Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA)

The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA) sweepingly targets a wide range of political activity as “terrorism” if done in the name of animal rights. The greatest danger of this legislation, though, is the chilling effect it has had on law-abiding activists. Corporations and the politicians who represent them are using that word, “terrorism,” to make everyday people speak up for what they believe.

The AETA was passed in 2006, with just six members of Congress in the room, just hours after lawmakers and celebrities were on hand to break ground for the new memorial honoring Martin Luther King Jr. The law is so vague and broad that the non-violent tactics of MLK could be prosecuted as “terrorism.”

The bill expanded the Animal Enterprise Protection Act, the law used to convict the SHAC 7 of “animal enterprise terrorism” just months earlier.

How the AETA Works:

• Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act 101
• Will Potter’s analysis of the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act

History of the AETA:

• Will Potter’s Congressional testimony on the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, H.R. 4239.
• The Animal Enterprise Protection Act (previous version of the law)
• Text of AETA, H.R. 4230, S. 3880

How the AETA Passed Congress:

• House Passes Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act With Little Discussion or Dissent
• Internal Industry Documents Show Plans for Labeling Activists as “Eco-Terrorists” (Part 1 of 3)
• Lobbying Documents Show How Corporations Snuck “Eco-Terrorism” Law Through Congress (Part 2)
• FBI’s 5-Step Process to Criminalize First Amendment Activity as “Terrorism”

Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act Arrests

• FBI Arrests 4 Activists as “Terrorists” for Chalking Slogans, Leafleting and Protesting
• 2 Animal Rights Activists Arrested as “Terrorists” for Freeing Mink in Utah
  
• Dear Congress: You Lied to Me About the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act

Here are some recent articles about the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act: