Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade

In Their Own Words

The Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade (CAFT) has this to say ...

J.P. Goodwin, Executive Director

The following quotes were made during Goodwin's time with CAFT. However, he was working for Wayne Pacelle of the Humane Society of the United States as early as 1997. (Blunt CEO defends Humane Society from attack dogs, Press-Telegram, (Long Beach, CA), Aug. 25, 2007.) Goodwin has described himself as an "ALF graduate" (Anti-fur groups wage war on mink farms, New York Times, Sept. 2, 1996), and as a "former member" of ALF ("Guerrillas say they fight to help liberate animals; FBI considers group's members domestic terrorists", Dallas Morning News, Feb. 15, 1998). See also Careers in the conflict industry: HSUS and the making of a conflict industrialist, FCUSA commentary, Aug. 21, 2001.

"We have found that civil disobedience and direct action has been powerful in generating massive attention in our communities ... and has been very effective in traumatizing our targets."
(National Animal Rights Convention '97, June 27, 1997)

"We're ecstatic," said Goodwin, who believes all living things are equal. "We have no problem with inanimate objects being destroyed so animate objects can survive. We believe life is more valuable than property."
(Quoted in "Activists take credit for Sandy fur fire," by Cala Byram, The Deseret News, Mar. 11, 1997, on learning of a bomb attack that destroyed the Utah Fur Breeders Agricultural Cooperative. A caretaker and his family were asleep in the building at the time.)

"We've started picketing outside the homes of the [department store] executives because these minks on these fur farms never get a chance to go home and relax. Those executives do not deserve a break. They do not deserve to go home and rest."
(Speech "No More Fur: Bringing the Fur Industry To Its Knees," World Congress for Animals, Washington, D.C., June 20, 1996)

"It's time for the animal rights movement to take this industry and drive the final nail into the coffin by whatever means it takes. If that means being outside the executives houses, if that means blockading their doors, whatever it takes."
(Speech "No More Fur: Bringing the Fur Industry To Its Knees," World Congress for Animals, Washington, D.C., June 20, 1996)

"Let it be stated loud and clear, that myself and the Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade support these actions 100%. We will never, ever, ever work with anyone who helps the FBI stop the A.L.F.."
(In Fur wars heat up: A.L.F. is on the warpath!" by J.P. Goodwin, on ALF attacks against fur farms, No Compromise, issue 4, 1996)

"My goal is the abolition of all animal agriculture."
(As quoted on AR-Views, an animal rights Internet discussion group)

"If the feed barn, and processing barns are away from the animals, and downwind, then they could be burned down. Otherwise mink releases are the only way to go."
(As quoted on AR-Views, an animal rights Internet discussion group)

Mike Nicosia, founder of Long Island NY chapter of CAFT

"We have a no-nonsense approach to destroying the fur trade. That means protests, civil disobedience and outreach, as well as supporting the ALF."
(Quoted in "Big brother under the bumper; Boulder residents find mysterious tracking systems on their cars," Boulder Weekly [Colorado], July 17, 2003)

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