‘Anonymous’ names Saturday a global day of protest to defend free speech

[Turborama]

Source: Raw Story

By Stephen C. Webster
Friday, January 14th, 2011 -- 10:16 am

Online protest group "Anonymous," which has in recent months staged some of the most stunning and audacious cyber-attacks yet seen on key corporate Internet infrastructure, has named Saturday, Jan. 15, as a global day of protest to defend the freedom of speech.

In a video published to their central communications blog, "AnonOps Communications" sought to rally others who supported their actions against corporations that censored or otherwise impeded secrets outlet WikiLeaks.

"Stand up and fight," an online video pleaded. "Every city, everywhere."

It featured youthful protesters wearing the mask of Guy Fawkes, a British terrorist who led the gunpowder plot in 1605, which sought to blow up the king and members of parliament. He was revealed, however, and sentenced to death: later to be popularized by graphic novelist Alan Moore in his "V for Vendetta" series, created as a reaction to Britain's rightward political surge under Margaret Thatcher. Fawkes was again popularized in 2006 by a Hollywood film of the same name, adapted to reflect upon the politics of the Bush administration.


Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/01/anonymous-names-saturday-global-day-protest-defend-free-speech/

---

Embedded links at the main article.

[Myrina]

1. ... if the protesters are wearing masks, how do they know they're "youthful"

?? :shrug:

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

2. Nobody was seen wearing pleated pants.

:evilgrin:

[Catherina]

3. Perfect. They helped with the Tunisian revolution. More power to them,

www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x199459

[Turborama]

7. I posted about their involvement a week ago

Anonymous Has Joined Tunisian Activists To Help Fight The Government's Stifling Of Online Dissent
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Turborama/395

[Catherina]

9. I missed it in that sea of Palin threads. Those pictures are very powerful!

[superduperfarleft]

4. I hope this doesn't cut into the weekly Caturday festivities. n/t

[Posteritatis]

5. LOL at reporters failing to comprehend "anonymous." (nt)

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. So, any time, in any city, do something, and that'll be the protest?

Or is the point that it's not actually a protest for the average person, and you have to be on their private list to know what is actually planned?

[sakabatou]

8. People should know by now

You don't fuck with Anonymous.

[Turborama]

10. From the "Why We Protest" site...

Stand for freedom. Stand with Anonymous

To tyrants, the downtrodden are nameless.

Events

Since its inception, the internet has provided new ways for people all over the world to exercise the rights of free speech, freedom of the press and freedom of assembly. These rights are not simply the benefits of a free society--they are the very means of preserving that society's freedom. The recent increase in government interference with these freedoms coincides with the failure of the corporate media to fulfill their vital role in checking the abuse of authority. Censorship and journalistic abdication have left citizens unaware and unable to hold their governments accountable.

WikiLeaks has moved to fill the void left by traditional news media, providing the necessary information for citizens to hold their governments to account. Yet it has not been granted the legal protections generally afforded to journalists. Instead, the organization has been vilified and monetary support has been blocked by governments and private corporations. The vitriol aimed at WikiLeaks demonstrates an unsettling disregard for the fundamental freedom to exchange information and express ideas. Members of a free society must not allow information to be suppressed simply because it inconveniences those in power. We share the responsibility to defend vital liberties. The time to act is now.

We are Anonymous, a leaderless movement that has worked tirelessly to oppose all forms of Internet censorship worldwide, from DMCA abuses to government mandated content filters. Our initiatives include supporting dissenting groups in Iran, Zimbabwe and Tunisia, as well as waging the highly visible information battle against the Church of Scientology. We are now prepared to take the fight to the world stage. Join us on January 15th for the first in a series of global protests in defense of WikiLeaks and freedom of expression. Stand with us to defend your freedoms.

We Are Anonymous And So Are You

http://www.whyweprotest.net/en/

http://forums.whyweprotest.net/

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. Did anyone here see a protest? Take part? Hear a report?

It seems to me that 'Anonymous' didn't organise this well.