Low Intensity Conflict Report for 15 December

ADMIN NOTE: The Holiday Season is upon us. Being the week of a holiday, this report is shorter than usual. Both Strategic Intelligence and Low Intensity Conflict will be published the week of Christmas (25-29 December), although both reports will be a Year in Review, identifying the trends of 2017 and looking forward to 2018. After the new year, Strategic Intelligence will be published regularly on Thursdays, and Low Intensity Conflict on Fridays. Thank you for the support, and we hope that you have a wonderful rest of the year with us.

Priority Intelligence Requirements

PIR1: What indicators describe the Alt-Left movement’s strength, capabilities, sentiment, and capabilities?
PIR2: What indicators describe the Alt-Right movement’s strength, capabilities, sentiment, and capabilities?
PIR3: What are the new indicators of future politically-related violence?
PIR4: What is the current threat index score for the Alt-Left movement?
Alt-Left Roll-Up

PIR1: What indicators describe the Alt-Left movement’s strength, capabilities, sentiment, initiatives, and infighting?

East Coast

FCC meeting cut short due to bomb threat

While the internet reels from the ending of the Obama-era Net Neutrality, a bomb threat delayed the FCC vote on Thursday. The FCC building was evacuated out of an abundance of caution, as law enforcement searched and secured the building. [Source: http://www.theblaze.com/news/2017/12/14/fcc-receives-bomb-threat-during-net-neutrality-repeal-hearing]

GWU student group to create Internationalist Students’ Front

Around 20 students at George Washington University (Washington D.C.) recently created the Internationalist Students’ Front, the newest student group at the school. One student member explained that “Internationalism means that we stand in solidarity with every single struggle against oppression in the world.” Another student member said that characterizing the group as “communist” is misleading: ““Our main focus is anti-imperialist work and anti-imperialist ideas and ideals, and so while many of us are left-wing, I don’t think we can really be characterized as a communist student org because our main focus isn’t communism.” Meanwhile, the group’s Facebook page features quotes from the Black Panther Party and former Cuban president Fidel Castro. [Source: https://www.gwhatchet.com/2017/12/07/new-left-wing-group-seeks-to-counter-nationalism-challenge-u-s-foreign-policy/]

Utica IWW creating ‘Antifa Coffee Club’

The Utica, NY Industrial Workers of the World (IWW; a socialist workers union) chapter is creating an ‘Antifa Coffee Club’ to promote “activism, community organizing and action” purposes. Attendees are encouraged to read up on socialist and antifascist literature prior to meetings, where organizers will hold talks on effective organizing and antifascist strategy. (Source: https://itsgoingdown.org/utica-ny-anti-fascist-coffee-club-launch-utica/) (Source: https://www.facebook.com/uticaiww/)

Southeast

Antifascists, police spar at Kate Steinle memorial events

Conservative groups in the antifascist hotbeds of Portland, Oregon and Austin, Texas held events in memory of Kate Steinle, the woman who was killed by an illegal immigrant. Antifascists attacked both events last Saturday (09 December) and numerous arrests were made. Austin clashes ended with three state troopers injured and four members of Antifa arrested, including two felony charges of “Aggravated Assault on a Peace Officer”. [Source: https://kxan.com/2017/12/10/3-troopers-injured-5-people-arrested-saturday-in-downtown-austin-protest/]

Nashville Antifa protest Nashville event

On Thursday, 07 December, a coalition of anarchists and Antifa protested the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) for the purpose of disruption and intimidation of Republican legislators. ( Source: https://enoughisenough14.org/2017/12/14/leftist-community-coalition-disrupts-alec-conference-in-nashville-tennessee/)

Midwest

Anarchists allegedly disrupt rail lines in Nebraska

Puget Sound Anarchists recently reported a case of attempted disruption of freight rail lines in Nebraska. According to the anonymous communique, anarchists “attached wire and jumper cables to the main Union Pacific rail line running through the state of Nebraska to disrupt rail signals and delay trains that mainly carry coal from the mountainous west to population centers in the east.” [Source: https://pugetsoundanarchists.org/railline-distruptions/]

(Analyst Comment: We’ve seen similar attempts to disrupt rail lines in the Pacific Northwest earlier this year as activists attempted to disrupt the flow of supplies to the Dakota Access Pipeline. This certainly indicates a level of awareness likely obtained through the sharing of intelligence.)

Notre Dame students campaign to remove Columbus murals

Students at Notre Dame witnessed a banner drop that read, “This is Potawatomi land! F*ck the KKKolumbus murals!” The Christopher Columbus murals in question, displayed at the university’s main administrative building entrance, have been the subject of a campaign to remove them for the past year. [Source: https://itsgoingdown.org/banner-drop-columbus-murals-university-notre-dame/amp/]

Minnesota activists block pipeline access during protest

A gathering of protesters blocked the road to rally against the Enbridge’s Line 3 pipe yards in Cloquet, MN. The pipeline is expected to be approved by the state in April while protesters claimed that the permits for storing the pipes were illegal [Source: https://www.unicornriot.ninja/2017/rally-against-line-3-minnesota-pipe-yards/]

Michigan students organize walk out to protest Spencer speech

Students at the University of Michigan continue to walk out of class and protest against an upcoming Richard Spencer speech. The likelihood of violence against conservative and Trump supporters is expected as to increase next month when the school board must set a date for the event by January 15th or risk being sued. (Source: https://itsgoingdown.org/michigan-stop-richard-spencer-u-m/) (Source: http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2017/12/07/richard-spencer-university-michigan-speech-request/108409740/)

West Coast

Antifascists, police spar at Kate Steinle memorial events

Puget Sound Anarchists brag about rail line disruption

Puget Sound Anarchists detailed how on April 20th they poured concrete on the train tracks leading out of the Port of Olympia. “We also were emboldened by the spirit of all those who have risen against the white supremacist police in Ferguson, Baltimore, Oakland and elsewhere, as well as by the riotous opposition that has characterized the first few months of Donald Trump’s reign.” [Source: https://warriorup.noblogs.org/post/2017/12/07/train-tracks-sabotaged-with-concrete/]

Puget Sound Anarchists disrupt oil and construction projects

Puget Sound Anarchists continue to harass and disrupt oil- and construction-related industries. “At around 6:30 this morning, three protesters locked themselves down to tripods blocking the gates of the [construction] site. Workers eventually found their way in to work, though, and when reached by phone, the protesters were in the process of taking the tripods down.”[Source: https://itsgoingdown.org/tacoma-wa-block-gates-lockdowns-continue-lng-port/]

PNWAWC doxxes members of Alt-Right groups

The Pacific Northwest Antifa Workers Collective (PNWAWC) released an in-depth analysis of the Cascadian Coffee Company (CCC), a loose coalition of various white nationalist and neo-Nazi groups, demonstrating a high degree of intelligence gathering capabilities. The report contains multiple doxxes of the leaders and members of American Front, Greystorm Productions, and American Patriots Brigade. [Source: http://pnwawc.com/2017/12/09/american-patriots-brigade-and-neo-nazi-organizing-on-discord-its-worse-than-you-think/]

Southwest

Undercover CSPD officers outed in court case

Two undercover police officers of the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) had their covers blown and are now under pressure regarding their activities infiltrating local antifascist groups. The officers, part of the CSPD Metro, Vice, Narcotics and Intelligence Division, were outed when evidence was turned over that revealed body camera footage was being taken from inside the antifascist protest group. [https://www.csindy.com/coloradosprings/undercover-officers-take-the-stand-to-explain-infiltration-of-local-socialists/Content?oid=9226911]

National

Noam Chomsky reiterates warning against antifascist violence

One theme that continues and seems to be generally accepted in mainstream circles is that antifascist violence against conservatives and the far right continues is counter-productive. There are still pockets of radical Leftists and their sympathizers who either explicitly or tacitly condone violence against the Right, however, mainstream disavowals are part of the reason why violence has diminished overall. Building on previous statements that antifascist violence actually helps the far right in some ways, Noam Chomsky reiterated his warnings that violence plays into the hands of state repression. “Unlike repression of the left, typically tolerated (even approved), repression of the right elicits great concern and sometimes support for the targets, as they claim the high moral ground of ‘defending basic civil rights. That’s quite apart from the opportunity cost, the failure to use the opportunity to expose their doctrines and actions, and the threat they pose to civilized existence.” [FULL REPORT]

Crimethinc publishes media guidelines

The Crimethinc Ex-Workers Collective published a guide on how to engage with the media and get their ideas across via journalists and reporters. Several excellent strategies are included in the guide effective for anyone wishing to talk to the media including: “Establish clearly defined goals in advance. Identify the agenda of the outlet. Compose your talking points and practice presenting them concisely.” Additionally, a section of advice from “a sympathetic reporter” offers good advice and anecdotes such as “Have extremely low expectations,” and “Find out who his editor is.” [Source: https://itsgoingdown.org/talking-media-avoiding-pitfalls-guide-anarchists/]

Daily Roll-Ups:

PIR2: What indicators describe the Alt-Right movement’s strength, capabilities, sentiment, initiatives, and infighting?

Rally permit for Unite the Right 2.0 is denied

Multiple applications for use of parks in Charlottesville, Virginia, including the one submitted by Jason Kessler for an anniversary rally, were denied by the city. According to the document released by the city, any events would “present a danger to public safety” and “cannot be accommodated within a reasonable allocation of city funds and/or police resources.” Kessler’s response in a YouTube video rebuked the denial and promised a lawsuit against the city early next year and included, “whether there’s a permit or not we’re still going to do it.” On Thursday, the Charlottesville city council held a special meeting to discuss the best course of action after the threat of lawsuits against the city. [Source: https://twitter.com/Tim_Dodson/status/940345178665177088) and https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=xSroleBEwUs]

Antifa reports phishing attempts

A purported antifascist recently warned the Philadelphia Antifa chapter of a “phishing attempt being made which uses a fake “Philly Antifa” email address (phillyantifacontact(at)protonmail). DELETE! DO NOT OPEN OR CLICK THE PROVIDED EXCEL FILE!”

(Analyst Comment: While the alleged perpetrators could be any number of individuals or groups, there exists the strong likelihood that an Alt-Right group or individual is actively targeting antifascist accounts. While there was no clear indication of what the email attachment contained, it’s quite possible that the file contained a malware payload that would enable access to the infected computer. No other information was available.)

HuffPo republishes Daily Stormer posting guide

Huffington Post re-published an article covering the writing and style guide for neo-Nazi website, Daily Stormer. The article contains various strategies and formatting notes for prospective writers and ghost writers posting under site organizer Andrew Anglin’s name. [Source: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/daily-stormer-nazi-style-guide_us_5a2ece19e4b0ce3b344492f2?m3a]

PIR3: What are the new indicators of future politically-related violence?

16-18 March 2018 – MAGACON 2018

TBA – Richard Spencer speech at University of Cincinnati

TBA – Richard Spencer speech at University of Michigan

TBA – Lawsuits still pending to allow Richard Spencer to speak at Penn State, Ohio State, and Michigan State.

PIR4: What is the current threat index score for the Alt-Left movement?

Indicators of Revolutionary Activity

Strong Indications: 7

Weak Indications: 5

No/Negligible Indications: 8

We remain at 12/20 total indicators, and there’s been no change in the last week.

Alt-Left Roll-Up