Activism & Activists’ Response

Activists Call for Day of Action Against the Green Scare

The following action alert has been circulating widely, calling for a day of action against the Green Scare. The environmental and animal rights movements have, until quite recently, largely been silent about the Green Scare and its impact on civil liberties. From GreenScare.org OPPOSE THE NEW WAR ON DISSENT! ORGANIZE A GREEN SCARE SOLIDARITY EVENT […]

Read the full article →

“Operation Backfire” Plea Bargains: Admission of Guilt, or a Survival Strategy?

Two more Green Scare defendants pleaded guilty this week to involvement in property crimes claimed by the Earth Liberation Front, including a 2001 arson at the University of Washington’s Center for Urban Horticulture. In return for the pleas, and for cooperating with the Feds in a broader investigation, Lacey Phillabaum and Jennifer Kolar received significantly […]

Read the full article →

More Good News: PETA Action Alert on So-Called “Terrorism” Legislation

More good news: Another national animal advocacy group has come out against the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act. PETA has distributed this action urging members to get active and block this sweeping legislation that labels non-violent activism as “terrorism.”

Read the full article →

Humane Society Opposes Labeling Activists as “Terrorists”

Just in: The Humane Society of the United States has come out opposing the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act on civil liberties grounds, calling it “seriously flawed.” This is great news, particularly since the industry groups are trying to rush the bill through in the next few days. Their fact sheet on the legislation is below […]

Read the full article →

Underground Group Calls for More Illegal Action in Wake of SHAC 7 Sentencing

It remains to be seen how the animal rights and environmental movements will respond to the sentencing of the SHAC 7, but one thing seems to be clear: it hasn’t phased underground, illegal activists one bit. On Tuesday, Wayne Parry of the Associated Press quoted a spokeswoman for the SHAC 7 saying that the government’s […]

Read the full article →

So How Long Have You Been an “Eco-terrorist”?

“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 […]

Read the full article →

Coping With Repression: The Chilling Effect of “Eco-terrorism” Rhetoric

[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 […]

Read the full article →

National Lawyers Guild Calls Green Scare Tactics Unconstitutional

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 […]

Read the full article →