Activists refuse to testify and land in jail

John David Reporter
WQAD.com
November 17, 2009

DAVENPORT, Iowa - Two activists from the Minneapolis area are behind bars after refusing to testify before a federal grand jury. The grand jury may be investigating a University of Iowa break-in five years ago that resulted in more than $450,000 in damage.

Carrie Feldman, 20, and Scott DeMuth, 22, are in jail. Despite being granted immunity, they refused to testify.

More than 30 protesters gathered outside the federal courthouse in Davenport on Tuesday morning. They came to protest the grand jury investigation.

The federal prosecutor described Feldman as an anarchist. While grand jury proceedings are secret, her statement outside court gives a clue to the circumstances.

"I do feel contempt for a justice system that prosecutes people for property damage that is done for the defense of life," she said.

"We can be threatened, coerced and jailed," DeMuth added. "However, no punishment can be worse than surrendering our values."

Both Feldman and DeMuth were teenagers when extensive vandalism took place at the University of Iowa in 2004. Linked to a group called the Animal LIberation Front, the act was considered domestic terrorism.

Neither person was charged in the attack, but Feldman's father believes her correspondence with jailed members singled her out to investigators.

"I support her decision that her point of view is important enough to make it worth it," Jim Feldman said. "Me, personally, I may or may not have made the same decision."

Proceedings took place under extremely tight security in and out of the courthouse. Davenport Police set up a command post across the street.

While some protesters remained outside, Feldman and DeMuth were taken into custody. Unwilling to testify, they could be held for 11 months.

"They're willing to stand on their principles," said Barbara Nimis, DeMuth's attorney. "Their principles do not see this particular process as valid."

The latest stalemate in this 5-year-old case.