Corporate greed and politics drive lawmakers to suppress the constitutional rights of animal rights activists. Dara Lovitz offers in-depth analysis of the pertinent legislative history as well as legal cases against these activists. The United States government and its legislators have spent an inordinate amount of energy, time and money, enacting laws whose sole purpose is to disenfranchise, silence, and weaken the animal rights movement. Muzzling a Movement offers an in-depth analysis of the pertinent legislative history as well as various legal cases against these activists, including the heavily publicized SHAC-7 case. This updated version offers a fresh look at ‘ag-gag legislation,’ which are laws specifically designed to prevent the public from witnessing the horrors that take place behind the opaque walls of animal agriculture.
Lovitz also highlights wisdom from activists of multiple generations as they reflect on their activism and the activism of their different-aged compatriots. What have newer activists learned from the underground movement of the 1990s? What do the older activists think the younger activists are getting right? And what are they getting wrong? This comprehensive examination of the past, present, and future of animal rights activism seeks to bring us all closer to a cruelty-free world.
“Dara Lovitz finds a way to be humorous and sassy without being condescending or disrespectful. The writing—especially the chapters about activism—moves at an almost perfect clip: gently, but with purpose and light, yet always on solid factual ground. With expert cred, thorough research, bottomless knowledge, and fun personality, Lovitz hit a grand slam with this book.”—Robert Wayner, author of the musical The Beautiful Resistance
“Missing from my twenty-year journey from grass roots animal rights activist to organizer of pressure campaigns was Muzzling a Movement. This fascinating book about the modern history of the animal rights movement is essential reading for anyone serious about effecting change for animals. While Muzzling a Movement has affirmed my own style of activism, it has also compelled me to ask myself some tough questions. Have my provocative tactics done more harm than good? Am I stepping far enough out of my comfort zone to maximize my impact? Could I have done better a better job as a campaign organizer if I’d known more about the activism that came before me? Muzzling a Movement is not only helping me grapple with these questions, but is also serving as a resource for me as I continue organizing for animals.”—Donny Moss, video producer and founder of the animal rights group TheirTurn
“Muzzling a Movement shows just how far government will go to prop up systems of exploitation and how determined those seeking to end them can be. The animal liberation movement is entwined with the climate movement, and in a moment of increasing peril for climate activists, the lessons of this book are urgent.”—Alex Bomstein, executive director of Clean Air Council