General Discussion

daredtowork

(3,732 posts) Sun Dec 7, 2014, 04:37 AM Dec 2014

That Splinter Group that Starts Looting/Violence/Provoking Police at Every Protest [View all]

Apparently the Berkeley protest was peaceful until a splinter group of "anarchists" - dressed in black, wearing masks, etc. - started vandalizing, looting stores, etc. over the objections of the other protesters. This undermined the protest by angering the community and bringing down tear gas on everyone.
http://www.berkeleyside.com/2014/12/06/breaking-post-ferguson-demo-in-downtown-berkeley-march-continues-to-berkeley-police-hq/

I've been reading complaints about these guys in regard to the Oakland protests. I saw them in action myself during the Occupy marches a few years ago. They were indeed dressed in black and masked. They would run up to police and provoke them. At the time I presumed it was because they wanted a photo op. I was also always surprised to find some building had been vandalized during what I had experienced as a peaceful protest.

Who are these guys?

Are they really "black bloc" anarchists traveling from protest to protest to sew chaos?

It seems to me that they could sew more chaos by letting the protests flourish without interference and doing their acts of anarchy separately.

Are they "professional anarchist activist" hoping to inspire the other protesters to violence? If so, I have yet to see this work. Usually other protesters are at their wits end trying to figure out how to get these guys to stop.

Are these guys opponents of the protest who are trying to generate bad press and bad blood within the community by demonstrating that protests are violent and cause damage to local businesses? I just recently became aware of the practice of "culture jamming" on the Internet, but this could be a variety of real life culture jamming...misrepresenting the protesters so the surrounding community will mistakenly police and/or attack them.

Among the Berkeleyside comments I saw a remark that would never have occurred to me, naive born-after-the-60s child that I am. Apparently the CIA and the FBI (NSA? Homeland Security? Other black funded agencies?) were quite fond of disrupting the civil rights movement by throwing in fake "violent" elements. Could these "anarchists" belong to some government agency that is trying to kill the protests before they get big enough to require embarrassing martial law interventions?

Any other thoughts on who the "anarchists" might be and how to handle them?

114 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

That Splinter Group that Starts Looting/Violence/Provoking Police at Every Protest [View all] daredtowork Dec 2014 OP

This message was self-deleted by its author 1000words Dec 2014 #1

In these cases the police weren't inflicting violence daredtowork Dec 2014 #2

This message was self-deleted by its author 1000words Dec 2014 #4

Hey, I'm not against the revolution actually fighting back daredtowork Dec 2014 #6

This message was self-deleted by its author 1000words Dec 2014 #7

I think that's what the other poster was stating WhiteTara Dec 2014 #34

City leaders/planners need to be made aware of this daredtowork Dec 2014 #50

I'd say it's at least a 50-50 chance it was the cops. lob1 Dec 2014 #73

Chicago police blared 'Sweet Home Alabama' around black protestors, so it's likely not one-sided. ancianita Dec 2014 #114

Canadian police have been caught infiltrating demonstrations apparently as agents provocateur Fumesucker Dec 2014 #3

WOW! daredtowork Dec 2014 #5

Yup. Here's something to ask yourself... Scootaloo Dec 2014 #8

Yep, I am asking that right here. daredtowork Dec 2014 #9

This happens all too often. PotatoChip Dec 2014 #13

They surrounded a guy who took their picture and forced him to give up his film daredtowork Dec 2014 #53

Correction thoughtandmemory Dec 2014 #18

Oh good. What city isthat? Is there more information? Scootaloo Dec 2014 #21

Uh, it's Berkeley. thoughtandmemory Dec 2014 #65

Not at that image size I can't Scootaloo Dec 2014 #66

Ah, DU formats image links weirdly. thoughtandmemory Dec 2014 #68

I can read it on the back of the cars, and on the shoulder patches. NYC_SKP Dec 2014 #93

Was he charged? Spend time in jail? Scuba Dec 2014 #36

I can't verify that he was charged or jailed. thoughtandmemory Dec 2014 #70

I was at the Inaugural protests in 2001 deutsey Dec 2014 #104

I don't have a twitter account daredtowork Dec 2014 #10

They are police infiltrators. Odin2005 Dec 2014 #11

It sucks that the people of Berkeley would buy into that, then daredtowork Dec 2014 #12

Can you say "COINTELPRO"? Ford_Prefect Dec 2014 #14

No - I've been thinking the "private hire" storyline myself daredtowork Dec 2014 #54

I never discount the possibility that RWers, either in or out of government, are the instigators. merrily Dec 2014 #15

In the 60s we used to say, "Beware the spit-shined sandals!" FraDon Dec 2014 #16

+1, n/t RKP5637 Dec 2014 #29

My job in demos: Parade marshall. I was on the lookout Eleanors38 Dec 2014 #46

The shoes tell the story to this day, IMO. nt Raine1967 Dec 2014 #49

to all those who "know' they are provocateurs, fbi, angry teenagers, bored housewives.... ellenrr Dec 2014 #17

Don't need to know them, just keep 'em isolated, Eleanors38 Dec 2014 #47

The problem is if they do the damage, they do undermine the protest daredtowork Dec 2014 #55

I dont believe in the conspiracy theories that they are police davidn3600 Dec 2014 #19

The police will infiltrate if they have to. stone space Dec 2014 #26

Yep. Had to deal with some. They throw a lot of Eleanors38 Dec 2014 #48

I don't believe it's always from "Outside the Community" daredtowork Dec 2014 #59

you really should educate yourself as to what anarchism is before you spout a whole ellenrr Dec 2014 #100

That's not what anarchism is about. Leopolds Ghost Dec 2014 #105

During the antiwar rallies in NYC before the war in Iraq, I saw a couple of those guys harrassing peacebird Dec 2014 #20

Might be a couple rogue "Darren Wilson Supporters" in the mix nt daredtowork Dec 2014 #58

I'm certain that some Black Bloc members are genuine. thoughtandmemory Dec 2014 #22

What school or institution were these students from? - nt KingCharlemagne Dec 2014 #39

My school thoughtandmemory Dec 2014 #64

sure, let's see your proof, thanks uppityperson Dec 2014 #45

I'm not posting my student ID if that's what you want. thoughtandmemory Dec 2014 #67

I was just reply I to your claim "I can provide proof". you said it, so sure, I'd be happy to uppityperson Dec 2014 #96

The distinction betwen Agents Provocateurs and sincere assholes... stone space Dec 2014 #23

Exactly. And it id a good thing to accept the fact that they might NOT be police. arcane1 Dec 2014 #63

In my twisted mind, I see the day when safeinOhio Dec 2014 #24

They aren't necessarily on-duty cops or agents daredtowork Dec 2014 #56

They may be police themselves. Note nothing ever seems to happen to them. They always get away. n kelliekat44 Dec 2014 #25

Post removed Post removed Dec 2014 #101

Speculation is not necessary. rogerashton Dec 2014 #27

How many times do you have to see a tactic not working? daredtowork Dec 2014 #57

It not only doesn't work, it is destructive. rogerashton Dec 2014 #69

What do you suggest the peaceful protesters do? daredtowork Dec 2014 #71

Well, that's the dilemma rogerashton Dec 2014 #72

Possible tactics to disrupt Black Block actions PeacefulIntention Dec 2014 #76

While trying to stop them, a peaceful protester got hit on the head with a hammer tonight daredtowork Dec 2014 #97

Safer and more useful to disengage from violent protesters PeacefulIntention Dec 2014 #98

This sounds smart, and I defer to the poster's experience. rogerashton Dec 2014 #103

There's a textbook around about this shit... TreasonousBastard Dec 2014 #28

Exactly! "a few might be caught for show, but then the story ends." It's the SOS again, RKP5637 Dec 2014 #32

Teabaggers hoping to get a full blown riot started. ileus Dec 2014 #30

You said it with these words madokie Dec 2014 #31

Yep, exactly what is going on IMO. n/t RKP5637 Dec 2014 #33

It was perfected by Fred Phelps loyalsister Dec 2014 #95

I'm happy that old bastard is gone madokie Dec 2014 #99

They're not "infiltrators" Prism Dec 2014 #35

The fact that protests inconvenience the locals Generic Other Dec 2014 #37

"Inconvenience the locals" Prism Dec 2014 #38

I am not an anarchist Generic Other Dec 2014 #40

What I've noticed about DU and (white) America is that it's become verboten to question the system Leopolds Ghost Dec 2014 #109

Revolutionary times? Really. hack89 Dec 2014 #75

They keep happening all over the world Generic Other Dec 2014 #77

Nothing of that scale in America hack89 Dec 2014 #79

The British said that about the Boston Massacre Generic Other Dec 2014 #80

Don't put words in my mouth hack89 Dec 2014 #81

You used the words "side show" Generic Other Dec 2014 #83

You are trying too hard to be outraged. Nt hack89 Dec 2014 #84

My blood pressure is not even close to outrage level Generic Other Dec 2014 #85

You are the one who twisted my use of the phrase side show hack89 Dec 2014 #86

I didn't call you anything. You called me "delusional" Generic Other Dec 2014 #89

Ok. Have a nice revolution. Nt hack89 Dec 2014 #102

Were any of the 'assholes' arrested and put on trial? If so, names and identities, please? Otherwise KingCharlemagne Dec 2014 #41

This exactly what the "anarchists" were trying to do daredtowork Dec 2014 #61

Now the anarchists are to blame for attempting to shut down the freeway. Lol. Leopolds Ghost Dec 2014 #106

I thought it was obvious they were cops? MelungeonWoman Dec 2014 #42

Obvious to me Man from Pickens Dec 2014 #51

Whoop it up for them ....... Historic NY Dec 2014 #43

they show up at every protest of any kind and have for many years TorchTheWitch Dec 2014 #44

But it sounds so much cooler to pretend they're all cops, and that there are no assholes present. arcane1 Dec 2014 #113

The anarchists have been caught and arrested, though when arrested they usually don't claim okaawhatever Dec 2014 #52

COINTELPRO, anyone? Hekate Dec 2014 #60

Bullshit, go back and look at the photos... Historic NY Dec 2014 #82

During the 2003 protests in SF, they were young kids doing the same thing arcane1 Dec 2014 #62

check this out, Oakland PD caught in the act Man from Pickens Dec 2014 #74

No doubt that Law Enforcement agents and assets are in the crowds. Youtube: NYC_SKP Dec 2014 #87

OMG I think I saw that guy tonight! daredtowork Dec 2014 #90

I imagine lots of possibilities, all valid, all occur from time to time. These include: NYC_SKP Dec 2014 #91

I used to see them at ANSWER protests ucrdem Dec 2014 #92

You DO know that ANSWER is to the left of anarchism Leopolds Ghost Dec 2014 #108

They're still around. I don't know that and I'm not sure it's true. ucrdem Dec 2014 #111

I don't have a problem with ANSWER per se, but they certainly seemed bizarrely effective Leopolds Ghost Dec 2014 #112

At the time I was there, I didn't see any cops in uniform daredtowork Dec 2014 #94

Probably real anarchists; extremists are on the rise everywhere Albertoo Dec 2014 #78

Saw the anarchists in DC during the Bush years Oilwellian Dec 2014 #88

Anarchist groups routinely get infiltrated, just like the Democratic party. n/t Leopolds Ghost Dec 2014 #107

LOL Oilwellian Dec 2014 #110