Join us as we screen “The Animal People,” a riveting new documentary that tracks the legendary story of a fervent group of animal rights activists who dared to challenge Europe's largest contract animal-testing laboratory as part of one of the most successful animal rights campaigns in history!
Better yet, Jake Conroy, one of the SHAC 7 whose activism inspired this documentary, will join us this night and this night only to deliver a speech on the vital importance of pressure campaigning, as well as conduct a lively Q&A session following the film. It could be years before Jake returns to St. Louis; imbibe his strategic and tactical brilliance while you can!
THE ANIMAL PEOPLE SYNOPSIS:
Produced by lifelong activist Joaquin Phoenix, “The Animal People” tells the story of six advocates determined to expose the world’s largest animal-testing lab—and an industry just as determined to stop them.
The group targeted Huntingdon Life Sciences and called itself SHAC, for “Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty.” It used public protests and the then-fledgling internet to lead an open campaign against Huntingdon and successfully halted much of its financial support. But the protests led to a chain of events that would involve the FBI, Congress, surveillance, wiretaps, rewritten laws, and the first-ever indictments of animal advocates for domestic terrorism.
With never-before-seen surveillance and archival footage, the documentary drops viewers into the middle of the action and takes them on a terrifying but invigorating journey. As the filmmakers explain, “The Animal People” is a “chilling portrait of what happens when activism rattles the institutions of power.”
Here’s a sneak peek at the film’s trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXcmqguK3DE.
WHO IS JAKE?
Recognizing the need for strong grassroots campaigning, Jake helped build the foundation of Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty USA, one of the most successful grassroots animal rights campaigns in history. As an organizer and designer, Jake brought a new look and creative feel to grassroots campaigns through professional newsletters, brochures, web design, and merchandise.
Due to the overwhelming success of the campaign against one of the biggest lobbying industries in the US, the federal government prosecuted Jake and his co-defendants, known as the SHAC 7, as domestic terrorists. After a highly publicized case, the SHAC 7 were found guilty on all charges, including the controversial Animal Enterprise Protection Act (now called the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act) and sentenced to a variety of prison terms and a $1,000,001 restitution fine. Jake was sentenced to 48 months, which he served in two prisons in southern California.