HSUS statement on Santa Cruz firebombings

[Guest guest]

The Santa Cruz firebombings are described in the following news

articles:

http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/ci_10101525

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-attacks5-2008a

ug05,0,519903.story

 

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has posted the following

on its website:

 

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[http://www.hsus.org/press_and_publications/press_releases/hsus_offers_r

eward_in_ca_arsons_080408.html]

 

The HSUS Offers Reward in UC Santa Cruz Arsons

August 4, 2008

 

The Humane Society of the United States is offering a reward up to

$2,500 for information leading to the identification, arrest, and

conviction of the person or people responsible for setting firebombs on

a porch and in a car belonging to two University of California, Santa

Cruz researchers in separate incidents early Saturday.

 

" One cannot claim to be an animal protection advocate and threaten

violence against other people, even if we disagree with what they are

doing, " said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of

the United States. " This behavior is antithetical to the core principles

of the humane movement. "

 

The HSUS has repeatedly and publicly criticized individuals who break

the law in the name of supposedly protecting animals. This conduct by a

relative handful of individuals is reviled by mainstream advocates of

animal protection.

 

" To achieve change, we must work through the system and not resort to

counterproductive and ethically repugnant tactics in pursuit of our

goals, " added Pacelle. " We ask people to adhere to a code of conduct in

how they treat animals, and we should be prepared to adhere to a civil

code of conduct ourselves. "

 

Readers who would like to view our statement on nonviolence

[http://www.hsus.org/about_us/statements/statement_against_violence.html

], or find out how they can help animals in meaningful ways, can visit

our web site at http://humanesociety.org.

 

Anyone with information about the incident may call police investigators

at 831-420-5820. To leave anonymous information regarding the incidents,

call the tip line at 831-420-5995.

 

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In my opinion, the firebombings are reprehensible and are harmful to the

animal protection movement.

 

-- Mike Sage