The FBI has recently sent two subpoenas to the website administrator of the flag.blackened.net webserver. Recently there have been rumours circulating in anarchist circles the flag’s webmaster had been contacted by the FBI, he has released this press release to notify the wider activist community on what has been going on. The Flag server hosts many of anarchism’s most widely viewed websites and the removal of this sever would be a major blow to anarchist organising worldwide.
He has been ordered on two separate occasions to submit IP information of people using certain subdomains hosted on the flag server one of which was the popular Infoshop News. These relate to people claiming responsibility for “propaganda by the deed”. The moderator believes at least one of these cases are by people trying to make the flag server “vulnerable to government intrusion”.
The FBI in recent years, has gone after a number of radical/revolutionary left wing websites, most notably are the shutting down of the raise the fist website and subsequent jailing of it’s webmaster Sherman Austin and also targeting many websites on the Indymedia network.
The press release by flag:
A message from the administrator of Fkag.blackened.net concerning two FBI subpoenas
directed at sites hosted by the Flag server. One of these sites is Infoshop News.
OK folks, here’s the real deal as far as I can share it legally at the
moment. Consider it as a press release if you wish and feel free to
distribute it for whatever reason you deem necessary.
I’m under court order not to speak about specifics and have my
attorney trying to find out what the maximum penalty for disclosure
really is. I hate to have to keep my mouth shut in areas where the
Gestapo is involved, but I also have to weigh things against the overall
security of flag and it’s subdomains and also the wellbeing of my family.
I have been ordered to submit IP info on two separate incidents
having to do with subdomains hosted on flag. Both of these are in
regard to claimed or threatened responsibility for acts of propaganda
by the deed. Both incidents involve topics which are completely out
of line for consideration here at flag and really I can only view them
in two ways. Either people are simply ignorant about the murderous
history of the FBI, or, as is my belief in one case, they are trying to
make flag vulnerable to government intrusion.
At this point let me say, in all honesty and conviction, that if I end
up dead by strange means – suicide, overdose, drunk driving
accident (I never, ever, ever drink and drive), “accidental” gunshot
to the back of the head while sleeping ala Fred Hampton, car
jacking, or anything else reasonably suspicious, contact the FBI in
Chico, California for more details.
I have called numerous friends nationwide, anarchists and
otherwise whose opinions I respect and who I know will be honest
and forthwith in their opinions to ask them how I should proceed.
The unanimous consensus is that I comply with the wishes of the
FBI and provide the IP addresses responsible. The only point of
discussion, really, has been whether or not I should reveal the
specific information in violation of two court orders.
Really, I am not left with much of a choice. Here are my two
choices as I see them:
1. Do not comply with the wishes of the FBI. This will most likely
lead to the seizure of flag and a compromise of all the sites and
information online. It will probably also lead to me being
imprisoned, I would guess. I personally do not fear this, but I am
the sole support for my wife and infant daughter. There can be no
doubt we would probably lose our home as a result.
2. Comply with the wishes of the FBI, provide the IP addresses, and
count on the fact that I will catch a lot of heat and hatred from my
comrades in the anarchist movement worldwide.
Though it pains me to comply with the State in any manner, I have
to choose option #2. The people who have foolishly compromised
us all will shoulder the burden for their selfish actions. Frankly
folks, they know better – we all know better.
I was first contacted by the Oakland FBI. Many of you know their
history. We are talking COINTELPRO for real – not a perceived or
mythical fear. They are proven murderers and automatons for the
state who will blindly follow any order to kill or disrupt without
question. Read the history of their disinformation campaign against
the panthers if you don’t believe me. The panther comic book
which they completed and distributed, the fake letters between
Huey and Eldridge, the fires of hatred and murder they faked and
inflamed between the panthers and the US or “united slaves” which
led to the murder of Bunchy Carter and John Higgins in L.A., the
list goes on and on.
But, the real point is that I feel like a coward and traitor to my
comrades, even in the face of what is essentially a coerced decision.
I’m the last one who will criticize or disagree with any of you who
want to deride me. I’m also aware that this will probably cause quite
a few of you to lose faith in me, flag, and it’s subdomains. This
can’t be avoided and it’s something I weighed into my decision. I
post this mainly to inform you all and give you opportunity to make
your own decisions as to whether I’ve handled this correctly and
whether you wish to use flag or it’s subdomains in the future. If you
don’t trust me, I understand, believe me.
It is by far the most agonizing decision I’ve been faced with in
relation to my anarchist opinions.
This is why we do not discuss certain things as if they are a
legitimate part of anarchism. Resist the extra y-chromosome
influenced urge to sound more hardcore than the guy next to you.
Nobody is impressed and the powers that be are sitting on the edges
of their seats waiting for an excuse to shut down flag. Freedom of
speech does not exist, don’t try to test it. They will come bust down
your door – for real – point a gun to your head and pull the trigger if
you refuse to comply.
Believe it.
Your admin,
Dave
