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ALF - Domestic Terrorists |
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Written by Richard Evans
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Thursday, 10 April 2008 |
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From the Washington Times :
Scientists and physicians concerned about their own safety challenged animal protection activists yesterday, calling them "terrorists" and condemning their repeated attacks on researchers who use live animals in experiments.
"We felt it was important to respond publicly to the attacks that have been directed at scientists, their families, and their neighbors because to be silent in the face of the attacks is to condone them," said Dr. John Krystal, a Yale University psychiatrist who authored a joint statement signed by 87 researchers from Yale, the University of California, Stanford University, the University of Pennsylvania and other institutions.
"We condemn these misguided attacks," Dr. Krystal said.
At particular issue were two incidents at the home of Dr. Edythe London, a UCLA psychiatrist who uses monkeys in drug and tobacco addiction studies. In October, her Beverly Hills home was vandalized and flooded and in February it was hit by a firebomb. The Animal Liberation Front (ALF) — an underground group with worldwide membership — took credit for both acts in an anonymous press release.
[...]
"We find it galling that these researchers would call us terrorists when they are the ones inducing terror in animals in the name of science," said Dr. Jerry Vlasak, a Los Angeles-based trauma surgeon who acts as spokesman for ALF, specifying that he is not an active member of the group, but sympathizes with their cause.
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The District-based Society for Neuroscience issued an advisory for its 38,000 members on Feb. 6, clearly outlining security precautions, plus tips on handling media inquiries, local law enforcement and civic affairs.
"It is deeply disturbing to see scientists under attack simply for pursuing research questions whose answers will ultimately benefit human and animal health. Although polls show Americans overwhelmingly support medical research and reject the use of terrorism, there has been surprisingly little outrage over the tactics of these extreme animal rights activists," said Robert Palazzo, president of the Maryland-based Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology...
emphasis mine
Terrorism:
The use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, esp. for political purposes...
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