IS IT THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM? WE NEED TO DECLARE WHITE SUPREMACIST GANGS DOMESTIC TERRORISTS NOW
QUICK READ: It is well past time to declare dangerous ,and devote resources to combat and fully dismantle, rightwing domestic terrorists like the Proud Boys. We are on the precipice of possibly reelecting an openly racist candidate who has signaled repeatedly that our homegrown rightwing hate groups are his “brown shirts.”
CONTENTS:
BACKGROUND
"Milwaukee, where we are having our convention, is a horrible city." It’s often hard to tell whether there’s a method behind Trump’s madness or he’s just plain mad.
Always clear though are the racism and dog whistles:
· Decrying all Mexicans rapists;
· Defending a brutal attack on a Black Lives Matter protester by white supporters, suggesting that the man “should have been roughed up;”
· Asserting that a deadly white supremacist rally in Charlottesville included “some very fine people on both sides."
More disturbing was Trump’s open instruction to the Proud Boys at a debate in 2020 to “stand back and stand by.” They later did—spearheading the January 6th assault on the Capitol.
The Proud Boys are a white supremacist, fascist street gang that repudiates democracy and prepares for violent aggression. Although New Zealand and Canada designate the Proud Boys a terrorist entity, we have not yet even declared the Ku Klux Klan terrorists.
Despite this, rightwing domestic terrorism is the number one “persistent…threat facing the homeland” for its lethality, size, and capacity to inspire lone and group actions. Some groups’ use of social media and encrypted platforms allows them to function entirely outside the borders of nation states.
We need legislation designating hate groups as “terrorist organizations,” along with sufficient funding both to support their effective prosecution and to combat and dismantle them.
ACTION One: Call the Senate.
Script for Oregon Senators
SEN. MERKLEY: Portland office: 503-326-3386 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753
My name is [--] and I'm a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Designating rightwing hate groups terrorist organizations would both enhance the ease of prosecution and free up resources to combat and dismantle them. To protect our democracy, we need to take this threat seriously now and convince our constituents to do likewise.
SEN. WYDEN:
Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Designating rightwing hate groups terrorist organizations would both enhance the ease of prosecution and free up resources to combat and dismantle them. To protect our democracy, we need to take this threat seriously now and convince our constituents to do likewise.
Script for Republican Senators
D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].
Designating rightwing hate groups terrorist organizations would both enhance the ease of prosecution and free up resources to combat and dismantle them. To protect our democracy, we need to take this threat seriously now and convince our constituents to do likewise.
ACTION TWO: Call the House.
Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)
Oregon office: 503-469-6010 | DC office: 202-225-0855
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Designating rightwing hate groups terrorist organizations would both enhance the ease of prosecution and free up resources to combat and dismantle them. To protect our democracy, we need to take this threat seriously now and convince our constituents to do likewise.
Script for Cliff Bentz (OR-02)
Medford office: 541-776-4646 | DC office: 202-225-6730
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Designating rightwing hate groups terrorist organizations would both enhance the ease of prosecution and free up resources to combat and dismantle them. To protect our democracy, we need to take this threat seriously now and convince our constituents to do likewise.
Script for Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)
Oregon office: 503-231-2300 | DC office: 202-225-4811
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Designating rightwing hate groups terrorist organizations would both enhance the ease of prosecution and free up resources to combat and dismantle them. To protect our democracy, we need to take this threat seriously now and convince our constituents to do likewise.
Script for Val Hoyle (OR-04)
Eugene office: 541-465-6732 | DC office: 202-225-6416
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Designating rightwing hate groups terrorist organizations would both enhance the ease of prosecution and free up resources to combat and dismantle them. To protect our democracy, we need to take this threat seriously now and convince our constituents to do likewise.
SCRIPT FOR LORI CHAVEZ-DEREMER (OR-05)
Salem office: 503-588-9100 | DC office: 202-225-5711
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Designating rightwing hate groups terrorist organizations would both enhance the ease of prosecution and free up resources to combat and dismantle them. To protect our democracy, we need to take this threat seriously now and convince our constituents to do likewise.
Script for Andrea Salinas (OR-06)
Salem office: 503-385-0906 | DC office: 202-225-5643
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Designating rightwing hate groups terrorist organizations would both enhance the ease of prosecution and free up resources to combat and dismantle them. To protect our democracy, we need to take this threat seriously now and convince our constituents to do likewise.
ACTION THREE: Good Trouble.
Below are opportunities to fight for our democracy. As John Lewis said, go make some “good trouble.”
FURTHER READING
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gwen-moore-donald-trump-milwaukee-comments_n_666c133fe4b0c029c19d8b0f
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-insults-milwaukee-horrible-city_n_666b2f3de4b076909e1d948c
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/quiet-boys-where-are-the-proud-boys
https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-election-proudboys/
https://ctc.westpoint.edu/pride-prejudice-the-violent-evolution-of-the-proud-boys/
https://www.dhs.gov/ntas/advisory/national-terrorism-advisory-system-bulletin-may-24-2023
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-55923485
https://www.npr.org/2021/05/02/992846086/proud-boys-named-terrorist-entity-in-canada
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/new-zealand-declares-proud-boys-a-terrorist-organization
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/01/world/australia/proud-boys-new-zealand.html
https://www.brandeis.edu/now/2022/june/klausen-proud-boys-oath-keepers-jihadists.html
https://www.vox.com/2015/11/22/9778330/trump-protester-rally-violent
https://www.cfr.org/event/homeland-security-emerging-threats-domestic-terrorism-and-white-supremacy
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2021/02/proud-boys-terrorists-canada.html
