This administration has done nothing to combat anti-government and extreme right-wing terrorism. On the contrary, they have rescinded previous programs and laws and have created a breeding ground for an increase of hate crime and domestic terrorism.
Many of us have been warning that the current political atmosphere, from rhetoric espoused by the media and political figures to the actions taken by this administration, breeds extremity.
In 2009 and 2015 the Department of Homeland Security, as well as the FBI, warned us about the rise of right wing terrorism.[1] Guess what President Trump and this administration did as one of their first acts? Cut funding to programs meant to combat far right terrorism.[2] This action was taken when we know that there is a growing trend of anti-government terrorism.[3] This is a problem for both sides of the political spectrum, for example the left leaning and pro-Bernie[4] anti-government terrorist who shot at GOP Congressman Scalise at a baseball game as an example.[5] However, the majority of terrorist attacks are perpetuated by the far right in America. This snippet from a NYT op-ed shows just how ridiculous the terrorism rhetoric has become while this administration ignores white supremacy terrorism.[6] This isn't discounting the threat of terrorism, however I find it astonishing that this administration and the GOP/right wing media sphere completely ignore the largest perpetrators of terrorism in America.[7]
The frequency of far-right attacks is particularly significant in the United States, where white supremacist, anti-government and neo-Nazi extremists have been responsible for 73 percent of deadly terrorist attacks since Sept. 11, 2001, according to the Government Accountability Office. Also notable is that in many cases, Muslims have become the target of violence.
The United States of America is a victim of 300 violent attacks inspired by the far right every year.[8] A recent example are the three men from Illinois who were charged with a mosque bombing, one of the men drafted a border wall plan for Trump.[9] I'll include this small excerpt from an article by USA Today, I implore everyone to read how right-wing terrorism is rapidly accelerating in America. This all occurred in a single week in May of 2017 and yet President Trump is still waiting for all the facts before he does anything.[10]
• May 20 – Richard Collins III, an African American and Bowie State University student, was stabbed to death by Sean Urbanski, a member of a Facebook group called the "Alt-Reich: Nation."
• May 26 – Three men in Portland tried to stop white supremacist Jeremy Christian from harassing two women who appeared to be Muslim. For their bravery, the three men were viciously attacked; two were murdered and the third was seriously injured.
• May 27 – Anthony Hammond was arrested in Clearlake, Calif. for allegedly stabbing a black man with a machete, after yelling racial slurs. While en route to the Lake County Jail, Hammond threatened to kill the transporting officer and his family once he was released. Hammond was charged with committing a hate crime, among other charges.
• May 28 – Two Native American men in Washington State were run over by a pickup truck driven by a white man shouting racial slurs and war whoops. One of the tribal members was killed and the other hospitalized.
All of these attacks were committed by extremists who appear to be inspired by a politically motivated ideology that posits racial, moral and religious superiority and demands violent action to advance it. People are dead or injured because of ideologically motived attacks. Where is the public outrage? Where are the calls for national unity and enhanced security? Why aren’t we asking where and how these people were radicalized?
National Security Adviser John Bolton tapped up a Neo-Nazi as the Chief of Staff of the National Security Council.[11]
1) CBS - Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic And Political Climate Fueling Resurgence In Radicalization And Recruitment.
2) Reuters - Exclusive: Trump to focus counter-extremism program solely on Islam - sources
3) New York Times - The Growing Right-Wing Terror Threat
4) CNN - Suspect in congressional shooting was Bernie Sandees supporter, strongly anti-Trump
5) Chicago Tribune - Gunman who shot Steve Scalise cased baseball field for weeks before rampage
6) New York Times - What About the Terrorism of the Far Right?
7) Government Accountability Office - COUNTERING VIOLENT EXTREMISM; Actions Needed to Define Strategy and Assess Progress of Federal Efforts, Pg. 28, Appendix II: Violent Extremist Attacks in the United States that Resulted in Fatalities, September 12, 2001 through December 31, 2016
8) PBS - U.S. sees 300 violent attacks inspired by far right every year
9) Chicago Tribune - 3 Illinois men, including one who drafted a border wall plan for Trump, charged with Minnesota mosque bombing
10) USA Today - President Trump wants 'the facts' on right-wing extremism. Here they are.
11) Washington Monthly - John Bolton’s New Chief of Staff Has Deeply Alarming Connections
much thanks to Poppin for helping keep track of USA current news.
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