Anarchists, Activists, and Saboteurs

Are you worried about government agents keeping secret files about you? Are you concerned that government agents are violating the civil rights of thousands of Americans by conducting an intensive, invasive, and illegal intelligence-gathering operation against people who oppose current government policy? Do you believe that government employees would submit false reports to local law enforcement about you, reports to be used in harassment campaigns that includes preemptive arrests and physical attacks on peaceful demonstrations; reports aimed at neutralizing the activities of individuals and political organizations through a pattern of false arrests and detentions, attacks on homes and friendships, and attempting to impede people from peacefully assembling and demonstrating against the government, anywhere and at any time? Do you believe they are Spying on Democracy?

Most of us probably do not concern ourselves with such things. But there is a part of our society that sees these things as a very real threat. These individuals oppose what they see as the illegal actions of big government and the crimes of big business. This opposition may be through political activity, civil disobedience, or even violent direct action. An April 28, 2017 article, "So You Want to Protest: A Beginner's Guide" in the Seattle Weekly pointed out that "asking nicely for change doesn't always work. To be effective, protesters must sometimes force a crisis-that is, interrupt some vital piece of social machinery like a highway or place of business, so that leaders are unable to ignore their demands. The squeaky wheel gets the grease, as the saying goes."

The culture that opposes Big Brother and Big Business can be very well-organized, and these groups publish manuals and guides on security culture, resistance, and direct action. Some of these manuals and guides are available at the following links. This is only a small sample what can be found on-line, and this doesn’t take into account what else may be available on the "dark web". But reading what's here will give you some understanding of the culture and provide you leads to other resources.

An Activist's Guide to Information Security

Animal Liberation Front: Guide to Direct Action

Black Cat Sabotage Manual

CrimethInc

Ecodefense: A Field Guide to Monkeywrenching

Family Guardian

Frontline Defenders

If An Agent Knocks

Rage University

Rats! Your guide to protecting yourself against snitches, informers, informants, agents provocateurs, narcs, finks, and similar vermin. - Claire Wolfe

Resistance Manual

Revolutionary Resources

Rise Up

Ruckus Society

Sprout Distro

Tactical Technology Collective

Warrior Publications

If you are responsible for the security of a business likely to be targeted by these groups, or maybe you live in a city that sees regular civil disturbances, it would be of value to understand the mindset and the tactics of this part of our society and our communities. Are you a police officer, or a government agent? There is a sub-culture of society that opposes you simply because of your chosen profession. Understanding the tactics that these individuals may employ against you will contribute to your personal safety.

           

It is however essential that we recognize that Americans have constitutionally protected rights to assemble, speak, and petition the government. Potential criminality exhibited by certain members of a group does not negate the constitutional rights of the group itself or its law-abiding participants to exercise their individual liberties under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.