Anonymous Reaches Far Beyond the Digital World
It’s been called lawlessness and disruption; but it’s the freedom of speech. Anonymous is attempting to change the game. These protests that the hactivist group have called for are getting the message out on what they claim are their intentions. Are other groups taking the intentions of these protests in the wrong manner? Is this backlash against the establishment as this generation knows it inspiring the unwarranted violence that is supposed to be fought against? The possibilities are there and open for much discussion.
The news that BART interrupted cell service at several of its stations has raised much legal questioning as well as outrage from the public.
It has also caught the attention of the group Anonymous.
As a result, Anonymous hacked into the BART website releasing the names, e-mail, home addresses and phone numbers of hundreds of BART customers and employees. They called for supporters of their cause to rally against the censorship BART had imposed on riders. Only one individual was arrested for being drunk and disorderly. The citizens eventually disbanded and went home without interference from SFPD.
Anonymous voiced their discontent in a video message.
August 15, 2011 was a busy Monday in San Francisco and back-to-school for many in surrounding areas. To say the day was to become chaotic is an understatement. The protests that were called by Anonymous were peaceful though proving to be a bit of a nuisance for anyone trying to leave San Francisco via BART.
Protestors voiced their discontent with the violation of civil liberties and police brutality that citizens have had to contend with.
Since 2009 there have been at least three major incidents in which the police have acted far and above the mere intent to subdue citizens. Oscar Grant was shot and killed by BART police officer, Johannes Mehserle. In July of 2011, Charles Blair Hill was shot by two BART police officers. Earlier this month, Fullerton police attempted to “subdue” a homeless man who lost consciousness after several minutes of intense and unwarranted beating. Kelly Thomas died five days later as a result of the police brutality he suffered.
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