VEHICLES BURN AT DEALERSHIP

[EdwardKnoxII 0]

http://www.freep.com/money/autonews/elf23_20030823.htm

 

VEHICLES BURN AT DEALERSHIP: SUV attacks turn violent

 

Radicals suspected in Michigan house fires may be involved in California vandalism

August 23, 2003

 

BY JOCELYN PARKER

FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER

 

The campaign against sport-utility vehicles just went way past television spots and catchy taglines.

 

It's now being waged with arson and vandalism against the SUVs themselves, authorities suspect.

 

The FBI is investigating the possibility that members of the extremist environmental group Earth Liberation Front are responsible for fires that destroyed about 20 vehicles, mostly Hummer H2s, Friday at the Clippinger Chevrolet dealership in West Covina, Calif.

 

SUV dealerships in the neighboring Arcadia, Duarte and Monrovia were vandalized.

 

Though it appears that the incidents were isolated to California, such brazen actions could hamper the efforts of those trying to lobby for better fuel economy, one environmental group said.

 

"Violence is never justified in defense of the environment," said Daniel Hinerfeld, spokesman for the Natural Resources Defense Council. "Perpetrators of acts like these don't speak for the environmental movement."

 

SUVs have become the target of various religious, safety and environmental groups because they consume more gas and are more likely to roll over than passenger cars. During the past several months, groups such as the Detroit Project have launched television commercials aimed at convincing the public that SUVs pose a threat to national security by making the United States more dependent on foreign oil.

 

A spokesman for General Motors Corp., which makes the luxury SUV patterned after the Humvee military vehicle, said that fires put people's lives in danger and defeat the overall purpose of improving the environment.

 

"There were far more pollutants released" around Los Angeles "from this fire than the torched trucks combined would have released from their tailpipes over their lifetime," said Brian Akre, a GM spokesman.

 

"We are thankful that nobody was hurt," he added.

 

Jim Hayden, general manager of Pfeiffer Infiniti, a Grand Rapids dealership that sells Hummers, said there haven't been any similar incidents in his area. He sympathized with the targeted dealerships in California.

 

"You can't understand groups like these," he said. Carl Ragsdale, chief operating officer for the National Automobile Dealers Association, called the actions deplorable.

 

"I think these are a bunch of radicals trying to get attention," he said.

 

The Earth Liberation Front, which has claimed responsibility for a slew of arsons against commercial entities that members say damage the environment, issued an unsigned e-mail Friday calling the SUV incidents "ELF actions."

 

The blazes at the Clippinger Chevrolet dealership broke out about 5 a.m. Friday, destroying 20 vehicles and damaging 20 more. A separate blaze caused a warehouse roof to cave.

 

Among the slogans written on the sides and hoods of vehicles were "ELF," "I (heart) Pollution" and "American Wastefullness."

 

The dealership couldn't be reached for comment Friday.

 

In Michigan within the last year, ELF has claimed responsibility for suspicious fires at luxury homes in Washington and Superior townships. The total damage is estimated at about $1.2 million.

 

Since 1999, ELF has claimed responsibility for about $50 million in damage in Michigan, including attacks to a genetic engineering research project at Michigan State University, a McDonald's restaurant, sport-utility vehicles at a Ford dealership, an oil company and a lumber company.

 

What makes ELF so difficult to track -- and catch -- is that the group has no meetings, no hierarchy and no offices. It operates via the Internet and uses e-mail to issue press releases about its attacks and even to answer media queries. Its calling card is simply "ELF," usually spray-painted at the scene of destruction.

 

Detroit FBI spokeswoman Dawn Clenney said the investigations into the Washington and Superior township fires are ongoing.

 

Contact JOCELYN PARKER at 313-222-5391 or at [email protected]. Staff writer Peggy Walsh-Sarnecki and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

 

Now I'm not a huge fan of SUV's but, this is just plain dumb.

[Ripper 0]

S...So the BURNED a bunch of shit because they were against the pollution that SUV's cause.

 

*sigh*

[EdwardKnoxII 0]

Once again, the tree huggers fail to think things all the way through. What causes more pollution: emission-controlled exhaust or an uncontrolled burn of fuel, plastics and rubber?

 

Way to pollute the air, ELF...

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

In the long run, exhaust.

 

Especially considering it's hardly "emission-controlled".

[Styles 0]

In the long run, exhaust.

 

Especially considering it's hardly "emission-controlled".

You're just such an idiot. Everything is liberal spin with you...

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

Are you going to deny that in the long run, exhaust causes more pollution than a one time burn?

 

Who's putting the spin on it now?

[Guest HungryJack]

So why set them on fire?

 

why not bust them up?

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

I'm not defending their methods, haha. I'm simply stating that the above mentioned poster was incorrect in his assertation.

 

I think they're all idiots.

[Guest HungryJack]

Fair enough. Envirionmental terrorists suck ass.

[NoCalMike 0]

SUV exhaust being emissions-controlled, bwahahaha.

 

Oh and yes these people were idiots. Much better ways to go about this.

[Gert T 0]

Those hippie extremists better not release the rage monkeys!

 

Sorry, I just saw the movie today, I'm a cheap bastard.

[NoCalMike 0]

Those hippie extremists better not release the rage monkeys!

 

Sorry, I just saw the movie today, I'm a cheap bastard.

great movie. Did you get a chance to see both endings?