Hacker Group Threatens City Website Over Homeless Feeding Issue
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FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) – A hacker group known as 'Anonymous' said they are attacking Fort Lauderdale City's website until the city complies with their pro-homeless demands.
They call their effort to overturn the city's ban on feeding the homeless in public, 'Operation Lift the Bans.'
The video is nearly two minutes, but a person wearing a 'Guy Fawkes' mask from the movie "V For Vendetta" only speaks for about one minute and thirteen seconds.
The person is seen sitting at a desk holding papers as if they were broadcasting from a news desk.
CLICK HERE to watch Carey Codd's report
"We are Anonymous. It has come to our attention that Mayor John P. Seiler has become an embarrassment to the good law abiding citizens of Fort Lauderdale," the person said using an automated voice.
The character goes on to say that they have a list of demands. If they are not met, the group will take down several websites.
"You have 24 hours or less depending on if this reaches you Mayor John Seiler. Twenty-four hours to comply with these demands or the site will be shut down and other sites belonging to Fort Lauderdale," the person said.
All of the demands reference the homeless ordinances in place in Fort Lauderdale – from overturning the panhandling law to ending the prohibition on sleeping in public.
Seiler said the city learned of the threat Monday afternoon when the city's website got jammed with an enormous amount of information to try and disrupt service. The mayor says the city preemptively shut down its' website with links to all city agencies like the police department for a few hours.
He said there was no damage done and the city was not hacked.
"Attacking a city's website for a 2-3 hour period is not a way to accomplish anything," Seiler said.
There has been much turmoil over the city's decision to enact an ordinance that made feeding the homeless in public places very difficult. Arnold Abbott, 90, has been the face of the debate, calmly defying the city's law with his weekly feedings for his group, Love Thy Neighbor. There have been some protests, arrests and citations, but this alleged attack goes beyond anything seen so far.
The video referenced Abbott.
"…arresting Arnold Abbot who is 90 and served our country for feeding the homeless. You are a disgrace John P. Seiler and so therefore we have a list of demands and if not met we will shut down the main site of Fort Lauderdale," the voice said.
Abbott told CBS 4 News that he considers himself a law-abiding citizen and does agree with the intent of the video.
"This is between ourselves and the city of Fort Lauderdale," Abbott said. "I do not approve of shutting down city hall and certainly not the police department."
Abbott is fighting the city in court and through civil disobedience. He promises to continue his Wednesday feedings on the beach through his agency, Love Thy Neighbor, despite the city's law.
The city says it wants homeless feedings done indoors in sanitary and secure conditions. Homeless advocates say they aren't enough feedings and that the law was not well thought out.
Seiler disagrees and says while the city is fine-tuning the law, videos and protests will not affect the enforcement of the law.
"I don't think we're going to be revisiting this ordinance anytime soon," Seiler said.
The city tells CBS 4 News they are cooperating with the authorities, who are trying to determine if a crime has been committed. But there are other challenges. Arnold Abbott will be in court on Tuesday as his lawsuit against the city seeking to overturn the law moves forward.
Here is the video posted on YouTube:
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