'Day of Rage' rumors continue; Dallas authorities prep for rumored protest downtown!

Rumors of the national Day of Rage over the unrest in America are circulating on social media. The group Anonymous reportedly was behind the event to protest recent police-involved shootings in Louisiana and Minnesota. Someone claiming to be part of the hacker-activist group Anonymous posted messages online about staging "Black Lives Matter" demonstrations in Pittsburgh and other cities. One video promoting the solidarity protest called for a “day of rage.” It’s not clear if the original poster is actually part of Anonymous or simply someone using the group’s name.It calls on protesters to gather at the City-County Building on Grant Street at 7 p.m.

The current rumors are almost identical to a false rumor that circulated in 2014. Police said there's no way to tell if the event is fake or not.

The Des Moines Police Department plans to have extra officers on duty Friday night as a precaution.Security had already been increased around the city due to the National Governor's Association meeting in Des Moines.

Authorities are on high alert after a man ambushed police officers last Thursday in and around El Centro College as a protest passed. El Centro is just up the street from Dealey Plaza, where Friday's protest might take place.

The shooter killed five officers and injured more during the event, which was organized in response to the recent police killings of two black men in Louisiana and Minnesota.

Downtown Security Directors Association president Tony Rizzo sent members an alert about an Anonymous and Black Lives Matter protest. An unknown number of people plan to attend, the message said.

"It is unknown what type of actions the group will be holding at the location or if they plan to march," the email said. "Anonymous is reminding protesters to be nonviolent."

It suggested that "downtown stakeholders" avoid the area due to traffic. The situation is being monitored by the Dallas Sheriff's Office and the Dallas Police Department Fusion Center, which disseminates information and intelligence data related to criminal activity.

Melissa Urbina of the Dallas County Sheriff's Office said Friday morning that they're still unsure whether or not the protest is happening later. She said she had heard rumors about Anonymous and Black Lives Matter working in conjunction, but she couldn't confirm it.

"Usually for an event like this there's a lot of promotion to let people know about it," Urbina said. "We haven't seen anything that says it's for sure happening. That doesn't mean that people won't show up. We just don't know right now."

Urbina said the department is in "watch and wait" mode right now.

The video that calls for a "Day of Rage" features footage from the fatal police shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. "Citizens of the world, we are Anonymous," a robotic voice says in the video.

It goes on to say that although they can't agree with the official accounts of the ambush from the Dallas police department and "the theory" that there was only one shooter involved, everyone can agree that it was a heinous incident that has no place in their fight for justice and equality.

"Yet while we do honor these fallen officers, we will not be discouraged," the robotic voice says. "We will not stop until the officers responsible for the deaths of both Alton Sterling and Philando Castile are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

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