An email from Americans for Medical Progress highlighting the latest
animal activism developments and significant science news.
-- For internal use only, not for distribution --
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Note: This week’s edition of AMPNews is coming to you one day early due to the holiday.
Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Americans for Medical Progress
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PETA Aligns With Direct Action Everywhere During a Series of Activist Events in Utah
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The animal rights group Direct Action Everywhere is having a very busy week. The organization, which mainly focuses on farming, but sometimes targets research-affiliated businesses, is holding a series of events both before and after the Thanksgiving holiday.
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Salt Lake City March
Media reports claim that over 400 DXE-inspired activists marched in a Salt Lake City protest last weekend. The group wants legal charges dropped against more than 60 people involved in "open rescues” in California and Utah, where activists have entered private property and taken animals. The march was one of many events being held in conjunction with the Animal Liberation Western Convergence, a conference hosted by Direct Action Everywhere. PETA co-founder Ingrid Newkirk was on hand for the march. At one point, some activists entered and protested inside a Whole Foods store. Both the grocery store chain and Amazon.com, which purchased Whole Foods last year, are current targets of the group.
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A Surprising Partnership
One Utah farmer, likely surprised many in the agricultural community this week by co-hosting an event with DXE. Rick Pitman, the owner of Norbest farms and DXE founder Wyane Hsiung, were on hand as 100 turkeys from Norbest were given to activists to take to sanctuaries. One participant appeared to have driven all the way from Oregon to transport animals. While Pitman’s farm was targeted by the group in the past, he claims he does not support felony charges against the activists, leading to the “compromise” with Hsiung. Another PETA-affiliated celebrity appeared at this event. A video provided by DXE shows that longtime animal activist and actor James Cromwell was in attendance.
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Protest at Utah State Capitol
DXE also held a demonstration at the Utah State Capitol on Tuesday. Members showed up with pig carcasses in their arms to protest animal farming practices within the state. Again, James Cromwell made an appearance. He also made comments to the press.
Insights: While the increased coordination and collaboration between DXE and PETA might come as a surprise to some, there have been several instances in the past where PETA has associated itself with some of the more extreme voices in the movement. Ingrid Newkirk has made statements supportive of the Animal Liberation Front. Newkirk has also been accused of having advance knowledge of one ALF action. Years ago, a U.S. Attorney shared his belief that Newkirk coordinated with Rodney Coronado to receive documents stolen from Michigan State University prior to his 1992 arson attack on the institution.
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White Coat Waste Continues to Respond to VA Secretary’s Statement in Support of Canine Research
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Following VA Secretary Robert Wilkie’s surprise announcement stating his support for canine studies at his agency, White Coat Waste Project continues to respond. An opinion piece by Patrice Green, M.D., J.D., appeared in the Independent Journal Review, a conservative news and opinion website. The article’s praise of White Coat Waste and the WCW's proposed Pupper’s Act, clearly hint that the article was a collaborative effort between the author and the group.
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RFP Seeks to Replace Facility Lost to Wildfire
After Rescue + Freedom Project’s new Rescue and Outreach Center was destroyed by the California wildfires, the group is already raising funds to replace it. RFP is selling socks and T-shirts via its social media feeds. The group has released limited information about the fire on its Facebook site but says animals previously housed in the building are now temporarily living in private homes.
Alarming Coverage of a Monkey Population Boom in Florida
Several stories have appeared in the media regarding a group of about 300 wild monkeys living in Silver Springs State Park, south of Gainesville, Florida. A recent report suggests that the monkey population will double by 2022, unless state authorities step in. Reports claim that some of the animals, vervet monkeys, came from a lab in the 1950’s. Local residents are concerned about the threat of exposure to the herpes B virus, which approximately 30 percent of the animals are said to carry.
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South Dakota Airport Defends PETA Ad Sale
Officials at the Rapid City Regional Airport in South Dakota are on defense regarding ads purchased and placed in their terminal by PETA. Six banners featuring a pig or turkey with the phrase “I’m me, not meat” appeared in the airport on Friday. The South Dakota Stock Growers Association and other critics have complained. Airport officials have responded by citing their equal opportunity ad policy.
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Institutions Being Targeted This Week
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Upcoming Animal Activism Events
We have included Facebook links, when possible, with additional information.
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November 24
Worldwide
DxE actions planned around the world.
December 1
Kingston, NY
NY Farm Animal Save protest.
December 14
Worldwide
DxE actions planned around the world.
December 15
Kingston, NY
NY Farm Animal Save protest.
December 15
Palm Springs, CA
Jane Velez-Mitchell and PETA president Ingrid Newkirk appear in Palm Springs as part as Newkirk’s “We Are All Animals” speaking tour.
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Ten Research Stories Worth Tweeting
Americans for Medical Progress closely monitors the news media and other sources on a daily basis for breakthroughs involving animals. Please feel free to share these stories on your organizations' social media channels:
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University of California, San Francisco
University of California Davis School of Medicine
University of Liverpool
Baylor University
Emory University
Newcastle University
National Institutes of Natural Sciences
Children’s Cancer Institute Australia for Medical Research
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
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Americans for Medical Progress
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