Bioscience Briefing
For info about biomedical funding, animal research and other bioscience issues, click here.
Science Policy Announcements
For the latest news from the APS Science Policy click here.
Resource Book Now Available
Click here for more info on The APS Resource Book for the Design of Animal Exercise Protocols.
SHAC 6 Trial
On March 2, 2006, a New Jersey jury convicted the animal rights group Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC) and six of its members of animal enterprise conspiracy, conspiracy to engage in interstate stalking, interstate stalking, and telephone harassment. This was the first prosecution that included charges under the federal Animal Enterprise Protection Act, a 1992 law that makes it a criminal offense to cause physical disruption to an animal enterprise. Evidence presented at the trial included the fact that the defendants posted personal details about people employed by businesses connected to Huntingdon Life Sciences on the SHAC website and encouraged other activists to "go get them." In the wake of such postings, activists held noisy late-night demonstrations at those individuals' homes, committed acts of vandalism, and threatened employees and their children. Defense attorneys argued that their clients were exercising their free speech rights. The activists are out on bail pending a sentencing hearing scheduled for April.