Washington, DC – As our nation continues to fight the international war on terror, eco-terrorism is steadily gaining prominence within the United States. Homegrown eco-terrorists and animal-rights extremists, including the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) and the Earth Liberation Front (ELF), have claimed credit for more than 1,100 terrorist crimes and $110 million in damage. These have included arson, assault, vandalism and other crimes against scores of American companies. The Department of Homeland Security recently added ALF and ELF to its list of terror groups, while the FBI has been forced to pull precious resources away from the hunt for al-Qaeda to fund the crackdown on these groups’ increasingly violent actions.
Also alarming are the relationships these domestic terrorist groups have with tax-exempt organizations like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the Humane Society of the United States, and the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.
Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), Senator James Jeffords (I-VT), and the Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works will explore these domestic terror groups and their relationships with above-ground organizations in a committee hearing tomorrow on Capitol Hill. Center for Consumer Freedom Director of Research David Martosko will be delivering testimony and providing evidence on the issue, and is available for comment.
WHO: David Martosko, Director of Research, Center for Consumer Freedom
WHAT: Committee on the Environment and Public Works hearing on Eco-terrorism specifically examining the Earth Liberation Front (“ELF”) and the Animal Liberation Front (“ALF”).
WHEN: Wednesday, May 18, 2005 at 9:30 AM
WHERE: 406 Dirksen Senate Office Building
