Michele Fletcher

Date Added: Thursday, January 29th, 2004

The Center for Consumer Freedom, a nonprofit organization funded by restaurants and food and beverage companies launched the petition and two national TV commercials after the group said it learned that the U.S. Internal Revenue Service is investigating PETA at its Norfolk, VA headquarters. As a matter of policy, the IRS does not confirm or deny the status or undertaking of any investigation until its concluded, and a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney in Norfolk declined to comment on the alleged investigation. PETA's press office did not return telephone calls for comment. The CFC says since PETA pays no federal income taxes, American taxpayers provide the radical group with over $3 million in subsidies every year. "By bankrolling arsonists, PETA has failed the public's trust," said CFC director of research David Martosko. "Animal welfare is certainly worthy of the government's support. But if PETA wants to pursue a violent approach to 'total animal liberation,' it shouldn't be allowed to do it on the public's dime." In recent months, CFC has highlighted PETA's funding of more than $150,000 to criminal activists -- including those convicted of arson, burglary, and attempted murder. In 2001, PETA donated $1,500 to the North American Earth Liberation Front, an underground organization that the FBI classifies as a domestic terrorist group. The first of CCF's television ads features a young woman describing how she teaches her children to love and respect animals, but adds that PETA's views go to extremes, and that condoning arson is the wrong message to send to children. The second ad reveals PETA's opposition to animal testing for leukemia, multiple sclerosis and AIDS cures -- and reports that PETA gave $70,000 to an arsonist who destroyed a research lab at Michigan State University in 1992. "PETA supports domestic terrorism and fosters the development of animal-rights felons," added Martosko. "Tax-exempt charities are supposed to conduct themselves in a lawful fashion, but PETA hasn't lived up to its end of the bargain. The IRS is already investigating PETA, and it should definitely derail this radical group's tax-free gravy train. It doesn't deserve the sort of tax break enjoyed by churches and universities."