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WhiteSupremacistRecruitment.pdf

White Supremacist Recruitment

So, let's fast forward to the 21st century and where White Supremacist recruitment stands today. It is no secret the 2016 Presiden�al elec�on has brought to the stage the anger and frustra�on of many Americans. This is no less true for extremist groups. The KKK is looking to monitor polling sta�ons to make in an effort to discourage African American voters to the polls. Even in the 21st century the rise of hate groups based on race is s�ll prevalent and widely witnessed. It is important as you work your way through this class and the readings you take into context the importance of how extremist ideology can warrant some individuals to commit violence acts.

The FBI Assistant Director of their Counter Terrorism Division, Tim Langan, stated in November 2021:

The nature of the threat posed by terrorism — both interna�onal and domes�c —con�nues to evolve. The greatest terrorism threat to our Homeland today is posed by lone actors or small cells who typically radicalize online and look to a�ack so� targets with easily accessible weapons. Specifically, we see these threats manifested by Domes�c Violent Extremists (“DVEs”) and Homegrown Violent Extremists (“HVEs”), both threats that arise in the United States. The FBI describes individuals who seek to commit violent criminal acts in furtherance of social or poli�cal goals stemming from domes�c influences — such as racial or ethnic bias, or an�-government or an�-authority sen�ments — as DVEs whereas HVEs are individuals inspired primarily by foreign terrorist groups, but not receiving individualized direc�on from those groups… Earlier this year, U.S. intelligence and law enforcement agencies issued a joint assessment concluding that DVEs “pose an elevated threat” in 2021. DVEs espouse a range of anima�ng ideologies. The top threats we face from DVEs are from those we categorize as Racially or Ethnically Mo�vated Violent Extremists (“RMVEs”) and An�- Government or An�-Authority Violent Extremists. While RMVEs who advocate for the superiority of the white race were the primary source of lethal a�acks perpetrated by DVEs in 2018 and 2019, An�-Government or An�-Authority Violent Extremists — specifically, Mili�a Violent Extremists (“MVEs”), and Anarchist Violent Extremists (“AVEs”) — were responsible for three of the four lethal DVE a�acks in 2020.

ExtremismvsTerrorism.pdf

Extremism vs. Terrorism

Extremism itself more generally describes those who hold radical social, economic, or poli�cal, beliefs but have not acted out with violence against non-combatants. Extremism can encompass almost any topic as someone can hold radical beliefs about nearly any topic. You can find religious radicals and you can hypothe�cally find people who are radical about being a vegetarian. In our free and open society every ci�zen is able to subscribe to whatever opinions or beliefs they choose, and to whatever degree they choose; even to the extreme. However, terrorism is something different in that violence is involved and therefore various crimes are likely involved. The difference between extremism and terrorism is very important for security and law enforcement officials as holding opinions (even radical ones) are protected by the Cons�tu�on, but a budding terrorists is hard to iden�fy before they act. As Tucker (2022) writes in Domes�c Terrorism not actually a crime but desperately in need of a Federal Response:

"Exis�ng legisla�on fails to provide law enforcement room to maneuver between labeling an American ci�zen a deadly threat worthy of surveillance and merely recognizing someone as an outspoken extremist who makes family holidays awk-ward" (p. 927).

This situa�on is further complicated in the United States as there are many tools the security and law enforcement professionals can employ against foreign inspired terrorism, but there are no such tools for purely domes�c causes.

“U.S. law differen�ates between two categories of terrorism. ‘Interna�onal terrorism’ covers threats with a puta�ve interna�onal nexus, even when they stem from U.S. ci�zens or residents ac�ng only within the United States. ‘Domes�c terrorism’ applies to poli�cal violence thought to be purely domes�c in its origin and intended impact. The law permits broader surveillance, wider criminal charges, and more puni�ve treatment for crimes labeled interna�onal terrorism” (Shirin, 2019, p 1333).

TypesofExtremists.pdf

Types of Extremists

One of the most ac�ve types of extremist groups are Poli�cal Extremist. Poli�cal extremism is typically broken down into two dis�nct groups (Le� Wing and Right Wing). Examples of le�-wing extremist groups include but are not limited to Animal Libera�on Front (ALF) and Earth Libera�on Front (ELF). On the other end of the spectrum is right-wing extremist groups and some examples include The Na�onal Alliance, the World Church of the Creator (WCOTC) and the Aryan Na�ons. Both le�- and right-wing extremist groups and individuals fall into this category of poli�cal extremism.

Those who preach race hatred or an�-Semi�sm also qualify as an extremist group. Holocaust denial is an example and part of the an�- Semi�c agenda. Some of these groups or individuals also preach violence against feminists, homosexuals, and immigrants. One of the most recent events was on June 13, 2016 when 49 individuals were shot and killed at an Orlando, Florida LGBTQ+ nightclub.

While religious extremism is the second largest extremist movement; religious extremism is at the forefront of na�onal security. Religious extremist groups o�en have at the center of their movement the presence of a charisma�c leader which is o�en the igni�on that is needed to help recruit individuals with a willing ear for extremism rhetoric. Gartenstein-Ross and Grossman (2009) argued the individual trusts only certain select interpreta�ons of an ideology, whether social, religious, or poli�cal, and a leader provides jus�fica�on for pursuing the commission of violent or criminal acts.

Economic and social extremist groups are also on the radar of all levels of law enforcement agencies. One of the most forefront ac�ve individuals within the economic and social extremist groups are sovereign ci�zens. Sovereign ci�zens consider themselves as the law and they can obey or disobey any law they deem necessary. One of the major components of the Sovereign Ci�zen movement is the ideology they should not have to pay taxes. This movement as we have seen in the recent past can escalate from extremism views and beliefs to an act of terrorism and/or violent criminal ac�vity. In May of 2010, two police officers we shot and killed in West Memphis, Arkansas when they pulled over a father and son who declared themselves as sovereign ci�zens.

WhiteSupremacistRecruitment.pdf

White Supremacist Recruitment

So, let's fast forward to the 21st century and where White Supremacist recruitment stands today. It is no secret the 2016 Presiden�al elec�on has brought to the stage the anger and frustra�on of many Americans. This is no less true for extremist groups. The KKK is looking to monitor polling sta�ons to make in an effort to discourage African American voters to the polls. Even in the 21st century the rise of hate groups based on race is s�ll prevalent and widely witnessed. It is important as you work your way through this class and the readings you take into context the importance of how extremist ideology can warrant some individuals to commit violence acts.

The FBI Assistant Director of their Counter Terrorism Division, Tim Langan, stated in November 2021:

The nature of the threat posed by terrorism — both interna�onal and domes�c —con�nues to evolve. The greatest terrorism threat to our Homeland today is posed by lone actors or small cells who typically radicalize online and look to a�ack so� targets with easily accessible weapons. Specifically, we see these threats manifested by Domes�c Violent Extremists (“DVEs”) and Homegrown Violent Extremists (“HVEs”), both threats that arise in the United States. The FBI describes individuals who seek to commit violent criminal acts in furtherance of social or poli�cal goals stemming from domes�c influences — such as racial or ethnic bias, or an�-government or an�-authority sen�ments — as DVEs whereas HVEs are individuals inspired primarily by foreign terrorist groups, but not receiving individualized direc�on from those groups… Earlier this year, U.S. intelligence and law enforcement agencies issued a joint assessment concluding that DVEs “pose an elevated threat” in 2021. DVEs espouse a range of anima�ng ideologies. The top threats we face from DVEs are from those we categorize as Racially or Ethnically Mo�vated Violent Extremists (“RMVEs”) and An�- Government or An�-Authority Violent Extremists. While RMVEs who advocate for the superiority of the white race were the primary source of lethal a�acks perpetrated by DVEs in 2018 and 2019, An�-Government or An�-Authority Violent Extremists — specifically, Mili�a Violent Extremists (“MVEs”), and Anarchist Violent Extremists (“AVEs”) — were responsible for three of the four lethal DVE a�acks in 2020.

ExtremismvsTerrorism.pdf

Extremism vs. Terrorism

Extremism itself more generally describes those who hold radical social, economic, or poli�cal, beliefs but have not acted out with violence against non-combatants. Extremism can encompass almost any topic as someone can hold radical beliefs about nearly any topic. You can find religious radicals and you can hypothe�cally find people who are radical about being a vegetarian. In our free and open society every ci�zen is able to subscribe to whatever opinions or beliefs they choose, and to whatever degree they choose; even to the extreme. However, terrorism is something different in that violence is involved and therefore various crimes are likely involved. The difference between extremism and terrorism is very important for security and law enforcement officials as holding opinions (even radical ones) are protected by the Cons�tu�on, but a budding terrorists is hard to iden�fy before they act. As Tucker (2022) writes in Domes�c Terrorism not actually a crime but desperately in need of a Federal Response:

"Exis�ng legisla�on fails to provide law enforcement room to maneuver between labeling an American ci�zen a deadly threat worthy of surveillance and merely recognizing someone as an outspoken extremist who makes family holidays awk-ward" (p. 927).

This situa�on is further complicated in the United States as there are many tools the security and law enforcement professionals can employ against foreign inspired terrorism, but there are no such tools for purely domes�c causes.

“U.S. law differen�ates between two categories of terrorism. ‘Interna�onal terrorism’ covers threats with a puta�ve interna�onal nexus, even when they stem from U.S. ci�zens or residents ac�ng only within the United States. ‘Domes�c terrorism’ applies to poli�cal violence thought to be purely domes�c in its origin and intended impact. The law permits broader surveillance, wider criminal charges, and more puni�ve treatment for crimes labeled interna�onal terrorism” (Shirin, 2019, p 1333).

TypesofExtremists.pdf

Types of Extremists

One of the most ac�ve types of extremist groups are Poli�cal Extremist. Poli�cal extremism is typically broken down into two dis�nct groups (Le� Wing and Right Wing). Examples of le�-wing extremist groups include but are not limited to Animal Libera�on Front (ALF) and Earth Libera�on Front (ELF). On the other end of the spectrum is right-wing extremist groups and some examples include The Na�onal Alliance, the World Church of the Creator (WCOTC) and the Aryan Na�ons. Both le�- and right-wing extremist groups and individuals fall into this category of poli�cal extremism.

Those who preach race hatred or an�-Semi�sm also qualify as an extremist group. Holocaust denial is an example and part of the an�- Semi�c agenda. Some of these groups or individuals also preach violence against feminists, homosexuals, and immigrants. One of the most recent events was on June 13, 2016 when 49 individuals were shot and killed at an Orlando, Florida LGBTQ+ nightclub.

While religious extremism is the second largest extremist movement; religious extremism is at the forefront of na�onal security. Religious extremist groups o�en have at the center of their movement the presence of a charisma�c leader which is o�en the igni�on that is needed to help recruit individuals with a willing ear for extremism rhetoric. Gartenstein-Ross and Grossman (2009) argued the individual trusts only certain select interpreta�ons of an ideology, whether social, religious, or poli�cal, and a leader provides jus�fica�on for pursuing the commission of violent or criminal acts.

Economic and social extremist groups are also on the radar of all levels of law enforcement agencies. One of the most forefront ac�ve individuals within the economic and social extremist groups are sovereign ci�zens. Sovereign ci�zens consider themselves as the law and they can obey or disobey any law they deem necessary. One of the major components of the Sovereign Ci�zen movement is the ideology they should not have to pay taxes. This movement as we have seen in the recent past can escalate from extremism views and beliefs to an act of terrorism and/or violent criminal ac�vity. In May of 2010, two police officers we shot and killed in West Memphis, Arkansas when they pulled over a father and son who declared themselves as sovereign ci�zens.

WhiteSupremacistRecruitment.pdf

SurveyingtheLandscapeoftheAmericanFarRight.pdf

MassMediaNewsandExtremistExposure.pdf

CategoriesofDomesticViolentExtremists.pdf

ExtremismandExtremistDefined.pdf

AmericanWhiteSupremacistMovements.pdf

References.pdf

ExtremismvsTerrorism.pdf

TypesofExtremists.pdf

PushedtoExtremes_DomesticTerrorismamidPolarizationandProtest.pdf

WhiteSupremacistRecruitment.pdf

SurveyingtheLandscapeoftheAmericanFarRight.pdf

MassMediaNewsandExtremistExposure.pdf

CategoriesofDomesticViolentExtremists.pdf

ExtremismandExtremistDefined.pdf

AmericanWhiteSupremacistMovements.pdf

References.pdf

ExtremismvsTerrorism.pdf

TypesofExtremists.pdf

PushedtoExtremes_DomesticTerrorismamidPolarizationandProtest.pdf

WhiteSupremacistRecruitment.pdf