Animal Rights Activists

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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Shit the FBI Says

Every protester should know “Shit the FBI Says.” This video is pretty goofy, but it’s all based on statements the FBI has made in court, in the press, or to activists themselves.

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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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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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VICTORY: Finland Animal Activists Acquitted on Nearly All Counts for Exposing Factory Farms

Two animal rights activists in Finland have been found not guilty on nearly all charges related to their undercover investigations of factory farms, which revealed sick, injured, and dying pigs. Karry Hedberg and Saila Kivelä of Oikeutta Eläimille (Justice for Animals) were charged with “aggravated defamation” because of their exposés. According to Finnish news outlet Helsingin [...]

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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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5 Reasons Why Environmentalists and Animal Activists Should Occupy Wall Street

City by city, it’s growing. If you have been watching the rise of Occupy Wall Street from the sidelines, maybe it’s because you’re not sure if you’re part of the “99 percent” or maybe it’s because you just have other things to do. Here’s the thing: This is bigger than one person, one issue, or [...]

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Finland Prosecutes Animal Activists for Undercover Videos Exposing Factory Farms

As animal rights activists continue to expose the systemic cruelty of factory farming, the industries targeted are doing everything they can to keep the public in the dark. I’ve written previously about attempts to pass new legislation criminalizing undercover investigations, how EUROPOL lists undercover videos as a terrorism threat, and how Spanish activists are being [...]

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