AETA Receives President’s Signature

On Nov. 27, President George Bush signed the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA) into law, increasing protection for the targets of terror tactics in research, animal agriculture and their support industries. The AETA  had passed the Senate unanimously on Sept. 30, and the House of Representatives on Nov. 13.

The law also protects “tertiary” targets which have been ruthlessly attacked in recent years. Since research institutions and animal agriculturalists have increased security over the last decade, extremists turned their attention to attacking employees in their homes, and targeting support industries ranging from bankers and insurers to cleaning services. As the circle of terror widened, it became obvious how dependent modern civilization remains on animals, along with plants and all natural resources.

Legal expressions such as boycotts or peaceful demonstrations remain, of course, protected by the First Amendment, as the AETA confirmed. And AETA will protect the free speech rights of those targeted by terror campaigns, which also work to silence the targets, a point noted during the Nov. 13 debate in the House.

“We understand that among the arguments made in opposition to the AETA are alleged concerns that it may infringe on First Amendment rights,” stated Samuel Newhouse, chairman of Advance Publications, owner of dozens of periodicals.⁽¹⁾ “Our business is wholly dependent upon respect for First Amendment rights, and we are second to none in our defense of such rights. We have closely examined the AETA with this in mind, and we do not agree that the AETA ... in any way would inhibit or punish free speech or other First Amendment rights. If anything, the opposite is the case. The real chilling effect on First Amendment rights comes about when editors and others are put in fear of physical, violent attack because of what they publish or say. It is the violent animal activists who diminish free speech and free press by threatening and attacking editors, publications, and telecasters. We strongly believe that enactment of S. 3880 will serve to deter many persons from engaging in these and worse violent and threatening acts in the future.”

The newspapers and magazines joined a coalition of AETA supporters over 175 groups strong. The coalition included, of course, representation from animal owners, animal agriculture and medical research (including the University of California which joined after a bomb was left on a doorstep, and a researcher was terrorized into quitting). But other industries not covered by AETA also had the foresight to sign up, recognizing that earth and animal extremists often “cross over” to destroy logging equipment and plant research.

This diverse coalition must be lauded for working on the AETA, generating thousands of emails, faxes, phone calls and meetings as the legislation moved through hearings and committees in both Houses.

FWTH : “Incredible Job”

Mike Mengar of North American Fur Auctions stated, “Having been at the forefront of this legislation, I would like to commend our industry lobby group, Fur wRaps The Hill, for an incredible job. Teresa and the Commission, FICA, the NTA, the Fur Merchants, and the AMC/NAFA all worked together to create this opportunity. I also want to acknowledge Congressman Tom Petri of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin for introducing this bill on behalf of the fur farmers in his District and the industry nationwide.  We all owe him and his aide, Lindsay Bowers, a huge debt of gratitude.”

Steve Kopperud, senior VP of Policy Directions, Inc. in DC, coordinated the broad agriculture/animal care coalition with our biomedical allies. He urged the coalition to “take time to let our champions know how much we appreciate their efforts on our behalf.”

He singled out for praise: Sen. Inhofe, chair, Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works, and committee counsel Katherine English; Sen. Feinstein and Senate Judiciary Committee counsel Greg Smith; Sen. Specter, chair, Senate Judiciary Committee, and counsel Matt McPhillips; Rep. Petri and aide Lindsay Bowers; Rep. Scott and counsel Bobby Vassar; Rep. Sensenbrenner, chair, House Judiciary Committee, and counsel Katy Crooks; Rep. Goodlatte, member, House Judiciary Committee, and aide Branden Ritchie; Rep. Issa, member, House Judiciary Committee; Rep. Boehner, majority leader, and his policy director, Mike Sommers.

From past, current and future targets of animal “liberation” extremism, thank you to all who worked so hard to draft and pass good legislation in the form of the AETA.

(1) Advance Publications owns Condé Nast (Vogue, Vanity Fair, House & Garden), dozens of newspapers (Oregonian, New Jersey Star Ledger, Times-Picayune); cable TV stations in California, Florida, Michigan, etc., and  American City Business Journals, Inc. Group (business journals in 24 states).

The full text of Newhouse's statement, and a list of publications owned by Advance Publications, follow:

ADVANCE PUBLICATIONS, INC.,
Staten Island, NY, November 13, 2006.
Re Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act S. 3880

Hon. THOMAS E. PETRI,
Rayburn House Office Building,
Washington, DC.

DEAR CONGRESSMAN PETRI: I write to support the passage of the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, S. 3880. Advance Publications is engaged throughout the United States in the publication of newspapers, business journals, and consumer magazines and websites on a variety of topics. Advance Publications is also affiliated with Bright House Networks, an operator of cable television systems in numerous states. For your information, a representative listing of Advance's publications and of the locations of Bright House Networks' cable systems is attached.

Our interest in this bill arises from the unfortunate fact that at least one of our publications, Vogue magazine, and its editor, Anna Wintour, have been repeatedly targeted by animal activists who disagree with Vogue magazine's decision to publish editorial content about, and carry advertising for, fur and other animal products, and its support for fashion designers who may use fur. These opponents are, of course, entitled to express their views, but their opposition often takes the form of physical attacks on Ms. Wintour and her home, threats and efforts to harm her, stalking her on the streets and at industry events, and even at a memorial service for her deceased father, and at least one actual physical invasion of Vogue's offices (which put numerous persons in fear, behind locked doors), as well as other attempts to do so.

While fortunately Ms. Wintour has not yet sustained any serious lasting injuries, she has suffered physical pain from those attacks (for example, from a ``flour bomb'' thrown in her eyes, the effects of which hurt and hampered her for days) and has often with good cause been concerned for her safety and the safety of her family. Indeed, when Ms. Wintour is appearing in public as part of her job (for example, at fashion shows or fashion industry events), we now feel we must provide guards, sometimes armed, to protect her. On a number of occasions we are convinced, had it not been for the presence of these unusual safeguards, Ms. Wintour could have been injured by the efforts to make physical attacks on her. We are of course concerned that these extreme activists will step up the severity of their attacks because their efforts have so far been unsuccessful at silencing Vogue.

We understand that among the arguments made in opposition to the AETA are alleged concerns that it may infringe on First Amendment rights. Our business is wholly dependent upon respect for First Amendment rights, and we are second to none in our defense of such rights. We have closely examined the AETA with this in mind, and we do not agree that the AETA, especially with the ``rules of construction'' that were added to it, in any way would inhibit or punish free speech or other First Amendment rights.

If anything, the opposite is the case. The real chilling effect on First Amendment rights comes about when editors and others are put in fear of physical, violent attack because of what they publish or say. It is the violent animal activists who diminish free speech and free press by threatening and attacking editors, publications, and telecasters.

We strongly believe that enactment of S. 3880 will serve to deter many persons from engaging in these and worse violent and threatening acts in the future. In addition, the new law will give prosecutors a powerful new tool to go after those who continue to commit these acts.

Please let me know if we can provide any further information that would be helpful to you.

Very truly yours,

S.I. Newhouse, Jr.,
Chairman.

-- ADVANCE PUBLICATIONS INC.--REPRESENTATIVE NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES (PUBLISHED BY SUBSIDIARIES AND AFFILIATES)

I. Daily Newspapers

Alabama: The Birmingham News, The Huntsville Times, Mobile Register.

Louisiana: The Times-Picayune. (New Orleans).

Massachusetts: The Union News/Sunday Republican (Springfield).

Michigan: The Ann Arbor News, The Bay City Times, The Flint Journal, The Grand Rapids Press, Jackson Citizen Patriot, Kalamazoo Gazette, The Muskegon Chronicle, The Saginaw News.

Mississippi: Mississippi Press (Pascagoula).

New Jersey: Bridgeton News, The Jersey Journal (Jersey City), The Star Ledger (Newark), Today's Sunbeam (Salem), The Times of Trenton, Gloucester County Times, (Woodbury).

New York: Staten Island Advance, The Post-Standard (Syracuse).

Ohio: Plain Dealer (Cleveland).

Oregon: The Oregonian (Portland).

Pennsylvania: The Express-Times (Easton), The Patroit-News (Harrisburg).

II. Consumer Magazines

The Condé Nast Publications: Allure, Architectural Digest, Bon Appétit, Bride's, Condé Nast Traveler, Details, Domino, Elegant Bride, Glamour, Golf Digest, Golf for Women, Gourmet, GQ, House & Garden, Jane, Lucky, Modern Bride, Self, Teen Vogue, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, Vogue, W, Wired. Parade Publications: Parade.

III. Cable Systems

Bright House Networks: Bakersfield, CA; Birmingham, AL; Central Florida; Detroit Suburbs, MI; Indianapolis, IN; Tampa Bay, FL.

IV. Business Journals

American City Business Journals Inc. Group:

Alabama: Birmingham Business Journal.

Arizona: The Business Journal Phoenix.

California: East Bay Business Times (Oakland), Sacramento Business Journal, San Francisco Business Times, Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal.

Colorado: Denver Business Journal.

District of Columbia: Washington Business Journal.

Florida: The Business Journal Serving Jacksonville and Northeast Florida, South Florida Business Journal (Miami), Orlando Business Journal, The Business Journal Tampa Bay.

Georgia: Atlanta Business Chronicle.

Hawaii: Pacific Business News (Honolulu).

Kansas: The Business Journal Serving Metropolitan Kansas City, Wichita Business Journal.

Kentucky: Business First: Greater Louisville's Definitive Source of Local Business.

Massachusetts: Boston Business Journal.

Maryland: Baltimore Business Journal.

Minnesota: City Business: The Business Journal (Minneapolis/St. Paul).

Missouri: St. Louis Business Journal.

New Mexico: New Mexico Business Weekly (Albuquerque).

New York: The Business Review Serving New York's Capital Region (Albany), Business First: Western New York's Business Newspaper (Buffalo).

North Carolina: The Business Journal Serving Charlotte and the Metropolitan Area, The Business Journal Serving the Greater Triad Area (Greensboro Winston-Salem), The Business Journal Serving The Triangle's Business Communities (Raleigh).

Ohio: Business Courier Serving the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky Region, Columbus Business First (Columbia), Dayton Business Journal.

Oregon: Business Journal Portland.

Pennsylvania: Philadelphia Business Journal, Pittsburgh Business Times.

Tennessee: Memphis Business Journal, Nashville Business Journal.

Texas: Austin Business Journal, Dallas Business Journal, Houston Business Journal, San Antonio Business Journal.

Washington: Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle).

Wisconsin: The Business Journal Serving Milwaukee.

For further information contact: Teresa Platt, Executive Director, Fur Commission USA, PMB 506, 826 Orange Avenue, Coronado, CA 92118-2698 USA, (619) 575-0139, (619) 575-5578/fax, furfarmers@aol.com, www.furcommission.com.

To take a cyber-tour of a fur farm, visit Fur Commission USA's Fur on Film at http://www.furcommission.com/video/index.htm

© 1998-2007 Fur Commission USA

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