FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, October 8, 1997
CONTACT:
Heidi Prescott, 301-585-2591, hprescott@fund.org
Schuylkill County Prison, 717-628-1450
POTTSVILLE, Pa. -- Dawn Ratcliffe, a pigeon shoot protestor serving a 45-day sentence in Schuylkill County Prison, is holding her resolve on the sixth day of a hunger strike and her condition is good. Ms. Ratcliffe will continue her hunger strike in prison until the Republican leaders of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives put legislation to ban live pigeon shoots on the House floor for a fair vote.
State Rep. Sara Steelman (D-Indiana County) and 43 co-sponsors introduced a bill to ban live pigeon shoots today. The House leaders have thus far stalled every attempt to vote on similar legislation.
"I will continue to do everything I can to let the public know that the leaders of the House of Representatives have turned a blind eye to the wanton abuse of thousands of animals," declares Ms. Ratcliffe. "I will not eat until they give this issue the fair vote it deserves."
A Schuylkill County jury found Ms. Ratcliffe guilty of disorderly conduct for her participation in a peaceful protest at the 1996 Hegins pigeon shoot. A charge of resisting arrest was dismissed, and the jury was deadlocked on the charges of defiant trespassing and criminal conspiracy.
Adds Heidi Prescott, National Director of The Fund for Animals, "Dawn is standing strong in her convictions, and she is a hero to all people concerned with ending violence in our society."
Dawn Ratcliffe, 24, of Charlotte, N.C., is the co-founder of Direct Action for Animals. The media has access to prisoners, and can interview Ms. Ratcliffe by calling the jail at 717-628-1450.
