In early 2004, the FBI merged seven independent investigations focusing on the domestic terrorist groups the Earth Liberation Front (ELF; Group Profile) and the Animal Liberation Front (ALF; Group Profile) in a multi-agency collaboration called Operation Backfire. December 7, 2006 will mark the anniversary of the first arrests of Operation Backfire made by the FBI against eco-terrorism activists. Additionally, a US federal court convicted six individuals in March 2006 on charges of animal enterprise terrorism who are associated with the US branch of the Stop Huntington Animal Cruelty (SHAC; Group Profile) campaign and are known widely as the SHAC-7. In order to support the efforts made by those activists, sympathizers have declared an international day of solidarity to be held on December 7, 2006 and issued a call for supporters around the country to organize events to defend the ?political prisoners? of the Green Scare (source). Scheduled events are set to take place in at least 24 US cities, and while individuals are urged to engage in only legal activities, the possibility exists that extremists will use the opportunity to carry out criminal endeavors.
SHAC
The Stop Huntington Animal Cruelty (SHAC) campaign is dedicated to targeting the Huntington Life Sciences (HLS) scientific research firm that uses animals in its research to develop cures for diseases including cancer and AIDS. SHAC activists have employed various methods in an effort to bring about the closure of the company such as physical violence, intimidation, vandalism, burglary, internet piracy and identity theft . Group members and sympathizers have declared any individual remotely connected to the company a target, and while significant acts of violence are mainly reported in the United Kingdom where the group was originally established, the US has seen an increased in activism to include vandalism, threats, and harassment against employees of at least 30 American companies deemed connected to HLS.
Recent Criminal Activity
Although SHAC denies a relationship with ALF, a group deemed a serious domestic terror threat by the US government, several of SHAC?s leading members hold direct ties with ALF and many criminal activities carried out in support of SHAC are anonymously submitted to the ALF website. One post on September 19, 2006 states that activists released 23 rabbits from a lab in Massachusetts in direct response to the US government?s conviction and sentencing of the SHAC-7. The writer of the post threatens further action and warns that those associated with HLS are main targets for animal activists (source). A November 29, 2006 post on an associated organization?s website describes vandalism carried out at an Antares Pharmaceuticals office in Minnetonka, Minnesota, due to the company?s ties with HLS. The post warns of future action and dedicates the attack to the SHAC-7 (source).
Conclusion
Despite a statement in the call to action for the December 7 International Day of Solidarity urging activists to use peaceful measures to support the SHAC-7 and others arrested in the name of eco-terrorism, the risk remains that activists will use the day to carry out criminal activities against those associated with HLS as well as other animal liberation targets. The radical environmental movement continues to expand and engage in increasingly violent acts of resistance, indicating the trend of militant behavior the movement will take in the future.
