Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA)

Project Censored honors Will Potter's investigative journalism covering the AETA.

The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA) sweepingly targets a wide range of political activity as “terrorism” if done in the name of animal rights. The greatest danger of this legislation, though, is the chilling effect it has had on law-abiding activists. Corporations and the politicians who represent them are using that word, “terrorism,” to make everyday people speak up for what they believe.

The AETA was passed in 2006, with just six members of Congress in the room, just hours after lawmakers and celebrities were on hand to break ground for the new memorial honoring Martin Luther King Jr. The law is so vague and broad that the non-violent tactics of MLK could be prosecuted as “terrorism.”

The bill expanded the Animal Enterprise Protection Act, the law used to convict the SHAC 7 of “animal enterprise terrorism” just months earlier.

How the AETA Works:

History of the AETA:

How the AETA Passed Congress:

Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act Arrests

Here are some recent articles about the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act:

Newly Released FBI “Domestic Terrorism” Training on Anarchists, Environmentalists, Show COINTELPRO Tactics

Newly released FBI documents show the flawed and misleading information the government is using to train agents to identify and investigate “domestic terrorist” groups such as “black separatists,” anarchists, animal rights activists, and environmentalists.

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“The most effective tactic… has been to turn the activists against each other”

Spanish interview with Will Potter about government repression in the United States and internationally.

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Washington Post Front Page Story Features “Green Is The New Red”

The Washington Post talks with Will Potter about “Ag Gag” bills, FBI surveillance of environmental protesters, and the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act.

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When Is Activism “Terrorism”? When It’s Effective.

A video interview with Will Potter about how attacks on “fringe groups” always spread toward other social movements.

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The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act Threatens Activism

Jurist, the legal news service, discusses why the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act is unconstitutional. Guest commentary by Will Potter.

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“‘Extremist’ or Journalist?” — TV Interview

The Alyona Show interviews Will Potter about the case of Jordan Halliday, and journalism being labeled “extremist.”

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Activist Begins Prison Sentence for Refusing to Name Names and For Quoting Dave Chappelle

Utah animal rights activist Jordan Halliday has begun a 10-month prison sentence for refusing to testify before a federal grand jury.

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Dairy Industry Magazine Compares Undercover Investigations to Cross Burning

The dairy industry compares the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act to hate crimes legislation targeting the KKK.

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Top 10 Blog Posts of 2011: A Look at Occupy Wall Street, and the Corporate Backlash Against Protest

In 2011, we saw two clear, sweeping trends regarding protest movements, and the corporate backlash against them. Before we get to that, though, take a look at the 10 most popular stories of 2011: 10) Tim DeChristopher Sentenced — What’s Next for the Environmental Movement? 9) New Lawsuit Challenges the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act as Unconstitutional 8) Supreme Court […]

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FBI Says Activists Who Investigate Factory Farms Can Be Prosecuted as Terrorists

The Joint Terrorism Task Force kept files on activists who videotape animal cruelty on factory farms and recommended prosecuting them as terrorists.

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