Seattle Anarchists Ask That You Not Rat Them Out to the Feds--No Matter What You Read on IndyMedia
An interesting article has been showing up on IndyMedia sites around the country lately. It's essentially a plea for people to turn in their radical--possibly criminal--friends to the feds so they can collect the mediocre rewards for doing so--"$2,000 for each." 
The local anarchists on PugetSoundAnarchists.org and in the group Olympia Rising Tide are not amused. They'd like you to refrain from turning in radicals, and are prepared to make a generous counter-offer of--well, nothing, for doing so.
The spelling-error-ridden article--this one from Milwaukee's IndyMedia site--is all about pragmatism.
You read indymedia, chances are you know some protesters who are wanted by the police and the FBI. The good news is that now you can recieve [sic] a big cash reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of crimanals [sic]. It's easy just a quick call. and if you know more that one person you can get multiple REWARDS up to $2000 for each . for information leading to the arrest of known criminals and subversive group activity.
It also lists the names of people that, if you turn them in, could lead to that handsome reward:
Sudhama Ranganathan
Rich Gardner
Tim Ortley
Cllr Gino Kenny
Ross Wolf
LesterSnow
Brian Dolinar
Wendy Snyder
Brent Adams
Ofelia Rivas
Robert Norse
Petros Evdokas
Wes Modes
Robinson Block
Amy L. Dalton
Eric Xodik
Steven Argue
Shawn Man
John Thielking
Nathan Pitts
Larry Duncan
Ali Winston, AKA "The Informant"
Craig Rosebraugh
Abby Zimet
Mark Fuller ........APPREHENDED
Chris Geovanis
Heiner Ganssmann
Rachel Hiskes
William Wraithwrite
Chris Geovanis
Bill Hackwell
Johnny America
Lynda Carson
Mike Tidwell........APPREHENDED reward paid
Peter Keys ........APPREHENDED reward paid
Shayne O'Neill
Chris Geovanis
Ciaron O'Reilly
Joshua Hart
Jacob Crawford
Peter Brown
Melody Sage
Jon Axford
Mark Clements
Bill Carpenter
Craig Gordon
Jim Lockhart
KHALED ABU TOAMEH
Chris Lugo
David Kennedy
Stephen Lendman
Keith McHenry
Stephen Clark
Mike Matson ........APPREHENDED reward paid
Ruth Valdez
Sadri Khiari
Kerry Mills
Gerry Bill
Andy Hibbs
Tracy Mapes
Barbara Stephens
John Stephens
Dan Domingo
Donna Lester
Amad Ashari
Wendy Snyder
Bradley Stuart
Miles Thompson
Mark Hawthorne
LeRoy Moore
R Wolf
Lynn Lomibao
Chris Stehlik
Stephen Lendman
Mark Roberts
FredricL.Rice
Akio Tanaka
Elen Coy...........APPREHENDED reward paid
Lenny Cox
Tanya Denner
Larry Duncan
Seven Star Hand
Alex Pareene
michael harris
Francis Talbut
Mike Menzer.......APPREHENDED reward paid
Edna Harris
Toban Black
J.L. Fuller
Sacerdotti
John Lopez
Kim Evans
David Hawkens......APPREHENDED reward paid
Andy Thayer
Sidney Jess
Stephen Lendman
Jack Gerson
Scott Harris
Dan Morgan
Eric Newton
Mike Gable
Folks with Olympia Rising Tide, meanwhile, have this to say:
"It is important to remember that nothing good ever comes from talking to the police. If you don't talk, they won't have any information. The majority of convictions of activists would not be possible were it not for informants, undercover agents, and snitches. Even if you think you are going to 'clear up our name,' it is better to say nothing at all. If questioned by police, remember that the only thing you should say is 'I am going to remain silent. I would like to speak with my lawyer.' Without voluntary snitches, the police would be much less effective at neutralizing activist groups. However much reward money you are offered (and do you really think they'll deliver on that promise?), it is never worth it to betray your friends, comrades, and the movement.
Seattle Weekly spoke with FBI Spokesperson Ayn Dietrich, who is looking into whether the reward figures are accurate (we'll post an update as soon as she's done).
UPDATE: Dietrich tells us that none of the names posted on IndyMedia are people that the FBI has publicly named as being sought in investigations.
She could "neither confirm nor deny" that there were open investigations on any of them, but if so, there aren't any rewards available through the FBI for helping investigators find them.
But in the meantime, know that ratting out anarchists (those who've supposedly committed crimes) will result in the eternal scorn of the radical community, but it may also net you two grand.
So, um . . . your call . . .
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