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Intimidation, Disinformation & Framing

August 31, 2006

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By Joe Miller

Again, Corporate Profits Before Civil Rights

Yet another outrageous legislative proposal to thwart citizen's First Amendment rights to expression -- the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA) -- has emerged.

According to the group STOPAETA, if the AETA companion bills in the House and Senate are enacted, "non-violent objection and civil disobedience, boycotts, and even influential media campaigns would become terrorist activities if linked to "loss of profits" for agribusiness, research laboratories, fur farms, circuses, and other "animal enterprises."

Under AETA, "citizens who exercise their First Amendment rights to free speech, free assembly and free expression are labeled terrorists and face significant time behind bars."

STOPAETA goes on to note that "demonstrations against animal experimentation facilities or distribution of literature outside an animal circus are no more terrorism than anti-war or women's health protests."

In a similar vein, it's absurd to label protests, forums, media campaigns, etc. opposing Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs, i.e., factory farms) as terrorism.

In this connection, it's important to note that the American Public Health Association, the Michigan State Medical Society, the Canadian Medical Association, and the National Catholic Rural Life Conference have all issued resolutions calling for a moratorium on new CAFOs because of the massive threats they pose. Are all these organizations to be labeled as terrorist organizations?

Deja Vu 2: Food Disparagement Laws and SLAPP Suits

The motivations for the proposed Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act are very similar to food "disparagement" laws which appeared in the mid to late 90s, and "Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs)" which have been around for some time.

AETA, food disparagement laws and SLAPP are designed to check, limit and silence dissent, and deny citizens their First Amendment rights to expression.

The following links describe some of the forms that food disparagement and SLAPP lawsuits have taken, and the severe threats they pose to democratic free speech.

Food disparagement laws:

SLAPPs:

Industry Fronts: Center for Consumer Freedom and ActivistCash

In the process of pulling together the above links, I became aware of the right-wing, pro-industry group Activistcash.com. Here's part of the way this industry front group describes (i.e., frames) itself and "activists":

"This site, a part of the ConsumerFreedom.com network, is committed to providing detailed and up-to-date information about the funding source of radical anti-consumer organizations and activists.... As you read through the site, you may be surprised by some of the connections between these groups and individuals, forming a web of anti-consumer activism -- promoting false science, scare campaigns, inflated public health causes, and sometimes even violent anti-consumer 'direct actions.'"

Examine the way that the activities and goals of "Activists Groups," "Foundations," and "Key Players" are framed in the profiles on Activistcash.com. Reflect upon your alignment with many of these groups, foundations, and individuals, and what you know to be their true activities and goals. The framing provided by Activistcash.com and similar campaigns (e.g., ConsumerFreedom.com), and the uncritical repetition of this framing by mainstream media, are two of the major reasons why so many citizens are disinformed and confused. Note, also, that Activistcash.com says that it "is committed to 100 percent accuracy." That's a little bit like Fox News saying that it's "fair and balanced."

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Joseph Miller
Dept. of Psychology
51 Madeleva
Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame, IN 46556

Office Phone: 574 284-4532 ext. 4534
Fax: 574 284-4716

St. Joe Valley Greens, South Bend, IN