Animal Rights vs. Animal Extremists

In any diverse society there are congregations of people that band together based on a commonality of beliefs, rights, and morals. When a group of people find a particular aspect of society distasteful they may react with disgruntled favor, literature, propaganda, or at worst, violence. When a group turns to violence to justify their belief and uses fear and media as a form of attack; they can be considered a terrorist group if they also employ the characteristics that define terrorist groups from common bands of criminals.  In the United States there are several domestic terrorist groups that range from nationalism to ethnocentricity to a belief that animals should be given the same liberties that humans are. One such group is named PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). PETA serves as an umbrella organization for splinter groups that regularly terrorize scientists who use animals in experiments.  Another group is ALF (Animal Liberation Front) which started in England and has gained international support from people who believe that animals used in labs, held in zoos, and imprisoned or confined in anyway is wrong. Some individuals would disagree that ALF and PETA are terrorist groups. To some people they are viewed as heroes and saving animals from being tortured in labs. To officials they are viewed as domestic terrorist groups.

The intent of this literature review paper is to provide examples of why ALF and PETA are domestic terrorist groups and not just advocates for animal rights. The resources used provide concrete evidence as to why ALF and PETA are fanatics who place the life of an animal above their human counterparts and equate keeping animals in any confined space the same as slavery or imprisonment.

Methodology

The resources cited were retrieved from various internet websites of activist groups, newspaper articles, and the internet sites of the two groups that are being highlighted.  The information provided a basis to understanding the beginning of the groups’ movements and what they have become.  Most of the information needed to serve the purpose of this paper was critical of the animal extremists and provided dates and places when violence and vandalism occurred in the name of ALF or one of their splinter cells. Search engines like Yahoo, Google, and Excite were used to gather information and keywords such as, ALF Terrorism, PETA extremists, eco-terrorism PETA, animal testing, and vegan activism served as starting points.  The results were varied and covered the whole spectrum of debate regarding PETA in particular. In an attempt to narrow the findings, focus was placed upon news articles and activist sites that opposed PETA and groups like them that advocate extreme actions for the sake of animals.  There was an issue of concern that some websites would not be fair and accurate in their reporting and so the resources chosen are from newspapers and research groups that watch activist organizations to ensure that supporters’ money is being spent as they were told it would be.

Discussion

Terrorism is a word that has many definitions legally and those definitions give a structure in which governments can take action against a group engaging in such activities.  Animal extremists can be considered terrorists under Walter Laqueur’s definition of terrorism found in our textbook, Terrorism: An Introduction, which states, “terrorism constitutes the illegitimate use of force to achieve a political objective by targeting innocent people” (White 2003 p.8).  Americans for Medical Progress website clarifies the difference between animal welfare groups and animal rights groups by stating, “animal welfare reflects the belief that all animals should be humanely treated, while the animal rights philosophy gives moral equivalence and promotes equal legal standing to animals and humans” (“AMP Research Opposition” 2004). An examples of an animal welfare group would be the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) whose mission is to prevent cruelty to animals throughout the United States and in New York City, the humane law enforcement division of the ASPCA investigates cases of animal neglect, abuse, and cruelty with the power to arrest those who are in violation of the state laws concerning animal welfare (“ASPCA” 2004).

Animal rights groups, on the other hand, do not seem to acknowledge working within the legal limits when striving to save animals from potentially abusive situations. In fact, most animal extremists groups do not seem concerned with domestic pets being neglected or abused, rather, they focus on larger targets like medical labs that use animals in experiments.  ALF, a group that has its roots in the UK, originally preached non-violence when liberating animals from dangerous situations such as labs, factory farms, and fur farms (“Wikipedia: ALF” 2004). The original intent of ALF was to place these animals into homes and sanctuaries where they could live out their lives and not be harmed. Over the last twenty years ALF has taken on Carlos Marighella’s theory that violence is necessary for revolution. Marighella did not believe that violence needed to be structured or coordinated. This is a type of terrorist tactic known as ‘leaderless resistance’ (White 2003).  This makes it much more difficult to gather information on a group when there is no official group structure. 

ALF has a website that does not clearly advocate violence but it does call for direct action (“AnimalLiberationFront.com” 2004).  Direct action from individuals who claim to a member of ALF involves bombing, torching, and threats to individuals and their families who work for research labs that use animals in their experiments.  Although ALF does not seem to have central leader like other terrorist groups, they are influenced and support the writings of Peter Singer.  Peter Singer is a professor of ethics and philosophy. In 1975 Singer published a book entitled, Animal Liberation, where he coined the term speciesism and defined it as the discrimination against certain beings based on the fact that they belong to almost always non-human species (“Wikipedia: Peter Singer” 2004).  Singer’s theory explains that any creature capable of experiencing pain and suffering are worthy of rights and states that it is unethical to eat animals because it creates more suffering.  Singer advocates veganism as the only ethical diet, that means an individual does not ingest any food derived from an animal, this includes dairy. Peter Singer does not advocate the use of violence or terrorist activity to liberate animals nor does he affiliate himself to PETA or ALF. He does, however, compare the animal rights movement to the abolition movement (Flynn 2004). It is them who have taken his words and turned it into gospel for their cause. Ingrid Newkirk, the president of PETA, supports Singer’s views on animal rights and speciesism, even the fairly radical and taboo notion of sex with animals. In 2001, Singer wrote an article for www.nerve.com about beastiality and simply stated believed that since there are no differences between humans and pigs or rats that a romantic relationship was possible as long as it was not fatal to the animal (Saunders 2001).          

              
Singer’s book, Animal Liberation, is the equivalent to the bible for animal rights extremists. They have acted by threatening the lives of family members of those who work in medical labs. Robin Webb, an ALF member, stated that children of the researchers who work in biomedical labs that experiment on animals are “a justifiable target for protest” and “the children of these scientists are enjoying a lifestyle built on the blood and abuse of innocent animals” (Flynn 2004 p.1). ALF’s U.S. division gained attention in the early 1980s and by 1987 was listed on the FBI’s domestic terrorist list. Some of the attacks that ALF has claimed responsibility for listed on National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism (“MIPT.org” 2004):

1. September 8, 2001 – ALF torched a McDonald’s fast food restaurant because the corporation fuels the killing of animals for human consumption.
2. May 3, 2002 – ALF parked a truck outside Sims Poultry Inc., a poultry plant in Indiana and set it on fire. 
3. March 10, 2003 – A McDonald’s restaurant was attacked and damaged by ALF. Spray paint on the walls read, “liberation” and “ALF.”
4. March 27, 1999 – Firebombs were thrown at vehicles belonging to the Big Apple Circus in NJ. ALF claimed responsibility and said it targeted the circus because it enslaves and exploits animals. 

These incidents are some of the less destructive ones that ALF and their splinter groups have claimed responsibility for. It has also been noted that letter bombs and breaking into medical labs and farms are common practice.  PETA and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) are the two most well known animal rights group. HSUS advocates humane treatment of animals and has not actively been linked to any criminal acts of violence (“HUSU.org” 2004). PETA has a long record of advocating and supporting ALF activists monetarily.  The structure of ALF may not be a definitive pyramid structure since it does work on the philosophy of leaderless resistance but the US division has strong ties with PETA.  ALF also has a support team of people who raise funds to continue their campaign. Mostly, though, ALF members fund their own acts of violence that is why many of them are minimal in damage and typically fire bombings and spray-painting property.

In the textbook, Terrorism: An Introduction, White examines the structure of terrorists groups and likens it to be shaped like a pyramid with the commanders at the tip (White 2003). From the information acquired about ALF and PETA it does not seem that there is a central leader other than calling Peter Singer the “father of the animal rights,” but there is an active cadre, the individuals who are carrying out the mission of the organization, meaning this is the group that carries out the attacks.  The active supporters are those who house members as they migrate or hide after committing a crime. Although there was no information found to prove that ALF and PETA has an active support level, it seems apparent that it is there considering the amount of press PETA does in supporting ALF and their actions. It seems quite plausible that some members are solely the safe houses for others. The passive support is the monetary funding necessary to carry on the campaign against those who harm animals. Supporters of PETA and ALF may not understand the true nature of these groups and are supporting them solely based on saving animals or maybe hey support one aspect of their mission such as stopping animal testing or against wearing fur. PETA’s funding comes from civilians who advocate animal rights but may not advocate violence. PETA is the most visible animal rights organization with billboards and magazine ads. Ads with well known movie and music stars like the band the Go-Gos with logos such as, “I’d rather go-go naked than wear fur” were strewn throughout pop culture magazines in the late 1990s and a few years ago a billboard in New York City had a picture of the former Mayor Giuliani which read, “Got prostate cancer?” and underneath in smaller print linked the intake of dairy to cancer (“Activistcash.com PETA” 2004). PETA gained media attention through their ads, which at first were featuring trendy people who were vegetarian, or against animal abuse. In recent years PETA has used fear tactics in their ads and has gone so far as to say that people who wear fur are murderers.  PETA has never been noted as attacking biker gangs or those who wear quite a bit of leather. Perhaps this is because it is easier to terrorize older men and women rather than a group of Hell’s Angels.

ALF works in cells, the subunits of terrorist organizations. This ensures the greatest secrecy among the organization if someone gets arrested. ALF members do not seem to believe that destruction of property is violent activity and a spokesman for ALF, David Barbarash stated, “we don’t see a fundamental difference between a human killed in a gas chamber in Nazi Germany or a mink gassed on a fur farm” (“AMP- ALF” 2004). PETA compares ALF’s efforts to that of the Underground Railroad and the French resistance (“Activistcash.com – PETA” 2004). PETA financially supports itself from donations and shares that it owns in fast food companies and food companies. According the Activistcash.com, PETA does not want to make a profit from these shares but rather buys enough to have access to shareholder meetings and then introduce resolutions based on animal-rights-oriented practices when it comes to the slaughter of animals (2004). PETA’s tactic is to lower the business and everyone’s investment in the company, which would drive up the prices of the food and drive customers to seek alternative places to eat and buy food. PETA is just displacing the population that eats fast food. They are not offering any educational advice that is medically based but they do have a group under them known as the PCRM, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.

On November 24, 2004 the Center for Consumer Freedom along with the New York Times exposed the PCRM as being linked to PETA and once again restated that those in PCRM are not licensed physicians (“ConsumerFreedom.com” 2004). Their mission is to influence citizens to cut out animal products from their diet. PETA knows that since they are not a medical organization and not health oriented but more so single-cause oriented, they would not have much influence on the general public in terms of improving diets (“ConsumerFreedom.com” 2004). Although, under the guise of the PCRM, persuading those concerned with their health and fitness would be more effective if the advice came from an organization that appears to be an official entity.

Many terrorist organizations demonize others, or the enemy, in order to not have any attachment to them. PETA has a link on their website for children that shows a skull and crossbones next to amusement parks telling about the atrocities of animals dying there and land that was bulldozed. The site describes such acts as Sea World shooting wild ducks that land on their property and Disney’s theme park is described as a funeral parlor (“PETAkids.org Deadly Destinations” 2003).  PETA’s rhetoric places animals not an equal level as humans but on a higher level of importance. What they ignore with zoos and conservation societies is the fact that some animals would be extinct due to populations increasing and predators. Without a haven where animals are living in facilities that are constantly improving, these animals would never be seen again. Ingrid Newkirk has been quoted as saying, “humans have grown like a cancer. We’re the biggest blight on the face of the earth” (“Activistcash.com PETA” 2004).  This attitude and belief is similar to the way ethnic terrorists forge identity and isolate themselves from the rest of the world. Ethnic terrorists strive to mobilize a community and they do so “by appealing to the nationalistic background of a particular group” (White 2003 p.187). Violence with ethnic terrorists seems to be the driving force that keeps the idea alive. Fear is also used as a way to further divide them in an ‘us vs. them’ comparative. PETA also isolates those who are animal liberators from the rest of the world of humans. In fact, it seems as if PETA feels that the world would be a better place without people. If PETA was to change the laws and regulations the question becomes, would laws that define and limit society also apply to animals?  Would an animal be arrested if it murdered another animal?  What about trespassing?  It seems an impossible and implausible dream for anyone to follow but it is understandable why someone would be against animal experimentation without the proper tools to make an objective evaluation of the work of medical research labs. 

PETA has been cited as contributing money to ALF members such as Rod Coronado, activist who has become the most recognized spokesman for the terrorist group. A flyer lists Rod Coronado’s various criminal acts and portrays him as a hero. Statements such as “move beyond the rhetoric of direct action and to fully embody it” (“VegasSanDiego.com flyer” 2004).  Coronado spent some time in prison and has also lived in hiding for several years. He is a charismatic man and to hear him speak or read an interview with him could sway someone to support him. He comes from a Native American background and takes the elements of being connected with the earth and the direct action rhetoric and fuses it together as a religious and cultural movement.  For Coronado, this is not just a cause, it has become a mission and he is the guru for any young idealistic person who is enamored with animals and does not feel that any animal should suffer. He makes a great recruiter for ALF or any extremist group; he is every charismatic and sounds brilliant and compassionate when he speaks about saving the earth.
The actions of single-cause terrorists groups such as ALF have ignited states to propose laws defining their destructive behavior as terrorism.  In New York in 2003, a law was proposed defining certain animal rights and environmental groups as terrorist organizations according to the Village Voice (Otis 2003).  The bill was called the Animal and Ecological Terrorist Act and focused on groups like Earth Liberation Front and Animal Liberation Front. Both groups have reputations for attacking research labs, farms, and developments.  The bill also targeted PETA (Otis 2003). The definition of terrorism used for the purpose of bill A4884 is, “any association, organization, entity, coalition, or combination of two or more persons with the primary or incidental purpose of supporting any politically motivated activity through intimidation, coercion, fear, or other means” (Otis 2003 p.1).  The bill is not to stop groups from protesting or leafleting as many groups do; it is being introduced to penalize those who destroy property, send death threats, and start fires in the name of their cause. Governments pay attention to bills and legislation dealing with terrorism now more than ever due to the events of September 11th, 2001. Aside from fortifying and defeating international religious based terrorism, the movement has been to demolish all acts that are seen as terrorist in nature and used to intimidate any one party of people.  It seems as if eco-terrorists will begin to find themselves under even harsher punishments and under the microscope now that they are seen as a legitimate form of terrorism and not just radicals who are vandalizing. Bills such as A4884 are important to consider because many groups need to utilize new tactics and multiply the level of their attacks when they are small cells fighting against large companies. As animal extremists look for new ways to utilize the internet and media and make sure people are paying attention, their strategies must become more extreme, more shocking, and instill more fear in order to fuel their campaign. As stated earlier, this line of reasoning follows that of ethnic terrorists. Jerry Vlask, an animal rights activist and was part of the PCRM, stated, “It won’t ruin our movement if someone gets killed in an animal rights action. It’s going to happen sooner or later” as well as “if something bad happens to these people (animal researchers), it will discourage others. It is inevitable that violence will be used in the struggle and that it will be effective” (Doward 2004 p.1) To counteract any type of terrorist activity, there are several Joint Terrorist Task Forces throughout the country. The purpose of them is to distribute and gather intelligence about terrorists organizations and work with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to ensure safety to the citizens and try to apprehend the individuals involved in these criminal acts (“AMP Eco-Terrorism” 2004). 

Conclusion

The animal rights movement is not quite what it seems.  The animal rights extremists have placed animals ahead of human beings and feel no remorse in the threats and damage that they do to other humans.  Some scientists are bombarded with hate mail and terrorized in their homes because animal rights groups list the name, address, and phone number of the researchers who work in labs that use animals for testing. Animal rights groups such as ALF have embraced a philosophy of saving animals “by all means necessary” and believe that this is the only way to make change.  It seems more as if they are not as interested in saving animals lives as tormenting human beings and restricting their freedoms.  The information gathered for the purpose of this paper was to exemplify that terrorism is not just an international problem and not one muddled in religion and politics. Single-cause terrorism like the animal rights movement is one that is ever growing. Many people support animal rights or rather animal welfare, but they are not always aware how the money they send is spent.  PETA does not advocate circuses, zoos, research labs, factory farms, fur farms, and seem to also have some difficulty with domesticated animals like cats and dogs being household pets. It is not made clear if they actually support shelters, spay/neuter programs, or sanctuaries.  It is clear that they use fear tactics in their advertising and embrace ALF as a group that is bold enough to fight for what they believe is right. 

Just as religious fanatics are fighting for a higher cause and believe they are going to receive rewards in another life from their god or goddess, the people who are part of PETA and affiliate themselves as a cell of ALF believe that they are right and cannot be swayed otherwise.  Their payoff or reward is the sabotage, destruction, and inability for a company to continue its programs even if it is only temporary. Some companies have become unable to openly disclose the types of studies they are doing because they fear ALF or splinter groups of ALF and ELF may start harassing them. Investors are more hesitant to support a pharmaceutical that uses animals in medical testing for fear of an attack from PETA. When a group strikes fear in another group of people in the name of a cause and proceed to use violence as a means to an end, it is clearly terrorism. 

Law enforcement agencies seem to recognize domestic terrorism as a serious threat to the lives of its citizens. Agencies such as the Joint Terrorist Task Force and bills such as the A4884, are some ways that the United States is working to counter domestic terrorists. ALF spokesman Rod Coronado is the most widely recognized ALF activist and he advocates direct action against earth-destroying industries and the government that seeks to repress the struggle of ELF and ALF. For Rod Coronado this is not a cause, it has become a religious movement and he makes several citations to his Native American roots and ancestors who preached a philosophy that the earth comes first and we are part of it and must preserve it.   The most interesting thing about Coronado’s way of action is that he does not seek the help of force multipliers such as media and technology. PETA seems to be the representative of animal rights groups and are always using media to their own advantage.  Coronado, however, feels that activists need to keep it simple and not use technology such as computers, cellular phones, or gadgets. He believes that activism and secrecy must be top priority and therefore, keeping it simple cuts down on the chances of being infiltrated and arrested. ALF does have a website and uses it as a means to give information to those who are interested in taking that step from animal welfare advocate to animal fanatic.  In it’s own way, it is recruiting and simply states that if you break into a lab to save an animal or any action that is ALF-like, then you are an ALF member.

One of the more interesting points is the fact that many of these animal activists seem to have a superhero complex and often place their own lives above that of the animals. There were no cases that were found of suicide bombers or ALF affiliates dying for their cause.  In some sense, it makes them criminals and opportunistic when finding a lab and destroying it. But ALF members plan and study the many places they destroy to find out how to get past security measures and get out before being caught.  Sometimes ALF records their actions and these videotapes get sent to PETA or television stations. It may be the case that they are not following Rod Coronado’s credo but rather the typical steps that any terrorist or guerilla warfare organizations uses to spread its message and instill fear into the enemy, whomever that may be.  Terrorists use media as a weapon, take credit for their actions so that the enemy knows who struck, train, and keep up on the trends in technology to know how to use it for themselves (White 2003). ALF and PETA have websites, take credit where they see fit when an animal has been saved or liberated, use tactics that seem to follow Marighella’s theory of revolution, and use the latest technology to outreach and recruit more people who are on the fringe of society. The psychological profiles of terrorists seem to be fairly consistent when it comes to the point of feeling as if they do not belong.  This loneliness and misfit attitude is common and what may bond people together when the group mentality is always welcoming and accepting and the only real family or friends they have ever had, that in turn, makes an individual not only fight for the cause but fight for the group (White 2003).

A concern that must be addressed is the new recruit who may not always be an outsider or feel like an outcast, but the passive supporter who honestly believes in the statements that eco-terrorists like ALF preach. That individual may strive for a career, be very intelligent, and compassionate about animals, as well as a vegan and due to the fact that to them animals should not be abused, may give money to a group that shares their belief. Many lab animals cannot be assimilated back into the world from which they should be living in because they do not possess the survival tactics that their feral counterparts may have.  Most of these lab animals and farm animals are not placed into homes or shelters. The question that the recruit who is striving for change needs to ask themselves what happens after the animals are let out of the cages and where do they go?  The recruit needs to dig deeper and find out where these animals go, who takes care of them, and what of the ones who may be induced with a disease or virus for empirical studies. If the average human being who has a soft spot for animals and is against animal testing does not find out exactly what PETA and ALF do, then they run the risk of supporting terrorists and jeopardizing the lives of their fellow human beings.
 
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