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:

New Lawsuit Challenges the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act as Unconstitutional

A new lawsuit challenges the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act as unconstitutional because it has given activists reason to fear that they could be prosecuted as “terrorists” for non-violent civil disobedience, protests, and First Amendment activity. The lawsuit was filed by the Center for Constitutional Rights on behalf of 5 longtime animal rights activists. The activists […]

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Our Hen House Interview: Will Potter on Grassroots Activism and Occupy Wall Street

I had the pleasure of speaking with Jasmin Singer and Mariann Sullivan on their podcast, Our Hen House. It was a great discussion! We talked about why animal activists should join Occupy Wall Street, the possible resurgence of ag-gag bills, and the importance of vibrant, grassroots activism. Here’s an excerpt:

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Interview with The Rumpus, Including the Only Surefire Way to Spot a Fed

The Rumpus is one of my favorite websites on all of the Internetz. It’s a smart, sharp, literary site, and it was a treat to speak with Caroline Paul about my new book. Here’s an intro from Caroline: In 2007, I was put on Homeland Security’s Watch List. True, my brother had just been arrested. […]

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2 Texans Face Increased Charges in Iowa Fur Farm Case

Kellie Marshall and Victor Vandoren, both from Austin, Texas, are accused of attempting to release mink from a fur farm in Sioux City, Iowa. At a court date last week, their charges were increased to include two class D felonies in addition to two misdemeanors. Police allege that Marshall and Vanorden used bolt cutters to […]

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ArteTv: ‘Qui sont les éco-terroristes?’

A journalist with ArteTv’s Global Mag, a television program that airs in France and Germany, visited the U.S. to report on the labeling of environmentalists as “eco-terrorists.” She came to the book release event in Washington, DC, and I was also able to put her in touch with Andy Stepanian of the SHAC 7, Daniel […]

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KPFK’s Sonali Kolhatkar Interviews Author Will Potter (Video)

When I was in Los Angeles on book tour, I had the pleasure of visiting the KPFK studio and speaking with Sonali Kolhatkar. It was an interesting discussion about the power of language, and how corporations are re-writing the law. Thanks to Sonali, Martina and everyone at KPFK for the opportunity! Video below…

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Grist Interview with Will Potter: Environmentalists Under Attack

Grist.org is featuring a discussion I had with Robert Jensen, who is a journalism professor at the University of Texas at Austin and author of Citizens of the Empire (among many books). I think the interview turned out really well, and is particularly relevant in the wake of Tim DeChristopher’s sentencing. I hope you’ll check […]

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Exposing the Corporate Campaign to Create “Eco-terrorism” (Video)

While I was on book tour, I stopped by the studio of KEXP in Seattle for “Mind Over Matters.” KEXP created a video of the interview, which focused on the specific tactics that corporations and industry groups have used to create the idea of “eco-terrorism. Thanks to Mike and the folks at KEXP for having […]

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Interview on Alternet About the Green Scare

I had a great discussion with Brittany Shoot of Alternet about the book. Here’s an excerpt from the interview: BS: In light of the ways the post-9/11 climate of fear fuelled debates about domestic terrorism, how do you think Osama bin Laden’s death could alter the public discussion about eco-terrorism? WP: What has stood out […]

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VegNews Article on the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, “The Price of Free Speech”

The new issue of VegNews has an article I wrote about the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, and the AETA4, called “The Price of Free Speech.” I hope you’ll take a look and let me know what you think! VegNews is widely available at bookstores and places like Whole Foods, and I think it’s wonderful that […]

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