They vigorously deny the label that increasingly sticks to them: "eco-terrorist." Still, the ELF and ALF insist that they remain dedicated to what their spokespeople describe as nonviolent "economic sabotage," such as tree-spiking and arson. When cowed companies began responding to the harassment by pulling away from Huntington, many radical environmentalists cheered - even when SHAC's actions clearly went over the "nonviolent" line. They've had their names, addresses and personal information posted on Web sites and posters, declaring them "wanted for collaboration with animal torture." They have faced a mounting number of death threats, fire bombings and violent assaults. Since 1999, however, members of both groups have been involved with SHAC's campaign to harass employees of Huntingdon - and even distantly related business associates like Marsh - with frankly terroristic tactics similar to those of anti-abortion extremists.Įmployees have had their homes vandalized with spray-painted "Puppy killer" and "We'll be back" notices. They trumpeted underground activists' attacks on businesses and laboratories perceived as abusing animals or the environment - the FBI reports more than 600 incidents, causing $43 million in damage, since 1996.īut spokespeople for the two most active groups in the U.S., the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) and the Earth Liberation Front (ELF), have always been quick to claim that their underground cells have never injured or killed any people. In the past, even the edgiest American eco-warriors drew the line at targeting humans. In the process, SHAC is rewriting the rules by which even the most radical eco-activists have traditionally operated. This British-born group, now firmly established in the United States, is waging war on anyone involved with Huntingdon Life Sciences, which tests drugs on approximately 70,000 rats, dogs, monkeys and other animals each year. That letter - and the harassment campaign that followed, after Marsh declined to "bail out" - was another shot fired by Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC). "If you bail out now," the letter advised, "you, your business, and your family will be spared great hassle and humility." The reason? Marsh provides insurance for one of the world's biggest animal testing labs. was informed that he and his company's employees had landed in the crosshairs of an extremist animal rights group. A Chicago insurance executive might seem like one of the last people who'd be opening a letter with this succinctly chilling message: "You have been targeted for terrorist attack."īut that's what happened last year, when a top official at Marsh USA Inc.
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