Bungling Terrorists

GRAND JURY TESTIMONY
In March 2004, Geoffrey Kerns testified before a Federal Grand Jury. Read his testimony, as published by No Compromise Magazine.

FCUSA PRESS RELEASE, FEBRUARY 23, 1999
(Revised Sept. 15, 2004)

Quick Arrest for Bungling Terrorists

IN A BUNGLED fur farm raid in Washington State, terrorists were arrested at the scene as they released mink in broad daylight.

The raid took place at about 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 23, at a fur farm in Snohomish County. About 100 mink were released and promptly returned to their cages by the fur farming family.

The seed of the terrorists' downfall was sown Monday in the Seattle suburb of Renton, where the Seattle Fur Exchange [since renamed American Legend Auctions] was holding its auction. A dozen or so conflict gypsies had traveled from as far afield as Texas, California and New York, mustered some locals, and held a demonstration outside the Exchange.

Jake Conroy, 23, of Seattle was arrested for assaulting a policeman, and Matt Whyte(1), 16, of Orange, CA, was taken into custody for malicious mischief. Organizer J.P. Goodwin(2) of the Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade told the Associated Press he didn't know why Whyte was not in school. The case against the out-of-state juvenile will be forwarded to juvenile prosecutors for a charging decision.

On Tuesday, when the protesters left the Exchange, farmers activated their phone tree and warned others that troublemakers were prowling. Twenty-five miles later, the hapless troupe reached the fur farm where about 15 people donned masks and jumped the fence.

Five were quickly arrested by on-the-spot policemen. Three out-of-state minors - Lindsey Parme, Kyle Salisbury and Geoff Kerns - and two adults - Kim Berardi and Nicole Dawn Briggs - were charged with second-degree burglary and first-degree theft. Parme, Salisbury, and Berardi have lengthy arrest records. But who transported minors across state lines to perform criminal acts?

We hope prosecutors also ask who paid to transport minors across state lines to engage in an illegal activity.

Notes:

(1) See One Dark Night in Capitola: The Case of Schnell and Whyte. FCUSA press release. (July 11, 2001, updated Jan. 30, 2002.)

(2) See Careers in the Conflict Industry : HSUS and the Making of a Conflict Industrialist. FCUSA commentary on the career of JP Goodwin, and his relationship with the Humane Society of the US. (Aug. 12, 2001)

FCUSA Press Kit Special Feature : Regulating the Conflict Industry

Call to Action against animal rights / eco-terrorism (HTML format) issued by the National Animal Interest Alliance (HTML format; outside link) Also availabe on this website in PDF format.

For further information contact: Teresa Platt, Executive Director, Fur Commission USA, PMB 506, 826 Orange Avenue, Coronado, CA 92118-2698 USA, (619) 575-0139, (619) 575-5578/fax, furfarmers@aol.com, www.furcommission.com.

To take a cyber-tour of a fur farm, visit Fur Commission USA's Fur on Film at http://www.furcommission.com/video/index.htm

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