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 [...]
Posted in Federal Terrorism Laws, Legal Issues, Legislation on Nov 28th, 2006
Here’s some interesting news from Wisconsin, the land of Joseph McCarthy and two of his torch-bearers, Representatives James Sensenbrenner and Tom Petri. Animal rights activists won what they called a rare victory this week, when a judge sided in their favor in a contract dispute about building a museum condemning animal experimentation between two University [...]
Posted in Activism & Activists' Response, Grand Juries on Nov 18th, 2006
Jeff Hogg was released from jail this week, six months after refusing to cooperate with a federal Green Scare grand jury investigating “eco-terrorism.” Hogg, 33, is a longtime environmental activist and nursing student from Eugene, Ore. He was jailed on Thursday, May 18, when U.S. District Judge Michael Hogan found him in contempt for refusing [...]
Posted in Terrorism Rhetoric on Nov 11th, 2006
Behind the Mask, a documentary about the Animal Liberation Front, has been screening around the world to very positive reviews. But a recent screening in the UK prompted a councillor to say the event may be a “criminal offense.” According to Leamington Spa Today, the local paper:
…Coun Roger Copping (Lib Dem, Leamington Manor) said: “I [...]
Posted in Legal Issues on Nov 11th, 2006
Rod Coronado, the government’s poster-child for “eco-terrorist” scare-mongering, is involved in multiple court cases right now, including charges under an obscure section of a law dealing with “Distribution of Information Relating to Explosives.” At a speech in San Diego, someone in the audience asked how Coronado committed an arson years ago in the name of [...]
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 [...]
[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 [...]
Posted in Legal Issues on Jun 13th, 2006
There’s a heated campaign going on in England to block the construction of a controversial animal testing facility at Oxford University. I’ve written a bit about the heavy-handed protest bans at the building site, to silence dissent.
Now, in the name of protecting against “animal rights extremists” and “eco-terrorists,” animal rights activists have been banned from [...]
Posted in Legal Issues, Opposition on Apr 18th, 2006
The head of a prominent pro-vivisection group in England published an op-ed opposing bans on animal rights activism in the name of combating “extremism.”
The construction of the Oxford University Biomedical Research Facility has turned into an all-out war between animal rights activists and animal researchers.
The university has already banned activists from entering a 50-yard [...]
Posted in Legal Issues on Apr 3rd, 2006
Posting names, addresses, phone numbers, social security numbers and photographs on a personal website doesn’t violate an anti-harassment court order, the Supreme Court of the State of Washington decided last week. The case doesn’t involve animal rights, but it’s worth noting because the SHAC 7 were recently convicted on “animal enterprise terrorism” charges for running [...]
The War on Terrorism has come home. Corporations and politicians are labeling activists "eco-terrorists" and national security threats. Think red-baiting, with a green twist. Here you'll find original reporting and analysis of the Green Scare, and history repeating itself.