support PETA, you support terrorists like the ALF.
The Southern Poverty Law Center put out several report on the links
between domestic terrorist groups like the Animal Liberation Front and
PETA, and detail the threats these groups pose to researchers: The
full report is at
http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?aid=42
The following is a brief exerpt (from
http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?pid=91)
--
Targeting Scientists, and Others
Scientists have been increasingly targeted � with similar success. In
July, Dr. Michael Podell halted his AIDS studies and resigned from
Ohio State University, giving up a tenured position and a $1.7 million
research project.
Podell, who was using cats to study why drug users seem to succumb
more quickly to AIDS, received nearly a dozen death threats after PETA
put the experiment on its "action alert" list. Podell was sent a
photograph of a British scientist whose car had been bombed. "You're
next" was scrawled across the top of the photo.
The use of animals in research has decreased in the last few decades,
according to government estimates � and the use of cats has dropped a
whopping 66 percent since 1967. But scientists say that some research,
like Podell's, cannot be done with computer modeling or with human
subjects.
"It's a small number of animals to get information to potentially help
millions of people," Podell told The New York Times.
But that argument did not hold water with PETA, or with the local
protest group that sprung up in Columbus. Eventually, they wore down
Podell.
"Scientists tend to be good targets," Frankie Trull, president of the
Foundation for Biomedical Research, which promotes "humane and
responsible" animal testing, told the Intelligence Report. "Their
temperament is such that they don't really fight back. The ALF is like
the bully in the schoolyard for them."
Pumped up by their victories, eco-radicals have made it clear that
their agenda is broadening in a big � and potentially dangerous � way.
If President Bush expands the nuclear-power industry, said a
spokesperson for SHAC-USA, that industry will be targeted next. The
ultimate target, as the ELF says in a video, is nothing short of "the
entire capitalist system."
The Justice Department
While SHAC sets a new standard for eco-terrorism, another British
import is making American and Canadian authorities even more nervous.
Since it sprang up in 1993, the so-called Justice Department has
claimed responsibility for hundreds of violent attacks in the U.K.
With an underground cell structure similar to those of the ALF and
ELF, the Justice Department has made creative use of letter bombs,
which have injured several people, and sent out scores of envelopes
rigged with poisoned razor blades.
The London Independent called the Justice Department's attacks "the
most sustained and sophisticated bombing campaign in mainland Britain
since the IRA was at its height."
In January 1996, after the group became active in North America, the
Justice Department claimed responsibility for sending envelopes with
blades dipped in rat poison to 80 researchers, hunting guides and
others in British Columbia, Alberta and around the United States.
The blades were taped inside the opening edge of the envelopes, poised
to cut the fingers of anyone opening the letters.
"Dear animal killing scum!" read the note inside. "Hope we sliced your
finger wide open and that you now die from the rat poison we smeared
on the razor blade." The letter signed off, "Justice Department
strikes again."
Authorities in Great Britain have suggested that Keith Mann of the ALF
currently serving an 11-year prison sentence in Britain, founded the
Justice Department, although that has not been proven.
--
The SPLC has also a page that documents recent incidents involving
PETA/ALF: http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?sid=29
Here's a list of incidents since Sept 11, 2001.
SEPT. 20, 2001
Alamogordo, N.M.
The ALF claimed a $1 million arson fire at Coulston Foundation's White
Sands Research Center. Lab owner Dr. Fred Coulston had earlier had a
bomb scare at his home and had also received razor blades in the mail.
OCT. 15, 2001
Susanville, Calif.
The ELF planted four firebombs at a Bureau of Land Management corral,
burning down an $85,000 barn.
OCT. 24, 2001
Long Island, N.Y.
The "Special Operations: Huntingdon Life Sciences" cell of the ALF
attacked Bank of America offices, smashing more than 30 windows and
later boasting sarcastically that it had "joined the United States in
their [sic] noble War Against Terrorism!"
NOV. 5, 2001
Idaho County, Idaho
The ELF claimed the spiking of trees in the Nez Perce National Forest
to prevent a timber sale.
NOV. 5, 2001
Houghton, Mich.
After a series of ELF E-mail threats, suspected ELF activists planted
incendiary devices at the U.J. Noblet Forestry Building and a U.S.
Forest Service laboratory at Michigan Tech University. Security guards
disarmed the devices.
NOV. 11, 2001
San Diego, Calif.
The ALF destroyed a contract animal research lab owned by Sierra
Biomedical, causing $50,000 in damage.
JAN. 29, 2002
St. Paul, Minn.
The ELF claimed a $250,000 arson at the University of Minnesota's
Microbial and Plat Genomics Research Center, which was under
construction.
JAN. 29, 2002
Fairfield, Maine
The ELF and ALF jointly claimed the sabotage of a biotech plant being
built for Jackson Labs, an animal testing business. Sand and mortar
mix were used to wreck construction equipment at the site.
MARCH 24, 2002
Erie, Penn.
Saying it was trying to stop a highway project, the ELF spiked trees
and torched a $500,000 construction crane at a bridge worksite.
MAY 3, 2002
Bloomington, Ind.
The ALF claimed a fire that destroyed a Sims Poultry truck.
JULY 10, 2002
Seattle, Wash.
Animal rights activists set off smoke bombs in two downtown buildings,
sending 700 office workers fleeing into the streets. The targets were
firms insuring Huntingdon Life Sciences, a company that does animal
testing.
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