PETA's "animal lovers" fund eco-terrorists. (Insider Report).

PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has built a public image as a champion for the humane treatment of animals. It is, perhaps, best known for its anti-fur campaigns, in which its activists have taken a high profile, spray-painting and destroying mink coats and attacking the fashion industry's use of furs. In spite of these and other militant (including illegal) activities, PETA has received much favorable media attention, its "excesses" usually excused in the name of zeal for a worthy cause. As a result, PETA, which has federal nonprofit, tax-exempt status and has been highly successful at fundraising, pulled in around $16 million in revenue for the 2000 tax year.

Undoubtedly, many of PETA's contributors have no inkling of the organization's extremist agenda and are completely ignorant of the fact that rather than using their donations to protect cuddly critters, PETA is funneling the funds to eco-terrorists. During February, the U.S. House Resources Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health heard disturbing testimony concerning PETA's funding of the violent Earth Liberation Front (ELF) and the Animal Liberation Front (ALF). Both groups have been involved in criminal terrorist activities.

In a March 4th letter to PETA president Ingrid Newkirk, subcommittee chairman Rep. Scott McInnis of Colorado asked a series of questions about PETA's funding of these groups. McInnis stated that "evidence was submitted by one of the Subcommittee's witnesses showing that the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) contributed to the Earth Liberation Front, the public face of an organization described by the FBI as America's single largest domestic terrorism threat." Rep. McInnis specifically queried Newkirk concerning a PETA check to ELF for $1,500 in 2001. But PETA's involvement is far more substantial than that.

The Rocky Mountain News of Denver, Colorado, reported that "PETA gave $45,000 to the 'support committee' for Rodney Coronado, a convicted [ALF] arsonist who firebombed a research facility at Michigan State University; and $5,000 to the committee for Josh Harper, an associate with ELF's sister organization, the Animal Liberation Front, who assaulted a police officer."

The FBI estimates that, since 1996, the ALF and ELF have committed more than 600 criminal acts in the United States, resulting in more than $43 million of destruction. ELF's website opens with a photograph of a burning building and the proclamation: "Every night is earth night!" The same site offers a download of the arsonist handbook, Setting Fires With Electrical Timers.