PETA acknowledges that some of its money has in the past gone to the Earth Liberation Front (ELF), and to the legal defense funds for several Animal Liberation Front (ALF) members, the organization denies that any of its money "goes toward illegal activities."

The FBI estimates that the ALF/ELF have committed more than 600 criminal acts in the United States since 1996, resulting in damages in excess of $43 million.

In true Clintonian ellipticism PETA wants us to believe that it is not directly involved in eco-terrorism even though admitting giving these groups money? Guess again.

Where is this PETA acknowledgment? I'm seeing some conspiracy theory websites but no documentation.

And, frankly, I can't imagine why PETA would be working with ELF. ALF would make sense, but one of the problems is that neither ALF nor ELF can be given money. From what I can tell, neither exists in any formal sense. ALF has a public spokesperson who is told when ALF takes credit for an action. No one even speaks for ELF. There aren't organizations there to support.

Associated Press
March 15, 2002 19:35:00

WASHINGTON - The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has accused Rep. Scott McInnis of participating in a "new McCarthyism" by trying to link the animal-rights group to a prominent eco-terrorist group.

The Colorado Republican had challenged PETA for making a $1,500 contribution to the Earth Liberation Front, an underground group that, along with the Animal Liberation Front, the FBI calls the nation's most active domestic terrorist organization.

PETA attorney Jeffrey S. Kerr shot back a scathing 12-page letter on Thursday, claiming McInnis is collaborating with animal-exploitive corporations to try to defame the group.

However, Kerr said that last April the group did write a $1,500 check to the North American ELF press office to assist in the legal defense for the group's spokesman, Craig Rosebraugh, in free speech matters.

In written responses to questions from McInnis' committee, Rosebraugh said he did not recall receiving a check from PETA, although Kerr said the signature on the check appears to be his.

OK, so now you've got a check from PETA to legal defense of the person who acts as a spokesperson for ELF. There's still not a group there or an indication that the money went to a terrorist. Telling things to the press is entirely in-line with America's First Amendment.

Under this standard, the ACLU is guilty of anti-black violence and hate crimes for defending the rights of bigots to have free speech.

If I give money to a group and that group commits a crime, I have ethically (and financially) contributed to that crime.

In this particular instance ELF had for years committed eco-terrorist acts before PETA gave them money. I don't think most reasonable people are going to buy PETA's claim of innocence.

Under that standard, again, anyone who does pro-bono work for people under fire is ethically responsible for them. And corporations commit crimes all the time using money earned from consumers who probably didn't even know they were supporting it.

I don't like ALF, ELF, or PETA. I like eating meat and I think violence is stupid. Having read a handful of statements by PETA's founder, I'm convinced that the woman is moron. If the organization, though, wants to help fund legal defense in a nation where we believe in fair trials, I'm not going to condemn them for that.

This is not an issue where PETA seeks to ". . . help fund legal defense in a nation where we believe in fair trials," it is an issue of an organization aligning itself with another which actively commits crimes of eco-terrorism. PETA certainly has a right to do this (or does it?), but it's at the expense of trashing their reputation to people of sensible values.

Would this be the same FBI that stalked Dr King, sought to destroy him and break up his family?

How many months after our right wing congress passed the so-called "Patriot Act" did it take for the feds to start targeting dissent?

In yesterday's paper Rep Rehberg tells us we have to "secure Montana's borders."

Save us Denny, from french-leaning Canadians!

Why the asterisk comment about loving to eat animals? Very sophomoric journalism. Just report, reporter.