We need to keep a watch on the anarchists in Boston.
Especially on Thursday, July 29 this week as that is their "day of action".
All the focus has been on al Qaeda and Islamist extremist threat.
However, there are groups of anarchists that also have plans for Boston this
week.

================================

Some Web Sites to watch:

Boston Anarchist Black Tea Society
http://blackteasociety.org/index.php

Boston Anarchist Black Cross
http://www.baamboston.org/abc/

Anarchist Black Cross Main Web Site
http://www.anarchistblackcross.org/

They plan to focus their efforts especially on Thursday, July 29

================================

From Black Tea Society:

http://www.blackteasociety.org/day_of_action.php

Day Of Decentralized Direct Action

Thursday, July 29th, 2004. The day John Forbes Kerry receives the nomination of
the Democratic Party.

Thursday, July 29th, 2004. Massive de-centralized direct action in resistance to
the DNC invasion.

Affinity Groups 101: How they work, what they do.

Action How To: A step by step guide to planning for affinity group based direct
action.

Jail Solidarity: Written by the Boston Anarchist Black Cross (ABC). Covers the
basics of resisting the state even after being arrested.

New!!
Interesting security info, maps, etc here.

=========================================

<<<PRESS RELEASE>>>

Wednesday, July 21, 2004

Contact: Boston Anarchist Black Cross
Michael Andrews
617.851.5966
ABCboston-DNC04@...


FBI agents twice this week have visited the home of a local activist seeking
information on people they say plan to protest the Democratic National
Convention.

On Monday, July 19, at approximately 7 p.m., four FBI agents arrived at the home
of a Boston activist while guests of the house were sitting on the porch. The
agents began to interrogate the guests with questions about the DNC protests and
the whereabouts of the residents of the home. The FBI agents also sought
entrance to the house but could not produce a warrant when asked for one.

After the individuals present repeatedly refused to speak to the agents in
absence of legal counsel, the agents left the porch but lingered beyond the
property for approximately 10 minutes before departing.

The agents returned to the house Tuesday afternoon seeking further information
on activists they said they suspect of planning to protest the Democratic
National Convention. The agents were again told that nobody felt comfortable
talking to them without legal counsel present.

The Boston Anarchist Black Cross maintains that this type of intimidation and
targeting of activists is unfounded, illegal, and unacceptable. Local organizers
have seen a surge in efforts by police to create fear in the public and in
organizers, demonizing political activists, creating an us-them dynamic and
preemptively harassing activists so as to have a chilling effect on First
Amendment rights. This harrassment and intimidation campaign has increased in
the weeks leading up to the DNC, including a prior FBI visit to the home of a
NYC activist on July 8, 2004.

About the Boston Anarchist Black Cross (ABC): The Boston Anarchist Black Cross
is a prison abolition/prisoner support group affiliated with the Anarchist Black
Cross Network (http://www.anarchistblackcross.org). We support those on the
inside as well as working on issues of community defense. Boston ABC is helping
support protesters arrested during the DNC. For more information, go to
http://www.baamboston.org/abc/ or contact ABCboston-DNC04@... about
the DNC protests.


===================================

ANARCHIST WEB LINK ON BOSTON SECURITY WEAKNESSES TO EXPLOIT

SEE LINK AT:
http://cryptome.org/dnc-insec.htm


THIS WEB INCLUDES PHOTOS TO HELP ANARCHISTS IN BOSTON
IT IS POSTED ON THE ANARCHIST WEB SITE'S BLACK TEA PARTY WEB SITE
ALONG WITH PLANS FOR A DAY OF DIRECT ACTION ON THURSDAY, JULY 29


23 July 2004

James Atkinson writes:

I spent a few more hours out at the DNC location, and noticed the following.
First, there are a few more uniformed police officers present today (I counted
four), plus a half dozen plain clothes sitting around trying really hard to be
undercover, and invisible. It's rather funny as their observation points were
poorly selected, but i guess they could have just been practicing..

Much of the fencing that was across the front of the Pavillion was been taken
down, but someone visiting the area can just walk into the pavilion and wander
around. No security present.

The Verizon trailers and trucks scattered around the building are not secure in
any way, the door(s) were either propped open and unoccupied, or the doors were
unlocked. NO security around these communications facility.

The HVAC systems are still insecure, the access hatches still are not locked
down, and the area is easily accessible by anyone who cares to open and play
with them. No security, nothing to keep someone from sabotaging the units, and
contaminating the units with a nerve agent, of biotoxin like anthrax, etc.

Zero access covers on the streets and sidewalks have been secured, zero sewer
grates have been welded or secured, and I could not find even one manhole cover
that had been secured. No security, major liability.

While there has been juggling of the jersey barriers over the past few days in
the area, the problem has just gotten worse as many jersey barriers have been
clustered together, but have not been anchored, or interconnect. Also, quite a
number of the new placements are not solidly on the ground, and could be easily
twisted out of the way by 3-4 college students. A number of gaping holes has
also been created around the Tip O'Neil building that are wide enough to drive a
really large truck through (if someone wanted to park a semi truck or Ryder
truck in the steps of the Federal building). Also, no visible security other
that a small number of really poor quality video cameras and speed domes. No
visible FRP weenies outside the Federal building, nor the surrounding area....
Walmart has better security at one of their stores, then this convention has.

The "Free Speech Zone" is a joke, and it nothing more than a way to intimidate
protesters and to keep them locked up and out of site in what is best referred
to as "an Ashcoft Monkey Cage". The "zone" is poorly designed, poorly built, and
serves no legitimate purpose from a security perspective. The fence posts are
not anchored into the Jersey Barriers, and the fence fabric is so poorly
attached to the poles that it can be easily torn off. Also, the fence posts can
be very simply broken free of the fence fabric due to the small number of poorly
installed soft aluminum staples/wires. This would give the protester a very
heavy steel pole that can be used as a lethal weapon, a battering ram, and to
cause a huge amount of damage. If protesters are not allowed to protest they
tend to become violent, and go on a riot, with the Fleet Center being the likely
focal point of any riot.

The security arrangements for the convention are screwed up really, really badly
and it presents a very grave situation. Instead of implementing effective
security measures the government has opted for gadgets and gimmicks, pork barrel
projects, and press releases about the government is trying to look busy, but is
not really doing anything to protect the public. Hopefully they remembered to
buy extra body bags as they may need them.

It's too bad that the government really doesn't care... and that they are just
giving the DNC security lip service.

Related:

http://cryptome.org/dnc-dauphine.htm
http://cryptome.org/dncpen-eyeball.htm

http://cryptome.org/dnc-secplan.htm

19 July 2004. Other comments on Fleet Center insecurity by James Atkinson:

http://www.brain-stream.com/blog/archives/000286.html
18 July 2004

A report from James Atkinson, Granite Island Group, on what's wrong with
security at the Democratic National Convention at Fleet Center, Boston, MA,
based on a survey of the facilities. Photos were taken recently during an
unencumbered tour of the facilities and area.

1. Single security official on duty.
2. Inept security barrier installation.

3. Unprotected Media Pavillion adjoining Fleet Center.

4. Unprotected Media Pavillion ventilation system.

5. Unprotected telephone installation trailer.

6. Unprotected Fleet Center.

7. Unprotected temporary tents.

8. Insecure manholes.

9. Other vulnerabilities.

See Eyeballing the Fleet Center Boston: http://cryptome.org/fleet-eyeball.htm

Fleet Center web site:

http://www.fleetcenter.com/
Traffic Information for the Democratic National Convention

The Democratic National Convention is coming to Boston and the FleetCenter from
July 26-29. This is the first national political convention to take place since
the attacks of September 11, 2001, and the United States Department of Homeland
Security has declared it to be a National Special Security Event. Accordingly, a
number of road and lane closures will take place from Monday, July 26th through
Friday, July 30th that will have a major impact on traffic in the region. Please
click here to download a detailed version of all the transportation restrictions
or for information specifically for businesses and residents in the Bulfinch
Triangle area. For continually updated information, please visit
www.boston04.com, the official website of the Convention Host Committee.


Source


Construction photos of the pavillion in June 2004 (located at Future Development
in map above).

Source
Source




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Single security official on duty.
This first series of images is that of a "dark sedan, with tinted windows, and
kept just a little too clean",which was illegally parked in a handicap spot. The
Placard in the dash identified the vehicle as belonging to "U.S. Department of
Homeland Security", with the second line of the placard reading "U.S. Secret
Service". The antenna on the rear of the vehicle, and quasi-covert blue strobes
indicates the vehicle is likely that of someone responsible for the (in)security
of the area. The driver of the car made several trips between the bar were it
was parked, and when he finally left he appeared to be somewhat impaired, and
was driving erratically, almost running down three pedestrians in a crosswalk.
As the license plate number is clear in these picture is should be easy to track
him down and explain to him about illegal parking and drunk driving. The vehicle
was also emitting signals created by a GPS tracker/beacon which indicates the
vehicle is likely bugged.






2. Inept Security Barrier Installation.
The "Jersey Barriers" and barricades that have been erected around these areas
are a complete joke, and serve no purpose than to give people a place to sit
while eating lunch. The barriers are scattered in an extremely haphazard
arrangement, and are not effective as a security measure against anything larger
than a Toyota Echo driven by a drunk freshman. The have not been staked down
with heavy steel bars about 5-6 ft long. Also, most of the barriers lack the
"J-hooks" that lock the barriers together, and then extends into the ground.
Also, these Jersey barriers also have to be bound together with either grade 80
or 100 3/8-inch chains, or three strands of 3/8-inch steel cable.

The barriers are in extremely poor conditions, are not properly installed, and
provide nothing more than an illusion of security. Anybody with even a small
pickup truck could push several out of the way. Anyone with a larger truck
(i.e., a 24-ft Ryder Truck) would have no problem slamming into these barriers,
knocking them out of the way, and engaging in a nefarious action.








3. Unprotected Media Pavillion adjoining Fleet Center.
In these first few images we see gates that are unlocked, and being that there
is no security (or anybody else in the area) someone with nefarious intentions
could easily enter the building and wreak all kinds of havoc, or leave something
to provide a dramatic incident during the convention. Note the gate that is
unlocked, and the chains just hanging there. Other construction areas are
equally un-protected, and the security people are just, well... missing. Sadly,
the local Walmart Store has better security that this.






4. Unprotected Media Pavillion ventilation system.
These modular generator and ventilation systems are extremely dangerous to use
as the intakes are not protected, and the access doors into the system are not
secure. This means that, currently, anybody could open and sabotage any of these
systems. A biologic or radiological agent could be inserted here as such the
system would ensure it is well distributed thoughout the complex very quickly.
Also, due to the noise, strong smells, and vibration present in these modules
someone with nefarious intentions could plant a fairly large (hundreds of
pounds) infernal device. Note that these access panels are completely exposed
and not protected, they are not blocked by a fence, and there is no police
officer nor security people near any of them.






5. Unprotected telephone installation trailer.
There are several of these Verizon special event communication trailer, and as
you will no doubt notice there are no police or security people anywhere near
it. Both the door, and the access panels are unlocked. Also, notice that the
fence are not properly secured to the trailer, and that someone could easily
slip between the trailer and the fence and gain full, unrestricted access to the
DNC areas for hours at a time. These communications trailers are a major
vulnerability as any damage to these during the DNC would cripple security and
logistics (in the event of a security anomaly). Look carefully at the pictures
and you may see a DNCC Security pass laying on the ground nearby (evidence of a
clumsy workman). If someone were to pickup this security pass they could really
cause some mayhem.






6. Unprotected Fleet Center.
These photos show vulnerabilities of Fleet Center due to contruction, almost no
security personnel and free access to the facility.






7. Unprotected temporary tents.
These photos show a temporary tents being provided which are unprotected during
installation.






8. Insecure manholes.
These photos show unsecured manholes, access panels and grates around Fleet
Center. One appears to have been welded shut at one time, but was since
re-opened to access the manhole. None of these grates and covers have been
secured, and you really can not secure the cover until the area below it has
been deemed safe. As this has not been done and the covers have not been secured
there was no security concerning these underground areas. It would be EXTREMELY
easy for someone to hide hundreds, if not thousands of pounds of explosives of
chemical weapons in these unsecured areas at the DNC.

Even if all of these areas were secure and the covers tack-welded shut the
hammer at lower right can easily break tack-welds.


9. Other vulnerabilities.
These photos show other vulnerabilities:

Upper left -- unprotected VIP parking.

Upper right -- unprotected parking below the facility command center.

Middle left -- uninspected taxis adjacent to Fleet Center.

Middle right -- uninspected large backpacks in and around the facility.

Lower left -- unprotected access to upper level of causeway adjoining Fleet
Center.

Lower right -- unprotected access to area below causeway adjoining Fleet Center.

The VIP parking areas are completely void of anything remotely resembling
security, and, sadly, the area is directly below the security office at the
Fleet center/DNCC. This very sensitive area could be easily destroyed by someone
driving a car bomb into this parking area and taking out at least a fourth of
the building. In fact someone driving a Hummer, Suburban, or other large SUV
filled with explosives would easily collapse the building and cause thousands of
casualties. Note that there are no security people present in this area, nor
cops, nor FPS, and not anything but a void.

People carrying very large, heavy backpacks were walking around and though the
unsecured DNCC areas, and sadly the security and cops were simply absent. Any
of these people could have easily slipped something nefarious into the hundreds
of unsecured area in and around the DNC. They were not being challenged or
questioned by the Police as there simply were none present, nor was there
anything resembling a security force protecting the preparations for this
extremely high profile event.