OPINION/COMMENTARY

PETA: People Enabling Terrorist Atrocities

Individual victims of PETA campaigns have usually been afraid to fight back, lest they draw more attention to the charges against them. But as with law enforcement agencies, companies are realizing just how serious the threat has become. Covance's initial reaction to PETA's allegation was anything but instant denial. Rather, "If and when we receive these materials, we will immediately review the allegations," it stated. "We will thoroughly examine the complaint to determine if there are any credible issues we need to address" and if "if there are legitimate problems, we will act accordingly to resolve them." It also sent copies of the half-hour tape to primate experts for review. Only then did the company throw a monkey wrench at PETA, suing the group and its filmer for fraud and for conspiring to harm its business. "This type of malicious activity by PETA, in which it conspires with individuals to lie about their intentions, to videotape and potentially disrupt medical research, and then to launch vile disinformation campaigns against pharmaceutical research companies, has got to stop," said Covance lawyer James Lovett. The suit also demands that PETA and its infiltrator hand over the full set of tapes, so we can see what PETA left on the cutting room floor....

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