"Anonymous" Threatens BART Web Site, Plans Protest Monday During Rush Hour

BART's move to prevent a disruptive protest Thursday by temporarily interrupting wireless cell phone service in BART stations has provoked further protests and a threat by hackers to take down the BART website Sunday.

The hacker protest group "Anonymous" announced a series of actions shortly after reports surfaced that BART temporarily suspended cell phone service in several downtown San Francisco stations Thursday to make protest organizing more difficult.

In a posting on its Web site, Anonymous claims that they are already engaged in a phone, email and fax campaign to disrupt BART's operations, that there will be a live protest in the Civic Center BART station Monday at 5 p.m., and that they will remove BART's website for six hours beginning at noon Sunday.

BART spokesman Jim Allison said that BART is aware of the threats that its web site will be taken down and said, "We're working to make sure that is still available to customers."

BART posted precautionary information for passengers on its website. 

As of Sunday afternoon, BART officials had not seen any sign that the communications campaign was underway, Allison said.

Last week BART announced on its website that it was anticipating demonstrations on the BART platforms in August. Commuters were advised that "protesters may attempt to disrupt train service during August commute periods beginning as early as Thursday, August 11, 2011, in downtown San Francisco BART stations."

On July 11, protesters prevented trains from leaving the Civic Center BART station in response to the July 3 BART police shooting of Charles Hill in the same station. Protesters blocked the train doors and one even climbed on top of a train. The Civic Center, Powell Street and 16th Street BART stations were all temporarily closed due to the protest.

As a precautionary measure on Thursday, BART temporarily suspended wireless cell phone service in several downtown San Francisco BART stations. "They were clear in stating they could use mobile devices to organize," Allison said. He said protesters intended to use cell phones to communicate about the number and location of BART police. While the protest never materialized, Allison said he did not know if that was an effect of disrupting cell phone service in the stations.

The move has been widely criticized and reported worldwide, provoking further protest announcements and statements of disapproval from Bay Area public officials.

Mayoral candidate Phil Ting released a statement Saturday that said the move violated fundamental principles of democracy. "The decision was made at the very highest staff level of the agency," Ting's statement said. "Censorship is not, and must not become, a public safety tool."

State Sen. Leland Yee also released a statement blasting BART officials for their decision. "I am shocked that BART thinks they can use authoritarian control tactics," he said. "BART's decision was not only a gross violation of free speech rights; it was irresponsible and compromised public safety."

The planned actions against BART have been widely discussed on Twitter using the hashtags #OPBart and #MuBARTek, a reference to deposed Egyptian President Hosni Mubarek, who reportedly disrupted Internet and wireless communications to stifle growing protests in Egypt.

As of 11 a.m. today, over 100 people said they would be attending Monday's protest on a Facebook announcement. Allison said no decision has been reached on whether BART will further disrupt cell phone services for Monday's demonstrations.

"The top priority for us is the safety of our passengers. We'll be taking steps to try to make sure our customers get home safely," he said, but did not specify what those steps may be.

He said that BART allows for protests in the station, but outside the fare gates. "We firmly believe in free speech, that's why we have an expressive activities program that allows for activities outside the fare gates, where it's safe," Allison said.

In an announcement for Monday's protest it was not clear whether demonstrators intended to gather on the platform or outside the fare gates. Organizers from Anonymous said the protest would be peaceful.

-Bay City News