Liberate

‘Whistles-blaring-people-screaming animal rights’ is one of the few movements that doesn’t hold back. The animal rights community has been far more willing to accept in- your-face confrontational tactics than most other movements. This acceptance of militant tactics has made the AR movement a real threat to multi-nationals and governments across the globe. As with any struggle, the tactics we choose should be used carefully and always in the context of the animal abuse we are fighting against. We should continually assess the success of the tactics we are using and make sure that we are being as effective as we can. Amidst the balaclavas, the suffering of animals and the caring nature of the AR movement should not be lost.

Sirens and horns shattering the silence of suburbia announce to the neighbors that a vivisector lives on their street. In-your-face high volume methods have been used effectively around the globe, as SHAC internationally and AAA locally have demonstrated. These tactics, effective as they may be on a case by case basis, are unlikely to attract much public support and can alienate those who are not already committed to the cause. New activists may be challenged and put off by confrontational tactics and find it hard to get involved. It is easy to forget that many activists only come to accept the need for radical action after experiencing the futile nature of acceptable protest tactics. When using militant tactics, the reason for their use should be clear to all involved, so people know why they are doing things and to prevent a needless ‘militant for the sake of it’ culture developing.

The public has an aversion to in-your-face activism and it can be much easier to sympathize with the guy in the suit than the protester. Unless managed, this aversion can leave our movement vulnerable to attacks by the media and the companies we are opposing. Tearful store owners describing mean callous activists can effectively shift sympathy for abused animals to sympathy for animal abusers. Making it clear that it is the protesters that are usually attacked and dressing sensibly when media are present may go some way to balance the situation. I have never seen a protester attack a store owner but I, the protester, have been punched, kicked and assaulted in several other ways in my time. Conveying the vulnerable position animal rights activists are in and the fact that we receive no material benefit from our actions may also help. If you are being highly effective and have little need for public support in that particular campaign then negative portrayal of activists may be a completely acceptable cost.

Before going into a protest or action, the target should be clear. If it is to publicize animal suffering and raise public awareness then tactics should be chosen that emotionally connect people to the suffering and that will attract rather than threaten people. If the aim is to shut down a multinational company then tactics must be chosen which seriously threaten that company’s ability to carry out business as usual. Whatever the goal, tactics should be chosen based on the target. Mounting a media-friendly campaign against a company which makes most of its money from torturing animals may result in donations but will do little to help the animals. Above all, activists need to be dynamic and able to collaborate and work on multiple levels simultaneously. Movement building and awareness raising actions should not be disparaged but it should not be forgotten that those tactics will not defeat companies which make a significant portion of their profits from animal abuse. Where companies make all or almost all of their profits from abusing animals, tactics are probably going to have to become very militant before they begin to be effective.

I believe that no matter what tactics are chosen, the key is to continually focus on animal suffering. When faced with the sheer scale and nature of the ongoing animal abuse in our society the tactics used by AR activists seem incredibly reasonable, even tame. On protests clear images of animal suffering can be highly effective. When talking to the media spokespeople should come across professionally and constantly tie individuals and companies to the abuse they are responsible for.