Many departments are already understaffed due to the call up of reservists. Many are also under very tight budget constraints due to lack of funds at the state and local level. This report is Part 2 of a 3 Part Series.
Part 1 addresses the increasing terrorist threat domestically and Part 3 will address the steps departments can take to become better prepared. The Series is brought to you by the Police1 Critical Alert Network, which delivers important and timely information, including the information contained in this series, to Law Enforcement via email, cell phones, PDAs and pagers.
Pt. 2 The Increasing Threat from Anti-war Activists
Radical antiwar activists have become increasingly vocal and violent in the past several weeks as war with Iraq approaches. Many groups across the country have outlined plans and strategies to create a “second front” here in the U.S. similar to those used to protest the Vietnam War. Law Enforcement should be prepared for aggressive action preceding war and then accelerating in the event of war.
Although anti-war activists are likely to be most vocal and aggressive in larger cities, they are urging action across the country, including in smaller cities and towns. Their goals are to create high visibility civil disorder, stop business as usual, and impose real economic and political costs.
Many of these groups are well organized and should not be taken lightly. Some are offering training courses in combating blockades and taking non-violent direct action, and have engaged in active surveillance of Law Enforcement.
Antiwar groups in San Francisco, New York and D.C. are planning civil disorder on the day war breaks out and are urging others to do the same; a Wisconsin university campus is declaring its intention to obstruct the Patriot Act’s Civil defense measures; professors at many universities are planning to cancel classes and are facilitating attempts to shut down campuses; high school teachers are planning to lead students out of classrooms and to protests; non-violent direct action is planned at military bases and installations.
For example, on Monday in London, anti-war activists entered the International Petroleum Exchange, which is Europe’s major center for trading in futures contracts for crude oil, and forced the exchange to suspend trading for almost two hours.
Law Enforcement officials should be aware of and take proactive measures to prepare for this domestic threat. Officers should be on the lookout for suspicious activity preceding and on the outbreak of war.
Police1 suggests monitoring radical activist Web sites to identify protests and potential threats in your area. Please note that officers should NOT use department issued email address when intelligence online. Surveillance of and intelligence gathering on activist groups offline is recommended as well. For instance, the San Francisco Police Department has been conducting video surveillance of radical anarchist demonstrations, identifying leaders and tactics.
Below are three places to start:
http://www.InternationalANSWER.org
http://www.unitedforpeace.org
http://www.peacepledge.org/resist/default.shtm
Source: PoliceOne; Informed Source (editor@informedsource.info)