The Dane County Sheriff’s Office is aware of the activists’ April 19 plans, but will not comment on its response strategy. In a recorded call, Wayne Hsiung told Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett about the plans for the second operation. On the call, Barrett acknowledged the activists’ First Amendment right to peaceful protest but said law enforcement would intervene if they broke the law by breaking and entering. He said his priority was maintaining peace. Animal rights advocate Lisa Castagnozzi said she’s concerned law enforcement won’t protect activists, leaving the situation potentially chaotic. But she and others plan to proceed regardless. ‘We’re as prepared as we can be,” she said. “We’re there peacefully and we’re doing what we feel is legal’.
USA TODAY: Animal rights activists are preparing to attempt a controversial raid at a beagle breeding facility, breaking in and taking thousands of dogs they say are being abused. The operation won’t be in the dead of night, but in the broad daylight, and is being planned out in the open for all to see.
The planned April 19 mission at Ridglan Farms comes after a much smaller action in March that prompted the Wisconsin facility to ramp up its security measures: Wire fencing, hay bales and trenches now line the property…
The organizers of the operations at Ridglan have argued in writings online that regular citizens have a legal and moral obligation to rescue the dogs, because, they say, nobody else will; the organizers accuse government officials of failing to protect the animals… They say they have the “right to rescue” animals at imminent risk of abuse or death.
Activists say they plan to take all 2,000 beagles using ‘every nonviolent means’. The organizers of the April 19 “Ridglan Rescue” say they will require all participants to act without violence. Lisa Castagnozzi, a Milwaukee animal advocate leading a support team for the operation, said her team has been training via Zoom on nonviolence protocols and legal risks. “Everyone is to remain nonviolent,” she said. “There’s no weapons allowed. Not even pepper spray”…
In a statement, Ridglan Farms characterized the April 19 operation as an illegal break-in that could cause up to $6 million in damage and put staff, law enforcement, activists and animals at risk… Ridglan has built new barriers since March, according to photos reviewed by the Journal Sentinel. Hay bales stacked 5 to 6 feet tall now line the property, along with a trench filled with rocks and what appears to be manure. Additional wire also appears to have been added to existing fencing…
The Dane County Sheriff’s Office told the Journal Sentinel it is aware of the activists’ plans, but wouldn’t comment on its response strategy. The sheriff’s office and the district attorney did not respond to requests for more information from USA TODAY.
In a recorded March 26 call shared with the Journal Sentinel, Wayne Hsiung told Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett about the plans for the second operation. On the call, Barrett acknowledged the activists’ First Amendment right to peaceful protest but said law enforcement would intervene if they broke the law by breaking and entering. He said his priority was maintaining peace on April 19…
Castagnozzi said she’s concerned law enforcement won’t protect activists on April 19, leaving the situation potentially chaotic. But she and others plan to proceed regardless. “We’re as prepared as we can be,” she said. “We’re there peacefully and we’re doing what we feel is legal”. SOURCE
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