Coming to a Demonstration Near You

This came through my email today.

Subject: FW: SUBJECT: HQ USNORTHCOM FORCE PROTECTION ADVISORY 00002 (UNCLASSIFIED)
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE

FYI
For your information. As the 5th anniversary of the Iraq war approaches, protest groups are increasing activity, some to include a direct threat to Recruiters, other Soldiers, others with DoD decals and their families. Areas of concern include Seattle and Tacoma, Washington; Pittsburgh; Washington, DC.; Chicago; Chapel Hill, NC; New York; Orlando and many locations in California.

Mitigation recommendations include standard AT/FP precautions to include:
- Avoid known risks
- Remain vigilant
- Use the Buddy system
- Inspect vehicles
- Do not engage belligerents

Subject: SUBJECT: HQ USNORTHCOM FORCE PROTECTION ADVISORY 00002
**************** UNCLASSIFIED// ****************
[redacted]
UNCLASSIFIED//
UNCLASSIFIED//
MSGID/GENADMIN/CDR//
POC/ERIK FEY/CIV/USARNORTH PMO/DSN 471.1452// GENTEXT/REMARKS// 1. (U) THIS MESSAGE PROVIDES SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AND RECOMMENDED MITIGATION ON UNITED STATES ARMY INSTALLATIONS AND ARMY LEASED FACILITIES IN THE USNORTHCOM AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY.

2. (U) SITUATION: AS THE 5TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE IRAQI WAR APPROACHES, NUMEROUS PROTEST GROUPS HAVE STEPPED UP THEIR RHETORIC ON PROTESTING AT MILITARY FACILITIES SUCH AS RECRUITING STATIONS. WHILE MOST ARE PEACEFUL SEVERAL GROUPS HAVE TAKEN ON A MORE MILITANT TONE AND HAVE ISSUED STATEMENTS THAT FORM A DIRECT THREAT TOWARDS CERTAIN RECRUITING STATIONS. RECRUITERS AND ALL OTHER DOD EMPLOYEES ARE REMINDED TO BE VIGILANT AND AWARE OF THEIR SURROUNDINGS.

3. (U//FOUO) KNOWN LOCATIONS AND EVENTS:

3.1 (U) TACOMA, WA: 1230, 15 MARCH 2008, LOCAL PROTEST GROUPS HAVE ANNOUNCED THEIR INTENTION TO SHUTDOWN THE TACOMA MALL AND THE RECRUITING STATION LOCATED AT THE MALL TO CALL ATTENTION TO THE UPCOMING ANNIVERSARY OF THE START OF THE IRAQ WAR. THEY WANT TO “MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR BUSINESS AS USUAL TO CONTINUE AS THE IRAQ WAR APPROACHES ITS 5TH YEAR.” ANTICIPATED ACTIVITIES INCLUDE DISTRIBUTING ANTI WAR AND ANTI MILITARY LITERATURE, CONFRONT LOCAL RECRUITERS OR PERSONS TRYING TO ENTER THEIR FACILITIES, AND ATTEMPTS TO INTERACT WITH SOLDIERS, FAMILY MEMBERS AND/OR CIVILIANS WHO APPEAR TO BE MILITARY OR HAVE DOD DECALS ON THEIR VEHICLES. RECENT PROTESTS AGAINST THE WAR AT THE PORT OF OLYMPIA HAVE BEEN MARKED BY INCREASED LEVELS OF VIOLENCE. DOD PERSONNEL, FAMILY MEMBERS AND CIVILIANS SHOULD AVOID CONTACT, TO INCLUDE CONVERSATIONS OR DIALOGUE WITH PROTESTERS. PROTESTERS MAY BE FILMING ACTIVITIES FOR REPORTING IN INDEPENDENT MEDIA OR USE IN LEGAL ACTIONS. COMMANDERS AND SUPERVISORS SHOULD STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THEIR SOLDIERS, FAMILY MEMBERS, AND CIVILIANS TO AVOID THE TACOMA MALL AREA DURING HIS TIME AND TO REPORT INCIDENTS OF VIOLENCE TO LOCAL POLICE. SOURCE: FT LEWIS FORCE PROTECTION DAILY 4 MARCH 2008.

3.2 (U//FOUO) MULTIPLE LOCATIONS, 15 & 19 MARCH 2008, BROAD SPECTRUMS OF NATIONAL GROUPS HAVE ORGANIZED FOR A NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION CALLED “UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE” AND “CALL TO ACTION” AGAINST THE WAR IN IRAQ. MARCH 19, 2008 MARKS THE 5TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE U.S. INVASION OF IRAQ. PROTEST GROUPS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES HAVE COMBINED TO BE PART OF THE LARGEST DAY OF CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE EVER, COVERING FIFTY STATES. ON MARCH 19TH, MASS DEMONSTRATIONS WILL TAKE PLACE THROUGHOUT THE NATION, SPECIFICALLY IN CITIES SUCH AS CHICAGO, MINNEAPOLIS, NEW YORK, WASHINGTON D.C., ORLANDO, CHAPEL HILL, SC, TAMPA, BATON ROUGE, SAN DIEGO, SEATTLE, SAN FRANCISCO, OAKLAND, AND SACRAMENTO, TO MENTION A FEW. STUDENT DEMONSTRATION WEBSITES HAVE ANNOUNCED THEIR ATTEMPT TO SHUT DOWN THE HOLLYWOOD RECRUITING STATION ON 15 AND 19 MARCH AS THEY PLAN TO DEMONSTRATE HEAVILY ON HOLLYWOOD BLVD. SOURCE: 6TH RECRUITING BDE

3.3 (U//FOUO) PITTSBURG RECRUITING STATION, PA: 19 MARCH 2008, PITTSBURG ORGANIZING GROUP (POG) WILL BE HOLDING A TORCH-LIT MARCH TO A MODERN DAY CASTLE OF ABOMINATIONS-OUR LOCAL MILITARY RECRUITING STATION. THE GROUP INTENDS TO,”…EVICT IT AND EVERYTHING INSIDE OF IT, OCCUPY THE LOCATION, AND TRANSFORM IT INTO SOMETHING USEFUL FOR THE COMMUNITY. WE’LL ALSO BE BRINGING A MOVABLE CAGE IN WHICH TO CONFINE MILITARY RECRUITERS UNTIL THEY NO LONGER POSE A DANGER TO OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS…..” SOURCE: TRADOC

3.4 (U//FOUO) 19 MARCH 2008, NATIONALLY: A KNOWN PROTEST GROUP IS ALSO CALLING FOR A “CALL TO ACTION” ON THE 5TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE U.S. INVASION OF IRAQ, AND THE BEGINNING OF THE 6TH YEAR OF WAR TO HAVE DEMONSTRATORS BE A PART THE LARGEST DAY FOR CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE PROTESTS, COVERING ALL 50 STATES. SOURCE: TRADOC

3.5 (U//FOUO) SEATTLE 19 MARCH 2008, PROTEST ON 5TH ANNIVERSARY OF IRAQ WAR. DEMONSTRATORS WILL CONVERGE ON WESTLAKE PARK AT 6 PM. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE MARCHED IN SEATTLE IN 2002 AS THE WAR BEGAN IN A SPIRITED EVENING MARCH TO THE FEDERAL BUILDING. ON MARCH 19, 2008, THEY ARE ENCOURAGING THE COMMUNITY TO MARK THE ANNIVERSARY WITH DIVERSE AUTONOMOUS ACTIONS THROUGHOUT THE DAY SUCH AS FREEWAY BANNERING, VIGILS, TEACH-INS, WALK-OUTS AND DIRECT ACTION/CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE, CULMINATING WITH AN EVENING PROTEST CONVERGENCE AT WESTLAKE PARK AT 6 PM

3.6 (U//FOUO) FT. LEWIS DEMONSTRATION FOR GI RIGHTS 22 MARCH 2008, A COALITION OF ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING VETERANS AND PEACE ACTIVISTS ARE CALLING FOR A DEMONSTRATION SUPPORTING GI RIGHTS AT THE GATES OF FT. LEWIS. SOURCE: FT LEWIS FORCE PROTECTION DAILY 04 MAR 08. [Editor's note: That's us!]

4. (U) MITIGATION: BELOW ARE RECOMMENDED MITIGATION MEASURES TO IMPLEMENT, WHEN APPROPRIATE.

4.1 USE THE BUDDY SYSTEM WHEN OPENING AND CLOSING LEASED FACILITIES.

4.2 SCREEN ALL MAIL PARCELS AND PACKAGES.

4.3 AT THE BEGINNING OF THE WORKDAY, ENDING OF THE WORKDAY, AND PRIOR TO
VEHICLE USE, CONDUCT A VEHICLE INSPECTION.

4.4 SOLDIERS, CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES, CONTRACTORS, AND FAMILY MEMBERS NEED TO STAY ALERT, NOTICE SURROUNDINGS, AND REMAIN VIGILANT.

4.5 COMMANDERS AT ALL LEVELS SHOULD ESTABLISH RELATIONSHIPS WITH LOCAL POLICE IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND THE LOCAL THREATS.

4.6 KEEP FAMILY MEMBERS INFORMED.

4.7 TALK TO OTHER SERVICE PERSONNEL TO SHARE INFORMATION.

4.8 PRACTICE OPSEC. DON’T PROVIDE PERSONAL INFORMATION TO ANYONE YOU DON’T
KNOW.

4.9 AVOID HIGH RISK AREAS.

4.10 COMMANDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO UPDATE ALERT ROSTERS AND REVIEW EMERGENCY EVACUATION PLANS/RALLY POINTS.

4.11 ENSURE ALL FACILITIES HAVE EMERGENCY PHONE LISTS POSTED (FBI, FIRE, POLICE, HOSPITALS, EMS ETC).

4.12 BE AWARE OF AND AVOID LOCAL PROTESTS

4.13 REPORT ALL POTENTIAL PROTEST ACTIVITIES TO YOUR NEXT HIGHER
HEADQUARTERS.

5. (U) PROVIDE COPIES OF ALL SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY REPORTS TO [redacted.]
***

Please note that the activists are described as threats and belligerents against whom force protection must be implemented. The Army sure knows how to deal with democracy.