TRANSCRIPT: PETA FUNDING TERROR
KCPQ-TV Channel 13 Fox News affiliate, Seattle
News@10, September 18, 2002
Video: title “PETA funding terror.”
Peter Alexander, Anchor: “There are new allegations tonight about a major animal rights group funding ecoterrorists.”
Video: split screen with anchor and reporter:
Alexander: “Q-13’s Chris Daniels is live at the University of Washington with the story. Chris…”
DANIELS (live, with arson site in background): “Peter, you may remember what happened here at the Urban Horticulture Center on the U W campus. The Earth Liberation Front, a loosely formed group of ecoterrorists, claimed responsibility for an arson here in May of last year. They caused about $5 million worth of damage, as well as another fire down in Oregon. Well, now a paper trail links the group to one of the most prolific animal rights groups around: PETA.”
TOBY Bradshaw (in greenhouse): “I can’t say that I’m surprised.”
Daniels: “Doctor Toby Bradshaw..."
Bradshaw: “I’m a kind of all-purpose plant geneticist…”
Daniels (video of fire with title: UW Campus May 2001): “…was the target of the May 2001 Urban Horticulure arson.”
Bradshaw (in greenhouse, title: Dr. Toby Bradshaw, UW researcher): “I lost quite a few personal possessions, books and papers, things I wish I had back.”
Daniels (video of fire): “Bradshaw says he’s not shocked by a potential PETA connection.”
Bradshaw: “If they wrote a check to the organization that is at the top of the FBI’s domestic terrorism list, I think that is a problem for PETA.”
Ron Arnold: “They gave money to the Earth Liberation Front.”
(Arnold walking in door)
Daniels: “The Bellevue-based Center for the Defense of Free Enterprise says PETA has some explaining to do…”
(Arnold showing document)
Daniels: “…about the payment to the ELF and its associates.”
(title, Ron Arnold PETA critic) ARNOLD: “Says so on their annual report they give to the IRS.”
Daniels (video, protesters with signs: Wild Animals Don’t Belong Behind Bars): “The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, is perhaps best known for its cheeky ad campaigns, and most recently in our area, a complaint alleging animal abuse at Woodland Park Zoo.” (Video of baby elephant).
(Video: PETA Form 990 page showing North American Earth Liberation Front donation of $1,500 to support their program activities.)
Daniels: “But IRS records obtained by Q-13, show the organization gave $1,500 to the ELF just a month before the U W fire. Tonight a PETA spokesman claims that donation and others were for legal fees of individuals who share its beliefs.”
(Video: title, ANDREW BUTLER PETA spokesperson, logo of telephone)
BUTLER by telephone: “These funds were used for legal defense as support for caring individuals who are entitled to their day in court.”
ARNOLD: “That’s a flat lie.”
DANIELS: “Ron Arnold wants the IRS to void PETA’s non-profit status.”
ARNOLD: “We’re asking the IRS to revoke PETA’s tax exemption.”
BRADSHAW: “My own research is… largely deals with DNA and seeds.”
DANIELS: “Fire victim Toby Bradshaw agrees.”
BRADSHAW: “I hope that all the people who belong to PETA for all the cute and fuzzy images take this into consideration.”
DANIELS: “PETA also admits to paying the legal fees of at least four other individuals convicted of firebombing, arson and other crimes, but says that the numbers are being twisted by groups with questionable motives. As far as the [Horticulture] Center is concerned, it will be rebuilt, but without all of those decades of research, and is scheduled to be reopened in the spring of 2004. Reporting live on the UW campus, I’m Chris Daniels, Q-13 News.”
-end-
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