Bite Back
Bite Back is a Malaysian-registered website and magazine that promotes the cause of the animal liberation movement, and specifically the Animal Liberation Front (ALF).[3] According to The Sunday Times, the name is inspired by an arson campaign targeting the American fur industry throughout the 1990s.[4]
Its founder and editor, Nicolas Atwood, has said that Bite Back's mission is to "support animal rights prisoners of conscience and report on current events in the struggle."[5]
The website also receives anonymous communiques of political Justice, including those by the Animal Rights Militia (ARM), Justice Department and Animal Liberation Brigade.[6]
Background
Bite Back was set up in 2001 by Atwood, an animal rights activist in West Palm Beach, Florida.[7] In March 2005, Atwood set up a Florida-based company, Bite Back Inc, to operate the site and magazine sales.[4]
Forum
Bite Back acts as a forum for ALF activists, and a place they can leave claims of responsibility for direct action taken in pursuit of animal liberation.[8] In 2006, it was used to encourage attacks against Oxford University, publishing personal details of academics and calling on supporters to "do whatever it takes" to "blow these fucking monsters off the planet".[5]
In 2007, when incendiary devices were found at Templeton College, Oxford, Bite Back reported a claim of responsibility on behalf of the Animal Liberation Front: "This latest action is part of an ongoing fight against the University of Oxford and its continued reign of terror over the unseen victims inside its animal labs."[9]
The FBI, while reportedly aware of the site, say action against it would breach the First Amendment protecting freedom of speech. [5]
In 2005, Bite Back published a "Direct Action Report," listing action carried out by activists on a global scale. It writes that, in 2004, 17,262 animals were liberated, and 554 acts of sabotage, vandalism and arson were carried out.[3]
Notes
- ^ Issue 12, Pg 1, Bite Back Magazine, May 2007.
- ^ TV, SARC.
- ^ a b Radical animal rights magazine issues 2004 "Direct Action" report Archived September 26, 2006, at the Wayback Machine, Law Enforcement Agency Resource Network, January 25, 2005.
- ^ a b Unmasked: animal extremist waging war on Oxford, The Sunday Times, February 19, 2006.
- ^ a b c Laville, Sandra & Booth, Robert. "Scientists to speak out for animal tests", The Guardian, February 24, 2006.
- ^ ">Diary of Actions, Bite Back.
- ^ Personal details released as animal rights activists call for direct action, The Oxford Student, February 24, 2006.
- ^ Fickling, David. Animal rights activist admits firebombing attempts, The Guardian, August 17, 2006.
- ^ Payne, Stewart. "Animal activists plant bombs at Oxford college", The Daily Telegraph, February 27, 2007.
