Green Scare: FBI Hunts for ELF/ALF Suspects in Durango, CO

From WilderPress! Issue #1

Upon returning to classes from Thanksgiving break on December 1, 2008, students at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado were surprised to discover FBI wanted posters posted on campus. After photographing and filming the flyers for historical and referential purposes, a group of anonymous disgruntled students converged, discussed the situation, and proceeded to remove the offending witch-hunt propaganda from at least one location.

The FBI wanted posters were for four individuals from known Green Scare cases—two females, ages 34 & 35, and two males, ages 29 & 41—whose listed charges include “Conspiracy to Commit Arson,” “Conspiracy to Commit Arson of United States Government Property and of Property Used in Interstate Commerce,” “Arson of Property Used in Interstate Commerce,” “Conspiracy to Destroy an Energy Facility,” “Conspiracy to Commit Arson and Destruction of an Energy Facility,” “Destruction of an Energy Facility,” “Arson of a Building,” “Attempted Arson of a Building,” “Arson of a Government Building,” “Use and Carrying of a Destructive Device During and In Relation to a Crime of Violence,” “Making Unregistered Destructive Devices,” and “Arson of a Vehicle.” (While their names are well known, we will not reprint them here, so as to not aid the agents of state oppression in their aim of repressing dissent and resistance.)

The listed actions the individuals are wanted for alleged involvement in date back to 1996 and include actions in Oregon, Washington, California, Colorado, and Wyoming, including the May 21, 2001 University of Washington Center for Urban Horticulture fire in Seattle, Washington, the simultaneous fire that destroyed several buildings and vehicles in Susanville, California (both claimed by the Earth Liberation Front), the October 15, 2001 arson and attempted animal liberation at the Litchfield Wild Horse and Burro Corral (also in Susanville, CA, and claimed by the Animal Liberation Front). The Grand Juries dealing with the Green Scare cases filed their indictments against the suspects on January 19, 2006 in Eugene, Oregon, on April 6, 2006 in Sacramento, California, and on May 17, 2006 in Seattle, Washington.

What were these posters doing on campus? What is the FBI doing looking for these suspects in Durango? Or were these wanted posters simply printed off the internet and posted by someone, perhaps in the school administration, who felt the need to exceed their job description and actually perform the role of the repressive apparatus of the State? Unfortunately, the Durango community may never know.

If similar wanted posters are found elsewhere, please report them to WilderPress! and your local Indymedia. Remember: never talk to police or the FBI.

For more information on the Green Scare, check out www.greenscare.org and www.greenisthenewred.com.