03/03/2006

Convictions in Animal Rights Trial Show Anti-Terror Laws Needed to Protect Scientists
"The crimes the defendants promoted were indeed terrorism, no matter what cause they were hiding behind"

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Mar. 3 -- The conviction of six animal rights extremists on federal domestic terrorism charges is welcome news, but much more remains to be done to secure vital biomedical research, according to Americans for Medical Progress (AMP), a nonprofit advocacy organization that represents scientists, doctors and patients.

AMP called on Congress to enact pending legislation to protect America’s research scientists from ongoing acts of violence.

"The crimes the defendants promoted were indeed terrorism, no matter what cause they were hiding behind," said John D. Young, VMD, MS, Chairman of the Board of Directors of AMP and Director of Comparative Medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. "As a veterinarian and scientist who works with animals in research, I am keenly aware that criminal activity is an ongoing threat. In the nearly two years since the Trenton defendants were charged, other activists have carried out scores of violent crimes against biomedical research interests. Law enforcement must have the tools they so critically need to bring these criminal fanatics to justice."

The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (S.1926 / H.R. 4239), now before Congress, would strengthen the Animal Enterprise Protection Act of 1992 by addressing terror tactics developed over the past decade. Many current campaigns against biomedical research make use of those new criminal strategies.

During the activists' trial, witness after witness described the horror of being on the receiving end of emails threatening their children, abusive phone calls, vandalism and menacing protests at their homes.

"Similar crimes are occurring throughout the United States now as increasingly militant activists draw inspiration and support from many animal rights leaders," said Dr. Young. "We’ve seen a dramatic rise in the number of criminal actions against research over the past five years. There’s no doubt today’s guilty verdicts will provoke still more acts of harassment, intimidation and violence. That’s terrorism and it must be stopped."

"America’s scientists are steadfast in their dedication to extend and improve lives through biomedical research," noted Jacquie Calnan, AMP’s President. "Although they look to Congress for increased protection from acts of terrorism, they won’t be deterred from their mission. The humane and judicious use of laboratory animals remains a vital component of their work."