OWS, Evictions, & Agent Provocateurs

[H2O Man]

This is an important time to discuss what is known as an “agent provocateur” – which is a French term for “inciting agent.” It is a tool used by police and/or intelligence agencies, as a way of disrupting and discrediting a social movement. Although an “agent provocateur” can, in theory, be used in a positive manner to help to disrupt the activities of a group such as the Ku Klux Klan, in the recent decades in America, the concept is more closely associated with the oppressive actions known as “COINTELPRO.”

“COINTELPRO” was the FBI's frequently illegal “counter-intelligence program” that targeted, among others, the Civil Rights movement, the American Indian Movement (AIM), and the anti-war/student organizations in the Vietnam era. Lead by Director J. Edgar Hoover, the program sought to surveil, infiltrate, disrupt, and discredit those organizations that were deemed “threats” to the war machine. The program had a number of tactics for accomplishing these goals, with the “agent provocateur” being one that could coordinate the others.

During this general period, the Nixon administration proposed what was known as the Huston Plan. As I've shown previously, the Huston Plan was actually parent to Dick Cheney's “Patriot Act.” The idea was to have local, state, and federal police agencies – in cooperation with military intelligence – participate in the surveillance, infiltration, discrediting, and often violent disruption of targeted groups, which were frequently doing little more than exercising their Amendment 1 rights.

Among the best-known documents from that era was Director Hoover's March 4, 1968 memorandum, outlining a strategy “for maximum effectiveness of the Counterintelligence Program, and to prevent wasted effort, (in which) long-range goals are being set … (to) prevent the coalition of militant black nationalist groups ….(and) prevent the rise of a 'messiah' who could unifuy, and electrify, the militant black nationalist movement. Malcolm X might have been such a 'messiah'....”

But Malcolm had been murdered in Harlem in 1965. Officially, the police and courts ruled that he was the victim of a plot by the Nation of Islam. However, it is known that one of NOI leader Elijah Muhammad's top aides was an FBI agent. More, during the weeks before his murder, and indeed upon the very day, Malcolm's inner circle had been infiltrated by Gene A. Roberts. (Photos of the scene show Roberts bending over Malcolm's lifeless body on the stage of the Teresa Hotel.)

In January of 1969, Black Panther John Higgins was murdered at UCLA; Gene Roberts would serve as a member of the Black Panther Honor Guard at Higgins' funeral. Later that year, at the “Panther 21” trial, Roberts was a prosecution witness; it was then revealed he was a long-time member of the New York City Police's Special Services – a department which had ties to local, state, and national police forces, as well as to military intelligence.

Roberts was forced to admit, while being cross-examined by defense attorneys, that had supplied guns to the Black Panthers, and that he had advocated numerous illegal and violent actions. For sake of this discussion, Gene A. Roberts will serve to illustrate the tactics used by agent provacateurs in general.

Not all agent provocateurs are police officers (or military persons). Many are criminals who are working for the police, in order to earn favor – especially to avoid legal consequences for crimes they have been caught for commiting. In times past, these individuals were called “narcs,” “rats,” etc. It is important to note that a large percentage of criminals adhere to what is known as the “criminal code of conduct.” Their actions are “anti-social,” but they tend to frown upon two sub-species of criminals: the sex-offenders, and the “rats.” The “rats” do not have any loyalty to any other living being, hence, they are not only willing to “squeel” on others, but they have no problems with causing violence. This lack of conscience is, of course, a sure trait of sociopaths.

In todays complex society, with all of its tensions, there are variants of “agent provocateurs” that include those unintelligent right-wing folks who try to infiltrate an internet site such as this; pretend to be very left-wing; and then seek to disrupt and/or discredit the forum. Such fungus are not to be taken seriously. (There was one here many years ago, who pretended to be an attorney who had been a victim of the FBI program, but who could not even spell “COINTELPRO.” Gracious!)

Michael Moore's classic film “Fahrenheit 9/11” included information about a sheriff's deputy who infiltrated an anti-war group on the west coast. There was a clip showing one of the group's meeting, in which the most radical action they engaged in was sharing cookies that one member had baked. (Lucky for them, it wasn't brownies.) Without question, the local, state, and national police agencies are keeping track of those today who oppose the corporate criminals/war machine.

In the past, I have posted information here documenting how the US government organized the predecessor to the CIA, by recruiting intelligence agents employed by the oil industry in this country. It should come as no suprise that, in an era with Erik Prince, that there are many forms of “private” intelligence services. Some are contract agencies such as Blackwater, while others are within larger corporations, including our friends, the energy incs. Last week, I posted a link to an article documenting how gas corporations are using “PSYOP” (psychological operations) and “PSYWAR” (psychological warfare) in communities where there is significant opposition to hydro-fracking. The gas industry leader quoted in the article referred to environmentally-aware citizens as “insurgents.”

I can say with less than zero chance of error that agent provocateurs have attempted to infiltrate the OWS movement. This is not to say that every individual act of law-breaking was the work of Maxwell Smart or CHAOS. There are people who are frustrated and angry, who may have acted out. But that is the point: with the current coordinated efforts to “evict” OWS communities from public parks, etc, (and these evictions are being coordinated by a much higher level than the mayors who order them to be carried out, though I am in no sense excusing these mayors), the agent provocateurs are being tasked with attempting to incite frustrated and angry citizens to behave in a manner that they would not otherwise.

Like many other “elders” on this forum, I've had lots of experience with agent provocateurs. Some with the anti-war movement; some on Native American issues; some in environmental advocacy groups. I have no problem in admitting that as a young man, a couple of them fooled me. Keep this in mind: a smart person learns from others' mistakes; most of us have to learn from our own; and fools just don't learn much at all. So, be alert. Be awake. Be aware. That tough-talking fellow who advocates lawlessness and violence is not a friend of OWS. He isn't your friend, either.

Peace,
H2O Man

[gateley]

1. K&R nt

[hlthe2b]

2. Good to consider--and remember...

I hope our younger protesters are taking this quite seriously.

[PETRUS]

3. Thank you.

The past is an indispensable resource.

[vcc]

4. anyone can be an agent provocateur, not just law enforcement.

anyone with any reason to infiltrate a group with the purpose of starting violence, if the group is otherwise defined as nonviolent.

[mmonk]

5. Yep.

Thanks for posting this. It is what I have been warning some about. I've seen all this before. I did not know that many were criminals working for favor with authorities (except for narcs which when people would get nervous, they would start calling each other that when things would go wrong).

The purpose of OWS was never violence in its inception. In fact, our local Occupy was painstaking in training people in non violent, non provocative protest and how to be when arrested. We also had legal observers trained by local lawyers and people to pick up people when released from detention after processing.

[Fire Walk With Me]

6. Thanks much for that...DU's historians are invaluable.

Don't forget that Oakland PD infiltrated #Occupy, and just last night on the other 99% livefeed, the streamer encountered at least two persons (a man in a light green shirt and a woman with short reddish hair, curly) who were letting the air out of police vehicle tires. They advanced upon the streamer most aggressively, demanding to not be filmed (the man had his hand out and the woman put on a bandana facemask). I took a screenshot of her because it was unusual...fuck the troublemakers!

[FunMe]

39. Can you share that screenshot?

I was watching live that streamer, who's been with OWS New york since the beginning. He mentioned that incident and how they were going to attack him when he wasn't even filming them. It must have happened really late.

Later in the day, the streamer and other protesters he interviewed all said those slashing tires were NOT part of the movement because OWS is all about non-violence. Period.

I truly believe those who slashed the police cars were from the NYPD.

It will all backfire for the police, city officials and the US government.

[emcguffie]

50. I saw that incident.

They were quite aggressive, very vehement. The fellow got a little bit physical.

To me they didn't look like cops, but what do I know? They seemed like they might have been anarchists, but they could certainly have been agents provocateurs pretending to be anarchists, and doing a good job of it.

Then there were the two guys in black with bandanna face masks and bolt cutters who let protestors into the Trinity Church park. I was surprised that those protestors just went along with that at all.

I also saw some people recommending violence in the comments last night. Or, no, was it last night? Night before last. Monday night, when all this happened. Yes, there were comments pleading for violence. But they were quite obvious.

[Arctic Dave]

7. Fantastic post.

My wife was saying how a few people "kept asking" everyone for drugs. Another discrediting trick. Give people the impression the the group is a bunch of "dopers".

[AntiFascist]

8. and what about LSD?

wasn't this drug originally developed by the CIA? What better way to pacify a very energized movement. I think we've only scratched the surface of what infiltrators have done in the past, including the East Bay.

The "Oakland PD" effort actually included highly trained personnel from several neighboring agencies. I would be very surprised if this wasn't coordinated at a high level.

[robdogbucky]

27. Well, kinda, the CIA got it from Sandoz in Switzerland and continued

with the MKUltra experiments pioneered by the Nazis using the drug LSD and others in mind control experiments. Unfortunately, word of LSD's possible pleasures, and the recipe to make it, landed in Ken Kesey's lap (he was a member of the Stanford project by CIA with LSD and stole lots of it from their labs). Then Owsley Stanley, who had dabbled in it and found it to hold profound promise for insight and change, started to manufacture massive amounts for the local, Bay Area scene. Within two years of that, lots of others got the recipe and started to manufacture it.

The CIA introduced it for sure, but the people grabbed it and well, the rest is history. Kesey had some regrets for introducing it and encouraging its use, as he saw how in this culture a substance with so much potential for change could be subverted and abused. He ended up with the insight that historical innovators sometimes have to break the mold and regrettably a few fragile minds as well. He saw himself as an agent of change, which history does not always view with favor.

As for the police infiltrators? As old as the organizations they infiltrate. Nothing new here. In Madison in the 60s, the local police inflitrated the student anti-war movement and one cell got involved in a shootout where one of their own was wounded I believe, which uncovered their program to do this at that time. They were called "affinity groups." The cell that was responsible for the bombing there of Sterling Hall in 1970, actually sought advice as to the technical aspects of the bomb-making from a person that was actually a police informant. Curious, no?



Just my dos centavos

robdogbucky

[AntiFascist]

30. When I was at Berkeley...

the right-wing Moonies were a big deal. At one point, you could't walk across campus without encountering them. The rumor was that they would invite you to dinner and serve starchy foods that would then make you more passive and receptive. I always wondered if they put anything special in their mashed potatoes.

[MedicalAdmin]

9. Action plan.

Identify.
Investigate.
Isolate.
Defenestrate.



http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defenestration

[SoDesuKa]

13. Defenestration

Window therapy

[MedicalAdmin]

61. I have a vision in my head of occupied buildings ...

... raining assholes.

[malaise]

10. Most excellent Waterman

Rec :hi:

[Raksha]

11. K & R - I'm going to email your post to my daughter

who is an activist deeply involved with OWS, most recently with Occupy Oakland since she lives in Berkeley. But over the past two months she's also been involved with Occupy SF and Occupy Chicago, and also Occupy DC which coordinated with Stop the Machine. There is very high level of anger in Oakland now as you can imagine, making it very difficult for committed non-violent activists like my daughter and her friends.

Re "But that is the point: with the current coordinated efforts to “evict” OWS communities from public parks, etc, (and these evictions are being coordinated by a much higher level than the mayors who order them to be carried out, though I am in no sense excusing these mayors), the agent provocateurs are being tasked with attempting to incite frustrated and angry citizens to behave in a manner that they would not otherwise."

This is what she needs to keep in mind--that when there is justifiable anger already, the provocateurs will seek to intensify and exploit it.

[SpiralHawk]

12. Agent Pax

[formercia]

14. Thanks Waterman. You said it much better than I ever could have.

:toast:

[KoKo]

15. K&R

[lunatica]

16. Thanks

Point well taken

[Overseas]

17. K&R. Well said.

[zeemike]

18. Highly recomended....a must read for young occupiers.

I remember those things and more from those days and so do you....I hope this is being told to the young folks so they will be aware of just what they are up against and adjust acordingly...
ANd you are just the man to do it Mr Watterman...

[H2O Man]

21. Some of the more

interesting experiences in this area that I had, involved Native American issues. A few examples come to mind. One involved a private corporation, which had its own intelligence group -- primarily retired police investigators from various levels, state and federal. We were aware that they had a strong interest in the work that Chief Waterman and I were engaged in, as it effected them financially.

Without going into great detail, Chief Waterman and I found out that they had rather thick files on each of us. We accessed copies of these files. I will admit to being surprised that most of the "information" that they had on me was actually about my older brother -- I guess that we all look alike! Ha! And although our lifestyles and values are so different, that we rarely have contact, I made a point of visiting his home, to let him know. He and a couple of friends cracked up, because they were fully aware of being "watched" -- but assumed it was for other reasons.

About six months after that, our group had five new "volunteers," who pretended to not know each other. Native American support work can attract a variety of folks, some very good and others with less stability to offer. Sincere people are always welcome, but none of these five passed my natural "sincerity test." Without any of their knowing, I did a bit of checking out their backgrounds. They were as connected to one another as fingers on a hand, and that hand was connected to an arm of the corporation in question.

At one of the next meetings, two of the three males (the other two being female) were advocating violence in a public setting. Chief Waterman was not there that evening, but we had gone over how I should handle our new beast fiends -- or best friends, if you will. I made clear that violence and public disruptions were never an option. The leader of this pack began challenging my authority, saying he wanted a vote to see who would be the group leader. I explained that this was not our way ..... leaders (for lack of a better term) are appointed, not elected. As the meeting began to heat up somewhat, I made a joke about his need to watch his words, because his assistant -- one of the women he pretended he did not know -- was taping our conversation. And, indeed, she had a tape-recorder in her purse, and was taping us.

While I thought this meeting ended well, this fellow did not. Later that very night, he and I had a one-on-one discussion, in which I made clear to him that I knew exactly who he was, and why he had tried to join our group. This did not make him happy, of course, but he knew that I had done my homework ..... and quite well, I might add.

There have been a heck of a lot of other similar instances. It's not just the powerful and high-profile groups and individuals who are targeted. What's funny is that no one needed in infiltrate any group to know exactly what Chief Waterman and I were up to. We were very open about everything, and would always be as willing to speak frankly with our opposition, as with anyone else. But their goal was to disrupt and discredit our efforts.

[FunMe]

42. Nowadays you can do background checks on anyone

A good thing to do is to run basic background checks on suspected volunteers. All you need is their name, address and a few other items. After awhile, if not matches, you can be assured that the person is a FAKE who is trying to infiltrate the OWS.

Great post and I do it is passed on to all the OWS organizations all over the country.

Thanks for having it here. The OWS youth especially need to read this.

[zeemike]

51. Very unresting but not surprising.

The FBI was really out to get AIM...they presented a big threat to your corporate friends
and they are pros at manipulating people.
But they are not perfect and you can spot them if you have good instincts...which you did.
Thanks for sharing this with us.

[Zorra]

66. +1

[myrna minx]

19. K&R n/t

[nc4bo]

20. I wish your post could go viral, there's so much truth in it

and it's occurring right now.

Ignore calls to violent action and bring attention to those who are doing it, whatever means necessary. Those doing so are NOT a part of the OWS movement.

K&R

[H2O Man]

22. As with anything

and everything I post here, DUers are more than welcome to share it with others. I do think this OP is particularly valuable at this time -- not because I happened to write it, but because it is the harsh reality of today's situation.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

23. K&R

[KoKo]

24. Here's a report from "Business Insider" of possible infiltration...

Protesters Have Regrouped At Zuccotti, And Are Now Getting Ready For A Massive Response Tomorrow

Most protesters were resting after Tuesday night's large General Assembly, in the park, where they laid plans for Thursday's city-wide actions against their eviction. Nkruman Tinsley told Metro NY, “On the 17th, mark my words, we’re going to burn this city down."

There weren't a whole lot of declarations shooting through the park this morning. Well-seasoned occupiers told me the eviction will not dampen their efforts, and they're looking forward to seeing what tomorrow brings.

Alex and Oscar, who asked their last names not be used, said that along with any gear, laying down in the park is now prohibited. Last night Alex videotaped a protester being roused from sleep by Brookfield security. After telling Brookfield there was no rule against laying down, the private security team grabbed him and Alex started filming.

His efforts were blocked from every angle by a plain clothes security guard drinking a cup of coffee, who'd been acting as a protester.

The security relationship is the most interesting aspect inside the park right now. With unconfirmed reports that Homeland Security coordinated the 18 city Occupy sweep, literally, anything is possible.

It also appears that previous reports of police allowing, and often encouraging a criminal element in the park, could be possible. An obviously disturbed Occupier, who several sources said exposed himself to children and held outstanding warrants, was pointed out to police repeatedly and ignored.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/zuccotti-park-occupy-wall-street-2011-11#ixzz1dtJrKcF4

--------

[azureblue]

25. How to out APs

#1- they are afraid of exposure- once photo's or ID's, their career in undercover is ruined for good.
So use this against them. When they start asking for drugs, advocating violence, destruction, asking questions they have no business asking, trying to get membership lists, etc., get a few people together and ask them "why are they doing this? What is your purpose in asking?" Then take their picture, ask their name, and ask for ID. And write it down, if they produce it, then have somebody Google it, and put it up on the net. Most of the time, when you get to the ID part, they will stall, deflect, get mad, do anything to not show ID, and that is when you say, "then you are a cop - get out of here now", and show them the door. If a roomful of people point at the AP and chant, "he's a cop" he will leave, for sure.

If, on the street, you get a AP, get a group of people, surround them with a human fence, and walk them away from the front lines into the center of the crowd, and ask for ID. Watch them, how they interact with the riot cops -they usually have a code, dress, hand sign, to let the riot cops know who they are. At one time, you could look at the shoes- the APs would change into street clothes but leave their cop boots on. So get everybody to wear cop boots.

[G_j]

26. thank you!

:applause:

[robdogbucky]

28. None of this would be nearly as effective without the assistance of the media

we cannot forget what softens up public opinion in advance of raids, etc.

Cannot draw a picture of all this without including the media's role.

[Jim_Shorts]

29. There may be another type of "Inside Job" going on now

A tall, VERY commanding retired Philadelphia cop (in full uniform) made an appearance at Zuccotti Park late last night. He was carrying a rolled up sign (which he unveiled occasionally) saying "It was an inside job" referring to the Wall Street documentary. He said that he was just following behind and reacting to the protesters and urged people not to engage with the NYPD because they are not the enemy.(I'm paraphrasing) At one point he told the live feed camera man to turn off his camera light, which he promptly did.

It will be interesting to see if other ex-cops with commanding personalities show up at other occupy sites. He may have been a legit protester but all I could think of when he was talking is "this guy is one big mind f#*K"

[suffragette]

31. I posted Dan Siegel's comment on "fusion centers" possibly being involved on another thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2314401#2315291

Dan Siegel is the Oakland mayoral legal adviser who resigned in protest of how OWS is being treated in Oakland.

http://www.democracynow.org/seo/2011/11/15/top_aide_to_...

AMY GOODMAN: And what do you think of what has taken place in New York, as you observe from afar following the Oakland raid, right here in New York, just this—in the last hours, the clearing out of Zuccotti Park?

DAN SIEGEL: Well, you know, it’s people around the country have made a decision to crack down on the Occupy movement. We’ve seen it, as you say, today in New York, yesterday in Oakland, over the weekend in Portland and Denver and other places. And clearly, this movement is striking a nerve, because it is so powerful. And it seems like there must be some coordination, perhaps at the level of national security and the fusion centers and so on, to put the word out to local police and politicians that it’s time to move against us. But, you know, at the same time, I think this will be a losing strategy. Every time they hit us, our movement grows stronger.


Fusion Centers?

Looked that up and found some info here:
http://epic.org/privacy/fusion /





The more info I've looked up about them, the more they share with COINTELPRO, from being a combo of local, state, federal, private, public and military agencies with blurred jurisdiction and oversight.


More background here from 2009, in discussing them in light of the discovery of a military operative who had infilitrated WA peace groups:
http://www.democracynow.org/2009/7/28/broadcast_exclusive_declassified_docs_reveal_military

MIKE GERMAN: Well, I think his analysis is exactly right. This is a pretty clear violation of Posse Comitatus. Now, what the military would argue, and has argued, is that they have a right to engage in force protection, which obviously, in its normal understanding of that term, is a defensive sort of capability, i.e. they can put guards at the gates of military bases and protect from threats from without. But they seem to have been, since 2002, considering that as an offensive capability, where they’re actually sending operatives out to spy on community activists, which is, of course, prohibited and something that, you know, the First and the Fourth Amendment become engaged.

And, you know, this is something that we found out through a FOIA back in 2005 the military was engaged in through a group called the Counterintelligence Field Activity. And they had a database of activists called TALON that, again, collected this US person information that the military has no business collecting. And that was shut down. But unfortunately, you know, they just created a new mechanism. This appears to be the fusion centers and these fusion cells that they’re using that, they seem to think, give them a method of circumventing Posse Comitatus and the restrictions on military intelligence gathering in the United States.

AMY GOODMAN: Explain what you mean, Mike, by fusion centers.

MIKE GERMAN: About two years ago, me and a colleague at the ACLU started investigating a lot of federal money going to what were called intelligence fusion centers. And I was only two years out of federal law enforcement at that point, and I had never heard this term, so I became concerned. And what these centers are is multi-jurisdictional intelligence centers that involve state, local and federal law enforcement, as well as other government entities — you know, a lot of times there are emergency services type of entities, but actually can’t involve any government entity — but also involve oftentimes the military and private companies.

So we produced a report in November of 2007 warning of the potential dangers that these multi-jurisdictional centers had, because it was unclear whose rules applied. Were we using federal rules? Were we using state rules? Local rules? And what was military and private company — what rules govern their conduct? So we put out this report in November of 2007. At that point, there were forty-two fusion centers. By July of 2008, we had found so many instances of abuse, we put out an updated report. At that point, there were fifty-eight fusion centers. Today, the DHS recognizes at least seventy-two fusion centers. So these things are rapidly growing, without any sort of proper boundaries on what activities happen within them and without really any idea of what it is the military is doing in these fusion centers and what type of access they have to US person information.



And much more here:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/are-we-safer/interviews/michael-german.html
Let's start with the fusion centers. What is the purpose of them, and who pays for them?

Good questions. The difficulty with fusion centers is that no two are alike. ...

But essentially, a fusion center is a multijurisdictional intelligence information and analysis collection and dissemination point. Typically, they involve a number of government agencies from different levels -- from federal government, from state and local government. They can also involve private companies. They can involve the U.S. military, in some instances.

But there is very little regulation that mandates any particular form, so they can really adapt to whatever environment they're in.

[sabrina 1]

33. That should be an OP suffragette.

I remember this when it was first reported, but had forgotten. This would definitely seem like the most likely avenue for the authorities to take to spy on, (which was reported recently from NYC) and coordinate attacks on the occupier

[suffragette]

34. Thanks. I'll make it one later tonight.

[snot]

32. K&R'd & bookmarked.

[Zorra]

35. K&R

[RoccoR5955]

36. Excellent statement

I too have been the "victim" of these agent provocateurs. Sometimes you least expect them, sometimes it is as clear as day. Sometimes they provoke people who are not even involved, such as "residents" around Liberty Square. They make us all look bad, and should be outed as soon as possible.

[russspeakeasy]

37. A big thank you.

[Blue_Tires]

38. kicked

[Ignis]

40. K&R

2007 in Montebello, Canada
2008 in Denver at the DNC

They're out there.

[certainot]

41. these days provocatuers and their actions can be broadcast over 1000 radio stations

over and over in every corner of the US

[H2O Man]

43. I'd like to

thank each and every person who responded to this OP .... by posting, recommending, or both. I appreciate that you took the time to read the OP, and felt it worth responding to.

[Enthusiast]

44. K&R nt

[unionworks]

45. But...But....

...I voted for HOPE and CHANGE! Why is it MORE FACISM? :wtf:

[Mopar151]

46. Something that should be mentioned...

Thank you for the heads up.
A particular caution for some of the nicer folk among us, who have not been exposed to the more virulent forms of these scuzz-balls - if they start showing signs as above, keep some distance and protect yourself. Don't friend 'em on Facebook, never give them money, make no connection without thinking about.
Almost by definition, AP's, rats, "confidential" (paid)informants, and their ilk are mental defectives, and none too well balanced or scrupulous - "lacking conscience" is a kind understatement. Sleazy in the DNA is what I'm sayin'.......

[Mimosa]

47. K&R an excellent post!!!!

Superb analysis and info, H2O Man. :D

[fascisthunter]

48. Every time I read a thread of yours, I learn something

you are a gem

[Zorra]

49. _^_

[burrowowl]

52. K&R

"I can say with less than zero chance of error that agent provocateurs have attempted to infiltrate the OWS movement. This is not to say that every individual act of law-breaking was the work of Maxwell Smart or CHAOS. There are people who are frustrated and angry, who may have acted out. But that is the point: with the current coordinated efforts to “evict” OWS communities from public parks, etc, (and these evictions are being coordinated by a much higher level than the mayors who order them to be carried out, though I am in no sense excusing these mayors), the agent provocateurs are being tasked with attempting to incite frustrated and angry citizens to behave in a manner that they would not otherwise."

I agree!

[7wo7rees]

53. pretend to be very left-wing; and then seek to disrupt and/or discredit

[Auggie]

54. K&R

[Jakes Progress]

55. We have no change. it was all a lie.

[leveymg]

56. I had my run-ins with the FBI and their APs, as well, in my college days. Learned a lot

meeting them up close and personal. Know thine enemy.

[Wind Dancer]

57. Beautifully written with lots of important info.

We knew infiltrators would be involved with OWS because of the power behind this movement. TPTB are frightened and will use all the tools available to shut these protests down. It's crucial the younger folks are aware and cautious of those threatening forces.

Thanks for sharing - K&R!

[bluesmail]

58. You know a lot about our past

thank you for the reminder(s) we should all know about agent provocateurs, and whatever else they are called. From another DU elder I thank you for your posts.

[FirstLight]

59. thank you for an informtive post

things are going to get more and more interesting as we gain momentum as well...

[annm4peace]

60. the group in 911 with the Deputy.. Peace Fresno

i was, and still in that group but far away.. that was 2002.. and I was so outraged.. we were/are a Peace Group.. Peace...Group.. It was just a bunch of people who gathered on a busy corner to protest the war on Afghanistan and drum beats of war .. against the Axis of Evil. We constantly had death threats, and the Mayor, Council members, Talk Radio hosts condemned us for protesting.. called us anti-troop, anti american.. and jew haters.. and of course worse. Cops would stand next to us as we stood on the corner passing out flyers to cars waiting for the stop lights and threatening to arrest us if we step into the curb to had a flyer to the person in the car.


I had personally called the nearby police station to invite them to our meeting.. I was new to protest and didn't know anything of the infiltrators in the 60's and 70's.. so when the deputy infiltrated the group was killed in a motorcycle accident.. and we found out he worked for the Fresno Sheriff't dept.. I was shocked and angered, and sickened and angered.. etc.
Why, HOW, Why.. then what made me sicker.. was that many people in Fresno that i knew did not care.. their response was "why do care if you aren't doing anything wrong"..

and the inflitrating continued through out the country.. I moved to Minneapolis in 2002 and joined peace groups here.. and in 2007 some of those groups were infiltrated mostly because of the
2008 RNC convention in St Paul.. and our government continued to have infiltrators and it was the reason 8 peace activists were raided by FBI.. and part of 22 where received subpeonas for the Grand Jury.

We still know we have infiltrators and you constantly have to be aware of what you do and say.

An incredible activist and internet person Nigel Perry.. has documentation and other info on the infiltrating during RNC 2008. and lots of good info on the Fusion Centers and how they were used against us or our peace and social justice groups. NORTHCOM was involved and is most likely in all these Occupations attacks.

There is so much on this site and I will try to post what i can find but there is great info on the whole site.

This is the main site.

http://rnc08report.org/

(if you are one of those wealthy people.. Nigel can always use donations.. he does so much for so many and he does it for free cause he knows many groups can't afford to pay for websites, gathering info and etc.)

http://rnc08report.org/archive/1111.shtml

NORTHCOM info at the 2008 RNC
http://rnc08report.org/archive/415.shtml

One of the FBI Infiltrators in the anti-war committee in 2007-2008
http://rnc08report.org/archive/1447.shtml


Must watch Video of the arrests of others due to FBI infiltrator.
"Better this World".. it was on PBS in some locations this fall
http://rnc08report.org/archive/1454.shtml


Another must see Documentary from RNC 08.. you can watch the whole thing online.
"Terrorizing Dissent"
http://rnc08report.org/archive/364.shtml

[Zorra]

62. kick

[EFerrari]

63. Yesterday someone posted to twitter a warning that Brandon Darby

an infiltrator who has caused a lot of trouble all over the country from NOLA to Colorado, was believed to be spotted in San Francisco.

Whether he is there or not, he's there. Far from being long pajama parties, the occupations are modeling an alternate vision of community that is far more dangerous to the authorities than smashing windows or shooting paint balls.

Media smears, infiltration, bribery, assassination if necessary, they will do anything in their power to stop this movement. But imo, they are too late. Maybe they could have saved this situation shortly after they stole our election in 2000, a theft that foreshadowed all the attacks on our republic of the last decade. But not now. They lost their legitimacy by allowing this ten year crime wave, and the people are appropriately withdrawing their consent.

It's only the arrogance of those who believe they own this country that prevents them from seeing, it's over for them. As violent as their reaction has been, if they really understood their own situation, they would probably be even more so. We need to use their myopia as an opportunity to organize.

[Rex]

64. Not just for police and the FBI/CIA anymore! Now it is politician approved.

GWB proved that you can ignore The People when they protest and STILL rig ANOTHER election in your favor!

[EFerrari]

65. A founder of "we are change" filming outside the park in NYC

was just assaulted by an undercover cop. People around him were saying, cop, cop, and he started filming the guy. The guy jumps over some barraicade and decks the filmer, then takes off. Luke got him on tape anyway and is going to post it soon but was able to show the man's face to the Ustream now in progress. He was wearing an old blue hoodie and looked like a tramp.

[Remember Me]

67. sorry to nitpick or serve as the spelling/grammar police

but I thought as scholar such as yourself would appreciate the reminder that the plural form of the French term is agents provocateurs.

I'd just like to add that Michael Moore suggested something the other day that I myself have said here on this forum repeatedly: WHENEVER you hear of violence or illegal activities (aside from peaceful civil disobedience), within a protest of the Left, always, always, ALWAYS immediately suspect agents provocateurs at work instead of our friends and colleagues because that's how it works the vast majority of time. We've actually caught them and publicized their roles in recent years.