Tag: Lori Peterson

Steve Hindi Admonishes Activists for Not Sufficiently Supporting His Pet Project

Showing Animals Respect and Kindness’ Steve Hindi sent out a letter to supporters of his group chiding activists and groups for not sufficiently supporting his pet project, SHARK’s Tiger video truck,

Over the last two and a half years that it has crisscrossed the United States, SHARK’s Tiger video truck has proven itself to be the most effective weapon of compassionate and nonviolent direct action in the animal protection movement. The Tiger has graphically exposed a long and still growing list of animal abuses, including but not limited to rodeos, bullfighting, slaughterhouses, the fur industry, Korean dog torture/slaughter, dolphin slaughter, circuses and most recently, shoemaker Adidas’ support of the mass-murder of kangaroos in Australia.

. . .

It is a mystery to me why the animal protection movement has not jumped on the effort to bring the message of compassion out to the uninformed masses. Only one other truck close to the scale of the Tiger has been built, and interestingly it was again by a small organization run by lawyer Lori Peterson in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Although SHARK applauds the use of smaller vans as display vehicles by smaller organizations, the movement needs the “heavy weaponry” represented by a large Tiger-type vehicle.

I find the lack of forward momentum in this area to be indicative of a lack of leadership, dedication and commitment. Hundreds of millions of dollars come into this movement every year. Yet, a tiny fraction of that money at best goes to bring our message from the animal rights conferences and meetings, out to the masses. This is unacceptable. There should be no higher priority than getting the issues and images of animal abuse out to the public.

SHARK can wait no longer for others to pick up the ball. Therefore, I am proud and excited to announce SHARK’s intent to build two more Tiger trucks, with completion expected before the end of the year. We also intend to upgrade the original Tiger to an even more effective and invincible weapon of nonviolence.

I suspect that Hindi here is vastly over-estimating the effect that the Tiger truck and similar efforts have at promoting animal rights, especially since it targets people who are likely not ideal recipients for the animal rights message — is targeting the animal rights message at people attending a rodeo, for example, really an efficient way to push Hindi’s agenda? Color me skeptical. There has not, after all, been any sudden massive grass roots movement against rodeos in America.

Source:

E-mail communication. Steve Hindi, August 2003.

Shriners, Animal Rights Activists Throw Down in Minnesota

In July a physical altercation took place between at Shriners and animal rights activists at the Shriners national convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Police were called, but no arrested were made and charges were not pressed against members of either group.

According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, about 15 animal rights activists dressed in clown outfits were protesting across the street from a convention center where the Shriner convention was being held. The Tribune reported that,

The initial altercation was between a Shriner, Rob Bernhardt of Denver, and Lori Peterson, a Minneapolis attorney and activist, who wore a bright orange fright wig and a polka-dot bow tie. Bernhardt, arguing with another protester, turned around and saw Peterson standing on the sidewalk.

“I told her to get out of the way, and she said, ‘You’re gonna have to get me out of the way,’ said Bernhardt, who might outweigh Peterson by 100 pounds. “I pushed her out of the way, then the guy on the other side pushes me, and then she goes in on me low, and we’re in the bushes.”

Peterson said, “He threw me into the bushes. I don’t remember throwing punches, but I kicked him between the legs.”

Others then joined in the fracas which apparently lasted a couple minutes.

In an e-mail posted to an animal rights mailing list, Lori Peterson said of the incident,

The truly amazing thing is that several of them PHYSICALLY ATTACKED US! ! ! ! ! THEY WERE HUGE! ! ! They physically threw a female activist (me!) over a cement wall and into some bushes and jumped on top of her, they punched out a 62 year-old man who was trying to break up the melee [sic], they punched a college student repeatedly in the face and knocked his head against a metal pipe, they punched a security guard, and more. Several activists were bleeding and bruised.

We called the police (and the press!) and had to follow the Shriners/perpetrators down the street, as they were trying to escape dealing with law enforcement. Let me reiterate: the two main Shriner instigators were HUGE. They must have weighted 300 lbs each and looked ready to go into labor at any moment. Turns out, they are father and son. (I’m proud to say I nailed the biggest one in the nuts, as difficult as it was to find them).

The police and press showed up and conducted interviews. They also watched (without being detected) what the Shriners who walked past said. They got some choice tidbits firsthand. We are considering suing not only the individuals engaged in the violence, but also the Shrine organization. Maybe their money should be used to finance animal rights for a change, instead of to fund their clubhouses, motorcycles, stupid hats and liquor.

Peterson and the other activists were protesting against the Shriners’ circus which features performing animals.

Sources:

Animal-rights activists, Shriners spar at convention. Nolan Zavoral, Star Tribune (Minneapolis), July 7, 2003.

Shriners physically attack activists. Lori Peterson, E-mail communication, July 7, 2003.