from GreenIsTheNewRed.com

"If activists have nothing to hide, why are they wearing masks?"

I've heard that question over and over again. It usually comes in the form of a soundbite from someone affiliated with a corporation, industry or government agency that is attempting to smear lawful activists as "terrorists."

Their reasoning goes something like this: If you aren't doing anything wrong, you have no reason to hide your face. If you are hiding your face, it's an admission of criminal activity. Therefore, wearing a mask justifies rounding up lawful activists as "terrorists."

That's exactly what happened in the recent arrests of four activists on Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act charges in California. The FBI argues that activists "wearing bandanas to hide their faces" were intimidating, and that this therefore amounted to a campaign of terror.

To those not familiar with grassroots activism, that might seem like a pretty reasonable point. Masks are generally associated with bandits, ninjas and Hamburgler, all of which are quite intimidating. So, why would someone want...

Continue Reading at

http://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/2009/02/23/5-reasons-for-activists-to-cover-their-faces-at-protests/