CONGRESS SUBPOENAS FORMER ELF SPOKESPERON

URGENT NEWS ADVISORY
November 2, 2001

FORMER EARTH LIBERATION FRONT SPOKESPERSON RECEIVES SUBPOENA TO TESTIFY BEFORE CONGRESSIONAL SUBCOMMITTEE ON ECOTERRORISM

PORTLAND, OR - Craig Rosebraugh, a spokesperson for the North American Earth Liberation Front (E.L.F.) from 1997-2001, received a subpoena late last evening, Oct. 31, to testify at a Congressional Subcommittee meeting on Ecoterrorism. The subpoena, delivered by two U.S. Marshals, demands Rosebraugh to appear before the Congressional Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health at 3:00pm on February 12, 2002 in Washington, DC.

At a Congressional meeting on October 3, 2001, U.S. Rep. Scott McInnis (CO) successfully argued for Rosebraugh to be subpoenaed for the February 2002 meeting. McInnis, chairperson of the Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health, is seeking information from Rosebraugh on the Earth Liberation Front, which has since 1997 inflicted more than $40 million in damages to entities profiting from the destruction of the environment.

Rosebraugh states he will not cooperate with the “attempts by Congress to stop the work of the brave, heroic individuals in the E.L.F. who are trying to end the destruction of of life.” He stepped down from his role as a spokesperson for the ELF on September 5, 2001 feeling that others need to step forward to take on the role of speaking out and showing support for the group. During the four years Rosebraugh acted as spokesperson, he received seven subpoenas to testify before federal grand juries investigating the actions of the E.L.F. In addition, federal authorities conducted two raid on his home, work, and vehicles. Hundreds of items were seized in the raids, yet Rosebraugh has yet to ever be charged with one crime related to the E.L.F.

Rosebraugh says he thinks the work of the E.L.F. is important and crucial in trying to demonstrate that life is more important than profits. “The legal forms of objection and attempts at changes in environmental policy since the 1960s have not worked. Our environment is more polluted and destroyed now than ever before. More actions, like those of the E.L.F., are needed to stop the destruction of life caused by greedy, corrupt corporations and politicians.”

Further responding to what he has planned for the February meeting, Rosebraugh stated,
“In light of the events on September 11, my country has told me that I should not cooperate with terrorists. I therefore am refusing to cooperate with members of Congress who are some of the most extreme terrorists in history. Currently they are responsible for allowing the slaughter of now over an estimated 1,500 Afghanistan civilians. They are responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks due to horrendous U.S. foreign policies of imperialism and they are responsible for the current ongoing genocide against the innocent people of Afghanistan. This alleged war on terrorism has largely been conducted to allow the U.S. to attempt to oust the Taliban, and put in place a new puppet regime in Afghanistan who would allow the U.S. to build their much sought after pipeline from the Turkmenistan oil reserves through southern Afghanistan, Pakistan, and to the Gulf. These sort of practices, mixed in with domestic policies of racism, classism, and further imperialism at the expense of life demonstrate the truly terrorist reality of the U.S. Congress and Government. I could not live with myself if I cooperated with that injustice.”

Contact: 503.335.1436

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