Page 60 - Encyclopedia Of Terrorism

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Animal Rights Movement———33

the Animal Liberation Front (ALF), as domestic The goal of the ALF was to cause economic
terrorist organizations. Indeed, animal rights activists damage to people and businesses that exploited animals,
in the United States comprise one-third of what are with the ultimate objective of wreaking havoc on entire
called “special interest” or “single issue” terrorists, a animal-use industries. Lee’s cause was greatly assisted
category that includes antiabortionists and radical by the 1975 release of Animal Liberation, a book by
environmentalists. Australian philosopher Peter Singer that has become a
Today’s animal rights movement has its roots in veritable bible of the animal rights movement. Singer
19th-century England, beginning with the Royal stated that “speciesism” was akin to racism and sexism,
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals thus linking animal rights to the civil rights and
(RSPCA). This group, founded in 1824, recognized women’s rights struggles under way in the United States
the legitimate use of animals for research but sought and abroad, and instilling a previously dormant move-
ways to make the conditions for the animals more ment with a sense of purpose and context.
humane—what is now known as an animal welfarist The movement struck in North America at approx-
philosophy. By 1875, a faction of the RSPCA came imately the same time. In 1977, a group called the
together against the practice of vivisection, the cutting Underground Railroad released two dolphins from a
open or injuring of animals for scientific research, and marine lab at the University of Hawaii, in what is
formed the Society for the Protection of Animals often cited as the first animal rights action in the
Liable to Vivisection. Shortly after, thanks to lobbying United States. Two years later, the first North
efforts of such groups, the 1876 British Cruelty to American ALF action occurred, in which one cat, two
Animals Act was passed to regulate animal experi- dogs, and two guinea pigs were freed from New York
mentation. America has a similar animal rights history Medical Center. By the early 1980s, ALF cells were
to that of Great Britain—the American Society for active in both Canada and the United States.
the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) was In conjunction with the growing underground
founded in 1867, and antivivisection societies emerged aspect of the animal rights movement, in 1980, Alex
as early as 1883. Pacheco and Ingrid Newkirk founded the People
The late 1800s saw remarkable advances in medi- for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), now
cine based on animal experimentation, including Louis the largest and most active animal rights group in the
Pasteur’s treatments for anthrax and rabies, as well as United States. PETA uses legal forms of protest,
advances in the study of diabetes. In light of such suc- including sit-ins, marches, boycotts, and propaganda
cess, the animal rights movement in England faded campaigns. PETA later began acting as the mouth-
from view for well over half a century. The movement piece for the ALF, distributing press releases about
resurfaced in the 1960s in opposition to fox hunting, a ALF actions and films of stolen footage revealing
cause in which animal rights activists forged bonds conditions inside targeted research facilities.
with activists engaged in class struggle, as fox hunting With the support of aboveground groups, such as
was strictly an upper-class sport. (This bond has echoes PETA, the 1980s were an active time for extremist
in later campaigns against wearing fur.) animal rights activists in North America. In December
1982, the ALF perpetrated the “Christmas Cat
Burglary,” in which 35 cats were freed from the
THE ANIMAL LIBERATION FRONT
Howard University Medical School in Washington,
In 1971, animal rights activist Ronnie Lee founded a D.C. The ALF then raided the Head Injury Lab at the
Hunt Saboteur chapter in Luton, England. Convinced University of Pennsylvania in May 1984. Sixty hours
that more violent tactics should be used in the strug- of research videos stolen from the lab became
gle for animal rights, Lee created another group, Band “Unnecessary Fuss,” a film that documented scientists
of Mercy, a year later. In 1973, Band of Mercy com- taunting animals after experiments were performed.
mitted two acts of arson at a pharmaceutical plant, In December 1984, the ALF released 115 animals
becoming increasingly violent until 1975, when Lee from the City of Hope National Research Center in
was apprehended. Upon his release in 1976, Lee cre- California. By November 8, 1985, City of Hope had
ated the Animal Liberation Front (ALF), now one of been fined $11,000 for violations of the Animal
the most recognized radical animal rights groups in Welfare Act, due to information revealed through
the world. ALF propaganda. Meanwhile, in Canada, the first-ever