An Interesting Time Ahead for Anonymous and Ku Klux Klan
The hacker/activist group, Anonymous, made a public statement last week that it would be releasing 1,000 or more names of alleged members of the Ku Klux Klan by Nov. 5. On November 1, Anonymous made good on its statement by releasing over 50 email addresses and 23 phone numbers on PasteBin, addresses and phone numbers of some alleged KKK members.
On Nov. 4, Anonymous has said they will take the Internet by storm, using the hashtag HoodsOff -- referring to the Ku Klux Klan's white-hooded robes worn when its members are in public to protect their identities.
The KKK, listed as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, is a white supremacist group who once numbered in the millions of members, but today is estimated to have fewer than 10,000 members.
Anonymous and the Ku Klux Klan first tangled during the protests in Ferguson, MO., where a black teenager was shot and killed by a white police officer. Nov. 5, 2014 was a day of such protests and the day when it was announced the grand jury did not return any indictments against the police officer. The KKK had threatened to use lethal force against peaceful protesters the KKK claimed were actually terrorists.
Anonymous has demonstrated it's adherence in the past by doing what it says it will do, from shutting down Paypal to hacking Scientology sites and more over the 11 years since the group's inception.
FOPP - HoodsOff - Anonymous - KKKReveal
Image Credit » https://pixabay.com/en/anonymous-studio-figure-photography-657195/ by Gaffey
Comments
alexdg1 wrote on November 2, 2015, 9:10 PM
Are there only 10,000 Ku Klux Klan members? A smaller number than when the Klan was at the height of its power in the 20th Century, but that's still 10,000 too many.
2wolfgirl569 wrote on November 2, 2015, 10:27 PM
Hope they release them all. Many people would be surprised at some of the names that will show up
1Paulie wrote on November 3, 2015, 1:42 AM
Thanks for sharing this information. I haven't been following the activities of Anonymous.
1msiduri wrote on November 3, 2015, 10:16 AM
Ah, come on now. The new Klan is a civic pride organization . Haven't you heard? Yeah, and I got a bridge for sale.
1msiduri wrote on November 3, 2015, 10:21 AM
I wonder what good it will do. I mean, so you find out that John and Mary Anglo-Saxon are really the Sub-Grand Imperial Muskrat for their District. They're embarrassed, but if they're got their taxes paid up and have no outstanding warrants, it probably won't come as any surprise to people who know them. If they run their own businesses, it might hurt them with respect to minority contacts, but again, I don't know that those people will be surprised.
1alexdg1 wrote on November 3, 2015, 10:39 AM
If that bridge is in Brooklyn.......
Feisty56 wrote on November 3, 2015, 10:43 AM
Certainly, those whose names are exposed will deny, deny, deny. I can't imagine the KKK saying, "Yep, you've got some of us," and unsure how the identities will be independently verified as Klan members. It'll be interesting.
msiduri wrote on November 3, 2015, 10:45 AM
MAYbe.. Or I've got another one over some swamp land....
Feisty56 wrote on November 3, 2015, 10:46 AM
I can't I've followed the activities of Anonymous closely, but they are often in the news. Although I realize that their tactics are illegal, I struggle with finding them immoral. In some ways, they represent the conscience of the silent majority, in my opinion.
Feisty56 wrote on November 3, 2015, 10:48 AM
With the KKK having an estimated 5,000 to 8,000 members nationwide, I imagine that's possible, but more likely some of those folks are sympathizers rather than actual members. Either way, it says a lot about what they think and represent.
Feisty56 wrote on November 3, 2015, 10:50 AM
I think the idea behind this is that the KKK have always hidden behind those robes and hoods. This unmasking is both symbolic, like "We gotcha" and actual. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out in the days and weeks ahead.
markgraham wrote on November 3, 2015, 10:55 AM
I thought the KKK were not allowed to wear the hoods anymore anyway.
1msiduri wrote on November 3, 2015, 10:58 AM
I hadn't heard that, but frankly, I haven't been following the latest news.
markgraham wrote on November 3, 2015, 11:15 AM
I really do not know either I thought I read that somewhere.
CoralLevang wrote on November 3, 2015, 11:47 AM
Feisty56 Wow. This is not something I have heard/read until now...about this vigilante group, Anonymous. As far as the KKK, it will be interesting to see what this Anon group puts on the list. I am not convinced it will be as accurate as they (Anon) will claim. Conversely, I think it will do much to get some people scrambling. As well, there will be innocent victims in all this fall-out.
1Feisty56 wrote on November 3, 2015, 11:54 AM
markgraham , I don't know that there is any mandate about wearing hoods or not, though I doubt the Klan would care if the law were made. The group's activities through the decades have been anything but law-abiding.
Feisty56 wrote on November 3, 2015, 11:59 AM
I don't know if/how any of the information released by Anonymous will be able to be independently verified since if independent sources already knew who these alleged members were, why wouldn't that information have come out before? I think these revelations will leave more questions than answers, and as you say, some innocent people might be hurt along the way.
I struggle with how I feel about Anonymous and their illegal tactics. Logically, I know that what they've done and are doing is illegal, but I struggle to find that it is immoral. I am not the group's champion, but I do find myself rooting for them silently. It's quite an inner struggle for me.
msiduri wrote on November 3, 2015, 12:28 PM
You could very well be right. I have no idea.
Lillybell wrote on November 3, 2015, 11:26 PM
I had heard about this story and it worries me. They are releasing these peoples' names, addresses, email addresses and phone numbers, and to me it isn't the safest idea. I mean, maybe it's just my anxiety, I tend to think of the worst case scenario. However, people have gotten death threats over less than being a KKK member. They have some crazy people out there and I just wouldn't want to see someone and/or their family get hurt over this. While I don't approve of what the KKK does and stands for, I still would never want to see someone and/or their family get hurt or maybe worse. Is it just me..??
BarbRad wrote on November 5, 2015, 10:14 PM
For some reason this post isn't loading for me, but judging from the comments below it must have been there at one time. I will try refreshing after I post this comment.
BarbRad wrote on November 5, 2015, 10:16 PM
It loaded after I posted my last comment. So why did Anonymous hack PayPal?
CoralLevang wrote on November 6, 2015, 1:11 PM
So, today is the day? Has anything come of this yet? I've not looked at the news.
CoralLevang wrote on November 6, 2015, 1:13 PM
I can certainly appreciate the struggle.
VinceSummers wrote on November 10, 2015, 2:08 PM
I'd never heard of this (I don't follow the news).