Occupy Facing 'Cloaked' Counterattacks

by Ritt Goldstein

Copyright November 2011

Fair Use Welcomed

Last week it emerged that the New York Police Department seems to have developed a new tactic against Occupy - encouraging those among New York City's 'darker side' to "take it to Zuccotti", according to a report first appearing in the NY Daily News. Of course, all those opposed to Occupy's courageous efforts have tried to paste unflattering labels on the protesters from the start, and since there's nothing dark or sinister about these good folks, it seems they had to find some 'darker types' to fit their description.

'eyes in the back of one's head' can be useful; photo credit: David Shankbone

Very nasty, but subverting successful popular movements is how those who want to keep things the way they are do so. As a matter of fact, some readers might recall that the FBI used to have a covert program, one with the purpose of "surveilling, infiltrating, discrediting, and disrupting domestic political organizations", according to Wikipedia. It was called Cointelpro, and officially existed between 1956 and 1971.



As Cointelpro's effort included misinformation, defamation, wrongful violence and imprisonment, and a host of other dirty tricks, it was nasty but often effective. And, it even targeted such figures as the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.



Given the increased police powers spawned by the 'War on Terror', it would be surprising if Occupy wasn't being similarly attacked today. Will any 'less than savory' acts blamed on Occupy be theirs, or rather the 'darker work' of those simply masquerading as them?



