> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Animal activists may sue - URL: https://www.smdp.com/animal-activists-may-sue/ - Published: 2007-03-23T15:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-24T00:17:11.000Z - Author: Kevin Herrera - Tags: Crime, Santa Monica, #archive-import *Group considers filing civil rights lawsuit against SMPD* NOMA Animal rights activists known for their aggressive tactics are threatening to file a civil rights lawsuit against City Hall and the police department for what they say has been a pattern of abuse and intimidation to keep the protesters out of the city. The latest incident of alleged abuse occurred Sunday afternoon on the 400 block of 12th Street, in front of the home of Nelson Freimer, a UCLA professor of human genetics who activists claim experiments on primates, depriving them of water. Activists claim Santa Monica Police officers threw protesters to the ground, placed them in pain-compliance holds and ripped masks from their faces. They also claim officers detained several activists and two legal observers, and confiscated videotapes documenting the alleged abuse. Two demonstrators were arrested for violating the city’s noise ordinance. “The Santa Monica police are a pack of thugs embroiled in a sick power trip,” said Lindy Greene, one of those arrested. “Activists aren’t going to stop protesting in Santa Monica. The fact is,that by the SMPD violating the civil rights of,and assaulting and battering, legal activists they succeed only in escalating the level of anger on all sides and from the public at large.” SMPD Lt. Alex Padilla said officers were at the protest on Sunday monitoring the actions of the activists. Officers had a noise meter to record the decibel level of the protesters and based on that, two people were arrested for noise violations. The incident is still under investigation, Padilla said. “Our officers conduct themselves in a professional manner and always balance people’s first amendment rights with public safety,” Padilla said. Jeanette Schachtner, chief deputy city attorney in the civil liability division, said she is aware of the threats to sue, but so far she is not aware of any lawsuit having been filed. “You have a right to freedom of speech, but you must do it within the law,” Schachtner said. Last Sunday’s protest wasn’t the first clash between protesters and police officers. In September 2006, activists were demonstrating in front of the home of an executive with POM Wonderful, a company that specializes in pomegranate juice. The company used to conduct tests on animals, but announced in January of this year that it would stop the practice in response to growing pressure from animal activists and an ultimatum from Whole Foods Market Inc. — the nation's largest natural-foods grocery chain. During that protest, activists, who are known to show up in front of people’s homes dressed in lab coats covered with blood, said neighbors assaulted them and the police did nothing. Activists claim officers instead confiscated videotapes of the alleged assault. The following month, search warrants were served at seven of the activists’ homes, where SMPD officers seized more footage,computers, T-shirts, books, leaflets, posters and other materials, according to Pamelyn Ferdin, whose house was raided. “Santa Monica police continue their pattern of abusing activists and abridging their legal rights to speak freely and protest,” Ferdin said. “They are intimidating, harassing and assaulting legal activists in a shameless attempt to scare them from exercising their freedom of speech in Santa Monica.” While attempts to reach Freimer this week were unsuccessful, other residents living near the latest protest feel it is the activists who are intimidating and harassing. One neighbor, who did not want to be identified out of fear of retaliation, said she understands freedom of speech, but the protesters have gone too far, showing up on her doorstep with fliers while shouting obscenities through a megaphone. “I’m scared of them,” the neighbor said. “Why can’t they protest at the person’s workplace? We’re innocent in this... I agree with what they’re saying about the treatment of animals, but I think they are going about it the wrong way. “I think they bring it on themselves.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/032307-01_01.jpg) PAINTING THE TOWN RED: Clashes between animal rights activists and police are nothing new in Santa Monica. (Photo: Photo courtesy) *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 23, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/032307.pdf?ref=smdp.com)