Radical Animal Rights Groups Step Up Protests

PORTLAND, Ore., Nov. 8 — The incidents have not tailed off, even since Sept. 11: a firebombing at a federal corral for wild horses in northeastern California; a fire at a primate research center in New Mexico, and back-to-back break-ins in Iowa, one at a fur farm to release more than 1,000 mink, the other to free pigeons raised for research.

All the incidents occurred in the last several weeks, and loose-knit groups like the Animal Liberation Front or the Earth Liberation Front have claimed responsibility. While many mainstream protest groups have scaled back their activism since the terrorist attacks, radical animal rights groups have not.

State and federal law enforcement officials say they are frustrated and angered by the recent acts of sabotage. Some investigators said they were worried that such vandalism could escalate because the groups involved knew that agents were already overwhelmed with reports of anthrax and terrorism.

"This is a horrible time in the nation's history," said Beth Anne Steele, a spokeswoman for the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Portland, which is looking into the incidents, "and to be adding to that with your own brand of violence just goes beyond the pale. If you look at the general public, there is even less tolerance than there might have been before for terrorism of any kind."

So far, no one has been arrested for the most recent attacks. To the degree that individuals or groups have offered any defense of the actions, they say their conduct constitutes neither violence nor terrorism.

In a statement, a Canadian-based faction of the Animal Liberation Front defended the attacks in Iowa, which took place on Oct. 17 and 18, saying that those involved were "giving these animals a fighting chance for survival."

Several other Iowa farms have been subject to break-ins and the release of animals in recent years, and the group's statement said such acts would continue until the animals' "blood stops spilling."

Several birds and mink died shortly after their self-styled liberators cut holes in fences and nets, when they were hit by cars or fell to prey, the farms' owners said. But the animal liberation group said the animals' release was preferable to the "tortures, gassings and electrocutions" they faced in captivity.

Between them, the Animal Liberation Front and the Earth Liberation Front have claimed responsibility for at least six actions since Sept. 11, and for many others in recent years, including fires at a Vail, Colo., ski resort, which they said impinged on lynx habitat, and a Long Island housing-construction site.

Several months ago, someone set fires at an Oregon tree farm and a genetics research laboratory at the University of Washington in Seattle. The Earth Liberation Front claimed responsibility.

The groups have no formal structure, but espouse philosophies, most publicly on the Internet, that support sabotage in defense of animal life or the environment. There have been few arrests in the cases.

Eco-saboteurs, as they are called, are also suspected in a Sept. 8 fire at a McDonald's in Tucson, that caused extensive damage. The initials "A.L.F." and "E.L.F." were spray-painted at the scene.

In addition, the authorities are investigating an incident last Monday at Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Mich., in which two homemade bombs were discovered at two buildings where forestry research is conducted.

The F.B.I., federal firearms agents and the Michigan State Police were called in to defuse the devices. The university said it had received e-mail threats from the Earth Liberation Front earlier this year after it received a grant for research that includes genetic manipulation of trees.

No one has been injured in the incidents, although law enforcement officials say it is only a matter of time before that happens, even if it is not the intent of the perpetrators.

In late September, vandals damaged oil-exploration equipment near Moab, Utah, leaving a postcard near the site that claimed the Earth Liberation Front was involved.

Other recent incidents include a firebombing on Oct. 15 at a corral of the Federal Bureau of Land Management, near Susanville, Calif., in protest of the roundup of the horses.

The Animal Liberation Front in Canada released a communiqué saying it was from the Earth Liberation Front, which said the firebombing was in reaction to the bureau's "continued war against the earth." It added: "In the name of all that is wild we will continue to target industries and organizations that seek to profit by destroying the earth."

One firebomb started a blaze, destroying a barn and about 250 tons of hay and causing a total of about $80,000 in damage. The vandals tore down part of a fence but failed to free the roughly 160 horses at the corral. Three other firebombs, connected to an electronic timer, did not ignite, though a nearby stretch of U.S. 395 was closed for 12 hours while the devices were removed.

While those who commit sabotage have remained anonymous, some animal rights activists have staged public protests recently. In Little Rock, Ark., on Oct. 29, animal rights protesters tried to breach a barricade at the downtown offices of Stephens Inc., a company with ties to a British company, Huntingdon Life Sciences, that conducts animal research.

Several protesters chanted "stop the torture, stop the pain" and wore animal masks, gas masks or bandanas.

About 20 people were arrested on charges of disorderly conduct. The organizer, a Philadelphia group called Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty, says the company mistreats animals. Huntingdon Life Sciences says it complies with all government regulations on animal research both here and in Britain.

FBI Raid Nets ELF Computers And Notes

In what may be an ironic twist -- but is more likely a message to militant environmentalists -- FBI agents on Friday reportedly raided the Northeast Portland, Oregon, home of three self-described sympathizers with the shadowy Earth Liberation Front. The agents seized computer equipment, tapes, notes, and photographs. No arrests were made, but self-described ELF spokesman Craig Rosebraugh was served a subpoena to appear before a grand jury.

An FBI spokesperson said the raid was related to the recent arson attack on a Eugene, Oregon, car dealer. The ELF has not claimed responsibility for that action. It was the second FBI raid on Rosebraugh in recent months. He and his associates have consistently maintained they are not members of the ELF and do not personally know anyone who is, but merely relay anonymous communiqués from the group to the media. The raid came on the day that ALF and ELF activists had publicly threatened "direct action" against FBI and other federal buildings. No reports were received of any such attacks taking place...

From: ERRI DAILY INTELLIGENCE REPORT-Thursday, March 15, 2001-Vol. 7, No. 074

UNITED STATES

Earth Liberation Front Allegedly Calls For Action Against FBI

The Sacramento Bee newspaper reported on Wednesday that two weeks after claiming responsibility for its first arson attack in California, the Earth Liberation Front (ELF) has issued a nationwide call for "militant direct action" against FBI offices and other federal buildings. The militant environmental group, which the Federal Bureau of Investigation has called the nation's most dangerous domestic terror organization, issued a statement on Tuesday urging its followers to engage in actions against the federal government on 5 April. That date coincides with the scheduled pretrial hearing of one Frank Ambrose, who has been charged in Bloomington, Indiana, with tree-spiking and is suspected to be an ELF member.

The following is the statement that the ELF has distributed to its supporters:

"OPEN CALL FOR MILITANT DIRECT ACTION TARGETING F.B.I. OFFICES AND U.S. FEDERAL BUILDINGS

On Thursday, April 5, 2001, Frank Ambrose has his pretrial date in Bloomington, Indiana for allegedly spiking trees in association with the Earth Liberation Front (ELF). Frank was the first person arrested in North America who has been officially charged with an ELF action. He maintains his innocence and feels the F.B.I. and State authorities are framing him for the action just to get a conviction related to the underground ELF. The ELF, an international direct action group using economic sabotage to protect the natural environment, has caused near $40 million in damages since 1997 in North America alone to entities profiting off the destruction of life.

The F.B.I. and other local, state and federal policing agencies are under growing pressure to stop the successful work of the E.L.F. and repression from these authorities is respectively growing nationwide. It is up to us to resist this repression by any means necessary.

On April 5, 2001 voice and demonstrate your anger against state repression in support of Frank and the courageous members of the ELF (whoever they may be!). Take part and organize militant direct action demonstrations targeting F.B.I. offices and U.S. Federal buildings.

Those who are organizing legal demonstrations are asked to contact the North American Earth Liberation Front Press Office with times, contact persons and locations for media purposes."

An FBI spokesman said the bureau had little to say about the ELF announcement or FBI security efforts. He said: "We evaluate each threat on a case-by-case basis."

In a recent case that occurred on 20 February, the ELF claimed to have set a predawn fire at a cotton gin near Visalia, California, that caused extensive damage. The group claimed it targeted the plant because it contained genetically engineered cottonseeds.

In the early hours of February 9 the Earth Liberation Front paid a visit to Green Hall at the University of Minnesota in St. Paul, MN. The target was transgenic oat research crops. The research was being done by University professors David Sommers and Howard Rines.

All the oats found in the greenhouse were destroyed, messages were spray painted, and the locks were glued on the way out.

Oat research is simply one of the projects that the University is taking part in, in partnership with gross corporations, that are adding to the destruction of the Earth.

Let this action be a warning to the University of Minnesota and the entire biotech industry, that if you continue to destroy the biodiversity on the Earth your profits will continue to fall.

The elves are always watching. Stop genetic engineering or we will.

For freedom and wilderness, the Earth Liberation Front

Earth Liberation Front spokesman Craig Rosebraugh is shown in a file photo. (Don Ryan/AP Photo)

Prosecutors on New York's Long Island confirmed that a 17-year-old Suffolk County high school student pleaded guilty to charges stemming from a series of arson fires.
Under the deal, the teen, who is the son of a New York City police sergeant, agreed to cooperate with authorities investigating ELF, the eco-terror group.

Three other suspects in the property attacks were in negotiations for plea bargains (COWARDS!), sources told ABCNEWS affilliate WABC.

The 17-year-old's plea came during a secret court hearing Friday.

The court records from the case have been sealed, however, and local police, prosecutors, and the FBI said they could not comment on the case.

As part of the agreement, the youth agreed to be charged as an adult, and could face up to 20 years in prison, the Long Island newspaper Newsday reported Sunday, citing a source familiar with the case.

Newsday reported, however, that the agreement avoided possible charges for additional crimes, such as bomb-making, and could lead to a sentence without jail time.

Apparent ELF Attacks on Long Island

ELF is believed responsible for at least nine incidents on Long Island, including the burning of three luxury homes under construction around the beginning of the year. A small explosive device was also set off during the attack.

"This hopefully provided a firm message that we will not tolerate the destruction of our island," the Earth Liberation Front said a statement faxed to The Associated Press after the incident.

The homes were being built on one of the last remaining farms on the island.

Police believe the ELF also burned six other unoccupied Long Island homes, causing millions of dollars in damage.

… And Around the Country

ELF claimed responsibility for 16 fires in 1999 at luxury home construction sites in Colorado, Arizona and New York. Law enforcement officials also link them to the destruction of two grass seed research centers in Oregon by a group called the Anarchist Golf Association.

The group is also blamed for a fire at a Forest Service tree biogenetic research site in Wisconsin. In all, they claimed responsibility for $2.2 million worth of damage in 2000.

The group claims to be non-violent and opposed to harming living creatures, including their political foes.

The group's Web site acknowledges that police were investigating a Long Island teen in connection with acts of damage "allegedly committed by the Earth Liberation Front" but did not comment further. A call to the group's spokesman, Craig Rosebraugh, was not returned..

Ecotage

Sabotage to save the Earth

generates backlash
Extreme threats require extreme defenses, says Craig Rosebraugh, spokesman for the Earth Liberation Front (ELF). "Life on this Earth is being threatened. This is an issue of self defense."

"What we need now is direct action in the form of economic sabotage to try and take the profit motive out of these various entities that are hell-bent on environmental destruction regardless of the cost," Rosebraugh says.

Since 1997, Rosebraugh has been the Portland-based spokesman for ELF and Animal Liberation Front acts of sabotage throughout the nation. His website (www.earthliberationfront.com) lists 34 separate acts of sabotage for which underground ELF activists have laid claim. The incidents range from up to $26 million in damage from burning down a ski resort in Vail, Colo., in 1998 to $400,000 in damages from burning down the Superior Lumber Co. offices in Glendale, Ore., this past January. He and other panelists spoke to several hundred audience members at a session on "Direct Action" and another on "State Repression" at the PIELC last weekend.

Rosebraugh says direct action is needed because capitalism has corrupted democracy and made "state sanctioned" means of social change ineffective. "The popular environmental movement has not been able to achieve the type of change that will prevent our Earth from being killed." Erin Fullmer of Cascadia Forest Defenders has been part of a three-year tree sit near Fall Creek. She says she understands the frustration. The non-violent action hasn't involved sabotage and has succeeded in protecting a grove of trees so far, educating the public and buying time for the Forest Service to survey for the voles that provide food for spotted owls.

But Fullmer says such a long action "is a very intensive tactic, it's very expensive." She says such tree sits often just protect a "patchwork" of old-growth with clear-cuts all around. Whether such prolonged tree sits are the best tactic is "an open question," Fullmer says. "I really resonate with what Craig [Rosebraugh] is saying. Does it really have to be all gone before we do anything direct about it?" (if ELF keeps destroying it, I guess so)

Rosebraugh says sabotage "will force the economic entities to think twice about what they are doing." The actions also create huge amounts of publicity, says Rosebraugh, citing the "hundreds if not thousands" of news stories generated by ELF actions.

The Vail resort was rebuilt even bigger, Rosebraugh admits, but the arson drew national and international attention to the negative impact of ski resorts on the environment.

Fullmer agrees, "Vail lives on and on; it's kind of a hallmark for many people."

"Every single action generates a lot of publicity," Rosebraugh says.

But with that publicity has come a powerful backlash. The FBI has formed "Joint Terrorism Task Forces" with local police around the nation (including Eugene and Portland) to investigate ELF actions. State legislatures (including in Oregon) are crafting tough new anti-terrorism laws targeting ecological sabotage with stiff penalties.

"As this direct action continues to go on with very few people getting caught and with increasing monetary damage, the state repression is increasing," Rosebraugh says. Rosebraugh says the movement should take on a "security culture" and use software encryption and vigilance against infiltrators to foil FBI efforts to subvert environmentalists. Rosebraugh points to a long history of FBI "COINTELPRO" actions in infiltrating the early U.S. labor, civil rights and peace movements. "This isn't something you get off 'X-Files,' this is something that has gone on throughout history to all different social movements."

"COINTELPRO is basically still happening, just not by that name" Fullmer says.

Alicia Littletree, an Earth First! activist from northern California, told of how the FBI has repeatedly used provocateurs, infiltrators, pepper spray, beatings, pain holds, and false arrests against members of her group. At the same time, the FBI and other law enforcement have refused to investigate threats of violence against environmentalists from right-wing groups and bring charges when activists are seriously injured or killed. For example, activist Judi Bari was severely injured by a car bomb in 1990 and activist David Chain was killed when a logger "intentionally" fell a tree on him in 1998, Littletree says.

Littletree warned environmentalists not to ever talk to the FBI without an attorney present. "This is a political police force and they're not trying to solve crimes, they're out to neutralize our movement."

Geneva Johnson of the Free and Critter Legal Defense Committee describes how the law has come down hard on two Eugene activists accused of an arson at a local car dealership last year. Craig (Critter) Marshall pled guilty and faces five and a half years in prison. A promise of boot camp reducing the sentence to one and a half years that was part of the plea agreement appears to have fallen through, Johnson says.

Jeff (Free) Luers is still in the county jail awaiting a retrial after his lawyer died. He's in a maximum security 9-foot by 6-foot cell where he stays 22 hours a day(WHHAAA!), Johnson says.

Littletree says after an ELF action, the FBI often comes after the more visible mainstream environmental groups with threats of arrest and harassment. Even if there's no evidence of involvement, the FBI may "fabricate the evidence" to win a conviction, she says.

That backlash from law enforcement and sometimes public opinion after an ELF action has lead some mainstream environmental groups to say sabotage actions actually backfire and sabotage environmental causes.

Rosebraugh bristles at other environmental groups that publicly denounce ELF. "There is no excuse for anyone to condemn the actions they don't agree with tactically."

Fullmer says ELF actions can create heat for more mainstream groups, but also attract media attention to causes. "If we get a little burnt by that [heat] I would say, personally, that I welcome the burn." Fullmer says when a reporter calls an environmental group after an ELF action, "use that occasion to talk about the issues rather than disavowing what happened."

Marshall Kirkpatrick of the Eugene Anarchist Action Collective says ELF activists should, nevertheless, use their judgment in picking their targets and "not be totally alienating to everyone out there." Sometimes, not very often, ELF actions, "make me cringe," the anarchist says.

ELF has redefined what it is to be radical, Rosebraugh says. "Years ago a group called the Sierra Club used to be very, very radical, but now, they're seen as mainstream," Rosebraugh says. "ELF, I see out on this arrow bringing these other mainstream [environmental] groups along." -- Alan Pittman

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.