Decatur GA courthouse

The old Decatur courthouse is listed among several locations around the US as a venue for a “National Day of Rage” protest on Aug. 21, but the details of the event remain sketchy.

The protest is allegedly being staged by the activist group Anonymous in response to events in Ferguson, Mo.

There have been several public demonstrations throughout Atlanta in response to the Aug. 9 shooting of Michael Brown by a Ferguson Police Officer. Brown was unarmed at the time of the shooting.

Decaturish.com obtained an email alert provided by a reader who works at an office building in Atlanta. The email was provided by building management, the reader said.

The email says, in part, “Nationwide, 8/21: The hacktivist collective Anonymous has issued a call to action for a ‘National Day of Rage’ tomorrow, August 21. Atlanta, GA: 7 PM (Old Decatur Courthouse, 101 East Court Square).”

The Daily Caller claims to have obtained a Department of Homeland Security bulletin related to the event.

According to The Caller, the bulletin says, “Current civil unrest associated with the incident in Ferguson, MO, presents the potential for civil disobedience directed toward identifiable law enforcement personnel, marked law enforcement equipment and government facilities associated with law enforcement during the identified protest times and dates.”

To read the full Daily Caller story, click here.

Decatur Police Sgt. Jennifer Ross said, “We have been made aware of possible protests or demonstrations and are taking the appropriate steps to ensure protesters have a safe environment to express their opinions. We respect their constitutional rights to express their opinions and to peacefully assemble.”

The myth-debunking website Snopes.com examined the “Day of Rage” rumors and concluded that “Anonymous” members active in the Ferguson protests don’t appear to be organizing the protest or sanctioning it.

“One of the key aspects of Anonymous is its amorphous nature and overall lack of central organization,” the Snopes report says. “As such, anyone can initiate an Anonymous ‘operation,’ and none is ever officially sanctioned by any particular aspect of the collective.”

To read the full Snopes.com article, click here.

Decatur’s historic courthouse was the scene of a peaceful protest held on Aug. 14.