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Radical problem: Anarchists may target DNC with violent protests
By Dave Wedge
Thursday, April 8, 2004
Wary of increasingly violent radical groups, authorities are bracing for a possible invasion of unruly party crashers at this summer's Democratic National Convention, including some underground extremists who endorse rioting and mayhem.
``What we're hearing from some groups is to direct violence at persons, including law enforcement,'' FBI spokeswoman Gail Marcinkiewicz said yesterday.
The Hub-based anarchist network BAAM has been hosting regular meetings at MIT ``to plan out resistance to the DNC.'' The group's name refers to ``the pleasant sound of authoritarianism being smashed,'' according to its Web site.
Anti-war and anti-capitalism, BAAM promotes rioting on the site, urging members to ``ALWAYS cover your face (bandanas and hats work great).'' The group also issues veiled threats against the police, the FBI, the IRS and locally based corporate giants like Fidelity, Citibank and Fleet.
``In event of war . . . attack the real enemy,'' the site states, alluding to bombing and providing addresses of Boston businesses and government agencies.
Another Hub-based anarchist cell, the Bl(A)ck Tea Society calls for ``direct actions to confront the Democratic National Convention in Boston.'' The group's rallying cry, according to their Web site is: ``No DNC: finish the american revolution.''
Increasingly violent and organized national extremist groups that could show up at the DNC - such as the Animal Liberation Front and the Earth Liberation Front - are known to wear full riot gear, lock themselves to buildings, use slingshots to shoot flames, bleach and feces and call in bomb threats.
``People are welcome to come here and express themselves, but they are not welcome to come here and destroy property or put anyone in harm's way,'' Boston police spokeswoman Mariellen Burns said.
Also in the planning stages is a march of anarchists, anti-globalization activists and other fringe groups from the DNC to the Republican National Convention in New York City, which is a month after the July 26-29 Boston event.
Hub authorities are preparing based on violent clashes at past high-security events, including the 1999 WTO riots in Seattle and the 2000 RNC and DNC in Philadelphia and Los Angeles respectively. Both 2000 conventions saw sporadic unrest and hundreds of arrests. In Philadelphia, the violence was more widespread with protesters reportedly using urine- and acid-filled Super Soaker guns on police, lighting fires and blocking traffic.
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