"From 1996 to 2001, these individuals participated in a cell of approximately 20 individuals that were known as the 'Family.' They conducted a range of criminal actions through the western United States in the name of the Animal Liberation Front and the Environmental Liberation Front. Their criminal actions included vandalism, animal releases, arsons and attempted arsons across Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho, Wyoming, and Colorado. Specifically, this cell was responsible for at least 25 domestic terrorism criminal actions totaling over $48 million in damages, including the largest eco-related arson in history, which was a $26 million arson at the Vail Ski Resort in Vail, Colorado. Additionally, the cell committed the only Y2K action in the U.S. when several members sabotaged a high voltage tower outside Bend, Oregon...
"With increased law enforcement pressure associated with this investigation and grand jury evidence, the cell was dismantled in 2001 and the remaining members dispersed. However, until they are apprehended, their potential for additional domestic terrorism action and destruction remains. Any way you look at it, these individuals are considered as terrorists. Regardless of their political or social message, their actions were criminal and they violated federal laws."
-Michael B. Ward, Deputy Assistant Director, Counterterrorism Division, FBI
Now I'm certainly not the type of person to do anything like these people did, but, considering the helplessness of individuals before the power of huge corporations, made worse by the backing of our own government, they seem like heroes to me. They took great risks and broke laws in order to be heard; their acts of destruction are nothing compared to the torture of an unimaginably great number of animals every day, or the rapid razing of great tracts of ancient forest for momentary profit.
Am I the only one who's disturbed by the fact that the FBI cites losses of money as justification to hunt these people? So the US government is the guardian of the profits of private interests? We can never get lobbying out of Washington, can we? Voters don't seem to be their representatives' main concern, so businesses can depend on the government to protect them from us more than we can depend on the reverse.
I don't want to sound paranoid, but am I causing trouble for myself just for posting this? Well the FBI can read my emails if they like. They'll have to suffer through my recent tendency to complain to my friends and feel sorry for myself, which is perhaps punishment enough for invading my privacy!
Although we're ostensibly protected from abuses by law enforcement, they happen every day. No harassment please! I'm just some guy blogging at a computer, people!
Am I the only one who's disturbed by the fact that the FBI cites losses of money as justification to hunt these people? So the US government is the guardian of the profits of private interests? We can never get lobbying out of Washington, can we? Voters don't seem to be their representatives' main concern, so businesses can depend on the government to protect them from us more than we can depend on the reverse.
I don't want to sound paranoid, but am I causing trouble for myself just for posting this? Well the FBI can read my emails if they like. They'll have to suffer through my recent tendency to complain to my friends and feel sorry for myself, which is perhaps punishment enough for invading my privacy!
Although we're ostensibly protected from abuses by law enforcement, they happen every day. No harassment please! I'm just some guy blogging at a computer, people!
No comments:
Post a Comment