Anonymous just went to war with the Ku Klux Klan. Following the KKK’s threats of violence against protestors in Ferguson, Missouri, the hacktivist collection Anonymous decided to take over the group’s primary Twitter account in a campaign they are calling #OpKKK. The group has also been threatening to “unhood” KKK members by publishing their identities and personal social media information online.
They initially used denial of service attacks to take down the group’s website, which for a time produced an error message (it appears to be back up now):
TANGO DOWN – http://t.co/5GYg8JrUiC #OpKKK #HoodsOff
— Anonymous (@YourAnonNews) November 17, 2014
The Australian faction of the group threatened the KKK Twitter account with this message on Saturday:
This is a direct message to you KKK. You messed with us, now it's our turn to mess with you. #OpKKK @KuKluxKlanUSA pic.twitter.com/x5VIK781wU
— Anonymous Australia (@GroupAnonAU) November 15, 2014
Then, the KKK account responded with their own series of defiant messages:
Our Kommunity is not at all scared of the threats from anonymous. Just try us. You'll regret it. #OpKKK #KKK #WhitePrideWorldWide
— Ku Klux Klan (@KuKluxKlanUSA) November 16, 2014
Anonymous is nothing but an act. Don't be worried by this, fellow klansmen. #OpKKK #HoodsON
— Ku Klux Klan (@KuKluxKlanUSA) November 16, 2014
Anonymous is nothing but a bunch of wannabes. They won't take any action. We will not be brought down by some low-lives behind a screen.
— Ku Klux Klan (@KuKluxKlanUSA) November 16, 2014
We are continuing to read Anonymous threats with much amusement. Still no action taken. #Cowards #HoodsON
— Ku Klux Klan (@KuKluxKlanUSA) November 16, 2014
Just after 4 p.m. ET Saturday, it appeared that Anonymous had taken control of the account:
16 NOV 2014 09:11:47
You should've expected us. #OpKKK continues to be a success. Freedom will prevail. pic.twitter.com/FUrNzBpVOa
— Ku Klux Klan (@KuKluxKlanUSA) November 16, 2014
UPDATE: Anonymous will release a statement on THIS account tomorrow at 03:00 GMT (21 hours from now) regarding the seizing of this account.
— Ku Klux Klan (@KuKluxKlanUSA) November 17, 2014
Based on the direct messages sent from and to this account, we can confirm that this account was run by an official Klan member.
— Ku Klux Klan (@KuKluxKlanUSA) November 17, 2014
That is all we will say for now. The rest will be clarified in tomorrow's statement. #OpKKK
— Ku Klux Klan (@KuKluxKlanUSA) November 17, 2014
The new bio for the account, which has been in operation since January 2012 reads, “Under anon control as of 16 NOV 2014 09:11:47. You should’ve expected us.”
[Photo via Twitter]
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