"Dave", the Systems
Administrator for Blackened.net has responded to a subpoena from The Federal
Bureau of Investigation regarding several sub domains hosted by Blackened.
The following
is a carefully worded Press Release from "Dave" posted on the Flag.Blackened.net
forum:
"FBI investigating
incidents on subdomains hosted by flag.blackened.net.
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.