Editing Protest Warrior

{{merge to|Protests against the Iraq War|discuss=Talk:Protest Warrior#Proposal_to_merge_Protest_Warrior_into_Protests_Against_the_Iraq_War|date=October 2024}}
{{short description|American political activist group}}
{{Citation style|date=March 2012}}
{{use mdy dates|date=February 2020}}
'''Protest Warrior''' was a conservative [[politics|political]] [[activism|activist]] group. It was formed in 2003 by Alan Lipton and Kfir Alfia in [[Austin, Texas]]. The group is primarily known for organizing counter-protests in favor of the [[war in Iraq|Iraq war]]. Its slogan is "Fighting the left...doing it right".<ref>[http://www.protestwarrior.com Protest Warrior] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090909150934/http://www.protestwarrior.com/ |date=September 9, 2009 }}, Protest Warrior</ref> As of 2015, it was inactive.

==History==
In February 2003, Alfia was working as a computer chip designer in [[San Francisco, California|San Francisco]] when he reunited with Alan Lipton, a childhood friend, and crashed an [[anti-war]] [[protest]] in San Francisco on February 16, 2003.<ref>[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B03E2D61331F930A3575AC0A9629C8B63 New York Times, Alan Feuer, September 3rd, 2004] Warriors of the Right Take to the Streets</ref>

The two carried their own signs. Alfia's sign showed a woman in a [[burqa]] tied to a pole with a leash around her neck, and was captioned "Protect Islamic Property Rights Against Western Imperialism. Say No To War!" Lipton's sign said, "Saddam Only Kills His Own People. It's None Of Our Business." [[Conservatism|Conservative]] [[talk-show]] host [[Rush Limbaugh]] covered their counter-protest on his website and complimented the group on its work.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Washington Times|first=Chris|last=Jolma|date=November 18, 2003|title=Protest Warriors New Movement}}</ref>

==Motivation==
Seeing [[Modern liberalism in the United States|liberals]] as "morally and politically bankrupt," and as having a monopoly of media attention, Protest Warrior believes that the voices of the "left" are "heard disproportionately, demoralizing our troops and emboldening dictators around the world."<ref>[http://www.protestwarrior.com/mission.php Protest Warrior] Protest Warrior: Mission Statement</ref>

== Method ==
The group's primary method of [[activism]] is crashing [[left-wing politics|liberal]] events, chiefly [[anti-war protest]] marches and counter-demonstrating within their ranks. For instance, Protest Warriors attended rallies against [[Halliburton]], [[Caterpillar Inc.]], [[Israel]], and [[President of the United States|U.S. President]] [[George W. Bush]], displaying support for these entities. When doing so, the Protest Warriors carry large signs often designed to appear similar to those held by the participants, enabling them to mingle until observers are close enough to read their signs' [[Small print|fine-print]].

==Website==
<!-- Unsourced image removed: [[File:pwka.jpg|thumb|Alan Lipton and Kfir Alfia; founders of Protest Warrior]] -->
The group maintains a website as an organizing and information hub. It also acts as a source for the many slogans and signs presented by Protest Warriors at protests, as well as offering a sign creation tutorial to registered members. The website also includes an online shop. The website also featured numerous forums, but they were shut down without explanation <ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060923235203/http://forum.protestwarrior.com/index.php] </ref> on September 13, 2006, and currently return a [[HTTP 404]] error.

The website has been the target of various attempts at politically motivated [[Hack (technology slang)|hacking]] in the course of its existence. Most notably, in January, 2005 the site was hacked by [[Chicago]] native [[Jeremy Hammond]], affiliated with the website [[HackThisSite|HackThisSite.org]], to steal credit card numbers and shut down the web server. Hammond was indicted in May, 2006, <!-- Non RS V Blog ref removed:<ref name="Brain Terminal">{{cite web
| url = http://brain-terminal.com/posts/2006/05/31/indictment-in-protestwarrior-hack-case
| title = Brain Terminal
| access-date = 2006-12-16
}}</ref>--> and sentenced to two years in prison on December 7, 2006.<ref name="Chicago Tribune">{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-0612080286dec08,1,689768.story?coll=chi-newslocalchicago-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true |title=Chicago Tribune |website=[[Chicago Tribune]] |access-date=2006-12-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070106142519/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-0612080286dec08,1,689768.story?coll=chi-newslocalchicago-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true |archive-date=January 6, 2007 }}</ref>

==Past operations==
Local and National chapters of Protest Warrior have carried out operations in the [[United States]] and abroad. Examples of past Protest Warrior operations include:

*On January 20, 2005, "Operation Hail to the Chief" drew thirteen Protest Warriors to Washington D.C. to oppose [[January 20, 2005 counter-inaugural protest|those protesting the second inauguration]] of President [[George W. Bush]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A24488-2005Jan20.html |title=Protesting the Protesters |newspaper=Washington Post |date=2005-01-20 }}</ref>
*During the 2004 Republican National Convention, a group of Protest Warriors staged a counterprotest, "Operation Liberty Rising".<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070610004632/http://www.mtv.com/chooseorlose/headlines/news.jhtml?id=1490667 |title=MTV.com - Choose or Lose - Headlines |website=[[MTV]] |archive-date=2007-06-10 |url=http://www.mtv.com/chooseorlose/headlines/news.jhtml?id=1490667 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/conservatives-to-protest-gop-convention-protests |title=FOXNews.com - Conservatives to Protest GOP Convention Protests - You Decide 2004 |website=[[Fox News]] |access-date=October 28, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070523100830/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,126148,00.html |archive-date=May 23, 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref>
*On August 27, 2005, a group of three Protest Warriors led by co-founder Kfir Alfia was the target of animosity at a conservative counter-[[Cindy Sheehan]] rally in [[Crawford, Texas]]. Despite the Protest Warriors' assurances that they were on the same side, the conservative protesters repeatedly shouted at them, destroyed the Protest Warrior signs, and forced the Protest Warriors to leave the rally, mistaking them for [[anti-war]] protesters.<ref>[http://cbs4boston.com/topstories/politicsnational_story_240102651.html] {{dead link|date=February 2020}}</ref>{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
*During the [[September 24, 2005 anti-war protest|Sept. 24, 2005 Anti-War Protests]] in Washington D.C., Protest Warrior, along with [[Move America Forward]], [[RightMarch]] and [[Free Republic]] counter-protested those opposed to the war, and also demonstrated in support of the war and troops.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/24/AR2005092400852_2.html |title=Antiwar Protests Commence in Washington |newspaper=Washington Post }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/24/AR2005092401518.html |title=Smaller but Spirited Crowd Protests Antiwar March |newspaper=Washington Post }}</ref>

==Current status, future campaigns ==
The current status of Protest Warrior is unknown:

* "ProtestWarrior, LLC", formed as a [[limited liability company]] in Texas in 2003, is currently listed by the state as "Not In Good Standing",<ref name="texas_comptroller1">{{cite web|url=http://ecpa.cpa.state.tx.us/coa/servlet/cpa.app.coa.CoaGetTp?Pg=tpid&Search_Nm=ProtestWarrior%20&Button=search&Search_ID=13836848054 |title=Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts |access-date=2006-11-17 }} {{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> meaning that Protest Warrior has failed to file its annual paperwork and pay due taxes/fees.<ref name="texas_comptroller2">{{cite web|url=http://www.cpa.state.tx.us/taxinfo/audit/audproc/1gp_r2.htm |title=Franchise Tax Determination of Good Standing |access-date=2006-11-17 }} {{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
* The main discussion forums for PW closed in September 2006. The public forums were reopened in August 2007 and then subsequently went offline again sometime in 2008.
* On February 21, 2007 a blog was started, announcing a "Protest Warrior 2.0" initiative aimed at revitalizing the organization.<ref name="pw_blog">{{cite web
| url = http://protestwarrior.blogspot.com/2007/02/protestwarrior-20-has-started.html
| title = Protest Warrior Blog
| date = February 21, 2007
| access-date = 2009-09-14
}}</ref> Seven articles were written over the span of seven months, with the last entry being dated August 15, 2007. 
* On February 19, 2009 the website was offline again and then returned three months later. The website is currently accessible, but the discussion forums, donation solicitation page, and "HQ" sections are either non-functional or have been entirely removed (HTTP Error 404). The latest "News & Updates" section announces a book publication in June, 2007.<ref name="pw_website">{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.protestwarrior.com
 |title       = Protest Warrior Website
 |access-date  = 2009-09-14
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20090909150934/http://www.protestwarrior.com/
 |archive-date = 2009-09-09
}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Texas}}
* [[Civil disobedience]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.protestwarrior.com archive.org mirror of Protest Warrior Site]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040814041326/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5699723/site/newsweek/ MSNBC: "Partisan Protesters"] ''[[Newsweek]]'', 2004-08-13
* [http://washingtontimes.com/national/20040824-115347-4386r.htm Washington Times: "Protest Warriors fuel rage on left"] ''[[The Washington Times]]'', 2004-08-24
* [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A24488-2005Jan20.html?sub=AR Protesting The Protesters], ''[[The Washington Post]]'', 2005-01-20
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120204130124/http://indymedia.us/en/2005/03/5268.shtml Protest "Warriors" or Protest Losers??] Mar 02, 2005

[[Category:2003 establishments in Texas]]
[[Category:Conservative political advocacy groups in the United States]]
[[Category:Organizations based in Texas]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 2003]]
[[Category:Political Internet forums]]
[[Category:Defunct political organizations of the United States]]
[[Category:Political repression in the United States]]