Anonymous plans revenge attacks on cops, Wall Street

HACKTIVIST GROUP Anonymous, or at least one part of it, is calling for a Day of Vengeance on 24 September, in response to heavy-handedness by the police during its peaceful protests at Wall Street and across the US.

The event does not seem to have the groundswell of support that the US financial district action has. The Twitter account associated with it has only some 1,500 followers, but it could capitalise on the numbers that have peacefully demonstrated in cities across the country.

The Anonymous mood might have changed when protests were broken up with forceful measures rather than the authorities' reliance on arresting people for wearing masks.

"All of this was expected, it is part of progressive activism. Anonymous was content to challenge these stupid 'mask' laws in court. Not only is the Guy Fawlkes mask covered under freedom expression as a symbol of our movement, but we believe that everyone has a right to protest anonymously using bandanas, masks - etc," wrote a protester in a communique posted to Pastebin.

"But then on Tuesday - September 20, 2011 everything changed in a flash of police instigated violence. As rain began to fall on the NYC encampment, heavily armed police moved in; Removing tarps used to cover media equipment, arresting independent journalists, confiscating media equipment - and using excessive force against and arresting innocent peaceful protesters, several of whom were abused and injured."

Rather than use the police to break up demonstrations, Anonymous believes that they should have been there to protect protesters, and it was even handing out coffee to them as thanks. However, that has changed.

"In the USA of all countries in the world, the police should have been deployed to PROTECT the protesters - not a giant brass bull that is the ultimate symbol of greed and corruption in America," it added.

"And yet we were treated to the grotesque picture of dozens of armored police surrounding this brass bull, while thousands more police were deployed solely to harass, arrest - and abuse peaceful protesters."

In response the group will launch its Day of Vengeance on 24 September at 12 noon in cities across the USA. Physical protests will be supported by cyber attacks on a range of organisations, including the NYPD and "Corrupt banking institutions".

"We Are Anonymous - We Are Everywhere - We Are Legion - We Never Forget - We Never Forgive," it added, "EXPECT US." µ