The Animal Defense League (ADL) is a nationally active grassroots animal rights organization fighting to put an end to animal exploitation and abuse. ADL Portland is just one of many ADL chapters around the country. Working under the same banner, the coalition of activists and supporters that make up the various ADL chapters are able to have a stronger effect in our campaigns and fight together towards our collective goal of animal liberation.
Portland Animal Defense League Mission Statement:
The Animal Defense League (ADL) is a strictly grassroots-oriented animal liberation organization, dedicated to exposing animal abuse in all of its forms. We believe in liberation as opposed to the awarding of rights, for a caged mink is not concerned with anything short of freedom - of being liberated from the farm.
With this in mind, a goal of the ADL is to compel others to evaluate the mistreatment of animals, just as we have, and hopefully to be persuaded to make changes in their lives by eliminating products that have been developed by means of animal exploitation.
If we are to progress as political activists, cannot depend on the current political system, for it does not even acknowledge non-human animals, much less encourage fundamental ethics.
ADL strives to a new standard by working in our different communities and implementing conventional and non-traditional tactics. We believe in vocal demonstrations and civil disobedience actions, as well as literature distribution. We encourage networking between groups and communication among activists, not limited to animal liberation. In addition to an appreciation of different tactics, we also focus on political prisoner support, sharing skills- supporting and teaching each other how to be better activists. Portland ADL operates in a non-hierarchal manner, decisions based on present consensus.
Though the ADL is not involved in clandestine, illegal activists, we support underground direct action groups, such as the Animal Liberation Front, and may act as media spokespeople, justifying acts of economic sabotage against animal abuse industries.
The ADL believes in the "no compromise" ethic, meaning that when we are arrested at demonstrations, we would not, as a general rule, accept bail. Instead we frequently use the jury trial to our advantage, often encouraging the courts to dismiss the case.
Lastly, the ADL is, and will always be 100 percent non-profit. We accept donations to benefit the organization, but we do not accept payment for our voluntary work; that money could be better spent furthering the cause of animal liberation.
