PETA: A Radical Agenda and Unhinged Activism

A version of this article was previously published. Most of the information provided still holds true today. Western Justice is sharing to help reveal the manner in which extremist groups operate, their ties to and cooperation with other extremist groups, and the continued threat they pose to our lifestyles and livelihoods.

Unlike the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), recently rebranded as Humane World for Animals (HWA), People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is more overt and unapologetic about its radical ideology. The group’s co-founder and president, Ingrid Newkirk, has openly declared that PETA’s ultimate goal is “total animal liberation,” which means eliminating virtually all forms of human-animal interaction. In practice, this would outlaw the consumption of meat, milk, cheese, eggs, butter, yogurt, and even honey, while banning hunting, fishing, zoos, aquariums, animal-centered sports, pet ownership, and life-saving animal-based medical research.

Shock Tactics: Horror, Religion, and Nudity

To draw attention, PETA has long relied on grotesque, offensive, and manipulative campaigns. They have compared farming to the Holocaust, staged religious-themed protests, and attempted to portray Jesus as a vegetarian. They routinely use nudity and blood-drenched imagery to grab headlines. One of the masterminds behind PETA’s infamous “Holocaust on Your Plate” campaign later joined HSUS—showing the revolving door among extremist groups.

Unscrupulous and Unethical Tactics

PETA has a documented history of deception and harassment. They were directly involved in the decade-long harassment of Ringling Bros., ultimately being forced to pay part of a $25 million RICO settlement. Their tactics include flooding targets with form letters, launching smear campaigns, and dragging ordinary people into court battles—such as suing a photographer over a “monkey selfie.”

PETA has also been caught manufacturing misinformation. They staged photo shoots with fake wax animals drenched in blood and even pushed a CGI “abuse” video to media outlets in an attempt to spark outrage. As Mashable exposed in 2017:

“PETA is trying to convince the media to report and share a fake video as if it’s real, in hopes of deceiving the public to create manufactured outrage. As animal lovers, this is offensive. As a media outlet with a responsibility to truthfulness, this is unethical.”

Support for Extremists and Criminals

PETA has funneled money and support to individuals and groups associated with arson, terrorism, and violent extremism. They have provided funds to defendants tied to the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) and the Earth Liberation Front (ELF)—groups the FBI has labeled as domestic terrorist organizations. Newkirk herself was implicated by federal prosecutors in connection with an ALF arson at Michigan State University.

Exploiting Children

Through its “TeachKind” program and PETA2 website, PETA aggressively markets extremist messages to children. These platforms promote grotesque video games and anti-agriculture propaganda, attempting to indoctrinate youth into their ideology.

Euthanasia Controversy: “Better Dead Than Fed”

Despite branding itself as an animal protection organization, the track record of PETA and its staff shows otherwise. PETA operates a shelter in Norfolk, Virginia, where it has killed tens of thousands of animals. According to state records, PETA has euthanized the overwhelming majority of animals in its care—earning it the nickname “the butcher shop” among critics.

The Center for Consumer Freedom reported that :

“In 2003, PETA euthanized over 85 percent of the animals it took in, finding adoptive homes for just 14 percent. By comparison, the Norfolk, Virginia, SPCA found adoptive homes for 73 percent of its animals and Virginia Beach SPCA adopted out 66 percent.”

In 2017, two PETA employees were charged with 31 felony counts of animal cruelty each, after authorities found them dumping the dead bodies of 18 animals they had just picked up from a North Carolina animal shelter into a dumpster. According to the Associated Press, 13 more dead animals were found in a van registered to PETA.

Ingrid Newkirk was profiled in a 2003 issue of the New Yorker, and stated that during her time working at an animal shelter in the 1970s, "I would go to work early, before anyone got there, and I would just kill the animals myself. Because I couldn't stand to let them go through (other workers abusing the animals.) I must have killed a thousand of them, sometimes dozens every day."

In the same piece, Newkirk explained why she had herself sterilized: "I am opposed to having children. Having a purebred human baby is like having a purebred dog; it's nothing but vanity, human vanity."

Celebrities and Fundraising

PETA is part of a billion-dollar animal extremist industry. It spends tens of millions annually on advertising, marketing, and publicity stunts, often using celebrities as pawns in its shock campaigns. While these endorsements draw attention, they also mask the organization’s darker record of deception, harassment, and excessive animal euthanasia.

Harassment Campaigns

From targeting Bearadise Ranch in Florida with false media claims and online trolling to financially devastating individuals through nuisance lawsuits, PETA thrives on harassment. Their strategy is to “throw mud at the wall and see what sticks,” hoping sensational accusations will make the news regardless of truth.

Conclusion

Behind the flashy campaigns, celebrity endorsements, and self-righteous rhetoric, PETA is a well-funded, anti-human extremist organization that thrives on shock value, misinformation, and harassment. While they loudly claim to protect animals, their record tells a very different story: promoting terrorism, killing thousands of animals in their own care, and manipulating the public for money and power.