THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 29, 1996 TAG: 9605290002
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A8 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: 36 lines
No one knows for certain who is responsible for the cowardly acts of vandalism to Chesapeake's Central Meat Packing plant last week. Signed graffiti indicate it could be the work of a radical animal-rights group calling itself the Animal Liberation Frontline.
This is not the first time vandals have struck the meat-packing plant, which employs 25 full-time workers on Kempsville Road. During the past 15 months it has been hit at least a dozen times. Damage in the latest attack is estimated at $60,000.
Hampton Roads is witnessing an increase in the incidence of lawless animal-rights activity. Officials of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals - PETA - have already said they will commence anti-fishing activities after they move their national headquarters to Norfolk later this month.
We warn them to stay on the right side of the law.
Animal-rights activists have the same First Amendment rights as all other Americans. They are free to picket, hand out literature, educate the public and boycott businesses as they see fit.
But vandals who use the cover of darkness to destroy and damage property and intimidate law-abiding citizens commit criminal acts. While there is no evidence that PETA is directly involved in acts of vandalism, it does have an activist defense fund which helps pay the legal fees of individuals accused of liberation-related activities that lead to arrests and court hearings.
Activists for any cause should respect the rights of the majority who don't share their views. They should allow people to earn honest livings without fear of intimidation or worse.
We hope local law-enforcement agencies will quickly find and arrest those people who are targeting the Central Meat Packing plant in Chesapeake. by CNB