The anarchist philosophical and political
movement has some connections to elements
of the animal liberation movement.
Many anarchists are vegetarian or vegan (or
veganarchists) and have played a role in combating
perceived injustices against animals.
They usually describe the struggle for the
liberation of non-human animals as a natural
outgrowth of the struggle for human freedom.
== Origins ==
Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910) was a vegetarian,
pacifist and Christian anarchist.
In On Civil Disobedience he wrote: "A man
can live and be healthy without killing animals
for food; therefore, if he eats meat, he participates
in taking animal life merely for the sake
of his appetite.
And to act so is immoral."
=== Veganism and anarchism ===
Veganarchism is the political philosophy of
veganism (more specifically animal liberation)
and anarchism, creating a combined praxis
as a means for social revolution.
This encompasses viewing the state as unnecessary
and harmful to animals, both human and non-human,
whilst practicing a vegan lifestyle.
Veganarchists either see the ideology as a
combined theory, or perceive both philosophies
to be essentially the same.
It is further described as an anti-speciesist
perspective on green anarchism, or an anarchist
perspective on animal liberation.The term
was popularized in 1995 with Brian A. Dominick's
pamphlet Animal Liberation and Social Revolution,
described as "a vegan perspective on anarchism
or an anarchist perspective on veganism".
The 18-page pamphlet explains how many young
anarchists in the 1990s had been adopting
deep ecological (animal-inclusive and anti-speciesist)
mindsets as part of an overall green anarchist
political philosophy.
Similarly, animal liberationists were becoming
increasingly influenced by anarchist thought
and traditions, thus becoming veganarchists
and adopting an overall praxis.
== Direct action ==
Direct action, an important philosophical
component of anarchism, is also common within
the animal rights movement.
Activists using names such as Stop Huntingdon
Animal Cruelty (SHAC) and Animal Liberation
Front (ALF) use direct action techniques,
including animal liberation, violence and
property destruction.
Industries targeted include; meat, dairy,
animal testing, fur, other animal based industries,
private citizens and government institutions.
Frequently, in the case of Animal Rights Militia
(ARM), Animal Liberation Brigade (ALB) and
Justice Department (JD) have carried out political
violence against people.
The allegedly decentralized and leaderless
structure of the Animal Liberation Front could
be seen as an example of anarchistic organizing,
acting in autonomous, covert cells.
== Convictions ==
Rod Coronado is an eco-anarchist and is an
unofficial spokesperson for the Animal Liberation
Front and Earth Liberation Front.
On February 28, 1992, Coronado carried out
an arson attack on research facilities at
Michigan State University (MSU), and released
mink from a nearby research farm on campus,
an action claimed by the ALF, and for which
Coronado was subsequently convicted.
In 1997, the editors of Green Anarchist magazine
and two British supporters of the Animal Liberation
Front were tried in connection with conspiracy
to incite violence, in what came to be known
as the GANDALF trial.
Green anarchist Tre Arrow was sought by the
FBI in connection with an ELF arson on April
15, 2001 at Ross Island Sand and Gravel in
Portland, torching three trucks amounting
of $200,000 in damage.
Another arson occurred a month later at Ray
Schoppert Logging Company in Estacada, Oregon,
on June 1, 2001 against logging trucks and
a front loader, resulting in $50,000 damage.
Arrow was indicted by a federal grand jury
in Oregon and charged with four felonies for
this crime on October 18, 2002.
On March 13, 2004, after fleeing to British
Columbia, he was arrested in Victoria for
stealing bolt cutters and was also charged
with being in Canada illegally.
He was then sentenced on August 12, 2008 to
78 months in federal prison for his part in
the arson and conspiracy ELF attacks in 2001.In
January 2006, Eric McDavid, a green anarchist,
was convicted of conspiring to use fire or
explosives to damage corporate and government
property.
On March 8, he formally declared a hunger
strike due to the jail refusing to provide
him with vegan food.
He has been given vegan food off and on since.
In September 2007, he was convicted on all
counts after the two activists he conspired
with pleaded guilty testified against him.
An FBI confidential source named "Anna" was
revealed as a fourth participant, in what
McDavid's defense argued was an act of entrapment.
In May 2008, he was sentenced to nearly 20
years in prison.On March 3, 2006, a federal
jury in Trenton, New Jersey convicted six
members of SHAC, including green anarchist
Joshua Harper, for "terrorism and Internet
stalking," according to The New York Times,
finding them guilty of using their website
to "incite attacks" on those who did business
with Huntingdon Life Sciences HLS.
In September 2006, the SHAC 7 received jail
sentences of 3 to 6 years.
In January 2009, veganarchist Daniel Wadham
was sentenced to 5 years, along with others
six campaigners from SHAC UK who were sentenced
to between 4 and 11 years.
They were charged with waging a campaign of
blackmail and intimidation against HLS, attempting
to close down the animal testing laboratory
by targeting the companies associates.
Other prisonersDaniele Casalini: Italian green
anarchist accused of arson against electricity
pylon, in protest of nuclear energy.
Dean Cain; veganarchist alleged to have trespassed
at a rabbit farm and charged under SOCPA Section
145.
Nicole Vosper: green anarchist who pleaded
guilty to charges against HLS and has begun
serving prison time.
== See also ==
Animal rights
Animal Liberation Front (ALF)
Animal Rights Militia (ARM)
Food Not Bombs
Green Scare
Leaderless resistance
Revolutionary Cells – Animal Liberation
Brigade (RCALB)
== References ==
== External links ==
Animal Liberation and Anarchism
Anarchist Ethics: A Utilitarian Approach An
anarchist perspective on the ethics of animal
liberation
The Domestication of Animals…and of Man
(an essay by CrimethInc.)
Veganism (another essay by CrimethInc.)
Animal Liberation Through Trade Unions?, a
Wobbly perspective
Infoshop Review: Making a Killing: The Political
Economy of Animal Rights
Ambiguities of Animal Rights a criticism of
animal rights from a social ecology perspective
From animals to anarchism.
'Dysophia Open Letter *3'
