OCTOBER 8, 2020

Protests & Provocateurs: Infiltrators are Disrupting BLM Protests

Reports of agents provocateurs, outside agitators and police infiltration of protests are appearing throughout the country and involving law-enforcement agents and rightwing nationalists.

Rumors circulated that the provocateur was an undercover St. Paul police officer seeking to incite violence. However, the Minneapolis Police Dept. received an email tip identifying the “Umbrella Man” as a member of the Hells Angels biker gang who “wanted to sow ** and racial unrest by breaking out the windows and writing what he did on the double red doors.” Sgt. Christensen reported that the provocateur had a criminal history that included convictions of domestic violence and assault.

Philadelphia, PA – in early June numerous reports circulated that peaceful protests across the state were being infiltrated by white supremacists and other extremists. “I’ve been on the ground for three days in Philadelphia, and I’m disturbed by what I’m seeing,” said Chad Dion Lassiter, a national expert on race relations and the executive director of the Pennsylvania Human Rights Commission. “What I saw was a coordinated effort of looting encouraged by white supremacists who hide behind signs demanding justice while promoting anarchy,” Lassiter said.

Lancaster, PA — Police Chief Jarrad Berkihiser said police have “definite evidence” that white nationalists were among the crowds of protesters during the previous weekend. They were wearing body armor and carrying handguns, and “caucasian individuals” threw rocks and bottles containing cayenne pepper at police. He added, there were also threats to set fire to the police station, the county courthouse and local stores.

Fargo, ND – following George Floyd’s killing on June 4^th, a rogue assistant police chief was accused of creating “danger for himself and any officer who may have needed to come to his aid” at a Black Lives Matter (BLM), yelled “F**k the police” while checking for guns at a Black Lives Matter protest; the officer resigned.

El Paso, TX – on June 4^th, the Texas Department of Public Safety reported, “There’s violent extremists, there’s anarchists, there’s Antifa. But there’s also criminals that are using this as an opportunity to exploit to loot and to hurt others. That’s happened.”

Kansas City, KS – on June 16, rightwing Boogaloo provocateurs and nationalist showed up at a BLM rally and were rumored to have been behind the burning of a Kansas City police car.

Richmond, VA – on June 28^th, Mayor Levar Stoney declared, “There were white supremacists marching under the banner of Black Lives Matter, attempting to undermine an otherwise overwhelmingly peaceful movement towards social justice.”

Portland, OR – on July 29^th, John K. Olson, U. S. Bankruptcy Judge (retired) posted the following statement: “It appears likely that at least some of the asserted violence and anarchy is in fact instigated by agents provocateurs funded by our own secret police.”

Agents provocateurs, outside agitators and police infiltrators play an important role in how law enforcement offices – be they federal or local – turn legitimate protests into civil disturbances, often involving “terrorist” acts. So, be suspicious of those who express the most “radical” actions at a demonstration or popular mobilization as it might be a calculated action to delegitimize the protest.
https://www.counterpunch.org/2020/10/08/protests-provocateurs-infiltrators-are-disrupting-blm-protests/