Operation Backfire (FBI)
Operation Backfire is an ongoing multi-agency criminal investigation, led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), into "violent acts in the name of animal rights and environmental causes" in the United States [1].
Background
In 2004 the FBI merged seven independent investigations from its Portland, Oregon field office and called them, Operation Backfire. According to an agency statement, the operational focus is on investigating acts of "domestic terrorism", allegedly carried out on behalf of two activist groups, the Earth Liberation Front (ELF) and Animal Liberation Front (ALF) [2].
Arrests
In December 2005 and January 2006, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the FBI indicted five women and six men on a total of 65 charges, including arson, conspiracy, use of destructive devices, and destruction of an energy facility. The defendants were named as Joseph Dibee, Chelsea Gerlach, Sarah Kendall Harvey, Daniel McGowan, Stanislas Meyerhoff, Josephine Overaker, Jonathan Paul, Rebecca Rubin, Suzanne Savoie, Darren Thurston and Kevin Tubbs [3]. A 12th alleged co-conspirator, William "Bill" Rodgers, also known as Avalon, committed suicide while in police custody [4].
According to reports [5], and their own websites [6] [7] [8], most of the indicted individuals have claimed to be innocent of the charges. Prosecutors allege that the 11 conspirators collectively referred to themselves as "The Family" and had taken an oath to protect each other [9]. The FBI indicated that some of the charges relate to an 1998 arson attack, claimed by the ELF, on the Vail Ski Resort in Colorado. The combined cost of the damage from the attacks is estimated at approaching $80 million [10].
Related operations
In January and February 2006, as a result of separate investigations, but widely reported as extensions of Operation Backfire [11][12] [13], three more individuals were arrested in Auburn, California for conspiring to damage facilities "by explosive or fire" [14]. In Washington, Nathan Block and Joyanna Zacher were arrested on charges relating to a 2001 arson on a farm near Clatskanie, Oregon [15] and in Tucson, Arizona, Rod Coronado, a prominent American eco-anarchist, was arrested on a felony charge of demonstrating the use of a destructive device [16].
Analysis
The sweep of indictments against the 18 activists for alleged acts of eco-terrorism has drawn condemnation from activists and alternative media organizations, some calling them a "witch hunt" [17] "aimed at disrupting and discrediting political movements" [18]. Others claim the operations were carried out "in the midst of 9/11 McCarthyism" [19], collectively labelling them the "Green Scare" [20]. Controversial animal liberation activist and physician, Jerry Vlasak accused the FBI of targeting "a bunch of above-ground, well-known, peaceful animal-rights activists and environmental activists and charg[ing] them with being members of the ALF and the ELF" [21]. However, US Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales indicated that "there’s a clear difference between constitutionally protected advocacy — which is the right of all Americans — and violent criminal activity." [22]
See also
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Earth Liberation Front
- Animal Liberation Front
- Eco-Terrorism
- Green Scare
- Craig Rosebraugh
- Jeff Luers