“We Are Anonymous” postings, with its signature symbol of a Guy Fawkes mask popularized in the film “V for Vendetta,” have appeared near the EMU Amphitheater, directing viewers to whatis-theplan.org for information on the collective concept.
Anonymous is a loosely affiliated group of activist hackers who started as Internet pranksters, but has evolved into an idea that protests for freedom of speech, government transparency and against oppression. Members of Anonymous share the same idea and principles, organizing campaigns that aim at exposing corruption. With its membership spanning across the world, whatis-theplan.org focuses on “The Plan,” a one-year, three-phase process that relies on viral education, valid facts and resources, and unity and tolerance to help bring the masses to their resistance.
“The goal is to generate such a large buzz that people will be moved en masse to activism and protest in any manner in which they are able, against any legitimate target — for example: governments, corporations, banks, religions, etc. — that show indications of corruption, censorship, attacks upon Internet freedom, free speech, human rights and the like,” said “Telemachos,” a “HiveMedia” moderator at whatis-theplan.org.
“The Plan” began on approximately June 15 as a fight to defend the freedoms of people and to create a better way of life through a world community and diplomacy. “The Plan” starts with “Assemble,” educating potential members about the injustices of “the system” and how to stop its structural stranglehold on the people. The second phase, “Organize,” expands on “Assemble” by escalating new knowledge to the local community, and the final phase, “Mobilize,” is organizing noncompliance with the leaders of “the system” through peaceful protests and boycotts. Currently, more than 50,000 members have committed to “The Plan.”
“We see these actions as acts of peaceful, nonviolent civil disobedience against unlawful, tyrannical regimes,” said “Telemachos.” @@this is deliberate — kenny. What is deliberate? — Thomas@@
The leaderless group has gained notoriety as “hacktivists,” namely for its cyber attacks and exploits against PayPal, MasterCard and Visa in December 2010 in defense of WikiLeaks and its director, Julian Assange, as well as their protest movement against the Church of Scientology’s practices. The group continues it self-proclaimed mission of revealing wrongdoing in the world, hacking into Norway’s dual terrorist attacker Anders Behring Breivik’s@@http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/norway/8656515/Norway-attacks-profile-of-suspect-Anders-Behring-Breivik.html@@ Twitter feed July 31 to erase his ideas and memory, and carrying out its latest venture by breaching 70 rural law enforcement websites in the U.S. in retaliation for the arrest of its members.
Though Anonymous has grown into a voice against political affairs, the University and the state of Oregon have no known locations or formats for the group. According to whatis-theplan.org, a rally and meeting of members called “Operation: The Stand,” which also consists of protests against police state, slavery and debt, is set for September in a unspecified city.