Anon Press Release Resource Analysis

The recent press release by Anonymous, relating to “Operation: Invade Wall Street” focuses mainly on inflammatory rhetoric and persuasion of the pathos rather than actual information. There isn’t much of a thesis, but it is implied that the police and public institutions have become inherently bad, and that it is the audience’s duty to rise up and stop the Oppressors. Therefore, one must consider it, rather than an argument, an advertisement.

    The use of strong language serves the author’s purpose to create a forceful and somewhat threatening image. Such phrases as “the laws of this country no longer serve to protect the weak from the excesses of the strong” communicate a vigilant standing with the “99%” or the oppressed majority of the population, and anger at the ability of the “1%” to control the United States economy and, by proxy, its government. Indeed, the piece says “the government rotate[s] around the axis of the wealthiest 1%,” strongly articulating the commonly-held belief that the wealthy hold too much power over public institutions. Furthermore, the release identifies itself with the general public, making statements in the latter half, each starting with "We," such as "We the people shall stand against the government's inaction." This alludes to the Constitution of the United States, striking a patriotic note with the American readers and creating a sentiment of unity. Lastly, the strong adjectives relating to corporate greed and the government's involvement serve to generate anger. Words like "corruption," "excesses of the strong," "robber barons of Wall Street," are easily spotted as inflammatory devices. 
      The motto following the passage, "Vox Populi....Expect Us" is a familiar one to followers of the Anonymous movement. The original motto was "We are Anonymous. We are legion. We do not forgive. We do not forget. Expect us." Utilized as early as the anti-Scientology protests of 2006, this motto is intended to be threatening towards the groups Anonymous targets, but invokes the kind of group-think commonly referred to in the movement as "hivemind." The addendums to this older motto: Vox Populi, Vox Anonymous (essentially, Voice of the People, Anonymous), We are the 99%, and a direct address to Wall Street, show an evolution of sorts within the group. Now, rather than solely threatening on the part of an unnamed whole, Anonymous identifies itself as the common people, the proletariat rising up, as it were.
      Whereas the former image of Anonymous has been one of childish pranksters, this mature and well- put together propaganda piece shows a growth in its goals and motivations.