
Both groups allegedly broke from ALF because they sought more direct action, but some researchers believe the three groups maintain close ties and ALF uses the other two to maintain plausible deniability of violent activities. ALF distanced itself from those attacks and they were later claimed by ALF breakaway groups called the Justice Department and Animal Rights Militia. In the 1980s and 1990s, several letter bombs and car bombs were attributed to ALF. x Despite this commitment to avoiding harm, ALF’s actions have included bombings, arson, and other attacks that have resulted in injuries.

* “Animal Liberation Front,” PetSide, accessed August 5, 2020, liberation-front/.
#ANIMAL LIBERATION FRONT FREE#
xĪLF’s core ideology is built on four basic tenets: free animals from abuse damage those profiting from the suffering and exploitation of animals expose hidden cruelties against animals through non-violent actions and freeing of animals and take all necessary precautions to prevent hard to animals or humans.

* “Ronnie Lee,” International Animal Rights Conference, accessed June 17, 2022, “RONNIE LEE: ENCOURAGING VEGAN EDUCATION,” VegfestUK, October 14, 2019, Maria Chiorando, “Animal Liberation Front Founder Proposes New Definition Of Veganism,” Plant Based News, August 20, 2018, Grace Hwang, “Examining Extremism: Violent Animal Rights Extremists,” Center for Strategic & International Studies, August 20, 2021. After his release in 1992, Lee began speaking publicly on his own about animal rights and eventually veganism. Upon his release, Lee became press officer of the Animal Liberation Front Supporters Group, for which he was arrested in 1986 and sentenced to 10 years in prison for conspiracy to damage property connected with animal abuse. x Lee served three years in prison after his 1974 arrest for a raid on Oxford Laboratory Animal Colonies in Bicester, England, with Cliff Goodman. * “Ronnie Lee,” International Animal Rights Conference, accessed June 17, 2022, “RONNIE LEE: ENCOURAGING VEGAN EDUCATION,” VegfestUK, October 14, 2019. He later formed an offshoot called the Band of Mercy, which changed its name to the Animal Liberation Front in 1976. British animal rights activist Ronnie Lee was a member of the Hunt Saboteurs Association (HSA) in England, a group that worked to sabotage hunting expeditions. In the United States, ALF has claimed responsibility for arson and vandalism against animal research facilities, farms, restaurants, and other businesses the group considers harmful to animals.ĪLF emerged in England in the 1970s. Watson, Executive Assistant Director, Counterterrorism/Counterintelligence Division Federal Bureau of Investigation, Before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Washington, DC, FBI, February 6, 2002, x The group originated in the United Kingdom but has a presence in 40 countries around the world.

The Animal Liberation Front (ALF) is a far-left extremist group focused on animal rights.
