Elves Arrested! FBI Cracks Down on Environmental Activists

Seven people are in custody and face charges stemming from a 65-count indictment alleging that they are all members of the Earth Liberation Front (ELF) and responsible for 17 attacks of arson and sabotage. Three more people have been charged but not apprehended, while only one has been let out on bail. One man, Bill Rodgers, remains un-indicted only because he died in custody—an apparent victim of suicide. The arrests are the result of a nation-wide sweep conducted by the FBI and dubbed “Operation Backfire.” They are designed to discourage the practice of eco-terrorism, the investigation of which according to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, “is one of the FBI’s highest domestic priorities.”

Though, to date, the ELF has not been responsible for a single human casualty they have caused over $200 million in property damage, through acts of “ecotage.” As they put it, the ELF “uses direct action in the form of economic sabotage to stop the exploitation and destruction of the natural environment.” Law enforcement and politicians call the ELF a “terrorist organization,” while its members and sympathizers call it an eco-defense group, dedicated to stopping environmental destruction by making it unprofitable through economically damaging those businesses responsible.

So why should we be concerned with the government going after a bunch of “militant eco-terrorists?” Because the arrests made by the FBI were only the first step in destroying all types of resistance movements in this country. The second is to have the mainstream media highlight the fact that the primary factor that brought these people to “justice”: the use of informants. Listen, The Man is trying to drive a wedge into the solidarity of resistance groups across the country and they achieve this by 1) leading you to suspect that you are being watched at all times and that you can’t trust your own friends, and 2) proving that you are being watched at all times. An article appearing in the Christian Science Monitor states: “Among activists, the recent arrests have brought a sense of fear and loathing - fear that there may be more to come from the police…and loathing for the informants who apparently enabled the breakthrough.”

This is just one example of the growing trend in COINTELPRO-like measures coming down from the highest levels of government. It is important to resist encroachments on activists’ right to organize such as the case of the ELF. Hopefully this incident will not close off lines of communication between groups or individuals engaged in programs of subversion and resistance, but insead draw groups closer together, making them more effective and increasing their will to fight. And please remember, as a general organizing guideline, never, NEVER, NEVER narc on your friends.

Sources:

- indymedia.org

- Christian Science Monitor

-earthliberationfront.com