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in this issue:
  • Editorial Cartoon Blasts Rodeo, Ag Dept.
  • Injuries Footage Released
  • Rodeo Abuse Headlines!
  • What's Next?

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    Dear Friends,

    Developments have been fast and furious in the saga surrounding the National High School Finals Rodeo in the past few weeks. Deceptions, mistruths, and side- shuffles are being shown for what they are by the Illinois press and spread across the AP wire.

    You will remember from our last update the explosive article that was blazing from the front page of Springfield’s dominant newspaper, the State Journal-Register. That article, and the companion piece, was the wind that fanned the flame, and now the fire is burning under the feet of the Illinois Department of Agriculture and the National High School Rodeo Association.

    In this capital city of Illinois, the Journal-Register editorial board also published a strong statement on their Opinions page condemning the animal abuse and the Department of Agriculture's determined refusal to do its job.

    Not only that, but a scathing political cartoon was spread across the Journal Register Op-Ed page as well. SHARK couldn’t have devised a more on-target slam of those involved in this rodeo ourselves. [See the cartoon below and via our website!]
    Both of these items are especially important because the Journal- Register was a rodeo sponsor prior to this expose. While the paper has not yet officially terminated its sponsorship, we are extremely hopeful that with all the abuse caught on tape, the paper will do the right thing and stop all support, financial or media, of the rodeo.


    		Editorial Cartoon Blasts Rodeo, Ag Dept.
    SJ-R Cartoon

    Click the photo to be taken directly to State Journal- Register's Op-Ed page with the cartoon.

    		Injuries Footage Released

    In the October 1, 2006 Journal-Register articles, deceptive and disingenuous statements were standard procedure for the rodeo organizations and Illinois Ag Department.

    Especially appalling was a claim made by Kent Sturman, the Executive Director of the National High School Rodeo Association, when speaking about the 2006 Finals. Mr. Sturman said:

    "No animals were injured."

    If you hear the Rodeo Mafia talking, you can be sure there’s some lying going on. And sometimes we at SHARK allow them to paint their own corner. This week SHARK released footage of some of the injuries at the 2006 NHSFR:

    SHARK releases injury footage! CLICK HERE to see SHARK’s latest video release of injuries. (7 minutes)

    		Rodeo Abuse Headlines!

    Abuse at the NHSFR made newspaper front-page headlines again this week!

    An excerpt from “Agriculture to analyze rodeo video”:

    "Although the [Ag] department denies it, the decision to investigate appears to mark a reversal from agriculture officials' previous stances. The department had said no cruelty laws were broken and that animal-rights activists who believe otherwise should complain directly to the Sangamon County state's attorney's office."

    READ the entire article here.

    Due to the public outcry and media scrutiny, the Illinois Department of Agriculture has agreed to perform an investigation into the animal abuse at the NHSFR, ironically enough, by actually looking at the video. Previously, several Ag Department officials had either refused to watch SHARK’s footage or comment on it. Chris Herbert, an Ag Department spokesperson went so far as to say on television news, "our investigators were at the rodeo the entire time, and we don't believe that there were these violations."

    The truth just doesn’t seem to be something that Ms. Herbert is familiar with, as in the case of her latest statement in the October 11th article. Ms. Herbert states for the Illinois Ag Department:

    "He (Hindi) never provided us with any evidence to do an investigation with. We asked him for a tape quite a long time ago. We need to put it into context. We said, 'Please send us the unedited version.”

    SHARK has been very vocal, as those of you on this update list know, about getting our evidence to the public and to every official body involved. Our criminal animal abuse footage was hand-delivered to the Ag Department 3 weeks ago, as well as the Illinois State Police, the Governor’s office, and major media outlets, in addition to being posted on the SHARK website. The Ag Department’s claims that they have been without evidence AND that they previously asked for unedited footage are patently false.

    Below is an email from the Illinois Department of Agriculture, dated September 25th, which acknowledges that they received SHARK’s footage of humane violations. This is the same statement that they are now hiding behind, as reported in the latest Journal-Register article claiming it asks for all the unedited video and pictures SHARK has to be sent to the Ag Department. It doesn't.

    From: "Eckert, Jackie"
    To: "SHARK Central"
    Date: Mon, 25 Sep 2006 11:42:02 -0500

    Thank you for the CD. The Sangamon County State's Attorney has requested a copy of all video tapes, still photographs, or other evidence you have that may be relevant to the issues of alleged abuse.

    Jackie Eckert
    Illinois Department of Agriculture
    Bureau of Animal Health and Welfare
    PO Box 19281
    Springfield, IL 62794

    First, Ms. Eckert email doesn't state anything about sending more evidence to the Ag Department, but rather to the State's Attorney.

    Second, "relevant to the issues of alleged abuse" does not mean “all unedited video and photographs.” It means everything relevant. That's what SHARK had already given them.

    SHARK is happy to hand over copies of the 10,000+ photos and hours upon hours of videotape. We are working now to give the Ag Department everything. They will quickly realize what a favor we did for them by giving them only what is relevant.

    Finally, the State’s Attorney’s office stated on camera that they won’t take any action until the Ag Department conducts an investigation, which up until this week’s Journal-Register article, the Ag Department refused to do.

    		What's Next?

    The press coverage we’ve gotten on this is the biggest break we’ve had lately. The double- speaking, side stepping, buck-ducking Ag Department is finally getting exposed in mainstream media for just what they are: lying incompetents!

    We expect that the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s office will do their job, when and if the Ag. Department does theirs.

    Let’s keep up the momentum. Let the Governor know he can’t duck the issue any longer. It’s HIS Ag Department and his mess to clean up! Heads need to roll there, and the State’s Attorney Office needs to be provided with the report they need to get their job done NOW!

    Here’s what we’re asking from you:

    1) Read these ground-breaking articles and forward them on! [Article 1, Article 2, Article 3] They are available, along with more information, on our website www.Illinois Corruption.com.

    2) Watch the videos and look at the photos we have released and be on the lookout for more!

    Illegal shocking,
    wire spiking,
    calf foul- roping,
    Injuries

    3) Contact the Governor and tell him Illinois should be ashamed to woo such animal-abusing criminals to the state.

    The Honorable Rod Blagojevich
    Governor of Illinois
    207 State House
    Springfield, IL 62706
    Phone: 217-782-0244
    Fax: 217-524-4049

    Email Governor Blagojevich

    4) Contact the State Journal-Register and thank them for keeping this important issue in the headlines. Urge the paper to disavow further sponsorship of the National High School Finals Rodeo.

    Click Here to Email a Letter to the Editor

    or Write:

    The State Journal-Register
    One Copley Plaza
    P.O. Box 219
    Springfield, IL, 62705-0219,
    Fax: (217) 788-1551

    Kindest Regards,
    Steve Hindi and your SHARK Team

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