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Protest Warrior

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Protest Warrior logo

Protest Warrior refers to both a right-wing political activist protest group, and its website forums. (offline since Sept. 13, 2006) It is an international organization with mostly American members; its main focus is on the U.S. and Israel. The group was formed in 2003 by Alan Lipton and Kfir Alfia in Austin, Texas. Its slogan is "Fighting the left... doing it right".

Motivation

Protest Warrior believes that liberal politics constitute a threat to the future of freedom and individualism, and would inevitably result in totalitarian police states. Seeing "liberals" (in the U.S. usage of the term) as "morally and politically bankrupt" and having a monopoly of media attention, Protest Warrior believes that voices of the left "are heard disproportionately, demoralizing our troops, and emboldening dictators around the world."

Generally accepted ideas in the Protest Warrior community include support for the War on Terrorism and Operation Iraqi Freedom, and opposition to Islamic fundamentalism as dangerous, threatening, oppressive. A newsletter on the site published by Alan and Kfir expressed objection to Islam itself, rather than fundamentalists in particular:

"What's becoming clear is how the religion of Islam is addicted to war and mayhem. Not a radical minority, not a rogue sect, but its very essence is about submission and sacrifice and proving your worth by worshiping death in this life to gain a paradise of orgies and drunkenness. Their entire history is of warfare, and any accomplishments of their so-called Golden Age has been proven to be merely parasitic off the cultures they've conquered and reduced to dhimmi servitude. That every country under sharia is corrupt, belligerent, desolate and barbaric obviously gives them no pause, except to constantly drive them into further psychotic rage as they refuse to ever accept any responsibility for their conditions. They are akin to the powers in Orwell's 1984; there must always be an enemy. It's no surprise that women are treated like property in these countries as that's the only way Muslim men can feed their egos, to dominate others rather than ever actually produce something."

Most members also express opposition to illegal immigration and current immigration proposals of the Bush administration, support for free enterprise and fiscally conservative economics, general support and respect for U.S. military institutions as the "defenders of freedom", and support for Israel. Finally there is a vocal group that defends the right of the southern states to secede at the start of the American Civil War and also suports the dissolution of the United States of America to preserve true liberty.

Methodology

The group's primary method of activism is crashing liberal events, chiefly anti-war protest marches, and counter-demonstrating within their ranks. For instance, Protest Warriors have attended rallies against Halliburton, Caterpillar Inc., Israel, and U.S. President George W. Bush, displaying support for these causes. When doing so, the Protest Warriors carry large signs often designed to appear similar to those held by the participants of the event they are crashing, enabling them to mingle until observers are close enough to read their signs' sarcastic fine-print.

Examples of Protest Warrior Signs:

  • "Saddam only kills his own people. It's none of our business!"
  • "Except for ending slavery, Fascism, Nazism and Communism, war has never solved anything!"
  • "Islam - Religion of Peace" accompanied with pictures of (presumably) Muslim children holding weapons and the World Trade Center under attack.
  • "Black Children Belong in Black Schools - Say No To Vouchers"

After large operations, videos are posted documenting the events. The videos include confrontations with other protesters and the reactions of those protesters. Protest Warriors claim that these videos demonstrate that liberals' "true feelings and agendas...have nothing to with hating war, and everything to do with hating America."

Reactions

Conservative talk-show host Rush Limbaugh featured a Protest Warrior action in San Francisco on his website and complimented the group on its work.

Criticism

Protest Warrior has been a target of criticism on many liberal web sites and forums such as Indymedia. Very few major news organizations have run stories on Protest Warrior, critical or otherwise.

Website

The group maintains a website as an organizing and information hub. It also acts as a source for the many slogans and signs presented by Protest Warriors at protests, as well as offering a sign creation tutorial to registered members. A shop is also run from the website.

'The command and control center is where Protest Warrior plans and coordinates their nationwide strike against the Left'

Website Traffic Statistics

The Traffic Rank, Reach and Page View statistics of the Protest Warrior website, as measured by Alexa Traffic Rankings can be found here. Protest Warrior Website Traffic Statistics

Deletion of Forums

On September 13, 2006, all of Protest Warrior's numerous website forums were deleted and replaced by the announcement: "The ProtestWarrior forum will be down until further notice." No explanation was given for these actions. Link to deleted forum announcement

Past operations

Local and National chapters of Protest Warrior have carried out operations in the United States and abroad. Examples of past Protest Warrior operations include:

  • On January 20, 2005, Protest Warrior National 'Operation Hail to the Chief' drew thirteen Protest Warriors to Washington D.C. to oppose those protesting the second inauguration of President George W. Bush.
  • During the 2004 Republican National Convention, Protest Warrior staged 'Operation Liberty Rising' in opposition to those protesting the convention. This event received coverage from the media both before and after it occurred.
  • On August 27, 2005, a group of three Protest Warriors led by co-founder Kfir Alfia was the target of animosity at a conservative counter-Cindy Sheehan rally in Crawford, Texas. Despite the Protest Warriors' assurances that they were on the same side, the conservative protesters repeatedly shouted at them, destroyed the Protest Warrior signs, and forced the Protest Warriors to leave the rally, mistaking them for anti-war protestors.

Future campaigns

Kfir, the founder of Protest Warrior, was quoted: "We're going to be protesting abortion more and more, and we'll probably get involved in the defense of marriage, too." in an interview he gave to the Dominionism proponent Lee Duigon from the Christian Reconstructionist Chalcedon Foundation.

Kfir claimed, on the Protest Warrior forum, almost two years after the article was published, that he had been misquoted.

See also

External links

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