Jerry Vlasak

Jerry Vlasak is an American physician, animal rights activist, environmentalist, and press officer for the North American Animal Liberation Press Office. He is a member of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a director of the Animal Defense League, a former member of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society's board of directors and an advisor to SPEAK, the Voice for the Animals.

Inspired by his wife, former actress Pamelyn Ferdin, who is currently president of Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty in the U.S., Vlasak became active in promoting animal rights in 1993. His principle role in the animal liberation movement, according to LA Weekly, is to "be a liaison with the public, and to publicize the radical animal-rights underground’s activities."

Vlasak acknowledges his medical background provides a "certain amount of cachet" to his support of the animal rights movement. He holds staff privileges as a doctor at Riverside Community Hospital in Riverside, California despite the fact that as of 2007, he has not worked there for 18 months.

Controversy
Vlasak stirred controversy in 2003 when, speaking of scientists who perform experiments on animals, he stated that "If these vivisectors were being targeted for assassination, and call it political assassination or what have you ... strictly from a fear and intimidation factor, that would be an effective tactic." The following year in an interview with The Observer he made similar comments, including: "I don't think you'd have to kill too many [researchers]. I think for five lives, 10 lives, 15 human lives, we could save a million, 2 million, 10 million non-human lives." The remarks led to his being barred from entering the United Kingdom on the grounds his presence "would not be conducive to the public good." Vlasak has since said he was misrepresented.

In October 2005, he stated to the U.S. Senate that the murder of scientists "would be a morally justifiable solution."