Gary Yourofsky Finally Lands a “Job”
Gary Yourofsky, who made his questionable contribution to society as founder of Animals Deserve Adequate Protection Today and Tomorrow (ADAPPT), is now officially on the payroll of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PeTA) and is available at garyy@peta.org. Since 1996, the Michigan-based ADAPPT has provided this angry young man with a platform for hurling vitriol at the hordes of what he saw as “animal murderers” – which included everyone except stalwart vegans. He also built himself a criminal record for his part in a May 1997 raid by the Animal Liberation Front on a Canadian mink farm. But six months in prison did not quell his passion, and he was unable to pay restitution to the farm as ordered by the court because he couldn’t afford it.(1)
Then came an announcement by Yourofsky this March that his crusade had caused his “financial ruin”, and that the animals would have to fend for themselves while he went in search of a real job. Amazingly, someone offered him one.
On May 28, he announced to the world that PeTA boss Ingrid Newkirk, no less, had come to his rescue, and despite all the nasty things he had said about PeTA in the past, he’d accepted their money before (at least $10,000 in 2000) and was ready to be saved again. An offer from Newkirk was “like getting a call from the Godfather’s Don Corleone,” wrote Yourofsky. “It’s an offer one can’t refuse.”
And what job could he possibly be suited for? The position? “PETA National Lecturer” with a goal to have “..DAILY lectures set up in schools across the U.S” to spread the Newkirk / Yourofsky vision of “humane education”.
Alert parents should be warning schools against accepting a man whose messages include the following:
- On animal rights activism: “It’s not about loving animals. It’s about fighting injustice. My whole goal is for humans to have as little contact as possible with animals.”(2)
- On the courage (or maybe it’s the patience!) of animal owners/stewards: “If there’s one thing I’ve learned in six years of intense activism, it’s that all hunters, vivisectionists, circus trainers, furriers, trappers, rodeo cowboys and factory farmers are cowards who never fight those who fight back.”(3)
- On feral animal control workers and volunteers: They “are sick, sadistic power-mongers who enjoy murdering animals in gas chambers.”(4)
- On livestock producers: These “murdering scum should be put on trial for depraved, nefarious and inhuman acts of terrorism against the animal kingdom.”(5)
- On medical research using animals: This is done not to contribute to the health of humans and other animals but to “satisfy the macabre and depraved minds” of the researchers.(6)
- On animal activism: “Do not be afraid to condone arsons at places of animal torture.” And if an “animal abuser” should die as the result of a research lab arson, “I would unequivocally support that, too.”(7)
Yourofsky even attacked the Oscar Mayer jingle “I Love Hot Dogs” because it “lures kids into promoting cruelty to pigs,”(8) and accused the Red Cross of “terrorism” against animals following the 9/11 attacks on America.
Are these and other ideas all part of the twisted inhumane “humane education” pushed by animal extremists?
Fighting Injustice
But Yourofsky’s lucky break could yet backfire for him – and for PeTA.
No sooner had Yourofsky begun crowing about his new job than a certain Pat Dodson, prosecuted along with Yourofsky for the 1997 mink farm raid, showed that there was no love lost between old partners in crime.
“If there are any lurkers or regulars that have connections with the fur industry council – please let them know about this,” wrote Dodson on an Internet bulletin board. “Yourofsky has a civil judgment AGAINST him from the owner of the fur farm he raided for approximately $75,000. If they know he is working, they can garinshee [sic] his wages and start collecting on that judgment. The Fur Council should be able to locate the owner of the fur farm in Canada and let him know where Yourofsky is working at. … Ahhhh that’s what happens when you never have a paying job and let someone take a judgment against you thinking they will never get anything. Now it’s time to pay the piper. … Imagine – $$$ from PETA going to a fur farmer. What a story!!”
What a story indeed, and thanks for the idea, Pat. After all, to quote Yourofsky himself, “It’s not about loving animals. It’s about fighting injustice.”
Well, then, let justice be served – cold, with a topping of anchovies.
(1) Exported Eco-Terrorist Yourofsky Sentenced on Testimony of Others, FCUSA press release, Apr. 28, 1999.
(2) Associated Press; dateline: Detroit; citing an interview with the Detroit Free Press; Dec. 7, 1998.
(3) Hunters Are Terrorists of Animal World, Detroit News, Apr 20, 2001.
(4) “Activist Blockades Animal Shelter,” Animal Liberation email list, August 1999.
(5) Yourofsky’s synopsis of day one of his trial, April 1999.
(6) “Yourofsky defends U-MN raids, questions claim of animal deaths,” AR-News, Apr. 6, 1999.
(7) “Activist devotes life to animal rights”, Toledo Blade, June 24, 2001.
(8) “Animal rights protesters try to derail Wienermobile tour,” Detroit News, July 4, 1997.
