from the break your heart folder: Austin Activist Admits He Infiltrated RNC Protest Groups

[EFerrari]

Prominent Austin Activist Admits He Infiltrated RNC Protest Groups as FBI Informant



We turn now to a story out of Austin, Texas that has shocked social justice activists nationwide. A prominent Austin-based activist named Brandon Darby has revealed he worked as an FBI informant in the eighteen months leading up to the Republican National Convention. Darby has admitted to wearing recording devices at planning meetings and wearing a transmitter embedded in his belt during the convention. He is expected to testify on behalf of the government later this month in the trial of two Texas activists who were arrested at the RNC on charges of making and possessing Molotov cocktails.

In a statement, a group of Austin-based activists called the Austin Informant Working Group condemned Darby. The group says: “he emerging truth about Darby’s malicious involvement in our communities is heart-breaking and utterly ground-shattering to those of us who were closest to him.” The statement goes on to raise suspicions Darby may have gone beyond spying on the accused activists but in fact encouraged and provoked them into breaking the law.

But in an open letter to the activist community, Darby maintained he only acted to prevent violent actions by a small group that, he says, would have undermined the cause of social justice. Darby writes: “I strongly stand behind my choices in this matter… hen people act out of anger and hatred, and then claim that their actions were part of a movement or somehow tied into the struggle for social justice only after being caught, it’s damaging to the efforts of those who do give of themselves to better this world. The majority of the activists who went to St. Paul did so with pure intentions and simply wanted to express their disagreements with the Republican Party. It’s unfortunate that some used the group as cover for intentions that the rest of the group did not agree with or knew nothing about… I made the choice to have my identity revealed and was well aware of the consequences for doing so. I know that the temptation to silence or ignore the voice of someone who you strongly disagree with can be overwhelming in matters such as this one… I have confidence that there will be a few people interested in discussion and in better understanding views different from their own, especially from one of their own. My sincere hope is that the entire matter results in better understanding for everyone.”

Darby has been involved in several activist groups. He is best known as a founder of the New Orleans-based group Common Ground Relief, which he helped start after Hurricane Katrina.

http://www.democracynow.org/2009/1/6/prominent_austin_activist_admits_he_infiltrated

video, audio at link :(

[bluestateguy]

1. We should use FBI informants

only they should be used to infiltrate militant anti-abortion groups, anti-gay organizations, neo-con think tanks and white supremacist groups.

It's high time these people have the Patriot Act used against THEM. They need to be made to understand that there is a new sheriff in town.

[Arctic Dave]

3. Don't be silly, Those groups are real Americans that would never resort to violence.

[jobycom]

6. They are.

Most of those groups are harder to infiltrate, though, because they are founded on illegal activities, so the groups are more suspicious. Those undercover in such groups rarely come out of cover, so when busts are made, the police act as though plots were uncovered under other pretenses. They create stories about routine traffic stops or someone being overheard in a restaurant or a photo developer discovering disturbing pictures. Stuff like that.

[EFerrari]

8. If the FBI were clean, they would do that.

[Cid_B]

11. You think they don't?

militant anti-abortion groups ( definitely), anti-gay organizations (probably), neo-con think tanks (huh?) and white supremacist groups (absolutely).

I know it is easy to feel picked on but there are other fish in the bad guy sea.

[WolverineDG]

2. Quisling nt

[Warpy]

4. The rich conservatives are only terrified of the left

so don't expect to see many FBI stooges at Christian Identity rallies.

I'm surprised people have forgotten how to play "spot the stooge." It was always a highlight of any anitwar demonstration planning group. We could usually spot him and send him out to a car to fetch something during critical times. They're always very eager to please and they're usually the first to suggest violence or destruction of property.

Every group in this country that is trying to do something for we the people needs to assume it's been infiltrated on some level. Either the phones and emails are being watched or an agent is physically there.

There is often a fine line between paranoia and justifiable fear. The actions of our government over the past 60 years suggest the latter is far more accurate for anyone trying to improve things for their fellow citizens.

[RaleighNCDUer]

24. Cointelpro was a long time ago.

Before many here were born.

it doesn't surprise me at all.

[ogneopasno]

5. Frankly, I'm surprised this doesn't happen more often.

[MADem]

7. Well, he said he acted out of pure motives, That he didn't want a bunch of violent assholes

ruining the cause. I note that his stated purpose was to prevent people with molotov cocktails from causing violence and destruction.

Of course, those who don't believe this guy did this voluntarily will wonder what they got on him to flip him like that? It had to be something with a smooth jailstretch--a good five to fifteen, at least, or maybe a twenty five to life.

I'm assuming someone will ask him the question on the stand...

[EFerrari]

9. When you think about it, what else would he say?

Did you watch the segment?

I'm not keen on the idea of violent @ssholes, either. Not at all. But, it looks like he had something to do with introducing violence into these situations in the first place. :shrug:

Listening to Malik is heartbreaking. He was close to this guy and he was obviously crying while he was talking to Amy.

[MADem]

13. I really don't have a firm opinion on this. I just don't go for bombs or molotov cocktails.

I don't go for violent protest at all, in fact, for any reason. I think quiet, dignified protests in overwhelming numbers are...scarier. At least from the standpoint of the people who are being challenged.

The people who do these One Size Fits All protests, where it's everything from Impeachment to Palestine, are simply engaging in street theater. Any point to be made is diluted. The whole exercise looks like a self-indulgent circus.

I compare that to the early civil rights demos, where everyone put on their Sunday best and marched and sat quietly, and the difference could not be more profound. The civil rights protestors look SERIOUS and determined, the others just don't.

In any event, like I said, I'm not very familiar with all of this or these people. If the guy was involved in INSTIGATING violence in some way, he should be excoriated. I hope everyone involved has a good lawyer, so that the full story will come out.

[EFerrari]

14. I agree with all of that. Malik, founder of Common Ground in NOLA

-- remember, the guy who got to work when it was obvious that no one was going to come and help -- said that Brandon created problems and ran off volunteers. Two other activists gave similar reports and added that he did things like start training their volunteers in martial arts. (Wtf?!) But, I bet a lot of people are not talking about this because there is a legal case ongoing.

It doesn't look good for him. And as he's a young man, it's very sad to me that he went down this road -- especially when we were so close to getting clear of Bush and the corruption of his administration.

[MADem]

15. Ewwww....that's not good!

Is he just kooky, or will he have a desk job with the Feebs in a year or two?

[EFerrari]

16. I don't know. He doesn't look or sound kooky.

Have to go with desk job. :(

[arcadian]

10. Hey Brandon, we can see you too.

http://switchboard.intelius.com/results.php?ReportType=34&qf=Brandon&qn=Darby&qs=TX

[EFerrari]

12. He wasn't just a snitch. He was a provocateur.

What a jerk. What he says in his statement is 100% bullshit because he started informing more than a year before he had ANY KNOWLEDGE whatsoever about possible violence. And in fact, one of the so called "plots" he's "informing" on was HIS idea.

M@therf#cker.

[devilgrrl]

19. I listen to this today - I bet the case gets thrown out of court and that Darby made the cocktails.

:popcorn:

[EFerrari]

21. Listening to Malik cry just about made me lose it myself.

I bet you're right. The case will be tossed out.

Did you see that England guy? My belly flipped on him. I bet he recruited Darby. Family friend, my posterior.

But, we've still got two more effing years of Mueller and his "hide the Bush felonies" FBI.

[devilgrrl]

22. Anti-war groups need to call out any member that insists on violence...

because they're usually undercover cops.

[EFerrari]

23. Yep. Agreed. People need to stay really clear about that.

[katmandu2007]

17. Whats scary is

if he could provoke a peaceful group into building such horrors as molotov coctails, then pretty much
anyone could have provoked them. The group was probably already on the edge ready to commit to violence. I'm glad he was there!
Burning is such a horrible way to die.

[EFerrari]

18. Welcome to DU and enjoy your stay.

[devilgrrl]

20. You're a bozo...

get back to class school child.

[mitchum]

25. Burning IS such a horrible way to die...

that's why pizzas should be cooked for only 15 minutes

[TexasObserver]

26. What's scary is how agent provocateurs are usually behind such acts.

And this one sure appears to be such.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

27. I've met a couple of violent bubbas in various movements.

They weren't fakes, they were the freaks. It was pretty easy to tell. They got marginalized and moved on, but unless they are dead, they are out there some where.

Groups I have been part of have all had strict rules on violence and some even civil disobedience that could lead to violence.