Anonymous Targets Fort Lauderdale Over Homeless Issue

Fort Lauderdale’s decision to issue three criminal citations to a 90-year-old homeless advocate seems to have captured the attention of the notorious hacker group Anonymous.

That group launched what it calls “Operation Lift The Bans” Monday by posting a demand video on YouTube. In that video, a computer generated voice demands that the city repeal a number of its local regulations related to the homeless. Those demands include lifting the newly passed law that prohibits feeding homeless in public places. It’s that law that has resulted in three arrests for Arnold Abbott.

“We are anonymous,” the voice on the video states. “It has come to our attention that Mayor John P. Seiler has become an embarrassment to the good law-abiding citizens of the city of Fort Lauderdale and arresting Arnold Abbott who is 90 and served our country for feeding the homeless. You are a disgrace Mayor John Seiler there we have a list of demands if not met then we shall shut down the main site of Fort Lauderdale.”

The group wants Fort Lauderdale to lift its bans on sleeping in downtown, panhandling at busy intersections and most especially giving out food to the homeless.

“You have 24 hours or less,” the video goes on to say. The consequences, the voice warns, including shutting down the city’s main website and all other “sites belonging to Fort Lauderdale.”

Fort Lauderdale officials seem to have taken the threat seriously. The city shut down its own site Monday afternoon, the Miami Herald reported. It was offline still at 5:50 p.m.

Anonymous has been connected with a number of high-profile hacking cases in recent years. The group has threatened the Chinese government, the Ferguson Police Department, ISIS and others.

See Also:

• 90-Year-Old Arrested for Feeding Homeless Rallies Protesters
• Law that Led to 90-Year-Old’s Arrest Unconstitutional, Lawyers Say
• City That Arrested 90-Year-Old Man 3 Times to Begin Busing Homeless Out
• 3rd Arrest for 90-Year-Old Man Who Feeds Homeless
• 90-Year-Old Florida Man Arrested for Feeding Homeless

Abbott is the founder of Love Thy Neighbor, a local nonprofit that helps the homeless. Before his first citation, Abbott had only handed out a few of the 300 meals he had prepared when police told him to stop or else.

Abbott wrote on his Facebook page that an officer told him to “’Drop that plate immediately.’ As though it were a weapon.”

Seiler has insisted the city has no intention of stopping feeding programs. It simply wants them moved indoors for safety’s sake and so they can be regulated with permits.

Abbott has an arraignment on the criminal charges set for Wednesday.

It is unclear how long Fort Lauderdale’s website will be down. Seiler was quoted by the Herald as saying the city took the site down to address the threats. He didn’t, however, say if Fort Lauderdale officials are considering a repeal of laws related to the homeless.

YouTube screenshot