Anonymous seizes Ku Klux Klan Twitter account over Ferguson threats
Two Twitter accounts belonging to American racial segregation org Ku Klux Klan, @KuKluxKlanUSA and @YourKKKCentral, have been seized by Anonymous as part of the hacker-activist entity's new campaign, #OpKKK.
At 6:31pm PST Anonymous said it has knocked the website belonging to "Traditionalist American Knights of the Ku Klux Klan" -- the group responsible for the Ferguson threats -- offline.
TANGO DOWN - http://t.co/5GYg8JrUiC #OpKKK #HoodsOff
— Anonymous (@YourAnonNews) November 17, 2014
ZDNet has also received an unconfirmed statement that Anonymous has compromised KKK member email accounts, and a phone harassment campaign is being conducted on KKK members. The message is in full at the end of this article.
@KuKluxKlanUSA is currently under the control of Anonymous after a week of mutual threats sparked by the KKK's announcement to use "lethal force" against Ferguson protesters.
Through the account, Anonymous tweeted that it will release a Monday evening statement about the takeover.
UPDATE: Anonymous will release a statement on THIS account tomorrow at 03:00 GMT (21 hours from now) regarding the seizing of this account.
— Ku Klux Klan (@KuKluxKlanUSA) November 17, 2014
Last week, a Ku Klux Klan group based 75 miles south of Ferguson, Missouri began distributing flyers threatening "lethal force" against Ferguson protesters in any aftermath of the upcoming grand jury decision regarding Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson.
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The Riverfront Times reported that the St. Louis, Missouri KKK group passed out pamphlets starting, "Attention: To the terrorists masquerading as "peaceful protesters"!"
The announcement stated further, "We will use lethal force as provided under Missouri law to defend ourselves."
KKK leader Frank Ancona went on MCNBC Wednesday to back up the threat and claim support from Ferguson locals; the head of Missouri's KKK told media that his organization's threats to protesters had boosted KKK recruitment.
The Missouri group behind the threats -- Traditionalist American Knights of the Ku Klux Klan -- is listed as an active hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
On Friday Anonymous began doxing (publicly revealing identities and personal information) of KKK members in the Ferguson/St. Louis area.
The St Louis chapter of the KKK has been outed by @ThatsRacistAF and @AnonCopWatch Follow them Also use #OpKKK and #HoodsOff
— No Justice No Peace (@drumbeats4peace) November 14, 2014
I'm not going to link to it, but Anons are currently doxing KKK members in and around Ferguson. -----> #OpKKK
— Robin (@caulkthewagon) November 15, 2014
Anonymous Australia released a video Friday announcing a campaign of cyberwar against the racist organization. It was removed Monday and replaced instantly.
Transcript of the video reads,
Published on Nov 14, 2014 Greetings world, we are Anonymous
KKK it has came to our unfortunate attention that you have been interfering with Anonymous.
We are not attacking you because of what you believe in as we fight for freedom of speech…
We are attacking you because of what you did to our brothers and sisters at the Ferguson protest on the 12th of November.
Due to your actions we have started Operation KKK. The aim of our operation is nothing more than Cyber Warfare. Anything you upload will be taken down, anything you use to promote the KKK will be shut down.
DDos attacks have already been sent and have infiltrated your servers over the past 2 days… d0x's have also been launched on leaders of the KKK. All information retrieved will be given to the public.
You messed with our family and now we will mess with yours…
Let the cyber war begin.
We are legion.
We do not forgive
We do not forget
Ku Klux Klan you should have expect us.
Follow Us On Twitter @GroupAnonAU
KKK Twitter accounts insulted and mocked Anonymous on the microblogging site until Sunday evening when Anonymous declared a victory in the form of snatching the account of @KuKluxKlanUSA.
#OPKKK: "You do not tolerate blacks? We do not tolerate racism." All servers that host websites related to KKK is under attack. #Anonymous
— Anonymous (@AnonymousGlobo) November 16, 2014
Account Twitter: @KuKluxKlanUSA Under anon control as of 16 NOV 2014 09:11:47. You should've expected us. #OpKKK pic.twitter.com/DzF51PBgSb
— Hive Communications (@HiveComm) November 16, 2014
The #OpKKK hashtag is beginning to move quickly on Twitter, and in it there appears to be little sympathy for the KKK.
The grand jury investigation into the August 9 shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown and Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson is expected to return a verdict in the next few days.
According to the New York Times, protesters are already preparing for the decision.
UPDATE November 16: This post has been updated to add a second Twitter account takeover by Anonymous (@YourKKKCentral) and a website attack on the KKK, as well as ZDNet having received the following unconfirmed message two hours after this article's publication:
Also.... we have compromised personal accounts (which give us more faces), tied up their phone lines and filled every voicemail and inbox with love. We have barely scratched the surface, keep that pencil out....
We do not forgive. We do not forgive. We are Anonymous. Expect us.