Congress Criminalizes Non-Violent Acts Against Animal Mistreatment

 

 

WASHINGTON, D.C., Nov. 14 – The government yesterday paid tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in an emotional groundbreaking ceremony for a memorial to recognize the iconic civil rights leader’s legacy and celebrate his advocacy of non-violence to achieve social change.  Tragically, only a few hours later and at the opposite end of the National Mall, the House of Representatives voted in favor of the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA) to criminalize many of the same legitimate and constitutionally protected tactics used by Dr. King when they are used to advance animal protections.

 

Following the Senate’s passage of the measure in late September, the House passed the AETA by a simple voice vote preceded by virtually no substantive debate.  When signed by the President, this bill could be used to arrest, prosecute and imprison law-abiding citizens exercising their first amendment rights to peacefully assemble and protest. 

 

“It is shameful that on the same day America honored the memory and legacy of Dr. King, Congress declared the millions of Americans who advocate for greater protection of animals to be terrorists and criminalized many of the tools used by activists to challenge industry abuse of animals,” said Society for Animal Protective Legislation Legislative Counsel Tracy Silverman.  

 

Under the terms of this industry-endorsed bill, a citizen who travels across state or county lines or uses the mail or Internet to protest the mistreatment of animals could be fined and/or imprisoned if his or her actions cause economic damage to companies that use, abuse or exploit animals – or if his or her actions, even if they were non-violent, are simply deemed to represent harassment or intimidation.  Animal protection advocates could be prosecuted and labeled as terrorists for conducting these peaceful forms of social justice because the bill contains language that is vague and ambiguously broad. 

 

Furthermore, the AETA is unnecessary because existing laws address extremist acts that result in property damage, bodily injury or death.  This poorly written measure will eventually be subject to challenge and will likely be deemed unconstitutional.

 

Contact: Tracy Silverman, Esq. at the Society for Animal Protective Legislation, (703) 836-4300; www.saplonline.org

 

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For over 50 years the Society for Animal Protective Legislation (SAPL), a division of the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), has been committed to improving the welfare of animals through non-violent means.  As Mahatma Gandhi said, "[n]on-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind.  It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man."