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Update on Gina Lynn (August 30, 2004)-- PLEASE FORWARD LETTERS NEEDED TODAY! Today Gina is imprisoned at the Seattle Federal Detention Center on a "fast" for asserting her right to remain silent and for refusing to provide the names of her friends and associates. Gina has not eaten since being jailed by Judge Thomas Zilly on Thursday, August 26th and she has publicly stated that she will NEVER cooperate with the U.S. (in)justice system. Gina needs your help and the judge needs to hear from YOU! At this time, only a judge can grant Gina her freedom (even though she has committed no crime). Her freedom and the freedom of the animals whom we all fight for are depending on each of us to do our part. WHAT YOU CAN DO TODAY: Gina's legal team is in the process of filing motions before the court in an effort to win her freedom. The judge needs to hear from those of us who support Gina Lynn and the right to political dissent. At this time, please write polite letters to Judge Thomas Zilly explaining that Gina is a strong-willed and compassionate political activist who has dedicated her life to fighting for animals. Explain that Gina will continue to refuse to cooperate with this political grand jury?no matter how long they hold her in jail. As Gina will never willingly speak to federal investigators, we need to remind the judge that HE is the one who holds the keys to Gina's cell. As soon as possible, please mail your letter (to the judge) and a copy (for Gina's attorney) to the addresses below. A sample letter is attached to help in drafting your own letter. Judge Thomas Zilly U.S. District Court- Western District of Washington 700 Stewart Street Seattle, WA 98101 Peter A. Camiel, Esq. 710 Cherry Street Seattle, WA 98104-1925 ========================================== SAMPLE LETTER: August 30, 2004 Judge Thomas Zilly U.S. District Court- Western District of Washington 700 Stewart Street Seattle, WA 98101 RE: The imprisonment of Gina Lynn Dear Judge Zilly, I am writing to you regarding the current imprisonment of animal activist Gina Lynn. Since Thursday, August 26, 2004, Gina has been imprisoned at the Seattle Federal Detention Center on your order for her supposed refusal to testify before a federal grand jury investigating the animal rights movement as well as the activities of other political movements. I know Gina Lynn personally to be a compassionate and dedicated individual. She is a person who has time and again put her life in jeopardy standing up for what is right, struggling against injustice, and fighting for the most oppressed segment of our society?the animals and Earth. Second only to her commitment to the animals is her strong will and determination... she never backs down when she knows her position to be morally just. Like me, Gina believes this political grand jury to be a fishing expedition and refuses to cooperate out of principle. Gina Lynn has stated publicly time and again that she cannot and will not cooperate with the Seattle grand jury or any political probe into the animal rights movement. Her path of non-cooperation stems not from personal choice or preference, but from moral and political mandates. If she must see this to the very end, she will... but she will not testify. Currently, Gina's long-time animal companion, Jude, is dying of cancer back home in Southern California. Gina should be with her companion during the final days of her life, not in a jail cell. Gina's commitment to remain silent before the grand jury couldn't be any clearer as evidenced by the fact that she risks indefinite imprisonment for refusing to talk rather than simply cooperating and returning home to her dying dog. Gina understands that she may never again see Jude alive, but cooperating with the grand jury has never been an option for her?and it never will be. Her imprisonment has not one shred of coercive influence and it never will... no matter the circumstances. Free Gina Lynn today. Until all are free,
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Gina Lynn currently sits in jail for doing nothing more than refusing to testify before a federal grand jury. In fact, Gina was told by the U.S. Attorneys Office that they would drop the federal charges currently pending against a close friend hers if Gina would only cooperate with the grand jury investigation. It's painfully clear that the U.S. government is threatening one activist with prison time to coerce cooperation from another. Of course, Gina refused to be bullied by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Friedman (Andrew.Friedman@usdoj.gov) and his federal lackeys and she now sits in jail as they attempt to coerce her testimony. [ 