Panettiere: Warrant is defensive behavior

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 16 (UPI) -- U.S. actress and activist Hayden Panettiere says a warrant issued for her arrest is an example of "defensive behavior" on the part of authorities in Japan.

Japanese authorities put out a warrant for the arrest of the "Heroes" star, in connection with her recent attempt to rescue dolphins from slaughter.

Panettiere and a group of activists from the United States and Australia on Oct. 30 paddled out on surfboards to protest the killing of dolphins and whales by Japanese fishermen.

The activists were blocked by a fishing boat as they tried to get to a pod of dolphins before the fishermen did. The activists then went to shore and headed for the airport to keep from being arrested for trespassing.

"Obviously, this issue has generated defensive behavior on the part of both the Japanese authorities and fishermen," Panettiere said in a statement issued to "Access Hollywood." "I have grown up hearing -- and adhering to -- this phrase, 'condemnation without investigation dooms one to everlasting ignorance.'"