Terrorism Court Cases

Seattle Times Article Raising Questions About “ELF” Arsons, Potter Quoted

Yesterday’s Seattle Times article by Jonathan Martin and Mike Carter raises some good points about the recent arsons outside of Seattle, arsons that the FBI and industry groups like the National Association of Home Builders have rushed to label as not only an Earth Liberation Front action, but “eco-terrorism.” Some highlights: “This could be insurance […]

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Press, Feds Labeled Michigan State University Arson “Terrorism” in 2000

I’ve noticed that there’s a tendency, when people speak critically about the use of “terrorism” legislation and rhetoric to chill dissent, to act as if this is something that rose from the ashes of 9/11. As if the political opportunism we’re seeing now can only be explained as some kind of outgrowth of that tragedy. […]

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Background on the Michigan State University Arson, From ELF Press Office

I dug through some old zines and brochures I’ve collected over the years, and found this in a publication called “Frequently Asked Questions About the Earth Liberation Front.” (And then, of course, also found it on the web in a fraction of the time). It helps shed a bit more light on one of the […]

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Breaking News: 4 Charged in Michigan “Eco-terrorism” Arson

Following up on the post from just a few hours ago, The Associated Press is reporting that four people have been charged in a 1999 arson at Michigan State University. The four individuals named in the indictment have not even been arraigned on the charges yet, and the government has already held a press conference […]

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Developing Story: FBI, DHS Raids and Arrest in Cincinnati

I’ve received a ton of emails the last 24 hours about the arrest of a longtime environmental activist in Cincinnati. At this stage, as is usually the case right after arrests, it’s hard to know exactly what’s going on. I think it’s important to get this information out, but also caution against speculation. That being […]

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Briana Waters Found Guilty on Two Counts of Arson

Briana Waters has been found guilty of two counts of arson for the 2001 arson at the University of Washington, claimed by the Earth Liberation Front. The jury hasn’t been able to reach a verdict on the other three counts. Among those, the most important, using a destructive device during a crime of violence. That […]

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Movement Watch: RICO Used Against CAIR

Shock-jock talk radio host Michael Savage is suing the Council on American Islamic Relations under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO. RICO was originally intended to go after the mob. This is from a right-wing site applauding Savage for the lawsuit, and his attempts to label CAIR as “terrorists” using racketeering laws: […]

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Police Raid Home of Animal Rights Activists in Santa Cruz

From The Santa Cruz Sentinel: Dozens of police cars surrounded a home on the 700 block of Riverside Avenue in Santa Cruz on Sunday night as a crowd of onlookers gathered to watch the events unfold. According to Frank Male, the owner of the house, three UC Santa Cruz seniors live at the residence. Male […]

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Good Refresher on “Operation Backfire” in the Indypendent

Considering that the “eco-terrorism” arrests dubbed “Operation Backfire” didn’t even make it into the local paper’s top 20 news stories of 2007, and the National Association of Manufacturers claims “boy, we sure didn’t hear about this” (which I find very, very hard to believe), I thought I’d highlight a good series of background articles on […]

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Grand Juries Against Puerto Rican Activists

Through my reporting, I focus on how the “War on Terrorism” is being used to target environmental and animal advocates. But one thing I try to hit home again and again is that this “Green Scare” doesn’t exist in a vacuum. The attacks on environmental and animal advocates are strikingly similar to other eras of […]

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