As the animal rights movement continues to grow throughout the United States , prominent ecoterror groups and smaller less-known organizations have launched an increasing number of attacks against targets around the country, specifically against companies that use animals in their research. The Stop Huntington Animal Cruelty (SHAC; Group Profile) campaign, which is dedicated to targeting the Huntington Life Sciences (HLS) research firm that uses vivisection on animals to test cures for several diseases, and the Animal Liberation Front (ALF; Group Profile), which is considered the most extreme animal rights movement in the US, have not only heightened their campaign against targeted companies, but have expanded their activities to reach other organizations that conduct business with their original targets. Animal rights advocates have increasingly focused their attention on personnel from such companies by publicizing personal information, protesting at individuals? homes, and threatening family members.
Growth of Strategic Alliances
In addition to the growing sophistication and severity of ecoterrorist attacks, strategic alliances and ties have increased within recent months between key animal rights groups. Organizations have begun to organize events that span across multiple organizations and call on assistance from advocates throughout the country. These events are organized to demonstrate solidarity and exhibit the power of the ecoterror movement.
In December 2006, advocates organized an international day of solidarity in an effort to defend and support those individuals detained by the US government on charges of animal enterprise terrorism, considered ?political prisoners? of the Green Scare. Events were scheduled in at least 24 US cities and brought together members and sympathizers of numerous ecoterror groups .
In January 2007, the Boston chapter of the Animal Defense League, a radical group connected to SHAC, called on activists throughout the northeastern US to join a large-scale demonstration from January 19 through 23 in Boston, Massachusetts, in an effort to protest Surface Logix, a customer of HLS that has increased surveillance and security procedures in an effort to dissuade animal rights activists from launching attacks against the company. As a result of these practices, five members of the Animal Defense League were prosecuted for their aggressive action, prompting the scheduled demonstration. In response to the group?s call, animal rights advocates from several organizations have promised their presence and support.
While these events rarely attract media attention and often remain peaceful, they pose a risk of prompting advocates to carry out criminal activities against those associated with targeted companies and attacks in the name of the larger ecoterror movement. Those attending the demonstration and sympathizers of the cause may view the overriding support for animal rights as a justification to perpetrate future attacks.
Long-Term Implications of Increasing Ties
The formation and strengthening of strategic alliances among animal rights groups increases the threat posed by the movement to the US. As ties increase, the flow of information and ideas will heighten accordingly, improving already adequate communication between activists. Additionally, broader connections will lead to increased dedication and commitment to the movement, likely prompting further attacks against companies and other symbols associated with animal rights violators. Furthermore, the decentralized nature of ecoterrorist groups, which are composed of small anonymous cells, poses a significant problem to law enforcement agencies, as members are difficult to identify and track, in addition to lone-wolf extremists who carry out strikes in the name of the movement. Ecoterrorism will continue to grow in the US, thereby increasing the threat posed to the country.
