UNDUE INFLUENCE

Description: A radical anti-corporate group that trains activists to commit unlawful acts under the rubric of "nonviolent" direct action and "peaceful" protests. Primarily funded by Turner Foundation, which donated $115,000 to Ruckus from 1996 to 1999 (see documentation below) before learning that their grants were used to train activists of the Animal Liberation Front and Earth Liberation Front, domestic terrorist organizations according to the FBI. Turner terminated the grants, as reported in The Washington Times, April 22, 2002 ("FBI Targets Domestic Terrorists"). "The Turner Foundation contributed $50,000 to the Ruckus Society, which has trained activists from ALF and ELF, before pulling the plug on funding in 1999. 'Many of us share their values - we all want to breathe clean air - but there are many ways to go about accomplishing that, and burning down buildings isn't one of them,' said foundation President Michael Finley." Other foundations and individuals might consider the liability aspect of donating to the Ruckus Society.

Ruckus Society trained Anne Jordan Dashiell, 1990 Seattle WTO protester, who was charged with felony property destruction for breaking windows at McDonald's, Seattle Symphony Hall and a Warner Brothers Studio Store during the riots.

Ruckus Society tactics are covered in depth in Nick Nichols' book, Rules for Corporate Warriors: How to Fight and Survive Attack Group Shakedowns.