The Earth Liberation Front has called for nationwide demonstrations and other "militant direct action" at federal building on April 5, the same day of a court hearing for an Indiana man who is the first person ever charged with an ELF-related crime (Bethany Swaby, Bloomington Herald Times, March 15).

The ELF press office in Portland, Ore., issued an e-mail alert on Tuesday calling for "direct action" at FBI offices and other federal buildings.

The ELF protests would take place the same day of a court hearing for Frank Ambrose, charged with driving spikes into trees to deter logging in a state forest near Bloomington, Ind. Ambrose maintains his innocence (Sam Stanton, Sacramento Bee, March 14).

FBI officials were expected to issue a nationwide warning to its offices and other federal buildings. Even though ELF does not advocate acts that intentionally cause bodily harm, FBI Supervisory Special Agent Kevin Favreau said he was concerned about a "lone wolf." Favreau: "What's dangerous about this is the fact that someone might take militant direct action to mean something outside ELF guidelines" (Bryan Denson, Portland Oregonian, March 14). — MB