FBI labels E.L.F. 'terrorists'

Terrorism in America may summon images of the U.S. being targeted by organizations overseas. But the FBI identifies a group with active members in Bloomington as the top domestic threat. \nThe Earth Liberation Front, an environmental activist group which uses techniques such as property damage and arson to fortify their environmental interests, was identified by the FBI's top domestic terrorism officer as the largest and most active terrorist organization within the U.S. \nThe FBI testified before Congress Feb. 12, concerning the increasing threat posed by domestic environmental terrorist groups, known as eco-terrorists.\nE.L.F. has taken credit for numerous destructive acts in Bloomington in the name of the environment.\nOn Jan. 22, 2000, E.L.F claimed responsibility for arson at a 6,500 square foot residence in the Sterling Woods subdivision, constructed in the watershed of Lake Monroe. E.L.F. justified the destruction because the homes were an impediment and would contaminate Bloomington's water source. The damages were estimated between 700,000 and one million dollars, according to Associated Press reports.\nLater that same year, Frank Ambrose attracted national media attention after the Indiana Department of National Resources arrested the Bloomington man in connection with tree spiking at Morgan-Monroe State Forest. In a statement given to the press, Ambrose maintained his innocence, insisting his guilt lay only in "being outspoken about the issues of logging on our public lands." E.L.F. claimed responsibility for the spiking.\nFBI Spokesman Steven Berry explained his organization's stance on E.L.F. crime.\n"We consider their actions serious violations of federal law," Berry said. "We will investigate them thoroughly, and they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."\nLeslie Pickering, spokesman for the national E.L.F. press office, said the organization has caused over 40 million dollars in damage during the last three years, without ever harming anyone. The organization has removed guard dogs and fish tanks before destroying property, Pickering said.\n"E.L.F. just wants clean air and fresh water to be more important than money and power," Pickering said. "They don't want to hurt anyone."\nPickering spoke about the FBI decision to deem E.L.F. a terrorist group.\n"E.L.F. considers themselves to be oriented toward sabotage, not as terrorists who harm people," Pickering said. "They aim to destroy property, not people."\nThe three ruling guidelines of E.L.F. are, according to their Web site: \n• To inflict economic damage on those profiting from the destruction and exploitation of the natural environment,\n• To reveal and educate the public on the atrocities committed against the earth and all species that populate it,\n• To take all necessary precautions against harming any animal, human and non-human are the three E.L.F guidelines.\nEconomic sabotage and property destruction fall within these guidelines. \n"They don't believe in any type of violent action," Pickering said. "The only reason the FBI labels E.L.F. a terrorist group is because the FBI and other industries benefit economically."\nThough the organization promotes destruction, their actions are necessary to promote change, Pickering said. \n"I don't intend to downplay what E.L.F. is doing," Pickering said. "They are very much a threat to the status quo of American lifestyle, but they take no action to harm anyone."\nPickering has experienced first-hand the threat the FBI poses. In the past two years, Pickering has had his office and home raided by the FBI twice.\n"In each of those circumstances I've had thousands of dollars of equipment confiscated and have been continuously threatened and harassed," Pickering said. "It's all due to my point of view and the fact that I choose to speak out about the need for direct action."\nPickering visited IU for a panel discussion at the Universalist Unitarian Church in the summer of 2000. Pickering said Bloomington is as good a place as any for E.L.F. to exist.\n"Activity has emerged in Bloomington because it's necessary," an anonymous E.L.F. operative and former IU student said. "The benefits of living and having a clean environment have been threatened by city expansion and suburban sprawl."\nThe former student said the FBI's decision to label E.L.F. as an eco-terrorist group is erroneous.\n"Terrorism is the use of terror to control and subdue, it doesn't leave room for the change of ideas," the former student said. "It makes me ill to have to defend myself against accusations of terrorism from a system that has been built on control through fear."\nThe E.L.F. insists on maintaining the anonymity of its members in order to secure the fight to stop the exploitation and destruction of the earth.\n"The FBI fully supports an individual's right to peaceful protest and assembly," Berry said. "But when an organization such as the Earth Liberation Front violates federal laws and endangers the public, that's when the FBI will intervene"