Steven Best - Terrorists or Freedom Fighters

Finally, a serious look at the latest liberation movement from both a historical, philosophical and activist perspective. Regardless of what one thinks about the tactics of the Animal Liberation Front, this long overdue book is a must-read for anyone concerned about the future of the movement for animal liberation.

Michael Greger, MD, Chief BSE Investigator for Farm Sanctuary, Mad Cow Coordinator for the Organic Consumers Association

In a world driven by profit margins, utilitarianism, speciesism, and in this generalized climate of political swindle, Terrorists or Freedom Fighters? speaks truth to power. It is a work destined to shape the politics of a new generation of militant activists.

Peter McLaren, Professor, Graduate School of Education and Information Studies, University of California, Los Angeles, and author of Che Guevara, Paulo Freire, and the Pedagogy of Revolution

In a century, will people look back on the era of routine human exploitation of non-human animals as we now look at slavery? Moral progress on this front likely will come because of efforts like Terrorists or Freedom Fighters?. This timely collection will help anyone interested in challenging the conventional approach to animals and thinking more generally about the state of our society.

Robert Jensen, Associate Professor, School of Journalism, University of Texas at Austin

Too often, scholarly works about social movements seem to have little to do with the movement, while activist works often have little substance. Not this book, which combines both viewpoints. Here, readers have access to the logic and philosophy of animal liberation as well as its practice and reflections on our current social era. Best and Nocella have filled a huge void. Bravo!

Rik Scarce, author of Eco-Warriors: Understanding the Radical Environmental Movement

Terrorists or Freedom Fighters? exposes readers to compelling ideas that will undoubtedly make them think, and make them question. It is a valuable contribution to the most critical of public discourse.

Bob Linden, GoVeganRadio.com

An outstanding collection of writings and an excellent antidote for the corporate welfare state's corruptness and propaganda.

Chris Hannah, Propagandhi, co-founder of G7 Records

A serious and essential book on animal liberation theory and practice, a revolutionary bellwether for the Patriot Act political climate of our times and a multiperspectival social critique and defense of animal lives, this book should find a place in university classrooms, activist bookshelves, and Homeland Security offices everywhere. The greatest aspect of this great collection may be its success in generating a foundation for greater understanding and dialogue between those in higher education, in policy organizations and government, and in grassroots groups like the ALF.

Richard Kahn, Ecopedagogy Chair of the UCLA Paulo Freire Institute, and founder of GetVegan.com

This groundbreaking collection of essays addresses one of the most important issues of our times: the role of the ALF in the animal liberation movement. By examining the philosophical and ethical underpinnings of the ALF, and by demonstrating that a strong defense can be mounted on behalf of ALF actions and principles, Best and Nocella's volume promises to breathe new life into the debates concerning militant animal activism. This book will be an invaluable resource for teachers, students, and activists interested in animal liberation.

Matthew Calarco, Sweet Briar College

One of the most powerful and thought-provoking books I have ever read. Please read it and ACT NOW!!!

John Feldmann, Goldfinger

2004

Lantern Books

One Union Square West, Suite 201

New York, NY 10003

Steven Best PhD and Anthony J. Nocella II, 2004

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the written permission of Lantern Books.

Printed in Canada

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Terrorists or freedom fighters? : reflections on the liberation of animals / edited by Steven Best, Ph.D. and Anthony J. Nocella.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 1-59056-054-X (alk. paper)

1. Animal experimentationUnited States. 2. Animal Liberation Front. 3. Animal rights movementUnited States. 4. Terrorism. I. Best, Steven. II. Nocella, Anthony J.

HV4930.T47 2003

179'.3dc22

2003016251

cover illustration by Sue Coe 2004

printed on 100% post-consumer waste paper, chlorine-free

We wish to thank all the authors for their thoughtful contributions to this groundbreaking book. We are indebted to various people from Lantern Books: Anne Sullivan for encouraging us to put this project together, and Martin Rowe and Sarah Gallogly for their assistance and faith in this work. Dilip Barman, Rick Bogle, Rod Coronado, Karen Davis, Josh Harper, Ali Hossaini, Craig Marshall, pattrice jones, Richard Kahn, and Jim Mason provided valuable critical remarks on the Introduction of the book. We are immensely grateful to Sue Coe for her stunning cover image that beautifully captures the pathos of liberation; the eyes of the dog held by the liberator (mirroring the look of so many animals freed in real life) perhaps provides the best answer to the question we pose in the title of the book. We warmly thank Ward Churchill for his powerful words in the Foreword of this volume. Thanks to No Compromise and Animal's Agenda for permission to use essays originally published in their pages. Finally, we wish to thank various friends and supporters: David Barbarash, Gail Eisnitz, Sunshine Swallers, Joe and Lauren, Patrick and Natalie, Megan Lewis, Jay, Brian, Becca, Jeremy, Tim, Zack, Sarah, Ozzy, Ben, Cameron Naficy with Live Oak Alliance, Toshi, Mario, Peter McLaren, Mike Lee, Leslie James Pickering, Craig Rosebraugh, Robin Webb, Kevin Jonas, Michael Greger, Yvone Pollock, Paul Shapiro, Mike Becker, Mark Somma, Robert Jensen, Bob Linden, Rik Scarce, Derrick Jensen, Matthew Calarco, Elliot Katz, Erica and Nick, Rock Star Productions, Miyun Park, Sean with UARC, Pierre with The Fund for Animals, Ramsey Kanaan with AK Press, Kate Timko, John Sorenson, Anna and Megan from PETA, John Feldmann with Goldfinger, Chris with G7 and Propagandhi, Alma Williams, Jerry Vlasak, Tom Regan, Joe Miele, DeLora Frederickson, Felix Valenzuela, Sangeeta, Jay and Jason from PeTA2.com, Will to Live, Eye Against, the Basement, the Center on Animal Liberation Affairs, Arkangel magazine, Bite Back magazine and, most importantly, the late Shadow, Sy, Sparkle, Scooter, and Dos, and our families.

This book is dedicated to all those who have the courage to speak and act the truth no matter what the consequences, to the late animal rights activist Barry Horne, who died in prison from a hunger strike, to a future where our species fulfills its potential for compassion and reverence for life, and especially to all the animals (human and non-human) who have suffered because of human ignorance, greed, alienation, and violence.

Illuminating the Philosophy and Methods of Animal Liberation