Written by MAG-Net member Alfredo Lopez:
Attackers continued their assault on May First/People Link operations Monday evening shutting down the organization’s website at https://mayfirst.org. All other services continue operating.
The Denial of Service attack targeted the website but, as collateral damage, much of May First’s hosting system was paralyzed for a short time about 11:00 pm Monday evening. May First technologists restored all services except May First’s own website, the specific target, by 11:30 pm.
The attack follows several days of Denial of Service attacks on May First servers, targeting specifically May First member the National Network of Abortion Funds whose website, http://fundabortionnow.org was down for almost a day last week. That attack appears to have been part of the campaign aimed at the pro-choice movement which included the attacks last week on Planned Parenthood and various pro-choice websites.
Today’s action is the first time the attackers have targeted the May First/People Link website specifically.
“We consider our organization attacked when one of our members is targeted so we’ve been under attack for several days now,” according of Jamie McClelland, MF/PL Leadership Committee member. “But the targeting of our website means that these people are not just focusing on the issue of abortion or trying to repress communication about it but punishing an organization that allows that communication. This isn’t about choice specifically, this is about May First/People Link and, because of who we are, it’s about an entire movement in two countries.”
Technologists continue working to return the website to service. No other services are affected at this time.
May First/People Link is a political progressive membership organization specializing in Internet work and the sharing of services with most members in the United States and Mexico. It is the largest organization of its kind in either country.
