Saturday, March 10, 2012

Animal Rights Activist To Face the Music For Her Threats?

The Detroit Free Press is covering the case of a Florida Animal "Activist" who has been threatening a Michigan researcher at Wayne State University.

Animal rights activist accused of writing blog posts calling for death of Wayne State researcher

Animal rights activist can return to Florida until hearing on graphic blog posts, judge rules

While the activist is claiming her threats are protected under the First Amendment, her activities have included publishing his name and address and how to defeat his home alarm system as well as advocating that he be slowly killed, and continuing to email him in a harassing manner.

The Court, following the rationale and ruling in Planned Parenthood v. ACLA, 290 F.3d 1058 (9th Cir. 2002) should certainly be able to restrain her speech activities from continuing these threats against the doctor.

If the court fails to do so, there's going to be an interesting variation created in the protection afforded abortion doctors versus the protection afforded animal researchers from internet-based threats of violence.

1 comment:

Scott said...

Hey - isn't that "hate speech"? That should get her an extra ten years if she is convicted.