PETA contributions to ELF & ALF (not the tv show)

[Guest guest]

Let me preface this by saying that I've seen no proof of any of the

allegations in the letter below. I found the letter online (I have no proof

of it's authenticity, though no reason to doubt it) and I was wondering if

anyone knows if PETA did contribute money to ELF or ALF.

 

-----------------

March 4, 2002

 

Ms. Ingrid Newkirk

President

PETA

501 Front Street

Norfolk, Virginia 23510

 

Dear Ms. Newkirk:

When the House Resources Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health held

an oversight hearing probing the increasing threat of ecoterrorism on

National Forest lands last month, 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. The purpose of the contribution to ELF

is

listed on PETA's Form 990 tax return as to " support their program

activities. " Subsequent reporting in the media appears to substantiate

these allegations.

 

As a non-profit organization with tax-exempt privileges and the

incumbent public policy obligations that status entails, PETA has a

responsibility to explain the full extent of its involvement with and

contributions to

environmental terror groups like ELF and ALF. With that in mind, I

respectfully request that you respond to the following questions, the

answers to which will be made part of the hearing's public record.

 

· Since 1993, how much and on how many occasions has PETA made

financial contributions to either the Earth Liberation Front and/or its

press office, the Animal Liberation Front and/or its press office, and

suspected or convicted persons associated with ELF and ALF?

 

· Does PETA have any internal policies or guidelines either

encouraging or discouraging financial support of unlawful groups like

ELF and ALF? If so, what are they?

 

· Under what rational did PETA make a contribution(s) to ELF?

 

· What steps did PETA take to ensure that these funds would not

be used for unlawful purposes?

 

· Whose signature appeared on the returned check that PETA gave

ELF?

 

· Does PETA condone the violent activities of organizations like

ELF? Should PETA's contribution to ELF be seen as an endorsement?

 

· Does PETA have any intention of contributing to ELF, ALF or

other similarly motivated groups in the future?

As local, state and federal law enforcement officials grapple with this

 

formidable threat, careful scrutiny must be applied to any and all

persons or organizations that lend financial aid and comfort to this radical

band of extremists. In the future, I hope that PETA will cut-off its

financial ties with ELF and ALF, and join America's largest mainstream

environmental groups in publicly condemning these and other eco-terrorist

groups.

I look forward to your response.

 

Sincerely,

Scott McInnis

Chairman

House Resources Subcommittee on

Forests and Forest Health

 

cc: Internal Revenue Service

Federal Bureau of Investigation

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Well, what I have to add here is just hearsay, but... what *I* heard

was that PETA contributed to them in order to help someone's legal

fund - apparently somebody threw tofu at someone else (a police

officer?), and is in big trouble. As my source said, " It must have

been very FIRM tofu! "

 

, Soy boy <soyboyincali> wrote:

> Let me preface this by saying that I've seen no proof of any of the

> allegations in the letter below. I found the letter online (I have

no proof

> of it's authenticity, though no reason to doubt it) and I was

wondering if

> anyone knows if PETA did contribute money to ELF or ALF.

>

> -----------------

> March 4, 2002

>

> Ms. Ingrid Newkirk

> President

> PETA

> 501 Front Street

> Norfolk, Virginia 23510

>

> Dear Ms. Newkirk:

> When the House Resources Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health held

> an oversight hearing probing the increasing threat of ecoterrorism on

> National Forest lands last month, 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. The purpose of the contribution

to ELF

> is

> listed on PETA's Form 990 tax return as to " support their program

> activities. " Subsequent reporting in the media appears to substantiate

> these allegations.

>

> As a non-profit organization with tax-exempt privileges and the

> incumbent public policy obligations that status entails, PETA has a

> responsibility to explain the full extent of its involvement with and

> contributions to

> environmental terror groups like ELF and ALF. With that in mind, I

> respectfully request that you respond to the following questions, the

> answers to which will be made part of the hearing's public record.

>

> · Since 1993, how much and on how many occasions has PETA made

> financial contributions to either the Earth Liberation Front and/or its

> press office, the Animal Liberation Front and/or its press office, and

> suspected or convicted persons associated with ELF and ALF?

>

> · Does PETA have any internal policies or guidelines either

> encouraging or discouraging financial support of unlawful groups like

> ELF and ALF? If so, what are they?

>

> · Under what rational did PETA make a contribution(s) to ELF?

>

> · What steps did PETA take to ensure that these funds would not

> be used for unlawful purposes?

>

> · Whose signature appeared on the returned check that PETA gave

> ELF?

>

> · Does PETA condone the violent activities of organizations like

> ELF? Should PETA's contribution to ELF be seen as an endorsement?

>

> · Does PETA have any intention of contributing to ELF, ALF or

> other similarly motivated groups in the future?

> As local, state and federal law enforcement officials grapple with this

>

> formidable threat, careful scrutiny must be applied to any and all

> persons or organizations that lend financial aid and comfort to this

radical

> band of extremists. In the future, I hope that PETA will cut-off its

> financial ties with ELF and ALF, and join America's largest mainstream

> environmental groups in publicly condemning these and other

eco-terrorist

> groups.

> I look forward to your response.

>

> Sincerely,

> Scott McInnis

> Chairman

> House Resources Subcommittee on

> Forests and Forest Health

>

> cc: Internal Revenue Service

> Federal Bureau of Investigation

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi all. This from my sweetie, who recognized Scott McInnis'

name from some years ago when he was living in Colorado.

He asked me to forward this to the list. Feel free to reply

to him in private.

 

Janice

 

----------

david grace <davidpgrace

Fri, 8 Mar 2002 00:41:41 -0800 (PST)

gata

Re: PETA contributions to ELF & ALF (not the tv show)

 

Hi Janice,

When I saw this I had to laugh at the poor fool, Rep.

McInnis, who could lose his fat government paycheck

and cushy job, by scaring animal lovers on company

time. How much of the government budget does he expect

to spend on going after these animal lovers -

declaring them to be the greatest threat of domestic

terrorists in America? It reminds me of the ADL

scandal of a decade ago, when unions, day-care

activists and Food Not Bombs were listed among the

dangers lurking in America's heartland.

Rep. McIinnis is from the 3rd District of Colorado. I

ran for that seat when I lived there, and although I

don't think the Green Party can win there yet, as it

is a monsterously big district, the Dems would be glad

to win it back. It is a district that ebbs and flows

with tight races, and Greens can spoil Dems as easy as

Repubs.

If PETA people were to display this shameful version

of McCarthyism to the good people of the 3rd Dist,

that rat would have a tough time getting small

contributions again. Specifically, at the end of the

letter he cc's the slander to the FBI and the IRS.

Coloradians tend to be a bright, but poor, bunch of

people. They have to barter and scrape a lot, and

everybody has tax problems lurking. If their own

Congressman is a rat and a snitch to the IRS, he will

lose just enough votes to the Dems.

I suggest you recommend to PETA people they spotlight

the economic forces they are opposing. The big

corporations, who get tax-breaks by tormenting small

creatures. Lean on the reasons why corporations 'need'

to do animal research and how the taxpayers foot the

bill.

The right strategy used to whittle away at his small

contributions base, McIinnis would be forced to accept

larger and larger contributions from Corporations, and

as many Coloradians know, few if any corporations are

based in Colorado. Nothing pisses them off worse than

to know their Congressman is taking money from

outsiders - especially since the outsiders always

leave the state with a hefty bill.

I think I'll get a kick out of working on this one. I

always had a fondness for my time there in Appleton

and Mack. I still dream of the orchard life...

 

Love,

David