Peaceful Anti-Fur Protester Wins Suit After Unlawful Arrest
Back in the 1950s, Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to move to the back of the bus in the segregated South. After learning of Parks' arrest, an African-American resident in Montgomery declared, "They've messed with the wrong one now."
Let's fast-forward to Virginia Beach, Virginia, 2009: Longtime PETA member and ardent animal defender Sheila Rybak was arrested outside a fur store where she'd been peacefully protesting. She was accused of causing an illegal ruckus by Maria Folch, who had "happened by" this off-road site in a full-length mink coat.
Sheila Rybak with PETA president, Ingrid E. Newkirk.
Unfortunately for Folch, Rybak doesn't take any injustice lying down. After Folch failed to show up at the first court hearing, Rybak sued for malicious prosecution. Makes sense right? Protests aren't illegal, and Rybak was only trying to spread the word about the hideously cruel fur industry.
Earlier this week, a jury found in Rybak's favor, and the court has ordered the defendant to pay $12,500 in damages. Here's the kicker: Rybak has declared that if Folch will hand over her full-length mink coat for use in PETA anti-fur displays and events, she'll call it even!
Talk about inspiring. What do you think?
Posted by Karin Bennett
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Assuming that she was indeed peacefully protesting, and was not harassing the woman in the mink coat, justice was done. Hooray, the Constitution actually won one!
It's unfortunate that Folch failed to show up at the hearing. While it is constitutional to peacefully protest, I doubt this woman , with PETA 's record, was doing so. Because I wasn't there I can only speculate as to the sorts of things Rybak was probably screaming at Folch, and probably disturbing the peace. I look forward to the day when groups like PETA, ACORN, the Brady Bunch, etc do not exist. Until then I'll simply continue to wear my leather jacket, carry my concealed weapon, and study my copy of the Constitution.
I agree, I think the three groups are retarded, and love my guns , leather, and Constitution, but you can't assume she was doing anything beyond speaking unless you know significantly more about this case than I do, which is very possible. If this is indeed the case, I would appreciate the sharing of information.