The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act has a chilling effect on First Amendment activity.
March 4, 2009
Dear Member of Congress:
When I testified before the House Judiciary Committee about the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act in 2006, I argued that such sweeping legislation risks criminalizing First Amendment activity as “terrorism” and chilling free speech. Members of the committee, including [...]
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Posted in GNR, Media Coverage on Mar 27th, 2007
Just found out an essay I wrote, “McCarthyism 2.o,” won 3rd place in the Lantern Books 2006 essay contest.
Here’s the full text…
McCarthyism 2.0
by Will Potter
Minutes after receiving an invitation to testify before Congress about legislation labeling activists as “terrorists,” I barged into a colleague’s office with a hotshot grin on my face, looking for [...]
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I have a guest editorial in the latest issue of Satya Magazine on the chilling effect of all this “eco-terrorism” rhetoric and legislation.
You can read it here on GreenIsTheNewRed.com.
Also be sure to check out the rest of Satya’s “Green Scare” issue.
Let me know what you think.
Best,
Will
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A 111-year-old Portland fur store closed last week after ongoing protests by local activists, and the owner of the store says he has been “terrorized.” Greg Schumacher of Schumacher Furs & Outerwear says the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act should be used to silence the protestors. The New McCarthyists are rushing to his defense, trying to [...]
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Posted in Opposition on Dec 1st, 2006
Most of the scare-mongering rhetoric from the New McCarthyists thus far has been about national security and looming terrorism threats. At an event in Manchester, New Hampshire, honoring those who have stood up for free speech, Newt Gingrich made a few comments that indicate a much broader, more overt attack on First Amendment activity in [...]
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I just posted the guest editorial I wrote for the November issue of Satya. Let me know what you think. It will be crunch time when lawmakers get back on November 13th.
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“Eco-terrorist” rhetoric has become a fact of life for animal rights and environmental activists. Through my reporting I’ve seen the chilling effect the rhetoric, legislation and other harassment have on dissent: many activists say the Green Scare has shaken them, and made them wonder if (or when) they’ll be the victims of the scare-mongering.
But sometimes [...]
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Posted in Audio, GNR on Aug 15th, 2006
A few people have requested that I post the presentations I made at the national animal rights conference last weekend. Below you’ll find the text I prepared for the plenary session.
My actual speech different slightly from that, though, so I also uploaded an audio file. Click on the triangle below to listen.
[Audio clip: view [...]
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Posted in Audio, GNR on Aug 15th, 2006
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]
“Coping With Repression”
Delivered by Will Potter at the national animal rights conference
August 11, 2006
11 a.m.
Good morning. My name is Will Potter. I’m a reporter and I focus on how the War on Terrorism has affected civil liberties, and specifically I focus on the Green Scare, and the push by [...]
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The National Lawyers Guild has called the FBI’s “Operation Backfire” unconstitutional, and part of an orchestrated campaign to silence dissent. The group’s press release issued Monday is the first time I’ve seen the guild, which prides itself on liberal-to-leftie politics, come out against these witch hunts. It’s a great step in the right direction, and [...]
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