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Similarly, in the last decade, activists have come after the vivisection industry with tornadic force, attacking it in the countryside and cities, in the village farms and university laboratories. Liberationists have shut down numerous lab animal breeders, stopped the construction of a new vivisection complex in Cambridge, and nearly achieved the same stunning results at Oxford University. They have captured the social spotlight and mounted a formidable threat to research and testing companies of huge economic importance. The biomedical and pharmaceutical industries are the third largest contributor to the British economy, and the animal liberation movement has foiled the UK’s plans to be the epicenter for such research. Consequently, the state takes any threat to its economic interests quite seriously, and has responded to the challenge in kind.
As a result of their many victories, however, the animal liberation movement in England and elsewhere has entered into a war, but ultimately this is a war that humans started against animals ten thousand years ago. As animal exploitation grows ever more extreme, so too do the actions taken to stop it, and this elicits increasingly harsh response from the state which has become outright fascist in its crackdown on free speech, dissent, and protest. On all sides the gloves are coming off, and an increasingly volatile war is brewing in the UK, as well as the US and other hot zones of struggle over the rights of nature.
The “Terrorist Training Camp”
“Direct action is always the clamorer, the initiator, through which the great sum of indifferentists become aware that oppression is getting intolerable.” —Voltairine de Cleyre
In the summer of 2004, SHAC was organizing the International Animal Rights Conference which brought together hard-core activists from a host of European countries. Along with veterans of the English animal liberation movement such as Ronnie Lee, the founder of the ALF; and Keith Mann, a seasoned ALF activist and former political prisoner, SHAC invited a few prominent US activists. Those honored with an invitation to speak included former ALF warrior Rod Coronado, trauma surgeon Dr. Jerry Vlasak, actress and activist Pam Ferdin, and yours truly, a writer and philosophy professor.
Assembling a few hundred animal rights militants in a secluded area of the English countryside unavoidably elicited intense interest and attention. The European media ludicrously dubbed the planned event a “terrorist training camp,” evoking images of Al Qaeda soldiers running through obstacle courses and firing guns, except with purple hair, body piercings, and tattoos. In fact, the gathering was like any other conference, except held outdoors in the fields rather than in posh hotels. Activists from countries such as France, Amsterdam, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Russia, and the US shared stories and experiences, showed videotapes, gave talks and workshops, and addressed a wide scope of issues relating to the history, philosophy, politics, and tactics of the global animal liberation movement.
Once the British government caught wind of the conference, however, it took whatever repressive actions it could and the easiest targets were the invited speakers from the US. Thus, on official government stationary that proclaimed its commitment to openness and diversity (!), we all received “Minded to Exclude” letters from the Home Office, the UK equivalent of the US Department of Homeland Security. The letters detailed specific things each of us had allegedly said, written, or done in support of animal liberation. In the gentlemanly way of the English, the Home Office granted us the opportunity to explain and justify our positions, and stated that they would ban us from entering any part of the UK if they did not find our defense credible. They were signed by David Blunkett, just a few months before he was forced to resign over allegations that he had fast-tracked the visa application of his ex-lover’s nanny (!).
Pen Pals with David
“The jaws of power are always open to devour, and her arm is always stretched out, if possible, to destroy the freedom of thinking, speaking, and writing.” —John Adams
Regarding my own case, I received the following letter from Blunkett’s Home Office on July 29, 2004, a month before the conference. Even though the British government prohibited public viewing of the missive, I am delighted to share it.
Dear Professor Best:
The Secretary of State for the Home Department has been made aware that you intend to visit the United Kingdom to attend the International Animal Rights Conference 2004 between 3 and 6 September 2004.
The Secretary of State is aware that you are an academic involved in the animal rights campaign. He has taken note of an article written by you entitled “You Don’t Support the ALF Because Why?” In that article you are quoted as confirming your support for the Animal Liberation Front and that you support the destruction of industrial properties engaged in the animal research field. You have said that you do not consider property destruction as violence but even if it is, violence is defensible in certain cases. You have also confirmed your support for the underground direct action tactics of the ALF.
In light of the above, the Secretary of State considers that you provide the intellectual justification for those in the animal rights movement to engage in violent acts in order to further their cause and has indicated that he is minded to exclude you from the United Kingdom on the basis that your presence in this country is not conducive to the public good for reasons of public order.
You are invited to make representations to the Home Secretary on why you should not be excluded. Any representations should be sent directly to this office. These should be submitted to reach this office no later that two weeks from the date of this letter.
Whilst your case is being considered, you should not attempt to enter the United Kingdom.
