#uncensored: inside the animal liberation movement

by Camille Marino, Ana Canosa, Kim Socha (Foreword)

In her best-selling memoir, Camille Marino's astonishing odyssey rapidly unravels in raw and compelling narrative. Repeated arrests and censorship campaigns were designed to neutralize an influential activist. Relentless personal betrayals, cyber bullying, and sabotage, however, were designed to punish her for being a woman.

When the author challenged those collecting millions of taxpayers' dollars to experiment on animals, she galvanized some very powerful adversaries. Rising to become a controversial and high-profile leader, she quickly learned that legal terrorism and corresponding prosecutions were an occupational hazard. Oblivious to the smoldering resentment of her peers -- reigning male demagogues -- she was slower to realize that she had been sleeping with the real enemy all along. One-time friends turned tormentors, undertaking virulent campaigns of cyber bullying, stalking, harassment, and defamation. Ms. Marino would have to face and overcome her own private inadequacies to regain her composure and finally taste victory. Sometimes we only find our own core of strength and personal empowerment when we have no other choice.

395 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 1, 2018

About the author

Camille Marino is a native New Yorker living with her two rescued dogs in Florida. She put herself through school at night, graduating from Pace University before enrolling in the Fordham University School of Law. As a controversial social justice activist, she founded two Animal Liberation groups with a dedicated global following. Her high-profile actions earned her repeated arrests and prosecutions for civil disobedience and free speech "crimes" as well as hateful campaigns of slander, defamation, cyber bullying, and stalking that tested her limits. Despite concerted efforts to secure her silence, she exposed and ultimately shut down a university program that collected millions of taxpayer dollars to perform cruel and useless experiments on monkeys. Her best-selling memoir, #uncensored, debuted at No. 1 under Amazon's "Hot New Best Sellers in Censorship."

Reviews

[Corvus · Rating 1 out of 5]

Camille Marino and Walter Bond have both had their issues in the past with oppressive behavior. They have now graduated to full on white supremacist fascism by creating a nazis-for-the-animals website (this is serious, I swear) called "Vegan Final Solution." I don't recommend reading it. It gets worse than just the title. I hesitated to write anything on here because I don't want their website to get more attention. So far it seems like everyone who has seen it finds it to be abhorrent. I also worry that the same old speciesist leftists- who constantly look for reason not to include the largest marginalized group on the planet (other animals) in our liberation- would love to latch on to a site like this and claim it represents animal rights, liberation, or vegan movements while erasing vegans from oppressed and marginalized groups (who make up most vegans on the planet despite white washing.)

I decided that their usual targets with this sort of thing- younger vulnerable white people often influenced by neo-nazi ideology- should also see someone criticizing them. Eco-fascism has no place in any sort of "liberation" framework. At least they made it blatantly obvious with their word choices that they are promoting genocide. It's a sad day for other animals when we have mainstream white vegans making it all about diet or shopping, ignoring other oppression, taking up a ton of space, and silencing marginalized and radical vegans. Then you pile this on top of it and it reminds me that those whose voice has been stolen from them by humans (other animals) now have another boot added on top of them. If you care about other animals, please do not fall into the rabbit hole of Marino and Bond. Also, if you ask movement veterans, they can tell you a bit more about Marino in particular and what she has done to other activists.

If you want some books to read regarding animal liberation, check out these instead:

Fear of the Animal Planet by Jason Hribal
Beasts of Burden by Sunaura Taylor
Oxen at the Intersection by pattrice jones
Aphroism by Aph and Syl Ko
Neither Man nor Beast and The Sexual Politics of Meat by Carol Adams
From Dusk 'Til Dawn: An Insider's View of the Growth of the Animal Liberation Movement by Keith Mann
Terrorists or Freedom Fighters?: Reflections on the Liberation of Animals Ed. Best and Nocella
What a Fish Knows by Jonathan Balcombe
Tongue-Tied: Breaking the Language Barrier to Animal Liberation by Hanh Nguyen
Veganism in an Oppressive World Vegan of Color Community
When Animals Speak by Eve Meijer
Fat Gay Vegan Sean O'Callaghan
Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity by Bruce Bagemihl
The Dreaded Comparison: Human and Animal Slavery by Marjorie Spiegel
Eternal Treblinka: Our Treatment of Animals and the Holocaust Charles Patterson
(It's been a very long time since I read the last two, but included them because even if they make mistakes- which I can't recall if they do or not- they both show how fascism and genocide are linked to animal exploitation.)

There are a bunch more on my to-read list, but I did not list them since I have not read them yet or just forgot to. Many of them came highly recommended, particularly works by Lori Gruen and Claire Jean Kim.
Also, I don't have any social media accounts (besides this.) Some of these books are a bit old and I often miss when new things come out. I am sure many other people have many resources if you ask around.

Here's a list of bloggers and youtubers off the top of my head but I am undoubtedly missing a ton:
Animal Resistance University
EVERYTHING by Brenda Sanders
The Cranky Vegan
VINE Sanctuary blog
AfroVegan Society
Christopher Sebastian's blog
Striving with the Systems
A Breeze Harper's Blog
Vegan Bill of Consistent Anti-Oppression
The Vegan RD blog
Black VegFest
Queering Animal Liberation
Earthling Liberation Kollective
Crip Humanimal
Food Empowerment Project
Chilis on Wheels
Striking at the Roots
The Bearded Vegans Podcast
For fun, Veganarchist Memes' Facebook

Please remember that you can never successfully fight oppression with another form of oppression.

[Nicole Huber · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you only read ONE book this year, make it this one!
“#uncensored: Inside the animal liberation movement” by Camille A. Marino, speaks to the reader on many different levels: It is the inspiring tale of a woman who kept her integrity and even grew stronger in the face of incredibly adverse circumstances. It is an eye-opener for anyone who may harbor remnants of the illusion that the legal system is by and large fair, or that the state generally functions to protect its citizens’ rights and interests. It provides insight into the vivisection industry. And last, but by no means least, this book can also be read like a manual for effective activism.
Ms. Marino has come a long way: from a traumatic childhood, through money-obsessed, fast-living investment banking, to being a tireless, dedicated and effective activist against the legitimate heirs of Josef Mengele, the evil vivisection complex. In fact, so dedicated and effective that the industry eventually strikes back, using the full power of an utterly corrupt legal system that it has at its disposal. While such is to be expected, Ms. Marino was totally unprepared for a much, much worse blow soon to follow: the betrayal by her best friend and confidante, a prominent figure of the animal liberation movement. This man not only let her take the fall-out for his actions, he orchestrated a comprehensive online bullying campaign against her, he ruthlessly abused the law to silence her at all costs, and he didn’t even shy away from taking the side of the vivisectors. It is no wonder that these events let to what Ms. Marino in retrospect describes as a nervous breakdown, and it is a testament to her integrity and honesty that, rather than painting herself as a saintly victim or pitying herself, she unflinchingly describes her own mistakes in dealing with this onslaught. Luckily, Ms Marino managed to turn her experience into an opportunity to grow and become stronger.
Yet, throughout all of this, and throughout the book, Ms. Marino never loses sight of her goal: to be a voice and fight for the nonhuman animals who are enslaved, sadistically tortured and killed by one of the most evil industries in the world, the vivisection industry. The stories of individual victims and descriptions of torture methods she relays in her book are but a glimpse into a bottomless abyss of sadism and evil, but they are enough to leave the reader shaking with tears. Which leads to another very important aspect of the book. In it, Ms. Marino discusses her thoughts on animal liberation and how it can be achieved. And she provides us with the tried and tested examples of her own activism. So, while 2018 is still young, I can say with absolute certainty that this is one of most important books of the year.

[Allen Lamb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this book, but I don't think it was a book that was meant to be enjoyed. It did, however, make me think... a lot. So for that reason, above all others, I've decided to give it four stars. The thing I least enjoyed about it was my knowledge that I would have to review it when I was done. I suppose I should point out that I am reviewing this as I am part of a book review group. I don't have any particular affiliation with either side of the animal liberation movement and I would sum up my views going into the book as being what one would expect of a "typical American." Being a memoir, it's difficult to separate reviewing the book (which I don't mind doing) from reviewing the author (which I have no interest in doing). Add to that, a divisive, polarizing issue that I'll have to chime in on and writing this review has been a big bag of dread.

As the saying goes, you can't judge someone until you've walked a mile in their shoes and Ms. Marino has walked many miles in VERY different shoes. She describes growing up in New York without a father and with a mother that didn't seem to love her. As she grew up, she held several jobs including a job at an investment banking company and a job as an escort both of which earned her lots of money and led to alcohol and drugs. All of this led to a night on a motorcycle that ended with her waking up with a lost love, lost memories and also being paralyzed from the neck down, a condition that she would only partially recover from. Then her world changed when she became exposed to the animal rights movement and she seemed to find her calling.

On many occasions, she describes this new world as being like a war and I have to say that that's exactly what it sounded like to me too. But what I found most unexpected is that many, perhaps even most of her challenges came not from the vivisectors (anyone who actively hurts or kills animals) but from within her own movement. She describes a divide in the movement between the welfarists who essentially argue for better conditions for the animals and her own division, the liberationists who want all animals to be freed. But even within the liberationists, there were many people that she trusted as friends only to later find them actively working against her when they disagreed with her actions. It all felt very warlike in terms of the viciousness of the attacks on all fronts as well as the general chaos that one might expect from an account of the storming of Normandy beach. Ms. Marino has endured a lot including time in prison, vicious attacks on social media and the betrayal of those she felt were her friends.

So where did this book leave me? When I was done with it I felt that I was of about half a dozen minds. Part of me felt moved towards the movement, though I must admit it was towards the welfarists side of the movement. Part of me felt strangely more entrenched in my own views. I did a lot of thinking on the subject and I don't see the issue as anywhere near as black and white as Ms. Marino. Part of me wanted to point out all the places where I felt the book's case for veganism and animal liberation failed to move me. Her stances were often so extreme that it seemed to undermine the effectiveness of her arguments. But then, part of me hesitated to point out specifics as doing so would give ammunition to her host of enemies. I have no ill will for Ms. Marino even though we don't share all of the same views. Part of me empathized with and admired Ms. Marino for her struggles endured as a result of her passionate and bold stance on this issue. But then, part of me was frustrated that she seemed so closed to discussion. Phrases such as "negotiation is over" (the name of her website) and "the time for civil discourse has expired" and "I react in utter revulsion at the theorists who denigrate welfare issues from an academic pedestal." abound in her book. The idea of someone so moved to action on account of her views but seemingly unwilling to hear the views of others is, quite frankly, a little frightening.

I said at the start of this review that some books aren't meant to be enjoyed. It is with tragic regret that I acknowledge that one might say the same thing about a life. But I hope this is not the case for Ms. Marino. There wasn't much joy in this memoir, but I hope she does have joys in her life. I hope they are simple honest joys and that they were merely deemed too trivial or boring or irrelevant to be included.

[Rajeev Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

My animal-love is restricted to feeding stray dogs and cats, even if I see myself as someone brimming with undying love for them. Camille Marino, in this way-beyond-eye-opening book, commits to the page the incredible struggle of a person who is actually willing to convert noble and humane thoughts and feelings to action, even when it means a dozen arrests, extradition, ban from the internet and living under unrelenting attacks, stalking and sabotage. The mere fact of her chaining herself to the door at Wayne University had me in awe.

When I wasn’t marveling at the author’s insatiable drive and some really articulate writing, there were moments of gut-wrenching horror at the treatment meted out to animals at dairy farms in the name of money and in labs in the name of scientific research. In a darkly humorous recollection, I harked back to Agent Smith in the Matrix referring to a human being as a virus, something which Camille agrees with, also adding the term ‘parasite’ to it. I’ve been a dairy consumer all my life but I never gave a thought to the cruelties and indignities that milch animals have to undergo so that we humans can get one of the most touted sources of protein on our breakfast tables.

But I have my doubts and reservations too. Regarding animal abuse, I have an example waiting to happen in my neighbourhood. There is a very fertile she-dog who produces off-springs every year (did it unfailingly for the past three years), most of which die due to want of food or brawls with bigger dogs. Would it be immoral to neuter the she-dog and thus save the locality from those wild oats that only increase pressure on a habitat that is already reeling from too many strays being present? Of course, with that viewpoint, I’m giving humans a higher moral ground against a lesser species because the same argument can be applied to proliferating human children too (especially in my country, India, which has the world’s second largest population), but how logical it is to let other species grow and grow and encroach on our living space because killing (or culling) them is barbaric? Isn’t the infliction of pain a necessary evil here?

I eat fish, although sporadically, and it must be really heart-rending for an animal-lover to watch a fish twitching and flailing and eventually dying when taken out of the water. While I don’t want to justify the cold-blooded murder, I do have an argument related to the issue. Khecheopalri Lake in the Indian state of Sikkim is protected against fishing, swimming and boating (in fact, all forms of visitor intervention) owing to its religious importance for Buddhists.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khecheo...

The result is that the water is so chock-a-block infested with fish that one wouldn’t want to put a finger in it even if allowed to do so. Neither is the water from the lake consumable; again, if permitted to be drunk. The point is that marine life’s balance can also be disrupted if fish go on procreating, thus letting another kind of virus claim space on the planet where the human-being-virus is holding sway. So, doesn’t meat-eating come down to a battle between different parasites or viruses for control of the planet in which the most intelligent (and intelligently ruthless) one is succeeding? I don’t think this is an easy question to answer and I find it somewhat hard to believe that a successful animal-centric revolution, as seems to be Camille Marino’s object here, can lead to an eventual harmony between all species on the globe. But the vision of that Utopia is fascinating, no doubt.

[Anne Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Camille Marino is a controversial animal rights activist (she prefers the term animal liberationist) and vegan, who shares in this book how she took on powerful forces in the animal exploitation industry and in her own activist community who turned against her, and was repeatedly incarcerated for it. She is controversial because of her tactics, and because she is unafraid to tell the truth, and to speak truth to power. This is a powerful, riveting, engrossing book that I couldn’t put down. I hope it is widely read, because her message needs to get out there.

This book demonstrates, so profoundly, that while social media can be a tool to advocate, educate, and connect with like-minded people, it is also a breeding ground for spreading lies and rumors, cyberbullying, and destroying lives and reputations. This book also demonstrates quite shockingly how laws protecting victims of domestic violence, while necessary and long overdue, can also be seriously misused. We should think long and hard about the wisdom of allowing restraining orders to be used to prevent one person from speaking about another person. I believe that restraining orders should be used to protect people from physical harm but not to criminalize speech.

This book is eye-opening in many ways, but most importantly, in the way Ms. Marino courageously exposes the dark underbelly of “research” conducted by universities and laboratories. For people who think that there is no such thing as animal experimentation in this day and age, other than on rats and mice (who are considered worthless and disposable), think again. Every day, in universities and laboratories in this country and elsewhere, cruel and torturous experiments funded by federal taxpayer dollars are being performed on dogs, cats, rabbits, horses, pigs, monkeys, sheep and others - often without anesthesia or proper medical care - supposedly in an effort to find cures for diseases that afflict humans, even though many reputable authorities have concluded that such research is nothing more than “junk science” that produces no benefits for humans or other animals.

Were it not for Camille Marino, many people would remain ignorant of what is happening inside universities and laboratories in the name of "research" conducted by monsters who dare to call themselves scientists. Please read this book, and if you are outraged like I am, please voice your outrage, as Camille Marino has done. She is an important voice for the animals, who cannot speak for themselves. She wants more of us to speak up on behalf of these innocent animals - to advocate for them, to save their lives, to spare them from torture, starvation, abuse and death. Please read this book, and then go out and DO SOMETHING to help change this horrible state of affairs.

[Tom Schulte · Rating 3 out of 5]

What started as an effective, coherent collective of pro-vegan, anti-vivisection activists devolved into online flaming and friends turned litigants. As seems often the case in such groups, what may be thought a counterculture is really a subculture, reflecting the ills of the society it seeks to correct. The author recognizes as much:

the animal rights movement is largely regulated by a patriarchy of white men who have the power and want to enforce the rules by which activists can conduct themselves.

What they mainly seemed to do is out vivisectors; first gen doxxers it seems: http://universityofflorida.us/meet-th...

Marino's consuming dedication and self-confessed travails often caused by herself gets shunted into a personal war with one time friend and cohort Dr. Steven Best. It is a fascinating look into one person's journey into extreme animal rights activism while being very honest of her own imperfections:

I want my errors in judgment to prevent other activists from being blinded by cults of personality that are prevalent in every social justice movement; to not lose their sense of right and wrong in service of demagoguery. Drama and trashing others can be alluring and, wherever humans come together, will always happen.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally, Camille is able to tell her side of the story. Steve Best, the antichrist of the animal world, claimed to be a animal rights activist, but unknown to most, was occupying his time joining forces with the police, the government and even the vivisectors themselves, to keep her silent. This was his sole intentions then and is still till this day. Afraid that if the truth was to come out that his reputation would be shattered, and it should be. He is a liar, a false prophet, he does not have the animals best interest at heart, he simply uses them to build his ego and his wallet. He is a traitor and should be charged with treason by every true animal activists out there. The real warriors, the ones taking to the streets, ones who take risks, and among all are true to the cause. Camille is one of those people, who with the world against her, sat in a jail cell for crimes she did not commit. Taking the fall for the very person who turn against her and smeared her name to the movement, has risen above them and iis ever stronger and more committed to giving these silent victims a voice. She has shown us that the real enemy can be lurking anywhere. Inside or out of the animal right movement. I am privileged to call her a friend, I look up to her for her strength, and her dedication to rid the world of animal abusers. We need more warriors like her. This book takes you down a road that I hope to never travel. Follow her story, feel her betrayal and pain, and above all see her come back even stronger and more committed to save these precious animals. A 5 star book.

[Jennifer Arntson · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's the emotion the book stirred in me that caused me to rate it 5-stars

The book accounts more about the behind the scenes relationships of the volunteers within the ranks of animal liberation, than the day to day struggles of an activist foot-soldier. While we do learn something about the unfolding revelations of animal experimentation, the book is largely an account of the high-profile activists and the relationships and struggles they caused each other.

I’d recommend the book for any activist involved in the University of Florida research facilities who might have been curious about the middle-school type brawl that imploded the overall movement between two leaders within that community. (I hadn’t heard of either before reading this book)

#Uncensored is full of chronological information including links (in the ebook) to related articles and documents supporting her narrative. The ongoing dialogue is well written, easy to understand, and thorough, despite the disturbing content loosely tying the greater themes together.

If you’re curious about my ‘deep thoughts’ about the book, keep reading.

While not a huge reader of non-fictional biographies, autobiographies, or memoirs, I knew this book would take me a bit longer to read than most. To review, seems to prove even more challenging because unlike fiction, I’m forming opinions about people - REAL people, and in this case, the author themselves.

When I finished the book, I took a few days to ask, “WTF did I just read?” I’ve never been so captivated, bewildered, upset, frustrated, hopeful or incensed as I was reading Ms. Marino’s work.

I’m a little afraid of writing anything other than what I offered in my first three paragraphs at all, to be honest. After reading #Uncensored, I know I will ultimately upset someone and from what I gather, pissing an activist off is the absolute last thing I every want to invite into my life.

Initially, I believed this book to be more about her personal struggles with the actual animal liberation movement - the red tape, bureaucracy, and closed-door discussions - but quickly found it was not. Anyone who is familiar with the movement may have more knowledge about the overall subject matter and therefore understand some universal truths I tried to pay attention while turning the pages. (This is part of the reason it took me so long to read.)

Ms. Marino and I strangely have many similarities in our narrative history: We both had troubled upbringings, opportunities that we flourished in to improve our circumstances, and exposure to a jaded justice system (I will go more into these individually later). We are both highly capable, result-focused individuals, working in non-profit projects where apathy and lip service frustrate us and sometimes feel like an unruly weight around our ankles. In another life, I easily could have been Ms. Marino. (That scares the hell out of me.)

But I understand Ms. Marino’s struggle.

Her writing is so powerful and persuasive, I had to put it down just to breathe. One minute I considered her opinions extreme - long passing obsessive - then she’d offer details uncovered about animal experimentation along with photographs that brought tears to my eyes. Suddenly, I found myself agreeing with her. These people need to be stopped. The push and pull of emotion she evoked in my heart and soul was exhausting. In the moments I set the book down, thoughts of her horrifying discoveries, stayed ever present. Knowing she only saw the tip of the iceberg made me feel sick, but could I celebrate along side her with the tactics employed to achieve incremental results? The answer is no. While I cannot look directly at the issues she brings into the light (I’ll admit it) I cannot condone the routine call to violence either.

But, in the face of such apathy, even my own, I can understand Ms. Marino’s struggle.

I’ve learned in my time as a volunteer that extreme measures hijack the public’s attention, and the media loves to feed a hungry audience. Sensationalism in its greatest form, perpetuated by social media one-liners, create a spreading awareness. That’s why we call it ‘going viral.’ It’s the sad reality of non-profit work. We see it following protests, gun violence, natural disasters, and unconscionable suffering. The spike of these topics compels people to finally look up from their tech device and actually do something. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if people donated to an organization so battles [funded by the supporters] could happen in court - where laws could be changed for generations - rather than outside a researcher’s home, or educational institution for a week?

Yes, I said court. And I know better than most, that’s an uphill battle on its own. In this, I understand Ms. Marino’s struggle.

People who refer to it as “an imperfect system” are people who have never sat beside a victim in court, nor have they sat behind a defendant. I have done both. I have been in a courtroom where the person holding a restraining order pursues the restricted party, only to use it against the defendant when it suits them. I have listened to a judge call a defendant a “monster” because of the ramblings of schizophrenic ‘victim’ who’s accounts can’t be called into question because the accused is denied the right to bring up their medical condition in court. “This isn’t about them. It’s about you.”

I have sat in the bench seats of a courtroom behind a heroin addict who, after a six week bender following a year of sobriety, is sentenced to ten years in prison while his co-defendant, a second time offender for the exact same charges, gets 6-months. One was white, the other had some color. Guess who’s who.

In this, I understand Ms. Marino’s struggle.

I feel the energy of a relatively small number of people who camp out on the lawn would be better spent within the legal parameters of the court. Instead, they’ve threatened and assaulted powerful men with fat wallets, who in turn, spend large sums of money on attorneys to shield themselves from further disruption. To them, it’s merely a line item on their budget. Is it any wonder why things have progressed to such ends? To tie an noose around one’s own neck, then blame the company who made the rope is naïve. To think the world isn’t watching, is juvenile.

In this, I understand Ms. Marino’s struggle.

In my early years, I crossed the invisible lines between professional and casual with a man I respected. We became close and our families vacationed together. When his personal circumstances changed, the things he’d shared with me became dangerous ammunition to his budding relationship. While I would never betray his trust, he saw me as a liability and felt better erasing me from the picture. As such, I’ve been silenced by fabricated accusations and threatened with very real legal action. I’d done nothing wrong other than support and defend a person I once called friend. I’ve heard of his taunting and slander against me, knowing the whole time that if I attempted to defend myself, engaged him in discussion, or lashed back, I’d be eviscerated by his deep pockets and narcissism. I knew if I attempted to compete with him, I would not win. I suppressed my anger, kept quiet, and powered through it. Ms. Marino did not. She got sucked into the dysfunctional vortex of yuck.

Despite our chosen paths, I understand Ms. Marino’s struggle. I could have easily done the same things.

What baffles me the most, is the arrogance of an activist who calls a group of extremists to [violently] come against people who hold different values than their own, only to run crying to court when that same group of extremists expose the dirty secrets on the internet.

No one with focus on a common goal cares if you did drugs, drank too much, or wore white after labor day. If they do, they’re probably surfing on the ocean of public drama. Once the wave crashes, they’ll fall off the board. They’ll either swim back out with you, or in a desperate attempt to save themselves, drag you under because they can’t swim and thought life-jackets were for suckers.

People like me, look into your circle before we decide to join it. Why would we want to be a part of this epic war against your own people? For the love of all things…just stop.

At least Ms. Marino seems to have her attention focused on once again getting results. Hopefully she’ll stay that way now that she’s said her piece. A few small wins have already been tallied. These things will speak against her oppressors more so than any memoir. I have a feeling, however, this book will only poke the beast (pardon the pun). If you haven’t read it and want to, I suggest you don’t delay. Somebody out there isn’t mature enough to let their actions define their place in the world. They’re too busy stating their case with the court of public opinion.

And that place sounds overcrowded.

[Brin Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a hard book to review. It’s certainly a powerful and disturbing read: the memoir of an animal rights activist, Camille Marino, who has been imprisoned, victimized and harassed to a degree which is shocking over a period of years, largely due to her opposition to vivisection.
Disclaimer: I am not coming from a vegan perspective. I’m not even vegetarian, and keep around 50 sheep, so I’m approaching this memoir as something of an outsider. On the other hand, I loathe animal cruelty, and doubt experimentation on animals is justified. My attitude to food is not bound so much by cultural norms as biological understanding: some populations have managed to succeed by being purely vegetarian (India springs to mind) others have of necessity been almost entirely carnivorous (the Inuit). Most human populations have survived successfully by being omnivorous. Which is not to say we can’t change: in an age where western populations at least have plenty, we can now make choices, for moral or other reasons, which our ancestors could not.
In a nutshell, Marino describes an unhappy childhood, where systematic emotional abuse left her with a poor sense of self-worth and self-esteem. Both she and her brother were smart, and she initially went into investment banking. Drug abuse and an almost-lethal overdose led to temporary quadriplegia followed by permanent neurological impairment. Marino then became invested in animal activism. She developed a website and an online following, inciting activists to action and organizing protest events. She was contacted by Dr Steve Best, a big cheese in the movement, was extremely flattered, and became what she calls a close friend, but to the reader seems more like an acolyte: she exhibited a kind of slavish devotion and desperation for his approval.
A brief overview of this charming character:
Best expected his acolytes to assist him in serial sexual conquests, despite the fact that he was in a long-term relationship with a woman, Alicia. Anyone who did not was a “cockblocker.” Alicia had been in a previous relationship with a sexual sadist and was extremely sensitive about her breasts: Best posted pictures of her unconscious on his bed, mocking her. He was obsessed with a man he saw as his rival, and encouraged his acolytes to pursue an online campaign of denigration and harassment against the man (Marino complied). Best was heavily into drugs: one time when Marino and he got high together, he wrote an inflammatory piece against vivisectionists which they thought was hilarious, and Marino posted it to her website. Later this caused her all sorts of problems, and he became afraid that the threats would be taken seriously. Best encouraged others in the movement to put themselves out there protesting, but he did not attend protests himself. He was embarrassed by Marino when, due to her disability, she stumbled in public trying to keep up with him.
Finally, Best’s abusive and exploitative relationship with Alicia resulted, after several minor violent outbursts, in him breaking three of her ribs.
But even then, Marino remained under his sway.
Manipulative men target women who are fragile; women who have experienced abusive relationships, and who don’t have the strength, self-belief or self-worth to resist a controlling and sadistic man. Not to make it all cliché, but women with a history of abuse have a strong inclination to emotional dependence, and abusive men sniff them out. I wonder. What better place than a movement full of emotionally-charged, over-invested and maybe less than perfectly stable women? That’s harsh, but from what follows maybe slightly justified.
When Marino got too close to the University of Florida’s monkey experimentation programme legal suits ensued, and it seemed there was a danger that the inflammatory piece written by Steve Best but published on Marino’s website would become key. Needless to say, he turned on her and she became his new object of persecution. He coordinated a cyberbullying as well as a legal campaign. Almost all her so-called friends, her “community”, turned against her.
What I took away from this stage of the memoir, is that these Facebook friends, the animal rights “community,” were a bunch of infighting spiteful disloyal bitchy shits. Their instant and vicious turnaround justifies the prejudiced remark above re emotionally-charged and unstable individuals: the relationships are so shallow they’re essentially meaningless.
Marino’s response? She went a bit crazy, sending desperate emails, basically begging the revolting Best to be her friend again.
This is all written with excoriating honesty. The oppressive and one-sided legal system, the trumped up charges, the way this man manipulates laws meant to protect victims of domestic abuse, the travesties of justice, are all related in convincing detail. There is nothing self-serving about the account, and I found it highly convincing and also shocking.
Ultimately, Marino has come through these soul-destroying events with improved understanding and much improved self-esteem. She recognizes that she craved approval. Additionally, she feels that she stuck by her principles and at no time betrayed her beliefs, so can feel proud of what she has gone through. You have to admire her strength of character, and she is clearly an extremely determined, dedicated and basically honorable individual. The legal persecution is still not over, and I seriously think there should be some sort of counter-suit for ongoing harassment by Best. Or maybe even against the state of New Mexico: the judge who took away six months of her life, lost his job through incompetence and blatant disregard for justice or the law. Surely the state should take some responsibility for his misdeeds, giving someone like that so much power over peoples’ lives? I don’t know, I have no idea how the American system works. But it seems there should be more accountability.
The uselessness of the legal system, the way it can so easily be warped by the powerful to oppress, and the impossibility of attaining any kind of true justice, are possibly the most disturbing aspects of this story. Plus the way a manipulative character can exhibit such sustained, purposeless malice.
Anyway, I hope Camille looks to herself now. She has been through so much, and I hope she finds a way to reconcile her beliefs with having a good life.

[Damien Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars : #liberation

Camille A. Marino is that stereotypical New Yorker from the tougher times, times we hope that people don’t have to endure, but they still do. When I say stereotypical is not a disparaging label is what I know or witness, tough as nails Brooklyn woman that don’t bite their tongue. They present their story with vigor and passion leaving little room to paint themselves as innocent and passive in their downfall, Camille’s writing is “take it or leave” no room to walk on eggshells “I present my life to you” take it as a cautionary tale and try to remain to true to yourself. #uncensored: inside the animal liberation movement” by Camille A. Marino, is a memoir of a lived life and an inside look into animal rights activism. Camille writing is honest and narratively well put together.

Camille gets us right into her early life opening up the "closet of secrets" of her upbringing as if you arrived after taking the L train feeling the vibe of a working-class Jewish/Italian sector of New York City, parts of New York I never traveled, funny how New Yorkers never really go around their city. Camille was already in survivor’s mode coming from an unstable mother who tried to murder her before she was born, the kind of family dynamics we don’t openly discuss too real for TV; however, books and words are for the truth, smacking people with reality. Correlation is necessary because with her upbringing and her feelings of being imprisoned by her mother laid the track works for her later life of liberating animals from their unjust and cruel prisons. I can tell that this young girl from Brooklyn is smart, street smart and also intelligent enough to hold different careers and pursue higher education but frustrating to read her poor choices especially her trust in men the kind of guys that are convincing and well versed in their craft of being an amoral conned man.

After a few lows for Camille, she is inspired in activism. Her cause was to liberate animals especially those who are being tortured for “science,” she exposes what we wish to hide from ourselves, human beings being cruel as usually, I agree with her point that what you do has to result in freeing animals, not just chaining yourself to fences. For us regular folks who prefer to be ignorant who tend to see people like Camille as extremist without understanding the sheer power they have to go up against, I hope we can agree and reach into our bag of empathy, and you shouldn’t test monkeys until you waste them and discard them like trash. In #uncensored: inside the animal liberation movement” you get there are rockstars with groupies in activism something I always distrusted, if you open your eyes you can see many of these leaders became more significant than the movement, there is that point of Camille’s weakness of placing trust in the wrong people, and she pays for it with her freedom.

I don’t know any other way to be part of the animal liberation movement without having to break laws and commit break-ins and sabotage, reading the legal hassle that Camille has to endure and the labels terrorism shows that our justice system can’t prioritize from real threats. #uncensored: inside the animal liberation movement” is a fantastic read and a great way to start my new list.

[Molly McHugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really intense book, both a memoir (almost over-detailed in some areas, too much information) and a chronologue of years spent as an activist in the animal rights/liberation movement. It's definitely an interesting read, well-written, and painstakingly factual about numerous connecting situations that the author Camille experienced.

I definitely liked the book - and appreciated all the info surrounding how she came to be who she was, honesty about her past (drug abuse, etc.), and the progression into what developed into a very radical form of veganism/animal liberation activist. Some of the details of different forms of sick (satanic in some cases it seems can be an appropriate description), abhorrent mistreatment of animals in many forms. She uses the term torture and that is what it is, some for years in horrible conditions. But worse, many of the animal 'abusers' were professionals in positions of power: University administrators who support and allow the acts to occur and continue, scientists who experiment and torture animals, those who sell animals to the vivisection community, etc. I do believe many should be charged with animal abuse - just as we now have laws in many states to prosecute those who abuse and mistreat domesticated animals kept as 'pets'.

What I can't get on board with is the extremism that Camille developed and supports - that animals will be free when "all humans are dead" kind-of thinking. Is just really off - firstly, that won't happen, nuclear war will kill all living life forms, and to get to such a destructive state of advocacy only leads to more inhumane acts, violence, torture and other forms of abuse - to humans and animals.

There's quite a bit of disconnect through the book on this, such as her thinking it's fine to threaten (when you think it's ok to blow up someone's car, etc., that's definitely promoting violence) others or support the actions of those who would harm an abuser (I get it... as do many others, Camille should think of parents who have children abducted and murdered, other atrocities, they are all around us unfortunately) and that it is justified. But then when her car was blow up it was meant to entice sympathy - which of course it did. How horrible to experience and she needs to understand that those folks have the same "radical ideology" (or are just prone to violence) just with different viewpoints.

Violence can never be condoned. It only leads to more violence. It is a temporary 'solution' that does not solve a problem or lead to a better future for all. Martin Luther King was quoted in the book, and I don't think it was appropriate -- he supported non-violent action, civil disobedience and discourse, not violence.

The book was really educational about the legal system and how it was used to harass and intimidate (harm actually, as she was jailed) her. Is another awful reality we live with at this point in time. It was nice to read in the end how the person who targeted her was eventually held accountable for his abusive actions, and even more so, that one of her main fights - against the University of Florida vivisection atrocities, was won. They stopped the program.

[Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Camille Marino has written a deeply disturbing memoir that excites, educates and repels. This author, who is organized and literate, begins her memoir by revealing the personal torture of being abused by a mentally unstable, alcoholic mother. As a helpless child, who was battered daily by her mother, and abandoned by her father, Marino's life was full of beatings and isolation.

What did she do with her growing rage? She used her anger to motivate herself by getting good grades and moving into executive jobs. And later, even though she suffered setbacks and took wrong turns, she never stopped fighting for the freedom of animals. A hero takes the hardships of his or her life and turns them into a driving force to do right. In this case, Marino, who knew what it was like to be vulnerable and to suffer at her captor's hands, aligned herself with animals suffering from the treatment of humans. She took the animal right's movement and fought it on a national and global level to end animals' suffering. She led a vast protest, which she victoriously claimed caused the University of Florida to make public their animal experimentation records, and to eventually quit the experiments altogether.

This memoir shocks as it disturbs. There are photos of helpless monkeys being tied down and experimented on in laboratories. There are stories about horrific experiences of Morino's and other inmate's time in jail. However, the most disturbing part of the memoir is Marino's relationship with Professor Steve Best. A relationship that allegedly began out of an intelligent and passionate quest for animal rights, it morphed into horrendous psychological warfare.that saturates the book with emotional tension. Yet, the author never stops challenging herself, as she exposes herself honestly, and reveals her inner battles that raged from this relationship. She touches readers, who for a moment, share her path of pain, betrayal, sadness, and victory. This memoir reflects possibility to readers, as it inspires, and uplifts.

[Erin Bomboy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been said everyone has a story to tell, and Camille Marino certainly has a one to tell — a big one. In her riveting memoir #uncensored: inside the animal liberation movement, she takes a bracingly honest look at herself. Marino details her hardscrabble upbringing in Brooklyn, her drug addiction, her time as an escort and stockbroker, and, most importantly, her passion for animal rights activism.

#uncensored will certainly not confirm nor will it restore your faith in humanity. For all the dedication and deep-rooted fervor that the animal-liberation movement brings to its crusade to stop vivisection, its members are quick to abuse one another, specifically, Dr. Steve Best who comes across as a leader of a cult. He expected his acolytes to help him with sexual conquests; he was physically abusive to his girlfriend; and he had his followers do the actual work of protesting while he collected accolades. Like all spineless leaders, he threw people like Marino under the bus to save his own skin.

Marino's prose — unadorned yet searing in its intensity — allows the story to unfurl at a rapid-fire pace. I do wish that she'd employed the tools of fiction more (dialogue, physical movement through space and time, scenes among other characters) to enhance the commercial appeal as some readers may struggle with the density and the length of the text. Even with that caveat, this is a strong, intense book that I'm still thinking about.

[Shanna Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

#uncensored: inside the animal liberation movement by Camille Marino is an amazing eye opener! The sheer grace with which Ms. Marino faced the obstacles tossed haphazardly in her path is astounding!

The story gives you Ms. Marino's history, a past that could only be described as heart- wrenching, but put her in the position to be receptive to the narcissist that would become a cancer. The strength she could only find within herself would be necessary to radiate that cancer from her mind, though he may never be fully removed from her life.

I have seen PETA demonstrations, SPCA commercials with abused and abandoned animals, reality shows that rescue neglected animals, and knew that 'scientific research' was done on animals, but I honestly hadn't given how desperate the problem was the credence it should get. These voiceless, defenseless beings are tortured and, I feel certain, have no understanding why or how to avoid it. My heart aches. As a so called civilized society, it baffles me how this is being swept under the rug of indifference.

Ms. Marino, I have nothing but accolades for your unwillingness to bow or bend much less break. In the unrelenting attacks on her character and reputation, never did she cave or lose sight of her goal: putting an end to abusers being granted anonymity and access to their victims. Great job! Hard earned five stars!!

[George Verongos · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a world of greed, lies, and violence, it is refreshing and inspiring to see that one person can make a difference. #uncensored by Camille A. Marino is a mind-blowing journey of exhilarating highs and devastating lows experienced by a true champion of animal liberation. Not only is Marino’s first-hand account of the unspeakable torture and treatment of livestock and lab animals eye-opening and often times hard to read, but it is also an education in the evil that humans are capable of, especially when money and accolades are the rewards. Her raw and honest approach to activism not only helped expose and bring justice to the abusers of animals but also the abusers within her own “circle” of support. Without a doubt in her mind, Camille engaged abusers, law enforcement, politicians, and corporations head-on with no regard for personal consequences and sacrifice. Camille’s road to enlightenment concerning animal welfare and the rights of nonhuman animals was rocky and challenging. This exposure of her own flaws only adds to the incredible accomplishments she has achieved being an outspoken voice for the voiceless. I’m not going to call her a hero, because she would hate that, but to enumerable nonhuman victims she is, and I thank her for her work.

[Adebola Alabi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book both fascinating and intriguing. I had a dog for a pet many years ago. I took care of “Mandy” as much as I could then. I fed her, provided shelter for her, and gave her good medical attention. But I must admit, I did not love my dog the same way I love human beings. I saw her as a pest that I had to constantly take care of with no real benefit or opportunity to me.
Uncensored has changed my perspectives about pets and animals in general. They are creatures like us humans and we must love and care for them. The author shared many ideas that made me feel strongly about animal rights and how we can all help to protect animals.
This is a good book for anyone who wants more insights about animal protection and how they can join the movement to save animals. The book is a must read.

[SA · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a vegetarian, I've been one since high school and I knew this book was going to be hard to read for me. I had read an academic book on ELF before and I wanted to know more on ALF. I was ready to know more on "animal torture" but at the same time, I didn't want to know more. But this book is more than that, Camille's story is compelling in many ways. This is the struggle of a very strong woman who had to fight, be imprisoned for the principles she believed in but it was also a story of betrayal. Betrayed by her best friend, failed by others... It is a story of a woman who refused to break, bend no matter what challenges life threw at her. The experiments on animals at colleges carried on by research funds took my breath away. To be honest, I need time for it all to sink. This is a poignant read.

[Brad · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great memoir about not only life inside the vegan animal rights movement, but also the author's legal problems when things started to go wrong.

I was heavily active in animal rights for 3 years and I've seen the legal problems that can arise for activists, but the author's story is very unique. People are flawed and we all have our own perspectives and sometimes things go wrong even among like-minded people. I've had issues in my own community, and the parallels to what Marino describes are chilling.

I loved this book. Her openness and honesty are refreshing, and in my opinions, that's what makes you want to read on when it comes to this kind of book.

The things I noticed is that Marino is clearly focused on the animals from beginning to end and lets nothing get in the way of her focus. Her dedication to the animals is impressive.

[Robert Cowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating book on many different levels. Marino unflinchingly shines a light on the exploitation of animals, as expected, but more shocking is the level of infighting within the animal liberation movement and the corruption of the legal system which facilitates it.
It’s an intense, compelling read, albeit with occasional flights of ‘He said, She said’, made all the more so by the authors honesty about some of her own short comings. But in the main it’s a story of dogged courage and single mindedness, never losing sight of the goal that one day human animals can see other animals as sentient beings rather than commodities to exploit.
On a personal note it’s given me the impetus to ‘upgrade’ from vegetarian to vegan. A small victory, but, as Marino highlights, it’s a big fight.

[Rick Lunkenheimer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A raw and emotional book about the abuses of animals in testing and the life of an activist. I was shocked to read of the things that they did to animals in research laboratories. It opened my eyes to a world I didn’t even know existed. Animals cannot speak for themselves. They cannot fight against torture. One day, our society will look back at this the way we look at genocide and slavery.

The author intertwines animal activism with her personal life, betrayal, and personal failings and triumphs within the activist community. The things the author has gone through for her cause are unthinkable. Yet she came out even more determined.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in animal rights, human rights, our screwed up judicial system.

And meet Camille Marino. She has been a hero of mine for years. She holds absolutely nothing back in this testimonial autobiography and you will get to know her inside and out with no stone left unturned. I just finished this and am lost for words about how this woman was dragged through the mud by not only our court system but by people she really thought were her friends. Amazing woman. Amazing book!

[Ash Lingam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disturbing, Enraging and Exhilarating…
Reading Uncensored, by Camille A Marina, was a life-changing experience. Government corruption, animals used in research laboratories, medical industry cover-ups. Reading this book changed my fundamental view on the Animal-Rights issue. Realizing that everything we are told on the matter is not necessarily the truth. This is a heart-wrenching story of a personal journey. The physical abuse the author endured, liberating herself through her writing. Her bravery should inspire us all to take a stand. We all deserve to be told the truth.
Ash Lingam

[May Panayi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! #uncensored is a journey into a terrifying world of imprisonment and injustice. Ms Marino is a heroine for the animals; even at her darkest, indeed most claustrophobic, incarcerated moments, thinking of how much worse it must be for them, caged in Labs. I have had my eyes opened to a scary, misogynistic world, where injustice prevails. I was disheartened just reading about it (until the end where things improve), but Ms Marino used the situation to grow in personal power and strength, and find more fight for the animals out of her extreme adversity. Kudos. This is a detailed and gripping read that I wholeheartedly recommend.

[Kshitij · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very well written memoir. Author’s story though disturbing and sensitive is quite credible and give us a view on an operating nexus on animal cruelty and experimentation. The author presented the hardships she experienced, being an animal activist. She has done an excellent job of telling her side of a story starting from her disturbed childhood and her relationship with her mother. This provides a basis of why the author could relate to animals and how her personal fights and agendas concur with her fights for animal welfare.

This book has a strong moral. On the surface, it tells us to be a kind human being- kind in the sense being empathetic to those who might not be able to give us anything back in return. The underlying message of the story is how to cultivate the feeling of rage and the sense of injustice attained through personal relationships and make something positive out of it. It is truly appreciable how the author took her experiences and invested in the welfare of animals.

This is a powerful narrative, which is both highly entertaining and educative and deserved to be read.