Anonymous to reveal identities of 1,000 Ku Klux Klan members on 1st anniversary of Ferguson protests

Anonymous hacktivists are planning to reveal the identities of 1,000 members of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) on the first anniversary of the Ferguson protests which erupted on 24 November 2014. Operation KKK, or #OpKKK, will also aim to shut down websites and other social media accounts affiliated with the KKK.

The on-going battle between the KKK and Anonymous began during the protests in Ferguson which erupted in the wake of a grand jury decision to not indict police officer Darren Wilson for killing unarmed black teenager Mike Brown. During the protests a local chapter of the KKK – known as the Traditionalist American Knights of the Ku Klux Klan (TAKKKK) – warned protesters that "lethal force" would be used against them.

In response to this threat, Anonymous took control of the KKK's main Twitter account and published personal information regarding some alleged members of the TAKKKK. The amorphous group also alleged that it had evidence of a connection between the Ferguson police department and the TAKKKK.

Following the Anonymous operation, several members of the KKK reportedly left the group after having their identities exposed. Ahead of the anniversary of the Ferguson protests, a faction of Anonymous has now threatened to reveal the identities of more KKK members.

"We are not attacking you because of what you believe in as we fight for freedom of speech," Anonymous said in a statement released last week. "We are attacking you because of what you do to our brothers and sisters.

"Due to your actions we will be rearranging Operation KKK. We've gained access to yet another one of your KKK Twitter account. Using the info obtained, we will be revealing about 1000 of your klan member identities. The aim of the operation is nothing more than cyber Warfare. Anything you upload will be taken down, anything you use to promote the KKK will be shut down."