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<font size=3><br>
</font><font face="arial" size=3>January 21, 2006<br>
For Immediate Release<br>
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<font face="arial" size=3>11 Indicted in Latest Round of FBI
Environmental Witch Hunt<br><br>
Washington, DC - On Friday the Justice Department announced that 11
individuals were being charged in a 65 count indictment handed down by a
Eugene, Oregon grand jury for a series of events from 1996 to 2001. The
indictment charged the individuals with a series of arsons, sabotage and
vandalism that were claimed by the Earth Liberation Front and the Animal
Liberation Front. These acts of eco-sabotage have been falsely labeled
"terrorism” by FBI director Robert Mueller, even though no one has
ever been
harmed.
<br><br>
Adding to the buzz, news that one of the state’s key witnesses is an
informant who is disreputable, and a known heroin user, caused activists
to speculate about how good a case the FBI could really have.
Historically, the FBI has had very little success in investigating and
prosecuting environmental and animal liberation activists because of the
loose non-hierarchical structure of activist cells along with their
penchant for a strong security culture, which serves to protect the
identity of underground activists. <br><br>
The indictments were announced just days after it was revealed that a
tape had been received from international terrorist Osama Bin Laden, who
promised a continued campaign of violence against the United<br>
States. The close proximity of today’s announcement regarding the
indictments caused many to wonder if this was a diversionary tactic meant
to draw attention away from the FBI’s failure in the international<br>
terrorism arena and to distract the public from the current debate
regarding illegal wire taps being perpetrated by the Government.
<br><br>
North American Animal Liberation Press Officer Dr. Jerry Vlasak observed:
“The FBI has been known in the past to ramrod weak prosecutions based on
inconclusive and highly questionable sources and evidence, especially
when the suspect is an environmental activist”. In November, 2005
the FBI agreed to pay $100,000 and to issue a letter of regret to
activist Josh Connole, who was arrested under suspicion of<br>
being involved in a string of SUV vandalisms. <br><br>
Another North American Animal Liberation Press Officer, Camille Hankins
noted: "If you look at the backgrounds and professions of those
indicted you will find that many of them work in professions that involve
helping others. One is a firefighter, one works with the developmentally
disabled, all have enlarged their circle of compassion to work to
protect<br>
the animals and the earth. To label these people eco-terrorists is
a terrible
injustice."
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For additional information, please contact:<br>
North American Liberation Press Office<br>
21044 Sherman Way #211<br>
Canoga Park, CA 91303<br>
(818) 932-9997 Jerry Vlasak<br>
(646) 267-9934 Camille Hankins<br>
<a href="http://www.animalliberationpressoffice.org/" eudora="autourl">
www.animalliberationpressoffice.org<br>
</a><a href="mailto:press@animalliberationpressoffice.org">
press@animalliberationpressoffice.org</a><br>
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<font size=3 color="#FF0000">The Freedom Archives<br>
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San Francisco, CA 94110<br>
(415) 863-9977<br>
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