-A description of the piece you are donating
-When the item can be picked up or dropped off

*Any items being dropped off or mailed can be sent to this address:
Explosive Expressions Mpls. c/o Leigh
1909 Elliot Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55405