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I just finished reading the RICO indictment against 61 left wing activists/militants, some of whom are charged with domestic terrorism.
Here's what you need to know:
Here's what you need to know:
1. The 110-page indictment spends several pages on the tenets of radical anarchism: collectivism, mutual aid, social solidarity, and violence.
The description of anarchist violence is pretty milquetoast: political violence is justified due to government oppression
The description of anarchist violence is pretty milquetoast: political violence is justified due to government oppression
2. The indictment cites one activist writing that non-profit orgs had developed support for a "diversity of tactics," which is an allusion to violence
The activist calls it "a stark departure from many nonprofits' more risk averse approach to political action"
The activist calls it "a stark departure from many nonprofits' more risk averse approach to political action"
3. Atlanta-area anarchists "target and recruit individuals with a certain personal profile," according to the indictment.
One member said they "radicalize Liberals" through propaganda.
One member said they "radicalize Liberals" through propaganda.
4. Anarchists who join are "provided with monetary, emotional, and personal support during their occupation of the forest ["Cop City"], during their incarceration, and after their incarceration."
5. Anarchists prepare for direct action by "disguising their face, bringing changes of clothing... hiding in crowds, and using technology avoidance devices such as Faraday bags and burner phones".
They also avoid storing phone numbers by memorizing or writing them on their body.
They also avoid storing phone numbers by memorizing or writing them on their body.
6. Anarchists engage in letter writing campaigns and other signs of solidarity when a comrade is arrested or imprisoned.
Anarchists who cooperate with law enforcement "risk losing all financial, personal, and emotional support".
Anarchists who cooperate with law enforcement "risk losing all financial, personal, and emotional support".
7. In one case, the Defend the Forest anarchist group threatened to withhold bail money from one anarchist "unless he complied with... demands."
8. Indictment: the Defend the Forest anarchist movement was born out of the killing of Rayshard Brooks in 2020
Brooks stole an officer's taser, ran away, and pointed it at a police officer in pursuit before shot and killed.
Protestors burned down the Wendy's in response.
Brooks stole an officer's taser, ran away, and pointed it at a police officer in pursuit before shot and killed.
Protestors burned down the Wendy's in response.
9. Anarchists, gang members, and protestors armed with rifles and handguns created an "autonomous zone" in the wake of Brooks' death.
The armed group blocked public roads. In one instance, the group fired on a vehicle trying to drive past the checkpoint, killing an 8 year old.
The armed group blocked public roads. In one instance, the group fired on a vehicle trying to drive past the checkpoint, killing an 8 year old.
10. The autonomous zone lasted for 23 days.
Sometime after, masked assailants attacked Georgia Department of Public Safety headquarters, with one anarchist throwing a Molotov cocktail through a building window.
Those involved allegedly went onto create the anarchist group.
Sometime after, masked assailants attacked Georgia Department of Public Safety headquarters, with one anarchist throwing a Molotov cocktail through a building window.
Those involved allegedly went onto create the anarchist group.
11. Defend the Forest is "a broad, decentralized, autonomous movement" that recruits anti-police, anti-government, anti-corporate, environmental activists and militants.
They are classified by DHS as Domestic Violent Extremists (DVE).
They are classified by DHS as Domestic Violent Extremists (DVE).
12. According to the indictment, a masked anarchist in a video includes "the Mexican Zapatistas and Syrian Revolution as a reference point for strategy and to anchor smaller movements to larger revolutions."
13. One part of the anarchist strategy was to remove support for and deter construction contractors from building the training center.
The group conducted acts of arson and vandalism against one construction company, and threatened the CEO at his home.
The group conducted acts of arson and vandalism against one construction company, and threatened the CEO at his home.
14. "For this one [construction] contract, people are coming to your house... people are visiting your church... people are flooding your phone lines... people are vising your office. Some people are vandalizing you stores, are burning your equipment, for the one contract."
15. The anarchist group is financially supported by three community activists who run the Network for Strong Communities, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
This non-profit also runs the Atlanta Solidarity Fund, which provides "support for people who are arrested"
This non-profit also runs the Atlanta Solidarity Fund, which provides "support for people who are arrested"
16. The Network for Strong Communities provides support in five areas:
- food access
- mutual aid
- bail fund
- police accountability
- leadership development
This 501(c)(3) once put up a $392,000 cash bond for an activist charged with domestic terrorism.
- food access
- mutual aid
- bail fund
- police accountability
- leadership development
This 501(c)(3) once put up a $392,000 cash bond for an activist charged with domestic terrorism.
17. The Network for Strong Communities has at times controlled millions of dollars from public and political donations, most likely because they bill themselves as a "social justice" organization.
(This money clearly goes to supporting domestic terrorists.)
(This money clearly goes to supporting domestic terrorists.)
18. The Forest Justice Defense Fund has reimbursed activists for the purchase of handheld radios, ammunition, surveillance equipment, and a drone, among numerous other more mundane items.
The Georgia AG's office obtained identify information from some people who gave to the fund
The Georgia AG's office obtained identify information from some people who gave to the fund
19. The three individuals who run this fund used the pseudonyms Mouse, Earthworm, and Spud to obscure their identities when approving the funding reimbursements for the above items.
Upon learning of the state's investigation, they attempted to remove the fund from their 501c3
Upon learning of the state's investigation, they attempted to remove the fund from their 501c3
20. The AG's office estimates $89,000 was provided to the anarchist group and other involved activists.
Thus ends the funding and money laundering portion of the indictment.
Now onto communication security practices...
Thus ends the funding and money laundering portion of the indictment.
Now onto communication security practices...
21. Activists reportedly used the dark web and tools such as Tor, Signal, and Telegram to communicate.
They also used handheld radios to stay off cellular communications.
Defend the Atlanta Forest also instructed members on what to do via its website.
They also used handheld radios to stay off cellular communications.
Defend the Atlanta Forest also instructed members on what to do via its website.
22. The website reportedly used the term "call to action" to signal members to undertake acts of violence and property damage.
The group also appears to run a network of safe houses in the Atlanta area where information is passed by word of mouth, instead of electronic comms
The group also appears to run a network of safe houses in the Atlanta area where information is passed by word of mouth, instead of electronic comms
23. The Defend the Forest activists while occupying the private property built a crude latrine featuring a plastic toilet seat set on four plastic poles, with a sign that read "9/11 Memorial" on it.
24. Materials for Molotov cocktails and a pipe bomb were discovered when police cleared the illegal encampment.
The encampment also employed scouts to warn of law enforcement via encrypted text messages (Signal, probably).
The encampment also employed scouts to warn of law enforcement via encrypted text messages (Signal, probably).
25. The indictment goes into the efforts to produce propaganda and competing narratives against police. Usual disinformation stuff.
This propaganda is spread nationwide, which attracts a large amount of interest and some involvement from those coming across state lines.
This propaganda is spread nationwide, which attracts a large amount of interest and some involvement from those coming across state lines.
26. On a separate note, "vouching" (I think this guy is good, let's let him in) is used in many prepper circles, but it's a significant Operations Security violation.
Anarchists continually warn against vouching as a way to vet newcomers.
Anarchists continually warn against vouching as a way to vet newcomers.
27. Beyond that, this anarchist group recruits those who are propelled by emotion to act.
They look for people who are angry but not "overly angry and has control of their emotions"... "ideally... enthusiastic but not reckless"
They look for people who are angry but not "overly angry and has control of their emotions"... "ideally... enthusiastic but not reckless"
28. Activists should be "ready to go to jail for 5 to 30 years or life".
The rest includes the specific illegal actions of each of the 61 individuals.
Lots of unindicted co-conspirators!
I'm unsure if this means state/federal agents, informants, or those so far not charged.
The rest includes the specific illegal actions of each of the 61 individuals.
Lots of unindicted co-conspirators!
I'm unsure if this means state/federal agents, informants, or those so far not charged.
29. Alright, I think that does it for this thread.
I need to do some real work now.
Thanks for reading!
If you want to alert others, please share the first post in this thread:
I need to do some real work now.
Thanks for reading!
If you want to alert others, please share the first post in this thread:
https://twitter.com/grayzoneintel/status/1699417662026060242
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