Animal activist group tactics are becoming increasingly extreme in their actions, putting farmers, ranchers and food workers – not to mention food security – at risk, says Hannah Thompson-Weeman, president and CEO, Animal Agriculture Alliance.
“While some groups may outwardly appear more moderate in goals and beliefs, they are all connected by one key mission: to eliminate animal agriculture and take a nutrient-dense food group off of the menu,” Thompson-Weeman says.
The Animal Agriculture Alliance issued two updated reports on the current state of the vegan and animal activist movement in the U.S. View the reports here.
- The Major Animal Activist Groups Web highlights the strategic, interconnected nature of the animal activist movement.
- The Radical Vegan Activism report details trends in activism and illuminates the true intentions of key players in the movement.
New findings in the updated Radical Vegan Activism report show that nearly one in four animal rights extremist attacks target farmers and food workers, including 189 actions taken against agriculture in 2024 and 62 against food services, the Animal Agriculture Alliance reports.
Documented actions include:
- 59 incidences of vandalism
- 43 cases of animal theft and/or release
- 31 trespasses
- 5 arson cases
This report also highlights direct quotes and financial data for key players within the movement, including Humane World for Animals (formerly The Humane Society of the United States), People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), and ASPCA.
“Ending speciesism is our ultimate goal,” said Matthew Braun, senior manager of grassroots protest campaigns for PETA. “One strategy to end speciesism would be to end the use of animals as food.”
The updated Major Animal Activist Groups Web includes a selection of the most active or extreme groups involved with or connected to the vegan and animal activist movement, the Animal Agriculture Alliance reports.
A key theme for new connections on the web includes increased legal collaboration between groups. For example, Animal Activist Legal Defense Project is working to appeal a 2023 felony conviction of Wayne Hsiung, founder of Direct Action Everywhere and Simple Heart Initiative. New additions to the web include: Animal Activist Legal Defense Project, The Brooks Institute, Legal Impact for Chickens, and Simple Heart Initiative.
