The NewStandard has an article by Megan Tady available online today, highlighting some of the concerns raised with the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act.
An excerpt:
Will Potter, a journalist who tracks how the so-called “war on terror” affects civil liberties, questions the motives behind the legislation.
“If this legislation is only going after so-called violent extremists, how can it spell out sentences for crimes that are, in the words of the legislation, ‘non-violent’?” Potter asked.
Animal-rights and “animal liberation” activists typically protest the inhumane treatment of animals, including their use in food production, laboratory testing, clothing and entertainment. Some animal-rights activists feel so strongly about animal abuse, they choose to break the law to protest or prevent the practices. Civil disobedience tactics used by animal activists have included sit-ins and blockades, undercover abuse investigations, destruction of abusers’ property or equipment, and the freeing of captive animals.
Under current law, activists can be penalized for causing an individual serious bodily harm or death. However, nearly all animal-liberation activists have foresworn violence and taken great care to avoid causing harm to people during their actions. The new bill criminalizes any act that creates a “reasonable fear” of bodily harm or death.
Potter said including such a provision is dangerous for activists because it is unclear what would constitute a “reasonable fear.”
“One possible scenario is if you have a very raucous protest outside an executive’s home. And then you add on the fact that all of these industry groups have been using this ‘eco-terrorist’ rhetoric,” Potter said. “And if those individuals are protesting outside of the home and are wearing masks, then that can be seen as menacing. So… what is a reasonable fear in this climate of the war on terrorism and the ‘eco-terrorism’ rhetoric going on?”