Animal Rights Threats of Violence Not Even Thinly Veiled

The terrorist pimp Jerry Vlasak, reacting to a judge's refusal to lift a restraining order against ALF and others who have made the lives of UCLA animal researchers a living hell through threats of death, bombs left on doorsteps, etc., has issued a clear threat of violence that is barely even veiled. From the Animal Liberation Front Press Office press release:

Jerry W. Vlasak, MD, a press officer for the North American Animal Liberation Press Office, stated after he heard about the rulings, "How stupid can this [Judge] Terry Friedman be? Not only does he flaunt his obvious financial biases for the plaintiffs, but fails to realize that removing legal and constitutional avenues of redress, as history proves out, will only promote illegal actions on behalf of the non-human animals being gratuitously tortured to death in places like UCLA laboratories. Its an affront to justice that this judge is literally in the pockets of Irell and Manella [a law firm] and an alumni of the very University who is suing these defendants. It should surprise no one when underground activists once again act against the animal abusers being protected by such a biased judge and court."

We have repeatedly illustrated here at SHS the reasons why animal research is so important to the advancement of medical science. But that isn't the point. Those who believe that using animals instrumentally is immoral have every right in a democratic society to convince the rest of us through legal means. However, they do not have the right to coerce society--or terrorize scientists--in pursuit of that goal. "Economic sabotage" and "other tactics," mentioned in the press release, e.g. threats and bombs, are not free speech. They are felonies and the perpetrators deserve a long stretch in prison.

Animal Rights Terrorism: Somebody Could Get Killed

I am sick of animal rights apologists stating that their "direct actions" aren't violent. In Santa Cruz, the home of a scientist was invaded by masked activists because the scientist uses animals in cancer research. And there was a physical assault of a family member: From the story:

A UC Santa Cruz faculty member whose biomedical research using animals sheds light on the causes of breast cancer and neurological diseases was the target of an attack Sunday afternoon, reportedly by animal rights activists. UCSC Chancellor George Blumenthal confirmed late Monday that an off-campus home invasion by six masked intruders occurred at a faculty member's home. In a statement, Blumenthal called the incident "very disturbing."

Santa Cruz police reported that six people wearing bandanas tried to break into a Westside home just before 1 p.m., and that one of the family members, not the faculty member, was attacked before the intruders fled. The male victim had made sure his wife and children were safe in the back of the house before he confronted the attackers. He suffered minor injuries after being hit with an unknown object. None of the other four people in the house were injured.

Anyone who can't see that invading a home is violence, and could easily lead to someone being killed--like if the homeowner has a gun and reasonably fears for his life--is just plain irrational. But animal rights is irrational.

So aplogists: Are you going to justify this crime as you have arson?

Terrorist Bombing Scare

No, not the one in London: In Los Angeles, where animal rights terrorists claim to have planted a bomb under the car of a UCLA primate researcher. From the L.A. Times story:

The FBI and the Los Angeles Fire Department are investigating an anonymous claim that animal rights extremists placed an unexploded incendiary device found under the car of a prominent UCLA eye doctor last weekend. The incident was similar to one last year in which another UCLA researcher was the intended target.

A gasoline-filled device was discovered Sunday by the car outside the Westside home of Dr. Arthur Rosenbaum, who is chief of pediatric ophthalmology at UCLA's Jules Stein Eye Institute. The device did not ignite despite evidence of an attempt to light it, authorities said Thursday.

An e-mail on Wednesday signed by the Animal Liberation Brigade said the group put the device there to stop experiments on animals in Rosenbaum's laboratory. The message claimed a gallon of fuel was set alight under the vehicle, but authorities said there was no fire.

Animal liberationist fanatic, Jerry Vlasak, applauded the move:

A Woodland Hills-based group called the North American Animal Liberation Press Office, or NAALPO, alerted reporters to the anonymous claim signed by the Animal Liberation Brigade concerning Rosenbaum's car. NAALPO said it had nothing to do with the incendiary device and does not know who was responsible.

However, NAALPO spokesman Jerry Vlasak, a trauma surgeon, said he agreed ideologically with such violent tactics against anyone leading painful experiments, particularly on primates. When peaceful protests don't work, "we certainly advocate taking it to the next level," he said.

Readers of SHS will recall that Vlasak was previously barred from entering the UK due to his advocacy of violence in the name of animal rights. Valsak also testified in front of a Congressional committee that murder to protect animals from medical researchers is morally justified.

This is terrorism most foul. Someday, one of these thugs is going to kill somebody. After that line is crossed, the next one will be easier--and then, I worry, it will be Katy bar the door!