Is the Black Bloc Bouncing Back?

Five men were arrested April 30 in connection with a plot to destroy a bridge outside of Cleveland, Ohio. The men were charged with conspiracy and attempted use of explosive material to damage physical property affecting interstate commerce. The suspects are anarchists who were noticed and approached by an FBI informant during an Occupy protest in Cleveland on Oct. 21, 2011.

Meanwhile, during the May Day demonstration in Seattle on May 1, a group of anarchists banded together to form what is known as a black bloc. Using the broader demonstration as cover, they caused extensive damage to retail businesses in downtown Seattle, including the iconic Niketown store. Anarchist violence in the United States is cyclical. These incidents indicate that radical anarchists may again be gaining momentum.