Highlights
– Pamphlets threatening UC-Santa Cruz biomedical researchers found at local coffee shop-
– Days later, two firebomb attacks were launched
– Attacks share tactics from previous incidents; likely to continue in the mid to long-term
On July 29, 2008, police found about one dozen threatening pamphlets left by an unknown patron at a Santa Cruz coffee shop. Of concern, the pamphlets contained the personal information of University of California-Santa Cruz (UCSC) biomedical researchers. According to local reports, the pamphlets also stated, “Animal abusers everywhere beware; we know where you live; we know where you work; we will never back down until you end your abuse.” The pamphlets included the names, home addresses, home phone numbers and photos of researchers.
Just four days after the pamphlets were discovered, two firebombings targeting UCSC scientists were conducted—including one targeting a researcher’s home and family, and one destroying a car belonging to another researcher. No arrests were made in connection to the incidents, which indicated an escalation in the methods used to target scientists.
These latest actions follow a February 2008 incident in which six activists attempted to enter a UCSC researcher’s home by force, battering the spouse of the scientist (Previous Report). Despite recent attempts to initiate legislation to increase penalties for criminal acts against research scientists, animal rights activists have continued to threaten and wage attacks against their identified targets. We believe that these activists will likely continue to carry out various direct actions in the near to mid-term, even in the face of increased scrutiny, security and enforcement targeting.
State and Local Legal Actions
Due to the increase in animal rights actions, several legal proposals have been made this year in California in an effort to deter and decrease targeting of researchers.
For instance, after a series of attacks in late 2007 and early 2008, a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge approved a restraining order limiting the contact between animal rights activists and researchers. The order outlined a 50-foot buffer zone around targeted scientists’ homes during the day and a 150-foot area at night. According to a UCLA spokesman this legal action has resulted in, “far fewer incidents of harassment,” directed at faculty members.
Additionally, a California Assemblyman authored a bill entitled the Animal Enterprise Protection Act, which would have made threatening flyers such as the one found on July 29th, and other harassment of animal researchers, a specific crime.
However, despite passing through the California Judiciary Committee in July 2008, the bill was later moved to the California Senate’s inactive file.
Investigations Underway
Actions taken by animal rights groups have increased over the past few years, as their tactics continue to evolve and escalate. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has become involved in the latest investigation, which has been designated as an act of domestic terrorism. It was also the most violent attack yet waged against a University of California employee.
Notable activists actions taken against university based research scientist in recent years have included,
• Three University of California Los Angeles (UCLS) researchers who use non-human primates were targeted with firebombs, though two failed to ignite
• Masked protesters targeting the University of California Berkeley scrawled graffiti, broke windows at scientists’ homes, and leafleted the soccer game of a researcher’s child
• UCSC breast cancer researcher’s home was targeted during her daughter’s birthday party, resulting in battery on her spouse, who attempted to deter the activists from invading the home
Although investigators believe the actions are not likely centrally coordinated, the actions included the tactic of publicly posting researchers’ personal information, as well as using similar firebombs.
Aggressive Campaign to Continue
After the recent firebombings, police indicated they would increase security for the 13 researchers whose names appeared in the pamphlets found on July 29th and also offered a reward of $30,000 for information leading to an arrest in the case. However, previous security initiated by UCSC officials after the February 2008 incident did little to deter the recent actions.
Community reaction to the recent firebombings has been one of condemnation, with local politicians and university officials vocally denouncing the actions. However, a spokesman for the North American Animal Liberation Press Office defended the use of force as a tool for the animal rights cause, stating via email, “Perpetrators must be stopped using whatever means necessary, and the use of force is a morally righteous tactic; furthermore, it is the most likely tactic to be effective in halting these atrocities.”
Validating this point of view, animal rights extremists continue to escalate their actions to draw attention to their cause, despite the potential for identification and arrest by law enforcement. As such, animal rights activists will likely continue to focus efforts and target university scientists in order to promote their cause.
