June 25, 1998

The Sea World protestors that were arrested on public property on April 5th finished their two-day trial today. Originally the activists were charged with unlawful assembly, those charges were dropped and replaced with resisting arrest without violence before their first court appearance.

Thirteen animal protectionists were found guilty and one activist was found not guilty. The State Attorney, Vincent Scarlota, is asking Judge Carter for ten days jail time and thirty days jail time for two activists that the State Attorney thinks are the "ringleaders."

"I am appalled that the State Attorney wants to waste more tax dollars to jail people who were exercising their constitutional right to assemble, "said Campus Action for Animals (CAA) member Maria Diestro, coordinator of the protest.

The emergency response team (ERT) was called to arrest the activists at 11am on April 5th, stated James Sykes, an ERT member, at the downtown courthouse today. The demonstrators arrived at Sea World at 12 noon.

"It is a crime that I am being persecuted for opposing animal cruelty. Today's guilty verdict serves to make me more determined to fight for my constitutional rights of free speech and peaceful assembly," stated Megan Hearn, the president of CAA, the University of Central Florida's animal protection group.

Sentencing has been scheduled for August 5th.

"If our signs had said go to Sea World they don't abuse animals there would have been no arrests made that day and consequently no jail time sought," said Susan McCullom, the activist accused of being a "ringleader." "Since when has it become a crime to have a demonstration?"

Susan McCollum has been an activist for 17 years from Canada to Florida. She also worked to rehabilitate injured animals. Currently, she is a member of the animal rights organization Earth Kind, working with elementary and high school children to educate them about humanitarian and environmental issues. Other Articles I've Written