COUNTERPUNCH: The Josh Harper Interview

By Claudette Vaughan  

Since 1999, Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC) activists in the UK, the US, and elsewhere have campaigned against Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS). HLS is a contract animal research lab. In 2004 a New Jersey federal grand jury indicted seven individuals and the organisation Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty USA on charges of animal enterprise terrorism under the Animal Enterprise Act of 1992.

Originally seven individuals were charged, along with the organisation SHAC USA itself. Charges against one activist were later dropped. None of those convicted are alleged to have carried out any of the substantive crimes laid out in the indictment – from property damage to intimidation. Rather, the remaining six activists were convicted of running the SHAC USA website. These activists are now facing years in federal prison for “crimes” in which no one was hurt. We speak to Josh Harper.  

Abolitionist: Has that time arrived when “the operation of the machine becomes so odious, makes you so sick at heart, that you can't take part; and you've got to put your bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels, upon the levers, upon all the apparatus and you've got to make it stop?”

Josh Harper: Forgive me for being contrary, but something about this quote has always upset me. In leftist and even in radical circles there is a tendency to be so unnecessarily self-sacrificing that it almost borders on martyr complex. Don't misunderstand me, Mario Savio is correct that the “machine” must be stopped; I just don't like the image of good people throwing themselves on the gears to accomplish that goal. Why throw our own bodies upon the gears? Why not throw the bodies of the bastards who created the machine upon the gears? Obviously I don't mean that in any sort of literal sense, but honestly, it's time we find ways to resist that doesn't involve destroying ourselves.  

Abolitionist: When talking about SHAC7 recently Christopher Christie, US attorney for New Jersey described the governments intention {with SHAC7} as “Our goal is to remove uncivilized people from civilized society”. What do you make of that Josh?

Josh Harper: If Chris Christie is the face of civilized society than I am proud he considers me uncivilized. Here is a man who supports a political party that cheated it's way into the White House, denies the existence of global warming, kills innocent people all across the globe, violates international treaties, and venerates a President who isn't fit to manage a fast food restaurant. Considering the criminals and murderers who Mr. Christie counts amongst his friends I am quite happy to be his enemy.  

Abolitionist: What can people do to help you?

Josh Harper: More than anything I just want to see people up the ante and fight even harder for animal freedom and wilderness. I'm going to spend the next several years in prison. The only thing that could possible make me feel better about that is knowing that good people everywhere will keep up the struggle.   If people want to show solidarity with my co-defendants and I they can visit www.shac7.com, and my own web site will be launching soon at www.joshharper.org to keep activists up to date with my appeal and support efforts.  

Abolitionist: America has a rich history of fighting for the right of free speech. It's been said that this trial is ultimately about everyone's free speech. What are your thoughts?

Josh Harper: My thoughts are that America has a rich history of pretending to fight for free speech while simultaneously doing everything in its power to prosecute people who try to use that very “right.” My grandfather was an Army Intelligence officer. When I was a kid he told me, “The thing about America is that anyone can get on a soap box and say whatever they want. Of course, when anyone starts listening we have to jail or kill you.” He wasn't kidding.  

Abolitionist: The SHAC7 trial is the first time the 1992 Animal Enterprise Protection Act will be used. You have said that rich and powerful people are using their connected and influential friends in order to retaliate against SHAC7, and worse, to send a message to anyone else who would dare stand in the way of speciesism.

Josh Harper: This prosecution may be a litmus test for the AEPA, but it closely parallels other political conspiracy cases in recent history. The rich and powerful have always done anything in their power to criminalize and jail people who are a threat to their wealth. It was only a matter of time before they came after us.

Abolitionist: Why specifically now this witchhunt against SHAC America ?

Josh Harper: If I had to guess why this prosecution happened right now it would be that the government is really frightened by the SHAC model of organising. The animal rights movement is small, but a few of us accomplished something that has never been done before: we brought a multi-national corporation so close to bankruptcy that the worlds two biggest governments had to step in to stop us. Imagine what would happen if SHAC's methodology spread to larger movements, or was embraced by more people in our own movement. The impact would be tremendous. So here we are, the government can not allow everyday people to have any kind of real power to change the world around them, and so they are trying to shut us down. Whether or not they are successful depends on the risks people still on the outside are willing to take. Time will tell, but I think we are at a unique point in history right now. The way that technology is providing greater and greater surveillance and security capabilities to the state it may only be a matter of time before rebellion becomes impossible. I desperately hope that people fight back now and turn the tide before it's too late.  

Abolitionist: How are you holding up and how are the others coping with the possibility of facing several years in jail for doing nothing illegal?

Josh Harper: Prison is no picnic and having years of your life stripped away for speech activity is awful. But then again, living in terror of the government and never taking risks for fear of doing jail time is far worse. I think all of the six human defendants in this case are depressed about being taken away from our homes, families, friends and activism. That's only natural. However, once we get back on the outside we'll jump right into the trenches again and keep fighting. Consequences be damned, we'll work for animal liberation for the rest of our lives.  

Abolitionist: The FBI has designated the ALF as America 's No 1 domestic terrorist threat. Is this as nonsensical as saying there's a war on dandruff especially since the ALF have never killed anyone?

Josh Harper: I think the absurdity of the FBI'S position on the ALF speaks for itself. Most Americans would be incensed to know that in 2001 a Bureau agent approached his superiors to tell them he had discovered known al-Quaida operatives attempting to get pilots licenses. Upon hearing this news his bosses said, “I thought we told you to bring us the Earth Liberation Front!” It's a true story. While the FBI was worrying about ecological militants they ignored a threat that resulted in the deaths of more than 3,000 people. It's almost to be expected though. In this country property is given more respect than life itself.  

Abolitionist: Any last thoughts Josh?

Josh Harper: These are dark times that we are living in, but they will only be made darker if we don't persevere. Billions of animals have no one but us between them and death, and so each one of us has the difficult task of building and participating in a revolutionary movement for animal rights. Please don't relent and let these convictions slow the momentum.