From: jsemrad@ems.cdc.com (Joe Semrad)
Newsgroups: talk.politics.animals
Subject: Meat Company Bombing in Mpls, Mn. (Long)
Date: 12 Nov 92 00:19:35 GMT
Reply-To: jsemrad@ems.cdc.com
Organization: Empros Systems International, a division of CDC


A couple of days ago there was a firebombing in Minneapolis allegedly
done by AR activists.  Below are some excerpts from the Mpls Star-Tribune
of Nov 9 & 10.  I will keep the group up to date with any significant
developments.  I would be interested in seeing any accounts of the incident
that appear in any AR publications.  It would be interesting to see how
they contrast with what the mainstream press has to say.

Start excerpts (w/o permission BTW, paraphrases indicated by [])

[From Nov 9]

Five trucks belonging to a Minneapolis meat wholesaler were firebombed Sunday
after being spray-painted with slogans including "Meat is murder" and the
initials of an animal rights group.

The five trucks were destroyed, said LeRoy Mann, owner of Swanson Meats, Inc.
Mann, who has operated the business for 12 years, estimated the damage at
about $100,000, and said insurance will cover some of that.

Mann said this was the second time in recent weeks his business has been
targeted by vandals who left messages behind claiming they support animal
rights.  Four weeks ago, the windshields of all his delivery trucks were 
broken  and some trucks were spray-painted with slogans and the initials
ALF.  Mann and others believe the that satnds for Animal Liberation Front
a loose-knit group of animal protection supporters.

Mpls police said yesterday they had no leads in the case.

[ The article goes on the describe several cases of damage against local
  meat companies, including broken windows & siding, spray-painting, and
  death threats against employees, all done by people claiming to be AR
  supporters.  It also gives some background on the ALF, noting that the
  FBI considers it a terrorist organization. ]

No spokesman for the group [ALF] could be reached last night. An official
of the Animal Rights Coalition (ARC), a separate Twin Cities based animal
protection group, condemned the firebombings.

"ARC does not condone violence, even to property," said Dan Oldre, a board
member of the group.  "We're against animal suffering, [...] but we're
definately against that kind of action."


[From Nov 10]

[ Article rehashes what happened, and then talks about federal grand juries
  in Oregon, Wash. and Michigan that are considering charges against
  arsonists working in the name of ALF.  It notes that there have been
  attacks in other states and Canada, Britiain, and Ireland.

  The investigation has been turned over to the FBI. ]

Whether or not there is a relationship [between this incident and ALF] is
part of what the FBI is investigating.  Authorities haven't ruled out the
chance someone else is trying to blame ALF for arson, [FBI agent] Cid said.

But a Maryland based animal rights group that sometimes speaks for ALF said
what happened at Swanson's fits a pattern of the movement's raids. [...] locks
on the buildings at Swanson's were jammed with quick hardening glue.

"That's the ALF prescription," said Dan Mathews of People for the Ethical
Treatment of Animals (PETA).  "It happens late at night.  No one is hurt.
Locks are glued, and paint graffiti is left."

There were no injuries in the Swanson's fire.  But an employee who didn't
want to be identified took issue with the suggestion that no one was hurt,
saying, "Maybe it doesn't hurt physically, but there is mental hurt and
anger and frustration and fear and recognition of stupidity."

[...]

If the ALF was involved in the Mpls fire, one thing that apparently was
missing Monday was the news release.  Typically, ALF activists have issued
news releases to news organizations, stating their reasons for the raid and
often including videotapes.

The releases generally have been issued through PETA.  As of yesterday 
afternoon, no one had contacted PETA's offices in Rockville, Md. to claim
responsibility for the Mpls incident, Mathews said.  But ALF is loosely
organized and may include individuals who wouldn't do that, he said.

[ Article goes into detail about ALF's background.  A couple of things
  stand out: ]

[ In a book about ALF ] author Cleveland Amory said the organization
"operates in total secrecy.  No insider would even admit to being a member
of the group, let alone talk about it or write about it [...]"

The one exception, he said, is the author of the book, "Free the Animals",
PETA co-founder Ingrid Newkirk.  She claims to have been trusted as a
conduit for ALF's messages over the years.

"ALF consists of anybody in the general public who goes to extremes to make
a point for animals," Mathews said.

"We don't condone it, but we don't condemn it [ the bombing ], either, 
because we understand the frustration that grows with what the animals
are enduring," Mathews said.

[ The Animal Rights Coalition, Inc. of Mpls condemned the violence, but 
  also pointed out the trucks could have been burned for other reasons
  or to discredit the AR movement. 

  The FBI said they didn't care about the political views of the criminals,
  but were just trying to catch them.

  The article states that the crime would probably be a federal offense of
  destroying a motor vehicle, punishable by up to five years and/or a $25K
  fine. ]

End excerpts


This got longer than I had hoped, but in light of discussions that are and
have been going on in t.p.a, I thought it was worth it.  I would like to 
note that to my knowledge no arrests have been made yet, so a great big
ALLEGEDLY should be attached to the above text when ALF and PETA are
referred to, IMHO.  If anything interesting turns up in the future I will try
to post updates (yeah, even if it turns out that someone WAS trying to
frame ALF.)

Joe
All opinions mine, etc.
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