"Dear Friends,

I am writing you as a both a friend and a defendant in the USA vs. Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty trial. My co-defendants and I need your help, we need you to attend court on wednesday - friday of this week and show support for our innocence.

We face varying degrees of sentences if convicted, some as low as 3 years others as high 23 years and we may be remanded into custody as soon as friday afternoon if we lose.

In May of 2004 myself and 6 other people were arrested at our homes and indicted by the federal government on charges that the media and prosecutors call "domestic terrorism". These charges stem from the publishing of a website ( http://www.SHACamerica.net), a website designed to educate people of the criminal animal cruelty perpetrated by Huntingdon Life Sciences see ( http://www.InsideHLS.com), and to publish reports of anti-Huntingdon protest activities occurring across the country.

Myself and my co-defendants began trial on our charges a few weeks ago on February 6th. Since then we have seen the US Attourny's office present a case filled with inuendo, irrelevent material, and a witness list aimed at preying upon the emotions of the jury. What we have not seen however is ANY evidence of wrongdoing of any kind. The governments case challenges the basic ideas of free speech with particular focus on those who advocate for the rights of animals. The governments case is expected to rest this Tuesday, and it is at that point that we will be putting on our defense. We have been restrianed from showing footage of the documented crimes commited by HLS, we have been prohibited from allowing expert testimony on how vivisection is both morally and scientifically fraudulent, and we have been prohibited form mentioning the recent charges brought against HLS by the NJSPCA (see http://www.animaldefense.info/news/010506.html) We must show that we have support from the community!, we must show that we are not only innocent but we are right!, YOU CAN HELP US DO THAT! For the animals inside HLS, and for the the freedom of myself and my co-defendants please tell everyone you know to PUT ON YOUR BEST CLOTHES AND BIGGEST SMILES AND ATTEND COURT WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY OF THIS WEEK.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Your Friend,

Andy Stepanian"