Statement to the Court

On September 2, Peter Young pleaded guilty to two counts under the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act relating to the release of more than 8,000 mink from fur farms. On November 8, he was sentenced to two years in prison. Because Young is currently in the “transfer process,” in which he is repeatedly moved between prisons with little warning before finally being placed at a permanent location, he must currently be written to via letters@supportpeter.com. For more information, visit www.supportpeter.com.

The following is Young’s statement to the court at his sentencing. As Young did a large amount of improvisation, what follows is an approximation based on his notes and the memory of supporters in the courtroom.

This is the customary time when the defendant expresses regret for the crimes they committed. So let me do that, because I am not without my regrets. I am here today to be sentenced for my participation in releasing mink from six fur farms. I regret that it was only six. I’m also here today to be sentenced for my participation in the freeing of 8,000 mink from those farms. I regret that it was only 8,000. It is my understanding that of those six farms, only two of them have since shut down. I regret that it was only two.

More than anything, I regret my restraint—because whatever damage we did to those businesses, if those farms were left standing and one animal was left behind, then it wasn’t enough.

I don’t wish to validate this proceeding by begging for mercy or appealing to the conscience of the court, because I know that if this system had a conscience, I would not be here, and in my place would be all the butchers, vivisectors and fur farmers of the world.

Just as I will remain unbowed before this court—which would see me imprisoned for an act of conscience—I will also deny the fur farmers in the room the pleasure of seeing me bow down before them. To those people here whose sheds I may have visited in 1997, let me tell you directly for the first time: It was a pleasure to raid your farms and to free those animals you held 8 captive. It is those animals I answer to, not you or this court. I will ? forever mark those nights on your property as the most rewarding experience of my life.

And to those farmers or other savages 2 who may read my words in the future and smile at my fate, just remember: We have put more of you into bankruptcy than you have put liberators into prison. Don’t forget that.

Let me thank everyone in the courtroom who came to support me today. It is my last wish before prison that each of you drive to a nearby fur farm tonight, tear down its fence and open every cage.

That’s all.