Who Are the Earth Liberation Front?

The Earth Liberation Front is an organization consisting of individuals and small cells (groups). The cells use forms of intimidation, or what has been defined as guerrilla warfare, to attack parties they feel are endangering the environment. In 2001, the FBI placed the ELF on the top domestic terrorist list and defined the group as eco-terrorist.

The ELF organization claims to not have one leader, nor any form of hierarchy. Each cell is independently driven and each cell is self-funded. However, the FBI has considered Ralph Coronado, an activist, to be the Earth Liberation Fronts' national leader and spokesperson. He served as the unofficial representative for the group until 2001, but there has been no evidence of direct ties to any one cell in the organization.

Members of Earth First founded ELF in England, in 1992. Though a 1977 founded organization named the Environmental Life Force claims the ELF origins of acronym and ideals. The more recognized current organization originally protested environmentally damaging actions with non-violent means. However, several years into their formation, The Earth Liberation Front began taking responsibility for numerous damaging crimes. The radical protests were said to be taken against those seen as environmentally threatening The cells have roots in various countries including Germany, United Kingdom, England, and the United States.

The group has regained national exposure with their most recent attacks in Woodinville Washington. On March 3 2008, the "Streets of Dreams Development" was set fire by explosives. The Earth Liberation Front was protesting the "McMansions" for being environmentally harmful. The FBI has called the incident an act of domestic terrorism. The organization has taken responsibility for the fires; however, no individual suspects have been named.

Most recently, on March 11, 2008, four members of ELF were indicted on charges of conspiracy and arson. The indictment was for the December 31, 1999 fires at Michigan State University. The fires, set in the East Lansing Campus, cost over $1 million in damages and destroyed research documents. The Earth Liberation Front acted against the campus for their federally funded genetic plant research.

In 2001, ELF took responsibility for the arson at the University of Michigan's Center for Urban Horticulture. Over $7 million in damages resulted from the fire. The Earth Liberation Front targeted the center over their supposed involvement in genetic engineering of trees. On March 6 2008, a 32-year-old Earth Liberation Front member was found guilty of two counts of arson for her involvement in the 2001 fires.

There are still ongoing investigations in states such as Oregon for arson fires between 1996 and 2001. In 2007, ten various cell members were sentenced for crimes committed in the name of the Earth Liberation Front. The ten members of the "family" had sentencing ranging from four to thirteen years in prison.

Economic hardship and sabotage, along with property destruction, are the primary goals according the organizations guidelines. In their actions, they have joined efforts with other environmental and animal welfare groups. Despite the lack of exact numbers or clear evidence, the FBI now considers ELF linked with various acts of domestic or eco-terrorism in the last ten years. With growing numbers of environmental concerns and fear, the ELF organization has attracted sympathizers and supporters over the last three years. Debate has also begun on the constitutional right to classify such groups as terrorist.