Anonymous Takes Down Oakland Police Website, Twitter, After Protester Shot With Non-Lethal Rounds
Anonymous says they’ve hit Oakland Police servers and social media accounts Tuesday night, after a protester was reportedly hit in the head with a non-lethal round and transported to a hospital.
Anonymous has joined Berkeley protesters in their protests against the Grand Jury decisions in the cases of ex-police officer Darren Wilson, who shot and killed Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO, and officer Daniel Pantaleo, who used a banned chokehold on Eric Garner in New York, resulting in Garner’s death. Neither officer was indicted, and the decisions have sparked protests across the country.
Anonymous has been involved in many protests, offering independent reporting of events through social media and livestreams, joining marches, and, in many cases, stepping in to release information that official channels refused to provide.
Tuesday night, as Anonymous members joined a Berkeley protest, they expressed warnings that Oakland police should treat protesters with respect and dignity, and hinted that to do otherwise would be a mistake.
Maybe police r getting the hint,if they harm protestors,we pound servers n leak information.We shall see. #BlackLivesMatter #ICantBreathe
— OpTamirRice (@OpTamirRice) December 10, 2014
To those who torment #protesters and #activist we see you. Get ready for the storm. #GhostSec
— ?MrPackets? (@th3ridd73r) December 10, 2014
According to the San Jose Mercury News, though, Oakland police responded to protests by firing nonlethal rounds. The number and severity of injuries isn’t yet known, but Anon says that at least one protester was hit in the head and taken to a hospital.
Real class act there @oaklandpolice,,shooting from the overpass. Were watching you!!!
— OpTamirRice (@OpTamirRice) December 10, 2014
Marcher being rushed to hospital after police shot less than lethals from overpass. Report of person getting hit in head. #berkeleyprotests
— Occupy Oakland (@OccupyOakland) December 10, 2014
Anonymous denounced the Oakland Police Department’s actions and vowed a return attack.
Oakland P.D must not have gotten the memo.No brutality against protesters. Now its time to pay. #BlackLivesMatter #ICantBreathe
— OpTamirRice (@OpTamirRice) December 10, 2014
Before long, the results were live to be viewed: the Oakland Police Department website is suffering server issues, and the department’s Twitter account is suspended.
Wow, @oaklandpolice #TangoDown Your offline!! http://t.co/4CQ3RWeS4f… @DigitaShadow @AnonAssault @th3ridd73r @AnonCyberGhost
— OpTamirRice (@OpTamirRice) December 10, 2014
Awe @oaklandpolice was that your twitter account? Oops #BlackLivesMatter #ICantBreathe pic.twitter.com/lapIkT9Zh7
— OpTamirRice (@OpTamirRice) December 10, 2014
The Oakland Police still have their Facebook page, but it’s not exactly seeing peace either. In addition to the usual comments, both the positive and negative that police departments might expect, they’re being called out for interactions with protesters there, too.
Can we report police beating protesters here?
If the Oakland Police should decide they want to make nice, though, they’ve been invited to join Monday night’s candlelight vigil — as participants, not to police the event.
[photo credit: EricaJoy]
