Chicago's Mayor Continues Harmful Closure of Mag Mile

Chicago is a city under siege — from within. It breaks my heart to say it, but the majority of Chicagoans have made this possible by decades of voting for Democrats. Most of the City Council members have been more interested in buying votes with corrupt TIF money giveaways and being "liberal" and soft on crime, and now the proverbial chickens have come home to roost.

Rioting, mass looting, and wanton violence are the specters hovering over the city. This weekend, the so-far-ineffectual mayor Lori Lightfoot has ordered a 9:00 PM curfew

On Monday, August 10 there was an "orchestrated" invasion of the city's Magnificent Mile, which is a mixed neighborhood of residential and commercial buildings.  Much of it is within the zip code 60611, one of the nation's wealthiest. 

Mayor Lightfoot

The "Mag Mile" is an upscale strip of North Michigan Avenue that runs north from the Chicago River up to Oak Street Beach. Between N. Michigan Aven and Lake Michigan, a few blocks east is a neighborhood called "Streeterville." The greater Magnificent Mile area has been a major attraction for locals and international tourists for many years.

After the events of a week ago, however, businesses are hurt and many may never fully recover. Some businesses were badly damaged. Some have "merely" lost business. 

People who have enjoyed going into the Mag Mile district for years are now reluctant, afraid that violence could suddenly pop up out of nowhere like a summer storm in South Texas.

Much of the blame falls squarely in the laps of city and county officials, all well-entrenched Democrats. City Journal sums it up:

The sacking of Chicago’s North Side was more than a tactical failure. For months, key officials—the state’s attorney responsible for prosecution, the mayor, and the governor—have failed to condemn criminals sufficiently or act with necessary force against such violence. They have contributed to a culture of impunity that tolerates mobs and hoodlums.

Kim Foxx, the state’s attorney for Cook County, has already become nationally notorious for refusing to prosecute Jussie Smollett, the actor who lied to the police that he was a victim of racial violence. But her offenses against public order are far worse than her condoning of a provocateur who tried to fracture the city with a falsehood. Foxx has dismissed felony cases brought by the police at a rate 35 percent higher than her predecessor. She raised the threshold for felony shoplifting from $300 to $1,000—and as a result, thieves steal brazenly in broad daylight as well as under cover of darkness. Chicago police chief David Brown suggested that Foxx’s failure to prosecute looters from the previous sacking of the city in June was partly responsible for emboldening the current round of looting.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot is also responsible. She has hardly been enforcing a zero-tolerance policy against lawless mobs. (Full article at City Journal)

The mayor, indeed the city, needs help from beyond its own ranks. It has been clearly demonstrated that they cannot protect the safety of residents and businesses without such help, yet Mayor Lightfoot has refused to ask for assistance from the federal or even from the Illinois National Guard. Such reinforcements could greatly help her police force to really get the situation under control.

Instead, Mayor Lightfoot makes speeches and decrees that will solve nothing.

Tyler Durden at Zero Hedge noted this today (my emphasis added):

Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot desperately wants the world to believe that she has the situation in her city under control and that she doesn't need help from the federal government - nor would she ever need it from President Trump. 

But while she puts that facade on during interviews and press conferences with national media, the reality of constant looting, rioting and crime in Chicago continues to unfold; as do its consequences.

For example, this weekend, the city will shut down its Central Business District overnight, effective at 9PM each night. The decision comes "in the wake of looting and unrest downtown, on the Magnificent Mile, and in Streeterville, River North, and the area near North and Sheffield avenues," according to CBS Chicago. 

Durden detailed the specifics of what-and-where the shutdown would affect, such as river bridges being up to block traffic, blocking part of Lake Shore Drive, ramps on expressways, and interruptions of bus and train service to the area. This, however, is not exactly new: It is an extension of Lightfoot's virtual shutdown of the area.

On August 13, the Chicago Loop Alliance published this advisory:

Through Monday, August 17, at 6 a.m., access to the downtown area will be temporarily restricted from 9 p.m.–6 a.m. The restricted access to the downtown area is NOT a curfew. All residents, workers and employers whose businesses are located downtown will have access at all times. (Read full statement here)

The City of Chicago published this notice on August 12:

Restricted Access to Downtown will continue tonight and through the Weekend from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.–ending at 6 a.m. on Monday, August 17 (Read full statement here)

Rather than increasing police patrols or bringing in additional law enforcement personnel, Lightfoot has effectively surrendered to the chaos. The Mag Mile, along with the adjacent downtown "Loop," River North and River West are areas in which restaurants, bars and theaters are normally open until well after midnight. Stunting their business additionally will help nobody.

You can bet the police are not happy with Lightfoot. On August 12, the police union's president John Catanzara urged tougher measures. He suggested bringing in tow trucks to haul looters' cars away, thereby taking away their ability to escape arrest. Caravans of cars were seen bringing people into the Mag Mile to loot on August 10.

“Car caravans are the biggest problem. They can relocate all of their criminal behavior two miles away within five minutes. We can’t deploy 400 officers two miles away in that same amount of time. They can go where the police are not in a split second. By the time we show up there, we get the stragglers when the main force has already moved on to the next target,” Catanzara said Wednesday.

Meanwhile, agitators continue to urge chaos, and Black Lives Matter is openly endorsing looting.

BLM Chicago Leader on the looting of stores: "That is reparations.... anything they want to take, take it because these businesses have insurance..." pic.twitter.com/uB9GAGmkLu

— ForAmerica (@ForAmerica) August 11, 2020

Related:

• When Authority Vanishes: Chicago’s leaders have surrendered to vandals. - City Journal, 14 Aug 2020
• Chicago restaurant owner on 'disturbing' looting and rioting: 'Business is terrible, the streets are empty' - Fox News, 11 Aug 2020
• Chicago politician calls mayor ‘unprepared,’ wants to call in the feds - New York Post, 11 Aug 2020
• Democrat Chicago alderman says city is in 'total unrest' and 'mayor has lost control' - Fox News, 12 Aug 2020
• Chicago’s Magnificent Mile at risk for massive store closures, alderman says - CBS-2 Chicago, 7 Aug 2020
• Democrats Can’t Stop the Monster They Created - BuckSexton.com, 11 Aug 2020
• CPD patrols stepped up as businesses hunker down for stay-at-home order - Chicago Sun-Times, 21 March 2020

Over 100 Arrests in Violent Chicago Looting Spree

The scope of last night's looting, violence and wanton destruction in Chicago is stunning.

AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast

As I reported late last night, huge crowds of people overwhelmed the police and smashed their way into many of the city's finest retailers in the world-famous "Magnificent Mile" on N. Michigan Avenue. Chaos and confusion were the order of the moment.

Chicago's Mayor Lori Lightfoot held a press conference this morning.

“We are waking up in shock this morning,” she said, and referred to the looting as “brazen criminal looting and destruction.” Lightfoot has been harshly criticized as not doing enough to quell violence in Chicago. She added, "This was straight up, felony criminal conduct," said Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot. "This was an assault on our city."

"Widespread damage was reported throughout Chicago after looting and rioting began around midnight Monday," reported WGN-TV9. "Witnesses reported hundreds of people smashing their way into stores throughout Michigan Avenue, areas in the South Loop and the Near North Side."

Today we get a clearer picture of what went down. From the Chicago Tribune:

More than 100 people were arrested as of 9 a.m., according to Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown. Thirteen officers were injured during the unrest, including a sergeant who was hit by a bottle. A civilian and private security guard were shot and wounded. 

[...]  

City officials said the seeds for the violent crime spree were sown on social media Sunday afternoon following an officer involved shooting in the Englewood neighborhood. Officers shot and wounded a 20-year-old man Sunday after he fired shots at them while being chased, authorities said. 

The man was taken to University of Chicago Medical Center and is expected to survive, Brown said. 

The Civilian Office Police Accountability, the city agency that investigates all officer-involved shootings, released a statement confirming Brown’s assertion that the wounded male is an adult. Some social media accounts that authorities say fueled the unrest referred to him as a 15-year-old boy.

The Tribune report noted that there are renewed calls for the Illinois Nationa Guard to be called in to keep order. Many of the looters and rioters were spurred on by social media. The Trib has a related article worth reading: Live updates: Here’s the latest on the aftermath of overnight looting and vandalism in Chicago.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports that the police presence will be beefed up in response.

Chicago Police Supt. David Brown said police will not stand by and watch downtown Chicago become “someplace people fear.” He promised a “heavy police presence” to restore order, and said access to downtown will be restricted from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., effective Monday night.

Brown said “the seeds for the shameful destruction we saw last night” started in Englewood Sunday afternoon. About 2:30 p.m., officers responded to a report of a man with a gun. He fled as they arrived, Brown said, and fired at officers. They returned fire, striking the man, who was taken to the University of Chicago Hospital and is expected to survive. The 20-year-old man had previously faced charges of domestic battery, reckless conduct and child endangerment, Brown said.

Shortly after that, police became aware of “several social media posts” about looting planned downtown, Brown said, and as a result, the department reacted by deploying 400 officers to the downtown area.

One of Chicago's most outspoken civil rights personalities, Michael Pfleger, actually said the looting seemed "orchestrated." The Associated Press has this (emphasis added):

Along the Magnificent Mile, people were seen going in and out of stores carrying shopping bags full of merchandise as well as at a bank, the Chicago Tribune reported, and as the crowd grew vehicles dropped off more people in the area. On streets throughout the downtown area, empty cash drawers from stores were strewn about and ATMs were ripped open. 

Stores miles from downtown were also ransacked, with parking lots littered with glass and items from inside the stores. Clothes hangers and boxes that once contained television sets and other electronics were seen — evidence that thieves had taken racks of clothes and removed them from the hangers. 

"This was obviously very orchestrated," the Rev. Michael Pfleger, a prominent Roman Catholic priest and activist on the city's South Side, told WBBM-TV as cameras panned the downtown area.

Pfleger's "orchestrated" statement is supported by many other accounts. Police Superintendent David Brown said that "caravans" of people were seen on their way to the Mag Mile and the Loop to loot.

Brown and Lightfoot both emphasized that the looting should not be mistaken for protesting. “This was not an organized protest,” Brown said. “This was an incident of pure criminality.”

Looter uses vehicle to break into a business at the Chicago BLM riot overnight. #BlackLivesMatter #ChicagoRiots pic.twitter.com/9CaddwItYO

— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) August 10, 2020

ANARCHY IN CHICAGO, LOOTING, RIOTING

Video source: https://video.twimg.com/

Please see our follow-up post, "Pure Criminality" - Over 100 Arrests in Violent "Coordinated" Chicago Looting Spree Last Night

2:20 AM, August 10 - It's after midnight in Chicago and the city's crown jewel, the "Magnificent Mile" of North Michigan Avenue, in "the Gold Coast," is under assault by hundreds (if not thousands) of looters and rioters.

Much of this area is also known as "Streeterville" and has many residential buildings in it, including the iconic John Hancock Center (857 N. Michigan Avenue).

Police are overwhelmed and desperately calling for backup and assistance ("10-1").

At this point in time, it is impossible to say how widespread the looting is, but it seems certain that it is in multiple places. The looters are brazen. The cops are powerless.

The main target seems to be Nordstroms, but Macy's and other stores have been looted too. Some other looting locations (on or very near the Mag Mile area):

• Water Tower Place shopping mall
• The Jewel-Osco store at 540 S. Michigan 
• Louis Vuitton, Walton & Michigan
• Oak Street - ATM's reportedly targeted.
• Potash Market on State and Chestnut Street
• Vans shoes, clothing store at Cedar & Lake
• Walgreens at Clark and Ontario
• Walgreens at Adams and Michigan
• Best Buy, 555 W. Roosevelt
• Omega Store, Delaware & Michigan
• Others, which we will learn about on Monday

Newsweek is reporting that the looting and rioting may have been sparked by a police shooting on Sunday afternoon:

It is believed the clashes originally broke out after a suspect was shot by Chicago police in the city's Englewood neighborhood.

Chicago Police confirmed that an officer-involved shooting took place at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, August 9 in the 5700 block of South Racine Avenue. Officers were dispatched to reports of a man with a gun, who then spotted a suspect matching the description.

Police say the suspect then fired at officers as they approached him in an alleyway. The suspect continued to fire as he attempted to flee on foot, hitting one officer.

Officers returned fire, striking the suspect. He was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in unknown condition. Three officers involved in the shooting were taken to the hospital for observation.

NOTE: This is a developing story and it is too early to know exact details. Twitter is way ahead of nearly all news media outlets on this. Lots of uploaded videos and tweets to be found under the hashtags #ChicagoScanner, #ChicagoLooting, #ChicagoPolice, #ChicagoRiots and others.

Bugged out. #CHICAGOScanner #ChicagoRiots pic.twitter.com/toiQZNxuyL

— Celebrity DJ-DJ Tek (@djtek) August 10, 2020

Police chase a couple guys out of the Macy’s and dozens more come in. #ChicagoScanner #Chicago pic.twitter.com/61wKHUMWmL

— Paige Fry (@paigexfry) August 10, 2020

Tonight’s violence, looting and future financial loss is on you, @chicagosmayor. Back the @Chicago_Police and stop this chaos, approve request for Federal assistance. Stop patrolling Montrose beach and end this destruction. https://t.co/Vk0WcvaDw1

— Lisa Sorenson (@lisaecook) August 10, 2020

Looters breaking into shopping center in downtown Chicago. #Looters #Chicago #BreakingNews #riot pic.twitter.com/gVFIU19NJD

— Chicago Critter (@0ddgasm) August 10, 2020

Lunatics Take Over The Asylum: Seattle's Absurd Autonomous Anarchist Zone

CHAZ barrier: "You are now leaving the USA"

On Monday, June 8 the Seattle Police Department confirmed that they would abandon their East Precinct.

The SPD removed or secured valuable items from the precinct headquarters. There were also reports of a shredding truck brought to the building to destroy sensitive documents.

This is similar to what an embassy or consulate would do if they were being attacked by hostile locals.

Updated: Moncton Gunman Surrenders After Killing Three Mounties

Justin Bourque works his evil

June 5, 2014 -- Parts of Moncton, New Brunswick were locked down following the shooting deaths on Wednesday night of three Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the wounding of two other officers, reports the CBC.  

Police were searching for gunman Justin Bourque, 24, armed and dangerous. Police tweeted a photo of him wearing military camouflage and carrying guns (left).

UPDATE: Bourque surrendered to police at early on the morning of Friday, just after midnight. The Daily Mail (UK) reports that Bourque gave himself up in the front yard of Moncton resident Michelle Thibodeau. 

"He was in my backyard. I saw him arrested in front of my eyes. He is alive," Thibodeau tweeted. "The swat team arrived at my house and unloaded and started screaming in my backyard for him to surrender and he did. I watched it happen," according the the Daily Mail. "They had him sprawled on my front lawn for some time and then loaded him into the swat vehicle. They are now checking my yard for firearms."

While Bourque was still at large, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police asked residents to stay inside and lock their doors, turn on porch lights to assist police, and to not broadcast police operations over social media such as Twitter or Facebook. Moncton has a population of just over 60,000.

Also See:

• THE UNTOLD STORY OF JUSTIN BOURQUE Macleans
• Moncton manhunt: Search for shooting suspect enters 2nd day Global News
• Horror of Moncton shooting captured on social media CTV News
• Canada shooting: Manhunt as police officers killed in Moncton BBC News
• Justin Bourque’s best friend remembers their last bizarre encounter National Post
• Bourque brothers graduate on same day (2008) The Village News

Update 3: Nine Shot When Brooklyn BBQ Blasted By Bullets

616 E. 52nd Street, Brooklyn NY (Google Maps)

June 30, 2013 - 1:30 AM EDT - Eight people - four men and four women - were injured in a multiple shooting incident early at 12:50 AM EDT at 616 E. 52nd Street. The residence, located  near Clarendon Road, is in Brooklyn's East Flatbush neighborhood. Reports say a barbecue was being held at the home "when a gunman fired a barrage of bullets," reports NY Daily News at 2:11 AM EDT.

Update, July 2: 
NBC New York reports that "Nine people were wounded at the party on East 52nd Street in East Flatbush when gunfire erupted shortly before 1 a.m., according to NYPD. The victims suffered a range of injuries, including gunshot wounds to the side, lower back, calf and foot, but all are expected to be OK." More at NBC...

The New York Daily News reports that "A fugitive suspected of shooting and wounding nine people outside of a wild weekend house party on E. 52nd St. in Brooklyn was apprehended Tuesday at the Holland Tunnel. Tyrone Brown, 24, was pinched when Port Authority officer Michael Cerullo spotted the hulking suspect in a white Nissan Altima in Jersey City, near the Holland Tunnel, just before 4 p.m., sources said." More at nydailynews.com...  Brown, of Crown Heights, has been charged with "attempted murder, assault, criminal possession of a weapon and reckless endangerment," reports WPTV.

At 2:14 AM EDT, ‏@NewsBreaker tweeted this:
CONFIRMED: NYPD tells @NewsBreaker 7 people shot at a residence in Brooklyn:
*Domestic dispute *1 critical *6 non life threatening injuries

At the same time, @NYCityAlerts tweeted this: 
Brooklyn: Clarendon Rd & East 52 St. NYPD o/s with 7 people shot 1 in traumatic arrest 4 in serious condition. Level 1 called.

At 2:25 AM EDT, @TheNewsHQ tweeted:
Brooklyn U/D: NYPD Says 1 woman is in critical condition other 6 are stable, Shooting started at a BBQ party, No arrest has been made.

Russia Today (RT) reproduced one of the tweets from Twitter. "Seven people were reportedly shot at in Brooklyn, New York, while at a barbecue. A nearby hospital is preparing to receive the injured, with one reported in critical condition," reported RT.

DEVELOPING STORY......

Updated: Man Held in UK Mosque Stabbing of Four Including Police Officer

Washwood Heath Muslim Centre ~ Google Maps

June 15, 2013 - A quiet residential neighborhood in Birmingham, England was shaken by a multiple stabbing incident Saturday night. The incident seems to have nothing to do with terrorism or hate crimes.

"Four men including a police officer have been taken to hospital after being stabbed in a mosque in Birmingham," reports Sky News tonight. "The officer was stabbed as he arrived at a mosque in Birmingham where three people had been attacked by a knifeman." Sky News says that all four men are hospitalized and a 32-year old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

Police tape off Washwood Heath Muslim Centre, 15 June
Photo: Sky News

UPDATE, 16 June: "Two worshippers, a 28-year-old man who suffered multiple stab wounds and a 36-year-old man who suffered a single stab wound to the thigh, were also being treated in hospital," reports The Guardian UK. "Another worshipper suffered a hand injury but did not need hospital treatment. All were given first aid at the scene by police officers and worshippers, who included an off-duty surgeon." The Guardian also reports that attacker's motivation for Saturday's attack are not known, "but there was no evidence it was a hate crime or linked to any other incidents." The Guardian says that the 32-year-old murder suspect "was transferred to a secure mental health facility on Sunday after he was deemed unfit to be interviewed by police."

The mosque is the Washwood Heath Muslim Centre at 790-792 Washwood Heath Road, Ward End, Birmingham, West Midlands. (See map and photo.) Listed at the same address is a school called Madrasah Qasim ul Uloom and a majid called Anwar-ul-Madina.

The West Midlands Police press release said that "Officers arrived at the incident and whilst the suspect was being detained, one police officer also suffered stab wounds. The three men and the male police constable were taken to hospital; all four men are currently described as being in a stable condition and their injuries are not believed to be life threatening. The man was arrested at the mosque on suspicion of attempt murder and is currently in custody. Officers are conducting patrols in the area in a bid to reassure local people and a cordon is in place whilst investigations continue at this time."

Ward End is an area of Birmingham, England. It covers the area between Saltley, Hodge Hill and Stechford and includes Ward End Park, according to Wikipedia, which also notes that "there are a large number of mosques, located on Ward End, Washwood Heath, Hodge Hill and Alum Rock Road or nearby." The UK Mosque Searcher lists nine mosques in Ward End.

WATCH Turkish Protester Hit In Crotch By Water Cannon

Taksim Square in Istanbul, Turkey

June 11, 2013 -- Taksim Square in Istanbul, Turkey is still a battle zone. In addition to tear gas, police are using water cannons against people.

In the video below, a protester gets hit square between his legs. He asked for it, literally standing his ground and daring the police to spray him. They did, and he went flying as the immense water pressure hit him (at 0:26 in the video).

Some of the "activists" threw firebombs and fireworks at armored police trucks, according to Russia Today (RT). "Hundreds of Turkish police clashed with protesters after taking over Taksim Square in Istanbul," reports RT.

The clashes are not confined to Taksim Square. "There are serious clashes in the small streets surrounding the square. They are running after each other tossing stones, bottles and smoke grenades there. It’s a real meat grinder in there," reports RT’s Ashraf El Sabbagh.

Update #6: Chicago More Violent, But Media Obsesses On Santa Monica Shooting Spree

June 8, 2013 (1:00 AM CDT) - By Santa Monica standards, Friday was horrific. Five people were killed, including a crazed gunman, and five others wounded in Santa Monica, CA. One victim was hospitalized in critical condition.

By Chicago standards, that's a quiet weekend. At 4:40 PM on Saturday, I am listening to the Chicago PD scanner frequencies and hearing numerous reports of "man with a gun," "shots fired" and other mayhem. At least 13 people shot citywide mid-way through the weekend in Chicago (details at the Chicago Tribune). Keep in mind that in addition to people being shot, there are others being knifed, beaten with fists and blunt instruments, raped and robbed.

Update, 3:15 AM CDT, June 10: Make that 18 shot, two of which died...

While all that is happening, the national news media is obsessing on Friday's shootings in Santa Monica. Battlefield Chicago is more violent, but it is being overlooked. 

The Santa Monica killer, now dead, was a crazed individual with a semi-automatic rifle. His first two victims were his own brother and father. He fired at the house they were in, causing the house to catch fire. "As the house burst into flames, the man wounded a woman in a car before moving toward the campus, spraying bullets as he went. Police said he opened fire on a city bus, a police car and other vehicles, as well as bystanders and pedestrians," reports CBS News.

"As the house burst into flames, the man wounded a woman in a car before moving toward the campus, spraying bullets as he went," says CBS. "Police said he opened fire on a city bus, a police car and other vehicles, as well as bystanders and pedestrians." He continued on, killing the driver of an SUV and two of its passengers, and then mortally wounded a woman on the Santa Monica College campus. (She died at a nearby hospital.) Police made their way into the library, where they fatally shot the gunman.

Chicago: Crying for the Dying

The media initially reported the death toll as six or seven. After the dust settled, however, authorities downgraded that to four. So, four dead. Five wounded, one critically. A horrific day in Santa Monica.

The City That Bleeds

By Chicago standards, four dead and five wounded is a slow Friday night. As a total, it would be considered a very quiet weekend in The City That Bleeds.

Update, 01:15 AM, June 8: Moments after we published this post, we learned that there was another shooting in Chicago shortly after midnight.  Reports indicated two victims were shot, one in his head and one in his chest, on W. Lake Street at N. Central Park. At 1:49 AM, the Chicago Tribune posted a story online. (As of 3:15 AM on Monday morning, there were two dead plus another 16 wounded.)

With that in mind, add two more to the headline below. 

Consider this June 7 headline from CBS2 Chicago: "At Least 8 Wounded In City Shootings Since Friday Afternoon." TGIF, the weekend has just begun. Highlights from that June 7 story:

• "Three to five people were wounded during a Friday evening shooting in West Englewood..."
• "In the Gage Park neighborhood, a man was critically wounded in a possible drive-by shooting about 8:15 p.m., police said. The 19-year-old was shot multiple times in the chest and back....and listed in critical condition late Friday."
• "A man was critically wounded in the Edgewater neighborhood about 8 p.m. [The victim] was shot in the mouth in the 5400 block of North Magnolia Avenue. He was taken in critical condition to Illinois Masonic, fire media said."
• "In the Austin neighborhood, a male was shot in the ankle about 7:30 p.m...."
• A 15-year-old boy was shot in the leg "when a white SUV approached and a person got out and shot him about 3:30 p.m., police said." The boy is thought to be a gang member "who was shouting gang slogans at the passing SUV, which contained rival gang members, a police source said."
• "In the South Shore neighborhood, a teenage boy was shot in the arm about 1:50 p.m." and taken to a hospital in stable condition.

Bad, right? Consider this headline from the day before, on Thursday, June 6, from ABC7 Chicago: "2 killed; 7, including boy, 9, hurt in Chicago shootings." Also consider this one, on May 30 from CBS News: "Four dead and 11 injured in shootings since Wednesday afternoon." Those stories of slaughter and mayhem happened on weekdays. The weekends in Chicago are even worse. Google "violent weekend in Chicago" and see for yourself.

Say a prayer for the four dead and five wounded in Santa Monica. Please also pray for the thousands of Chicagoans, dead and wounded. Pray that Chicago makes it through another, predictably violent weekend.

Also See:

• How Many Murders Happen on Chicago Weekends? Chicago Magazine
• Tracking Homicides in Chicago RedEye
• Violence is the problem, not guns Chicago Tribune

Israeli Policy Could Have Saved Lives In the Newtown School Shooting

Dec. 14, 2012 - The horrific shooting today at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut [map] left at least 28 dead, including the shooter. At least 20 of those killed were children. The shooter, 20-year old Adam Lanza. One of the adult victims was Nancy Lanza, the killer's own mother, who worked at the school. What could have been done to stop the shooter and save some lives? Before we continue, I'll just remind you that the police responded with guns. That's right, the cops had guns.

Here are some of the ineffective things that actually happened today:

Principal Dawn Hochsprung and the school psychologist leapt out of their seats and ran out of the room to help, Ms. Day, a therapist at the school said. "They didn't think twice about confronting or seeing what was going on," she said, reports The Wall Street Journal. Ms. Hochsprung was one of those killed in the attack.

Image taken from Twitter: Attribution unknown

"One parent who was in the school at the time of the shooting," reports CNN, "said she heard a 'pop, pop, pop,' sound around 9:30 a.m. In the room with her were Hochsprung, the vice principal and Sherlach. All three left the room and went into the hall to see what was happening. The parent ducked under the table and called 911."

What should have happened: Somebody could have shot Adam Lanza, stopping him in his tracks. Unfortunately, it seems, nobody in the school was armed. Schools are known to law enforcement as being attractive targets for criminally insane people bent on killing. That fact makes it hard to understand why so few schools have armed guards to protect the children and staff.

The Attorney General of Texas, Greg Abbott says schools should have armed personnel. He told the Houston Chronicle today that "the common denominator for the school shootings in Aurora, Columbine and Virginia Tech is that we have a target-rich environment," and "You have a shooter that is completely free to go about his sick fantasy. We need to do what it takes to change that." He also told the Chronicle that, "Had there been [armed security guard and citizens] in Colorado, at Virginia Tech or now in Connecticut - someone that could have changed the dynamic and to do so by having a firearm - there would be fewer lives lost."  Is Greg Abbot right? Ask the Israelis. 

Greta Van Susteren Blows Story About Chicago Cops With Obama at DNC in Charlotte NC, Tinfoil Hatters Go Crazy

Greta Van Susteren - Photo: Facebook

September 3, 2012 - A lot of Americans are in a panic after learning that Chicago Police Officers are protecting Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte (DNC), North Carolina this week.  

Rumors of conspiracy and whatever else the Tinfoil Hat Crowd is panicking about are flying. Greta Van Susteren at Fox News seems to be the primary culprit in all of this idiocy, but careless bloggers are spreading the crap around like cheap fertilizer. It's a typical case of truth being blown all out of proportion, facts being twisted, and facts being omitted.

What is actually happening in Charlotte, North Carolina? Simple, really. The DNC is a big event with big security concerns. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is good, but it does not have enough officers to handle the security for such an event - which includes POTUS, after all - and so officers from outside agencies will be there to supplement their own manpower. (During the recent NATO Summit in Chicago, hundreds of officers from other cities, including Homeland Security personnel, assisted Chicago Police. With that in mind, cops from other cities being in Charlotte NC is not unusual.)

"Hundreds of law enforcement officers from across the country arrived Saturday at the Charlotte Police Training Academy," reported Your News Now yesterday. "CMPD is not releasing the exact number of officers being brought in for the Democratic National Convention, but they did say there are hundreds and they are all ready for any challenge."

CMPD make an arrest at DNC2012. Book 'em!

Despite that report, people are freaking out. I became aware of this panic when I happened across a post on The Ulsterman Report, a blog I respect a little bit less today after reading a post titled "Why is Obama Using Chicago Police At South Carolina DNC Convention?" The headline even got the state wrong. The DNC is in the other Carolina (North), as Ulsterman even wrote when quoting Fox: "A Fox News reporter just shared information regarding a considerable contingent of Chicago police inside the DNC convention center in Charlotte, North Carolina.  Yet another Obama related act that makes one go hmmmmm…"

One thing that made me go "hmmmm" was the fact that Ulsterman obviously did not bother to actually Google this for himself. Instead, this idiotic comment was added: "As has so often been said regarding the Obama regime – all roads always seem to lead “Back to Chicago." I'm not sure what the hell that mean, but it sure sounds – oh hell, it just sounds stupid. I will explain why below.

Greta Van Susteren, though, should really be ashamed of herself. She can be a good reporter, but sometimes she just sucks at it. When she's bad, she's really, really damned bad. She is not some underpaid blogger desperate for a few more website visitors: Greta is a trained journalist, and yet she published this tripe today, without bothering to research it or in collusion with Pergram:

CHICAGO POLICE AT THE NORTH CAROLINA CONVENTION
by Greta Van Susteren
Sep 3 2012 - 12:06 PM ET

Below is a note I was just emailed by FNC’s Chad Pergram

And just an interesting note. There are lots of police here from other organizations. But at the convention center, Chicago Police are here….not just folks from across the state or South Carolina.Of course, remember the confrontations Democrats had with Chicago Police at the ’68 Convention….

Chad Pergram
FOX News
Senior Producer for Capitol Hill

Since I know that she knows better, I must assume that Greta's only motivation for publishing such a load of crap is this: Sensationalism. In my opinion, Greta Van Susteren is an overpaid blogger who deliberately sensationalizes just to get more website visitors. There's a word for that kind of person: It starts with "w" and ends with "hore."

The same, I contend, can be said of Chad Pergram. I would say that he is either a moron who doesn't deserve to work in the mail room of any news organization, or he deliberately added that part about the Democrats and the Chicago Police in 1968 - which has NOTHING to do with the reality of what's happening currently in Charlotte.

As for Chicago Police being at the convention center, well, so what? Notice that Pergram did not say that only Chicago cops are at the convention center. Pergram's note is written either as a moron would write such a note, or as a very clever manipulator would. I suspect that Pergram is not a moron.

To be fair, Greta's blog post did say that there are many police officers from other cities, not just Chicago, in Charlotte.  Which part of that did Ulsterman - and others - miss or not understand? 

To recap, Chad sent a stupid note to Greta, who then reproduced it on her Fox site without a shred of added value or any research. Idiot readers won't bother looking beyond Greta's steaming pile, and so the panic and rumors are flying today across blogs run by non-journalists, across Facebook timelines by people who are stupid and/or intellectually lazy, and on Twitter by all of the above.

College Station Shooter Was Male, 35, Still Unidentified

Photo: KVUE News

Here is the first News Release, about the shooting near Texas A&M, from the City of College Station, Texas. It was posted at 5:30 p.m. CDT, about the shooting near Texax A&M's campus early this afternoon. They are calling it the "Fidelity Street Shooting."

On Aug. 13 at approximately 12:12 p.m. officers with the College Station Police Department responded to the 200 block of Fidelity for a report of shots fired. Upon arrival, officers found a Brazos County Constable down in front of a residence on Fidelity. The suspect in this case, engaged the officers with gunfire over a period of approximately 30 minutes before he was shot by a College Station Officer. The following individuals were transported to the College Station Medical Center:

• Brazos County Precinct 1 Constable Brian Bachmann – pronounced dead at the hospital
• Male suspect approximately 35 years – identity withheld – pronounced dead at the hospital
• Male victim - approximately 65 years old – identity withheld – pronounced dead at the hospital
• Female victim - approximately 55 years old – identity withheld – in surgery
• College Station Police Officer – identity withheld - gunshot to the leg – non-life threatening injury
• College Station Police Officer – identity withheld - non-life threatening injury

An additional College Station officer was injured but refused transport to the hospital. As a result of the initial investigation, detectives have determined that Constable Bachmann had gone to a residence located at 211 Fidelity to serve eviction papers.

Multiple state and local agencies are assisting the College Station Police Department in the continued investigation regarding this incident. Updates will be provided as soon as they become available.

SOURCE

R.I.P., Constable Brian Bachmann, Killed In Line of Duty

Brian Bachmann (Photo: Facebook)

August 13, 2012 - College Station, TX - One of the three shooting victims to die just blocks from the Texas A&M campus was Constable Brian Bachmann, 41. Bachmann (photo) was a member of the Brazos County Sheriff's Department for 19 years. He was the Constable for Precinct 1, which included his home town of College Station. He was a Republican.

According to WBRC/Fox, Bachmann was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital "shortly after he was shot." He apparently died in the line of duty.

Bachmann was reportedly shot five times. According to the Facebook page of the City of College Station, "The two CSPD officers taken to local hospitals are said to have non-life threatening injuries." That update was posted at approximately 3:45 p.m. CDT.

A subsequent update at 5:00 p.m. CDT said that "three CSPD officers were injured, but only one by gunfire. That officer was shot in the leg and is being treated for the non-life threatening injury. A second officer was transported, but for injuries *unrelated* to gunfire. A third officer also was injured (again, not from gunfire) during the response, but did not require transport to a hospital."

A 5:30 p.m. news release from the City of College Station said this: "On Aug. 13 at approximately 12:12 p.m. officers with the College Station Police Department responded to the 200 block of Fidelity for a report of shots fired. Upon arrival, officers found a Brazos County Constable [Brian Bachmann] down in front of a residence on Fidelity. The suspect in this case, engaged the officers with gunfire over a period of approximately 30 minutes before he was shot by a College Station Officer." Full news release here...

Police "were unsure why the constable responded to the call, although witnesses told KBTX the constable had arrived to evict the shooter," said WBRC/Fox.

Brazos County Constable District 1

According to the Brazos County Constable's Office, a primary duty of a constable is to "insure that all civil process is served in a diligent manner." That includes serving an eviction notice, as Bachmann was apparently attempting to do.

"When police arrived on the scene, Bachmann was already down in the suspect's yard," reports WBRC/Fox. According to their report, law enforcement officers "responded to a call of shots fired and were met with gunfire on the scene, then called for backup.

A CSPD spokesman said that the officer fatally shot the gunman, who is described as male.

Constables in Brazos County, TX "are elected by the registered voters in their own precinct." The Constables Department, says the Brazos County website, "is part of the  is the chief process server of the justice court; provides state-wide jurisdiction to execute any criminal processes; and provides county-wide jurisdiction to execute any civil processes."

There are four constabulary precincts in Brazos County. "Constables are the only Law Enforcement mandated by the Texas Constitution which makes them truly indeed 'The People’s Police Officer'." For more about the constables of Brazos County, see their website.

Brian Bachmann became a Certified Peace Officer in 1992 and held an Advanced Peace Officer Certificate. He became a Brazos County Sheriff's Deputy in 1993.

Bachmann won his election to become Precinct 1's Constable on November 2, 2010. The following day, he posted this on his "Elect Brian Bachmann for Constable Precinct 1 Brazos County" page on Facebook:

Bachmann (right) is sworn in, January 1, 2011 (Facebook)

"We did it!!! We did it!!! Thank you to everyone for their support and encouragement!! I could not have accomplished this without everyone!! I hope to see everyone soon at the Victory Party!! "

He was sworn in on January 1, 2011 and posted this to his Facebook page:

"Well it's official. I was sworn in as Constable of Precinct One in Brazos County this morning. I want to thank everyone that helped with the campaign, you are the best!! Now it's time to get to work and start building the most professional Constables Office. My door will always be open to everyone, and I expect visitors!! Thank you again to everyone for all the encouragement and support! Brian"

Brian Bachmann was a man dedicated to helping others and improving the safety of his community. As with any peace officer who dies in the line of duty, it was the job that he loved so much that ultimately got him killed. May Constable Brian Bachmann rest in peace, and may God watch over his wife and two young children.

UPDATED: At Least Three Dead in Texas A&M Shooting

August 13, 2012 - UPDATED, 3:05 PM CDT - At least three shooting victims have died in College Station, TX near the campus of Texas A&M College early this afternoon. The suspected shooter, who was firing an automatic weapon from a house near  was arrested at 12:45 pm CDT.

UPDATING NUMBER OF DECEASED:
Three people are dead from today's shooting:
- Constable Brian Bachmann
- The shooter (name not yet released)
- A civilian who PD says was a bystander
~ Source: City of College Station Facebook Page at 2:50 p.m. CDT

One suspect was arrested (later information says the suspect was shot and killed by police) near the campus of Texas A&M in College Station, TX near Fidelity Street. The "active shooter" is thought to be the only gunman at this time. An number of people,  possibly including police officers, have been shot. According to some media reports, police were heard over scanners to specify the location as being near Fidelity and Highland streets, where a  shooter was thought to be firing automatic weapons from a house.  The number and full extent of injuries still being assessed. The suspected shooter was arrested at 12:45 pm Central Daylight Time.

UPDATE, 3:45 p.m. CDT:  FoxNews: "Local station KBTX and KHOU in Houston reported the suspect had also been killed, citing the College Station Police Department. Police confirmed shortly before the report the suspect had been shot by police.  No information was released about the suspect or his or her possible motive for the shooting." More at Fox...

From Texas A&M Website: http://emergency.tamu.edu/

Minutes earlier, at 12:29 p.m., Texas A&M issued a "Code Maroon" alert,  warning people to "avoid the area immediately southeast of the intersection of Welborn Rd and George Bush Drive. Please avoid the area. Residents in the immediate area need to remain inside their residence." (Click on graphic, left.)

Oddly, however, there was no mention of this incident on Texas A&M's page on Facebook.

An update at 1:31 pm CDT from KBTX TV in College Station says that CSPD says "a suspect has been taken into custody and the scene is reportedly under control and there is no longer a danger to the public."

A 12:55 p.m. update from CSPD said that there is no confirmation yet on the identities of the victims "or whether or not any are members of local law enforcement agencies." More at KBTX...

MULTIPLE SHOOTING NEAR TEXAS A&M CAMPUS

August 13, 2012 - For updated info about this story, please see the following posts on Chicago News Bench:

• R.I.P., Constable Brian Bachmann, Killed Near Texas A&M Today
• College Station Shooter Was Male, 35, Still Unidentified
• UPDATED: At Least Three Dead in Texas A&M Shooting

New FBI Video Asks Your Help: $150,000 Reward Offered In Morgan Harrington Murder Cold Case

Click Here to see full Wanted Poster (pdf)

June 13, 2012 - The Federal Bureau of Investigation just released two new videos about a Virginia cold case. The FBI says that an "unknown offender" is linked by DNA in two separate cases, and they released this artist's composite sketch.

"On a Saturday night in October 2009," says the FBI website, "college student Morgan Harrington left a Metallica concert at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville and disappeared. It would be several months before her body was discovered in a field about 10 miles away."

Virginia State Police and City of Fairfax Police, Virginia are also investigating Harrington's unsolved murder. Metallica also released a video, below, in an effort to find the killer. If you have information that might be helpful, please call the Virginia State Police at (434) 352-3467, the City of Fairfax Police at (703) 385-7959, or the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or submit a tip at tips.fbi.gov.


"A $150,000 reward is being offered in the murder case of Virginia Tech student Morgan Harrington," says the FBI.

More from the FBI:

Virginia Tech student Morgan Harrington left early from a rock concert in Charlottesville, VA on October 17, 2009. She was last seen hitchhiking on a busy street outside of the concert arena. Special Agent Dino Cappuzzo of the Virginia State Police says in January the next year...
Her body was found on a very large farm in a rural area of Ablemarle county about 10 miles south from where she was last seen.

DNA recovered in the Harrington case was linked to an unknown offender in a September 2005 sexual assault in Fairfax City. A 26-year-old woman was attacked at night while walking home from a grocery store. The offender was scared away by a passerby—but the victim got a good look at him, enabling a Fairfax City Police artist to produce a sketch of the attacker.

“It was a remarkable break to get the DNA match,” said FBI Special Agent Jane Collins. The forensic evidence linked the two cases, so now we have a face to put with the suspect in the Harrington case. The suspect is described as an African-American male with black hair and facial hair (at the time of the 2005 attack). He is approximately 6 feet tall and was believed to be between the ages of 25 and 35 years old at the time of the Fairfax City assault.

Help us catch Morgan Harrington’s killer. If you have any information about the Harrington case or the Fairfax City assault, contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or the Virginia State Police Tip line at 434-352-3467, or submit a tip online.   FBI Website for More Info...

Chicago Media Flummoxed by Anti-Fascist Mob Attack In Tinley Park

May 20, 2012 - A bizarre attack in a restaurant left ten people injured after they were attacked by a group with baseball bats and hammers. Three people were hospitalized, but other victims declined treatment, according to Oak Lawn Patch. Tinley Park, Illinois is a normally quiet suburban town about 30 miles southwest of downtown Chicago (see map), but at 12:45 p.m. yesterday all hell broke loose at the Ashford House Restaurant at 7959 W. 159th Street.

The apparent reason for the attack: The victims are neo-Nazis. The attackers are "Antifa," or Anti-Fascists. The meeting that was attacked was the annual White Nationalist Economic Summit and Illinois White Nationalist Meet-and-Greet.

Antifa is a brutal international Marxist group that has "staged violence attacks all over Europe. Antifa targets members of right-wing groups and its member frequently go from country to country to beat the hell out of people they don't like. "One of the ongoing projects of the gang in Germany is to vandalize Thor Steinar clothing stores," says Council of Conservative Citizens. "The group claims that the Arab-owned clothing line caters to 'Nazis' by putting Viking/Norse imagery on some of their t-shirts." In other words, Antifa is a composed of hypersensitive commie thugs who love to bang hammers over peoples heads.

Editor's Note: Before we continue, I want to make it clear that I am no fan of neo-Nazis or fascists. However, I am also no fan of violent leftists who take it upon themselves to beat people up as self appointed vigilante posses. The White nationalists were not attacking anybody; they were dining and discussing. The attackers were not acting in self defense, and their actions are inexcusable. In short, the "anti-fascists" were acting very much like fascist SS troopers.

Cute logo for vicious vigilantes

The white nationalist group numbered about 12 to 15 people. Witnesses say there were about 15 to 18 attackers, who wore hooded black jackets. The attackers wore black hoods and masks. The incident itself is confusing, but the media response to it, and coverage of it, is also confusing. None of the local media explained what Antifa is or mentioned that this was not the first time that Antifa has acted violently in Chicago.

MEDIA CONFUSION:

Amazingly, the Chicago Tribune story on May 19 made no use of the words "fascists," "antifa," "racist" or "Nazi."  Perhaps reporters Dennis Sullivan and Dawn Rhodes just completely missed this important aspect of the story or, perhaps, the Tribune's editors decided it would be safer to simply omit it.

Weird logo for weird assholes

Fox Detroit did a lot better. They led a May 20 report about the incident with reference to an "anti-racist organization," which they identified later in the story as a group that calls itself "Anti-Racist Action (ARA)," which claimed credit for the horrible attack. According to the Fox report, "ARA claimed that the activists were privy to "anonymous inside information" about the meeting, which it said was organized on the White Nationalist website Stormfront. The ARA website published photos of the alleged organizers and their contact information." (The ARA website is http://antiracistaction.org)

One of the more confusing reports came in waves from Patch. Their initial headline on May 19 was "Mob Attacked Specific Group of People Inside Tinley Park Restaurant."  The story appeared under the same headline in several local Patch sites, all near Tinley Park. With the recent spate of black-on-white mob attacks in the wake of the Trayvon Martin case, such a headline was immediately confusing to readers. "Specific Group?" What the hell does that mean? To Patch's credit, they did break the story. However, it was other news outlets that sorted out the facts and present them in a cohesive, easy-to-read manner. While Patch mentioned an "anti-racist website," they did not give the name of that website or a link to it, nor did they identity the ARA as the owner of the website - or as the perpetrators of the violence. The Patch team talked to people at the restaurant and to police, but did not do any very basic research on the Internet to learn anything - or tell anything to readers - about the ARA.

Patch logo: P in the grass

Palos Patch's story on May 19 started with, "At this time, it has been reported that a group of 15 to 18 people dressed in black entered the establishment and began an altercation with a specific group of people dining in the restaurant." However, Palos Patch gives no indication as to what was meant by "this time." Their story had no time stamp. They offered a link to "real time updates" from other Patch reporters at the Tinley Park Patch. While there is some good information there, it is a difficult read because the updates are in little chunks and in reverse chronological order, like a disjointed email conversation. It was, to put it crudely, a clusterpatch.

The absolute worst report, in my opinion, has to be from NBC Chicago. They completely missed the reality of the story, as indicated by their headline: "Men With Bats, Hammers Invade Wedding Shower." Wedding?!? Hey, NBC, this was not about a wedding shower. Sure, there was one going on at the Ashford House Restaurant, but the ARA was not there for that. NBC made no mention of the white nationalists, either.

Let's go back to Patch, this time the one in Oak Forest, Illinois. They posted an update on May 20 at 5:32 p.m. with the headline "Target of Saturday's Attack Believed to be White Supremacists, Mayor Says." Okay, fine, Patch has acknowledged the white supremacist angle of the story... more than 24 hours after most other reports did. In fact, Oak Forest Patch got that from the Chicago Tribune, in the story referred to above. The Trib posted that story at 1:16 p.m. today, four hours before Patch's update. Sadly, that Tribune story, as I already pointed out, made no mention of the ARA. Neither did the Patch "update."

Bottom line: All of the attackers are white. All of the victims are white. Police were holding five people as of the afternoon of May 19. For the best coverage of this Chicago-area story, go to Fox News Detroit.

Black Bloc Tactics Exposed: Yes, Anarchists Really Are Violent

INSIDE LOOK AT ANARCHIST TACTICS: "BLACK BLOC" AND VIOLENCE

Such nice kids.  Photo source: TheBlaze

"Black Bloc" Tactics are used by anarchists in the United States and worldwide. Dressed in all-black "uniforms," the black bloc thugs are out to vandalize and destroy both private and public property. Here is a look at how black bloc anarchists operate, with excerpts from a self-professed anarchist's online "pamphlet" that gives how-to advice to his violent comrades.

Black bloc wants violence. You can this clearly by the way a line of black bloc thugs, at 0:27 in the video below, walk right up to a line of police and deliberately shove into them. The cops reacted as they should have, and exactly as the black bloc'ers expected them to. If you are ever near a "peaceful" protest, keep your eyes open for people dressed in black, especially with their faces partially or fully covered. Put as much distance between you and them as you can, because their intention is to provoke the police to violent action. "Antifa" (so-called "anti-fascists") make frequent use of black bloc's violent methods and tactics.


If somebody gets hurt by their tactics, they feel no guilt. They advocate the injuring and even killing of police officers. While the majority of "Occupy" movement people do not support such tactics, the black blocs are tied to Occupy. Black bloc goons are in Chicago for the NATO Summit.

Here's an "inside look" at Antifa / Black bloc (VICE, 2017).


There is simply no equivalent of black bloc activity within - or even loosely associated with - the Tea Party movement. Although many Occupiers are peaceful protesters, videos show again and again that plenty of them join the black bloc thugs in their destructive actions, or simply stand aside and allow them to freely throw their Molotov cocktails, rocks, and whatever else is at hand. Some Occupiers, like those in the videos here, openly say that they support the "right" of some to use black bloc tactics.

MIKE CASTLE has a lot of insider info about black bloc tactics on his website. Castle, a self-described "technologist," says of himself, "I make software, mostly for the web and Android, as Roasted Vermicelli. I talk about stuff on Off the Hook. I also bike, cook, and agitate for a better world."

I suppose Castle's idea of a "better world" is one in which self-appointed SS-wannabe amateur storm troopers use anarchist methods to trash innocent merchants' storefront windows.

Of black bloc, Castle says that "The Black Bloc has gained alot of publicity in the past two years. What people dont understand is that the Black Bloc is not an organization or a group. It is a tactic. It helps reinforce security and execute our goal in the presence of high-profile demonstrations.

Typical black bloc "uniforms" 
Source: http://exile.wordpress.com/tag/black-bloc/

From Seattle WTO to the most recent action in Genoa, the Black Bloc has certainly been the main focus by the media and the police in major demonstrations. Therefore, it is necessary to introduce newer and better tactics into the struggle."  That, and more, can be found at one of Castle's web pages, where he presents "a pamphlet" for his fellow anarchists.

"In it's essential form," he wrote, "each participant of a Black Bloc wears somewhat of a uniform.... The idea of wearing this uniform is that if every single person in the Bloc looks relatively alike, it is hard for the police to determine which individual did what."

"For instance," Castle advised, "if a Black Bloc participant throws a brick at a store window and runs into the Bloc, she will easily blend in with everyone else.

However, if a person wearing normal street clothes happens to throw a brick and run into the Bloc, chances are that she will have been filmed or photographed and later caught by the police."

Anarchists are violent. Castle admits this. He advises his fellow black bloc'ing anarchists to "wear the uniform" to keep them from being identified by police.

"Law enforcement has been known to film and take photos of random activists and keep files on those individuals," wrote Castle. "This can lead to problems in the future. It's better to be safe than in jail."

"Be creative," he urges his fellow black-clad thugs. "Build off the info on this site and never give up."

Still not convinced that these people are bent on being destructive?

"This pamphlet is essential reading for anyone who is associated with groups that advocate and/or utilize sabotage, theft, arson and more militant tactics," Castle's "pamphlet" says. "The advice herein also applies to anyone who is associated with groups that practice civil disobedience, especially since membership often overlaps and gossip travels freely between groups."

I'm all for civil disobedience, as long as it is actually civil. Castle and his fellow hoodlums, though, don't seem to understand that utilizing sabotage, theft and arson is not civil. In case you're still not convinced that these people are dangerous - very dangerous - you need to read Castle's section about weapons. 

"Homemade explosives work very well in riots," he noted. "There is a huge history of the military using homemade explosives in war, so if it works for them, it can work against them. Click on the links for construction methods."  Those links lead to details about how to make the following items (descriptions are Castle's):

• Molotov Cocktails-The most popular choice in street fighting weaponry. A very useful and effective explosive, made purely of house hold items. 
• Smoke Bombs-These easily attainable or homemade items are great when dealing with illegal situations. It can shield any media or police cameras from catching anyone on film participating in an illegal act. It can also disorient the police when they are advancing on the crowd. For construction methods, click on the link. 
• Fuel-Fertilizer Explosives-These will create an overwhelmingly large explosion and should be practiced in large faraway places like the desert before using. Make sure that you will not injure anyone that you do not intend to injure. 
• Pipe Bombs-Not really the best explosive to use in a street fight but it still works. Causes lots of good damage. 
• Draino Bomb-A small bomb that is very risky to use. To be used on cars only. Be careful! 
• Soda Bottle Bomb-A somewhat biowarfare bomb made from aluminum foil and pool acid. The fumes should not be inhaled by anyone you do not want to inhale them. 
• Match Head Bomb-A small bomb of match heads. Not too fabulous. 

Mr. Castle is a compassionate advocate of terrorism, so he gives this loving advice to his readers: "Remember: Be careful and responsible with these explosives. Don't blow yourself up, or any of your comrades! Don't get caught!"