A fresh breed of activists have sprung up fueling a campaign called 'V for Victory', with the tag line 'You are the Resistance', to counter the 'If You See Something, Say Something' initiative of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Similar to the Guy Fawkes-masked cult rebel, V for Vendetta - the fictional revolutionary who destroys the totalitarian government - the 'V for Victory' movement is aimed at fighting back against the moves taken by the authorities to turn Americans against one and other - as the people behind the campaign see it.

Infowars.com, which launched the 'V for Victory' campaign on January 21, asserts, We are all in danger. A police state control grid is being established in the United States. Now is the time for all lovers of liberty to stand together and speak out against the growing tyranny destroying our republic. We WILL be victorious against the New World Order. Post this V for Victory flyer to warn others and show your peaceful resistance.

'If You See Something, Say Something': Civic-awareness against terror

The 'If You See Something, Say Something' campaign was enacted after the September 11, 2001 attacks. In 2002, the Transportation Authority felt the need for a security awareness campaign to encourage people to speak up if they detect something suspicious. The slogan landed on posters in various places such as subways, trains and buses in 2003. The first and only instance of an action based on this suggestion was more than 8 years later when Times Square street vendors alerted police on the Nissan Pathfinder on May 1, 2010, thus thwarting what could have been a disastrous terror attack.

In December 2010, the Department of Homeland Security announced the expansion of the national If You See Something, Say Something campaign to hundreds of Walmart stores across the country to help the American public play an active role in ensuring the safety and security of our nation.

Homeland security starts with hometown security, and each of us plays a critical role in keeping our country and communities safe, said Secretary Napolitano.

The expansion came at a time when the country was disgruntled by the invasive airport security measures. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) faced heavy criticism for introducing body scanners and okaying intrusive body searches. The US government-run agency was attacked for infringing on passengers' personal comfort and privacy. However, the security policies remained due to the constant threat of terror.

The bringing in the heightened sense of threat perception Wal-Mart has led to Napolitano being dubbed the Big Sis. The Opponents of this move as well as the release of recent Public Service Announcements (PSA) in this regard have also critised the DHS' efforts by terming it a totalitarian move by the state. Camparisons have been drawn between the current developments and the George Orwell novel 1984, which narrates life in the Oceanian province of Airstrip One under the grips of never-ending war, intrusive government surveillance as well as constant public mind control.

'V for Victory' gaining popularity

If search trends are anything to go by, the campaign seems to be gaining popularity as three related search terms, 'V for Victory,' 'Occupation of America' and 'you are resistance,' figured on Google Trends on Friday and Saturday.

The terms correlate with a campaign to counteract the total takeover of America through the Department of Homeland Security's program to bring TSA-like security, bag checks and/or pat downs to malls, sports stadiums, bus and trains stations and other parts of everyday life in the United States. Great job to our listeners and the grassroots campaign now underway for 'victory', Aaron Dykes of Infowars wrote on the website.

The movement and rhetoric

The movement, which is being pushed to Americans who are feeling helpless, powerless and overawed by the clear evisceration of their freedoms, draws historically from the spirit of French who were occupied by the Nazis in World War Two.

In wartime France, the victims of the Nazi occupation could see who their oppressors were, in 21st century America we're not yet being policed 24/7 by black boot wearing stormtroopers, but perhaps something even more insidious - each other, Paul Joseph Watson & Alex Jones said.

The campaign rhetoric has even reached the extent of calling the authorities slavemasters trying to enslave the Americans and turn them against each other.

Homeland Security is now trying to mimic the way of all oppressive regimes, by turning the American people against each other. Their agenda is public - DHS' own documents clearly state that they consider libertarians, Ron Paul supporters, constitutionalists, gun owners and virtually any political activism as extremism and possible terrorism.

While these arguments take special significance in the backdrop of the Tucson shooting and the related developments, those against the 'V for Victory' campaign have slammed the Opponents of DHS as radical leftists. The Evening Transcript also quoted the DHS as saying that these groups, with their radical anti-establishment stance and anarchist message, are themselves skirting the fringe of internal terrorism.

Wal-Mart Department of Homeland Security Wal-Mart Security