UPDATE: A New York Times article came out today stating that Brandon Darby not only informed on the two men accused of manufacturing a molotov cocktail at the RNC in the Twin Cities, but also on dozens of his activist friends not connected to any crime or RNC protest activities. He also wore a listening devices.
In a newly published Texas Observer article, reporter Renee Feltz reports on how a well-known Austin activist and co-founder of Common Ground Relief in New Orleans admitted this week to working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
“The simple truth is that I have chosen to work with the Federal Bureau of investigation [sic],” said Brandon Michael Darby in an open letter to friends he’s organized with since 2002.
Darby not only worked with anti-war and justice groups in Austin and Houston, but also worked as a community organizer in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. He co-founded Common Ground Relief a reconstruction and relief effort that brought together thousands of activists and volunteers using horizontal organizing principles for climate justice.
He infiltrated the “Austin Affinity Group” that organized around the Republican National Convention in Sept. His letter states he disagreed with the tactics of some of it’s members. Two of the members, David Guy McKay and Bradley Neal Crowder, are currently awaiting trial for the manufacture of a molotov cocktail. The information that led to their arrest came from “CHS 1” – confidential human source 1.
CHS1 is now identified as Brandon Darby.
Darby’s friends and colleagues initially defended him, but when additional information surfaced they confronted him.
“I don’t feel like I lost my credibility,” says longtime Austin-based activist Scott Crow. “But I staked my credibility defending him, and people backed me up.” Now that Darby has gone public, Crow is ready to go on the offensive.
“While it is not yet clear how long or to what extent Darby has been acting as an informant, the emerging truth about Darby’s malicious involvement in our communities is heart-breaking and utterly ground-shattering to some of us who were closest to him,” says Crow, who in 2005 co-founded Common Ground Relief with Darby.
Based on the evidence, Darby has been giving the state information since at least November 2007, but there is also information that suggests his informant activities may go back further, at least to 2006 or earlier.
In the documents, Darby makes numerous remarks that are inflammatory and often untrue or grossly taken out of context. There is also compelling evidence to suggest that Darby, more than just reporting on Crowder and McKay’s activities, was actively encouraging, enabling, and provoking the two men to take illegal action.
I have known Brandon for years and have the greatest respect for him and his years of work in groups such as Common Ground. I am sure that his decision to work with the FBI was made after a great deal of thought and soul searching. I encourage everyone to read Brandon’s open letter (linked to above) before condemning him for his decision.
Unfortunately, many times what is “right” and what is wrong isn’t as black and white as one would like it to be.
I highly doubt that there is any “compelling evidence” showing Brandon as a provocateur. If there is, I don’t see why Scott and them wouldn’t release those documents.
So Brandon seemed a little crazy right after Katrina? Emotionally unstable you say?
No shit bro. Everybody was!
And how in the hell can you claim that Brandon, not Scott, was the only person talking about armed revolution in the early days of Katrina? Nobody remembers that recording of Scott Crow that got played over and over and over again claiming that Common Ground was a paramilitary organization?? Anybody?
OK. How about the statement Scott released defending Brandon’s name in which he states, “He and I faced the cops with arms”, referring to Brandon and himself? Sounds like armed revolutionary talk to me.
The point is you (Cascadia Brian) are obviously just talking shit and spinning lies about Brandon because you don’t like him and well, let’s face it, he’s a pretty easy target right now. To my understanding he won’t even be able to talk about this stuff for at least another month.
Brandon is a revolutionary and has at times discussed armed struggle. Over the past three years that I’ve worked alongside him I’ve never seen or heard him try to coerce people into doing illegal or violent actions. The Brandon Darby that I know is not a provocateur.
We should all stick to the facts whether you agree or disagree with Brandon’s actions.
Thanks,
Cassidy Sheek
csheek@gmail.com
How could anyone sit there and defend someone who is cooperating with the FBI an organization that has continually worked to destroy social movements in this country, someone who is responsible for putting two young people in jail for what will likely be years, someone who fed information about activists, friends of mine I may add, who are now facing terrorism charges for doing above ground organizing against the RNC, a gathering of a political party responsible for death and devastation around the world.
Why because the didn’t, according to Darby have “pure intentions” nor did they “simply want to express their disagreements with the Republican Party”. What is more authoritarian and twisted than that? You disagree with your affinity groups tactics therefore you sell them, and others, out to the FBI. This may be simplification of what happened but it doesn’t matter. What this “activist” did is indefensible
I was shocked to read the snitch’s letter but am even more shocked that anyone would buy Darby’s self important defense of his indefensible actions. This is such insanity. Darby worked with the FBI to put kids in jail, i do not care what excuse he might have, Brandon Darby is a fucking snitch and deserves to be treated as such.
It should also be pointed out-
*Darby was working for the FBI months before the RNC plan was hatched.
*Darby kept tabs on his “friends” who had nothing to do with the Texas Two’s plans.
If he disagrees with people’s “radical agendas” there are other ways to express that before giving info on your friends and comrades to the FBI.
It’s ok…I know several people who work with the FBI that actually give our movement information.
Ed. Note: Cassidy Sheek, randy viscio and SRC are all posting from the same IP address. It looks to be they are the same person.
I met Brandon just after the hurricane hit and worked with him for months at Common Ground, at times quite closely. We shared several good friends as well and we were always friendly with each other and worked well together.
While certainly Brandon has (or had) some good qualities, he was consistently ego maniacal, self-involved, and overly self-assured.
I have witnessed him admitting that he virtually lives for being the center of attention and becomes depressed when he doesn’t have it. He also had some real issues with misogyny.
More importantly he was extremely, and at times quite visibly emotionally unstable, mercurial, and erratic as well as unreasonable, rash, and even fanatical when convinced he was doing the right thing. (In a semi-scary way, not in the normal “activist with a cause” kind of way.)
This played out both in extreme bravery (and bravado) as well as deeply unacceptable behavior.
Ironically enough Brandon actively spoke of his desire for activists to do activities like the ones he was informing against. While we should await more evidence to emerge, it seems reasonable that people are speculating to whether he was a provocateur in addition to being an informant.
It’s certainly possible he believes he is doing the right thing. It may be that the folks at the RNC were planning things that were foolish or even unethical by my standards – I frankly don’t know enough to say.
But regardless that doesn’t mean this was an effective – let alone remotely just or ethical – way of going about stopping them.
Lots of people do terrible things thinking they are doing the right thing from George Bush to coal company CEOs, destroying people lives for some perceived higher purpose. That does not make destroying people’s live in any way acceptable: there is rarely, if ever, a higher purpose that justifies it.
> And how in the hell can you claim that Brandon, not Scott, was the only person talking about
> armed revolution in the early days of Katrina
Sure, it’s possible other were doing this in addition to Brandon, but that is completely incidental.
Brandon has actively encouraged the same things he has sent others to prison for.
No one else has done that.
Ed. Note: Heaven forbid more than one person disagrees with the analysis of the poster. I am only one poster.
Thanks for keeping an open mind…
it doesn’t have anything to do with me having an open mind or disagreeing with your analysis, it’s about having an honest dialogue on this forum. we’re often beset upon by those with interests different than ours and one person posting under several names is a)dishonest b)the work of corporate or gov’t interests trying to be disruptive. it’s very obvious that those interests are attempting to smear and disrupt organizers in austin and new orleans and using forums like this to do so occurs often. therefore, i’m going to call it out when i see it.
Here’s new website detailing info about Brandon Darby selling out his friends to the Feds.
http://brandondarby.com/
Sparki, you’re talking foolish…we’re not “the same people”…why woluld I put my last name..don’t be a dumbo …it plays into their hands., Anyone can email me at Rviscio@gmail.com…OOooooooo conspiracy….blah, blah, blah
I have known Brandon Darby for 32 years….and I know him like the back of my hand! I admire him for standing up for what he believes in and not being afraid to admit when he is wrong! This man has a heart of GOLD and gives to others less fortunate even out of his own need! Wow! He has grown up and educated himself…unlike so many people! All this talk about the “violent Brandon Darby” is the stupidest thing I have ever heard! You people need to go and leave comments on Madonna and Brintney Spearce……I’m sure you know them also….Please fill us in on your conversations with them!! Get a life! Brandon’s found one…find one of your own! Make a difference in someones life…..Brandon did! Way to go Brandon! I am proud of you and your honest work!
Editor’s Note: The IP addresses all originate from a large Internet Service Provider – so it does not necessarily indicate that posts are originating from the same person. Rather, it is a routing address, so someone could be using it as a proxy or the ISP is doing so automatically.
Having been close to activists intermittently, I is commonplace for people to make flip statements about opposing the government in various fashions.
Some people can get carried away, and incindiary devices are not the way to go (if these really were being considered).
That said, informing on non-violent activists seems pretty low.
Maybe the guy was caught with contraband and made a deal? I don’t know enough about this situation.
Any type of activism will likely be seen as illegitimate by law enforcement, and the FBI has a horrible anti-democratic and criminal record (as with the Black Panthers). Activists need to be very careful with respect to tactics and strategy–and understand that there could be informants in the group.
Best luck to all, Common Ground Relief does good work. Hopefully this will not slow down the momentum or the prospects for organizing the New Orleans community toward justice.
has anyone connected Darby’s behavior with the phenomena of “organized stalking?” from my own experiences in social action groups there have been many influences, most not easily discernable. The common denominator has been a noteable person in the community, a championing journalist, videographer, politician, mentor or corporate benefactor who is more than willing to serve as a reference or point person, who will steadfastly encourage radical or truth-seeking behavior and turn on you when serious issues are raised or taken to their logical conclusion. They’re not very creative those “agents.” It’s hard to trust anyone these days and i’ve been trying to give a heads-up to prospective partners about the counterintelligencde tactics used to ensure success. Humor, radical honesty and regular “call outs” are the standard operating procedure these days.