AnimalRights.Net - Animal Defense League

Animal Defense League Activists Acquitted; Sue City of Los Angeles

Wed, 23 Mar 2005 04:00:00 GMT

Activists file $3 million lawsuit claiming city violated their civil rights.

Animal Liberation Front Threatens Physical Harm to Partygoers

Tue, 01 Feb 2005 04:00:00 GMT

ALF threatens to poison holiday partygoers with potentially fatal substance.

Dan Berger Tries to Rewrite History

Thu, 13 Jan 2005 04:00:00 GMT

Berger says The Man shut down his 1999 Total Liberation Conference. The reality is it was the organizers' own incompetence that did them in.

Teens Arrested At Ohio Animal Rights Protest

Thu, 13 Jan 2005 04:00:00 GMT

Charged with menacing by stalking after protesting in front yard of employee of firm that has a business relationship with Huntingdon Life Sciences.

Teens Arrested At Ohio Animal Rights Protest

Wed, 12 Jan 2005 23:00:00 GMT

Charged with menacing by stalking after protesting in front yard of employee of firm that has a business relationship with Huntingdon Life Sciences.

In Case You Can't Attend the Grassroots Animal Rights Conference

Tue, 11 Jan 2005 04:00:00 GMT

From child love slaves to the oppression inherent in pastoralism -- a brief rundown of topics to be explored at the Grassroots Animal Rights Conference in May 2005.

In Case You Can't Attend the Grassroots Animal Rights Conference

Mon, 10 Jan 2005 23:00:00 GMT

From child love slaves to the oppression inherent in pastoralism -- a brief rundown of topics to be explored at the Grassroots Animal Rights Conference in May 2005.

Animal Activist Jailed for Defying Grand Jury

Mon, 05 Jul 2004 23:00:00 GMT

Kim Berardi has a long history of arrests -- no wonder she doesn't want to talk to grand jury.

L.A. Mayor's Neighbors Take on Activists

Sun, 13 Jun 2004 23:00:00 GMT

Jerry Vlasak shows up to protest at Mayor's home only to be pelted by neighbors armed with Super Soakers.

Federal Judges Tosses Five Year Old Animal Defense League Lawsuit

Sun, 25 Jan 2004 23:00:00 GMT

Judge finds no impropriety in 1996-1997 arrests of anti-fur protesters.

Dan Murphy's Excellent Commentary on AR2002

Sat, 13 Jul 2002 18:01:43 GMT

Murphy demolishes animal rights arguments that animal rights violence is consistent with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s vision of non-violence.

CAFT, Terrorism and Leniency for Peter Schnell

Mon, 04 Feb 2002 14:49:37 GMT

An animal rights terrorist sentenced to a leninent jail term in January had ties to the Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade as well as a previous animal rights arrest.

Huntingdon Sues Activists

Tue, 08 May 2001 13:06:54 GMT

Huntingdon Life Sciences strikes back by joining a RICO lawsuit against several animal rights groups.

Protesters Arrested, Beagles Stolen from HLS Facility In New Jersey

Tue, 10 Apr 2001 12:58:55 GMT

Terrorist tactics by animal rights activites continue to take their toll on Huntingdon Life Sciences.

Let Andrew Stepanian Know What You Think of Him

Wed, 07 Feb 2001 17:51:22 GMT

Animal rights activists urge people to send letters to animal rights terrorist Andrew Stepanian. So why not write him a letter and let him know how you feel?

Harper Warned by Judge

Tue, 21 Nov 2000 15:13:21 GMT

A judge is angered by activists comments that "come dangerously close to asking people to commit violent acts."

Andy Stepanian Whines About His Upcoming Sentencing

Tue, 14 Nov 2000 17:16:37 GMT

On Friday, November 17th, Andy Stepanian will be sentenced for his role in numerous Animal Liberation Front crimes committed in the Long Island, New York area. Over the weekend a letter from Stepanian circulated on several animal rights mailing lists defending his actions and urging animal rights activists to protest outside the court room at his sentencing hearing.

In 1999 Stepanian started the Long Island chapter of the Animal Defense League. This came just a year after a wave of Animal LIberation Front violence began -- over thirty acts of vandalism and property destruction probably in excess of $100,000 were committed in the Long Island area in 1998 and 1999. A coordinated attack on Long Island McDonald's restaurants in October 1999 cost tens of thousands of dollars alone.

On February 3, 2000, Stepanian and another member of the Long Island ADL, Ron Blaich, were arrested for smashing windows at a fur store in Huntington New York. Stepanian's case went to trial and he was convicted -- he currently faces 2 1/2 to 7 years in jail. So what does Stepanian have to say for himself? He and the animal rights movements are the real victims!

I am writing this [letter] to you not to ask for help, but rather to assure you that "they" (Police, FBI, Cointelpro) want you to be frightened by what is happening to me. Their goal is to scare each activist on LI [Long Island] by making an example of me by sending me to prison. If you allow them to scare you then they have started winning, they prey on fear and weakness in activist collectives.

Of course when Stepanian and other activists were running around smashing windows, vandalizing store fronts, and other criminal activities they weren't at all trying to instill fear in their victims. They probably thought that smashing windows would contribute to the self esteem of the store's proprietors. Leave it to terrorists to start ranting and raving about how police are trying to instill fear (it probably never occurred to Stepanian that instilling fear in lawbreakers is considered by many people to be one of the primary goals of criminal justice).

After noting that furriers in New York are planning to attend his sentencing, Stepanian rails against this "harassment."

We (ADL) Have proposed that we return to them the same level of harassment they use against us. IF THEY TREAT US LIKE CRIMINALS, THEN WE HAVE THE DUTY TO TREAT THEM LIKE THE CRIMINALS THEY ARE! ... the FBI and DA's office are spearheading a campaign to dissolve the animal rights movement...

Stepanian could have easily avoided being treated like a criminal -- all he would have had to do is simply not commit any crimes. Most people who have political and ideological disagreements don't go around smashing each other's windows (although property destruction directed against animal rights groups has occurred, furriers, medical researchers, and others don't go around smashing the windows and vandalizing the exteriors of the headquarters of animal rights groups).

Ironically, contrary to Stepanian's claim that the FBI is trying to destroy the animal rights movement, it is people like Stepanian who threaten it most. There are at least two lawsuits currently in pre-trial phrases that claim various above-ground animal rights groups are simply fronts for terrorist groups like the Animal Liberation Front. Convictions like Stepanian's only make it more likely that a civil jury will accept that argument that groups such as the Animal Defense League are part of a larger conspiracy to destroy legitimate animal enterprises.

When a large jury award causes the animal rights movement to implode, activists shouldn't blame the FBI or local police, but rather activists who combine their daytime legal activism with their nighttime criminal activity.

Source:

Andy Stepanian letter, October 12, 2000.

Another RICO Lawsuit Filed

Mon, 16 Aug 1999 13:37:00 GMT

Furriers in New Jersey file suit against animal rights groups, while activists meet in Philadelphia to discuss how to respond to such legal challenges.

More Details on Jacques Ferber Inc.'s RICO Lawsuit Against Animal Rights Organization

Mon, 12 Jul 1999 18:39:00 GMT

Fur Commission USA provides some links between animal rights groups and individuals that could spell trouble for those named in lawsuit.

Jacques Ferber, Inc., Files RICO Lawsuit Against Animal Rights Groups

Mon, 17 May 1999 00:05:00 GMT

Furrier charges that the Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade, the Animal Defense League and other groups are engaged in an illegal campaign of harassment and violence.