Iowa: Anarchy-themed posters prompt police investigation

Tuesday, October 03 2006 @ 12:39 PM CDT

Contributed by: Anonymous

Des Moines police say they will investigate the recent discovery of posters and graffiti apparently linked to anti-government groups. Investigators say they don't want to be caught off-guard if the messages represent more than simple vandalism. Anarchy-themed posters prompt police investigation

The anti-government propaganda has been seen in downtown Des Moines.

By TOM ALEX, REGISTER STAFF WRITER
October 3, 2006

Des Moines police say they will investigate the recent discovery of posters and graffiti apparently linked to anti-government groups.

Investigators say they don't want to be caught off-guard if the messages represent more than simple vandalism.

One of the posters advises: "Punch cops in the face and get away with it." It includes the message: "If you treasure liberty - if you hunger for justice - if you crave revenge - join the Anarchists" and makes a reference to a Web site, www.crimethinc.com, that promotes anarchy and the use of graffiti to spread the word.

Police want to know if the propaganda, found on utility poles, utility boxes and bridges, is the work of a lone vandal or an organized group.

"We'll be trying to find out more about them," said Lt. Mark Morgan of the police intelligence unit.

Morgan said all such language that might represent a viable threat is taken seriously.

Anarchists believe in the overthrow of organized government. One of the posters found in Des Moines depicts a group of white people around a black couple with the words: "Be careful with each other - so you can be dangerous together."

The latest anarchist posting was found over the weekend on a MidAmerican Energy box in the 1400 block of Grand Avenue. It was accompanied by hand-written messages in yellow marker such as: "Make it all crash & let it all burn." Officials said a power washer will be needed to remove the messages.

"We're not surprised these posters showed up where they did," Morgan said. "We've seen them downtown before. It's not a huge trend or anything, as far as we know. So it's difficult to know what their beliefs are. If they're like a lot of these other groups; they have a few people who know what they are talking about and others who are just looking to join a group at all."

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Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, October 03 2006 @ 02:35 PM CDT

folks should write letters to the editor explaining what anarchy is. "overthrow of organized government" makes it sound like anarchists favor choas, or an unorganized government. self government/ self management should be empashized.

Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, October 03 2006 @ 02:41 PM CDT

thats a good idea. the author of this article is also very supportive of food not bombs in des moines, and recently wrote a piece decrying the police--who were trying to kick us out of the space we serve from--, which contributed to the police's decision to not fuck with us.

Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, October 03 2006 @ 02:45 PM CDT

also, you left out the best part of that article!!

"On the surface, anarchists would appear to be at least as dangerous as Wiccans, officials said."

hahahah.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200661002021

Authored by: Renegade on Tuesday, October 03 2006 @ 06:02 PM CDT

I am Wiccan, and we don't sacrifice living things.
also most* anarchists are not racist, the cops should be more worried about concervative Neo-Nazis. The police investigation will probably lead nowhere, I am unaware of their investigation methods, but I see nothing to be worried about.
*(I can't say all because I'm only one anarchist and I don't know all the others, but I think it's safe to say most.)

---
~~~I know things~~~

Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, October 03 2006 @ 06:11 PM CDT

OK, about the CrimethInc. poster with a black couple and a bunch of white people around them and the text "be careful with each other so you can be dangerous together."

It's a photo from the school desegregation struggles. The protagonists are the two black folks, who are being taunted by hateful white folks in the background, but are visibly holding it together and supporting each other.

The newspaper article makes it sound like something totally different. That's really fucked up. But what do you expect...

Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, October 03 2006 @ 03:52 PM CDT

What's that about a black couple being picketed in a poster? Is taht for real? Is there something by Crimethinc that could be interpreted that way?

Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, October 03 2006 @ 04:45 PM CDT

being picketed? I just pictured the white people clustered around the blacks, like in a family portrait or something. does anyone have the image or a link?

Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, October 03 2006 @ 05:09 PM CDT

If I remember correctly, this is a snapshot of students on their way to attend
little rock highschool during the anti-integration racism that occured during that
time.

Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, October 03 2006 @ 05:25 PM CDT

I've seen that poster before, I think what it means is that - racism is obviously stupid, why divide yourselves up like that when you can come together - coming together especially against the people who keep us divided.

Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, October 03 2006 @ 05:14 PM CDT

well, if you look at the posters and stickers that crimethinc gives out /sells none of them have the image described, so i'm not really sure what the article is referring to.

Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, October 03 2006 @ 06:07 PM CDT

Somehow i knew that would be misinterpreted. The poster is taken from the
pages of an issue of crimethinc's Rolling Thunder zine. It has a photo taken
probably from the 60s of a bunch of idiot white people holding signs against
integration or something, and there's two black students (male and female)
together and the caption reads in big bold letters "BE CAREFUL WITH EACH
OTHER SO YOU CAN BE DANGEROUS TOGETHER." That message is obviously
referring to to two black students being "dangerous" to the system (makes more
sense if you see the words used in the context of the surrounding article) by
resisting racism. This same phrase was painted on a banner that was up in the
woods during the recent Crimethinc convergence.

Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, October 03 2006 @ 07:17 PM CDT

actually, the 'be careful with each other' posters were put up in a predominantly african-american neighborhood, where police harassment has been on the rise for some time now.

Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, October 04 2006 @ 02:27 AM CDT

I wish that person/ group the best of luck in all of their adventures/ misadventures. Know that someone out there gives a damn about what you're doing, if you're reading this!

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