Special-Interest Extremists and Terrorists (From Domestic Terrorism and Incident Management: Issues and Tactics, P 140-172, 2001, Miki Vohryzek-Bolden, Gayle Olson-Raymer, et al., -- See NCJ-193133)

• NCJ Number: 193138
• Author(s): Miki Vohryzek-Bolden; Gayle Olson-Raymer; Jeffrey O. Whamond
• Date Published: 2001
• Length: 33 pages
• Sale Source: Charles C. Thomas
• Publication Format: Book Chapter
• Publication Type: Research Paper
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This chapter discusses special-interest terrorist groups; these groups are committed to a single cause and focus on the resolution of particular issues. The causes are not illegal, but committing terrorism is illegal.

Abstract

This chapter is divided into two sections. The first section examines special-interest groups that have been involved in both extremist and terrorist actions. These groups include ecological resistance movements (Earth First! and the Earth Liberation Front), the Anti-Environmental Movement (Wise Use), Animal Rights (Animal Liberation Front), and Anti-Abortion Activists (Pro-Life Action Network, Operation Rescue, and Anti-Abortion Terrorists). Part two discusses special-interest groups that have only espoused extremist philosophies but have not yet engaged in terrorist activities. These groups include Greenpeace and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Both categories of special-interest groups have engaged in various forms of direct action. The actions of these groups range from legal forms of civil disobedience to illegal forms of activity including firebombing, arson, vandalism, and murder. The following groups who are primarily extremist, but have at times resorted to terrorism include: The Wise Use movement who had some effect on the government’s policy on natural resources, but fringe members have been implicated in criminal actions such as the use of pipe bombs, car bombs, and physical violence. The animal-rights movement has set out to make changes through campaigning, letter writing, and nonviolent civil disobedience. A key activist in this movement, Henry Spira, moved the discussion about animal rights into the mainstream. In contrast, there are groups such as Animal Liberation Front that engage in illegal actions at labs and farms. The anti-abortion movement that was very active in the 1970's and 1980's still makes its presence known. There are more extreme elements of this movement who assassinate physicians and commit arson. References