Did you know that many Civil Rights leaders were spied on by the U.S. government in the 19th century? We thought we were done with all that…but President Donald Trump just paved the way for it to happen again.
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On Sept. 25, Trump issued a National Security Presidential Memorandum (NSPM-7) called “Countering Domestic Terrorism and Organized Political Violence.” The president used the assassination of Charlie Kirk as justification for the creation of a “national strategy to investigate and disrupt networks, entities, and organizations that foment political violence.”
On the surface, it is simply a directive from the president to counter domestic terrorism. But when you look at the language used, the memorandum signals a shift in how authorities will respond to dissent in America.
While no organization is named, the language indicates that Trump is targeting people on the ideological left. He is directing federal agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to investigate people and organizations that are “anti-capitalism, anti-Christianity” and “anti-fascist.”
He also directs them to investigate people who display “extremism on migration, race, and gender,” and have a “hostility towards those who hold traditional American views on family, religion, and morality.”
Let’s be very clear about what this means. If you have voiced your opposition to capitalism or have call yourself an anti-fascist, that could get you flagged as a person who is ideologically linked to terrorism.
In the days after Kirk was killed, there was a lot going on. People were losing their jobs and there was a robust debate about what Kirk stood for. So, you would be forgiven for missing this missive from the White House. But it is something that deserves our full attention. Because if it is enforced the way the president wants it to be, the ramifications would be monumental.
In response to this move from the president, many lawyers have pointed out that our country does not have a process in place for labeling domestic groups as terrorist organizations. That only happens to groups other countries like Al-Quida and Hamas under the Patriot Act. So, the president is telling federal agencies to treat American citizens like the CIA treats ISIS.
This is a big deal because of how it treats Americans. This is also misguided.
FBI and DHS data shows that when it comes to extremists, those on the right are far more dangerous than people on the left. The biggest danger comes from (Prepare to be shocked.) white Nationalists. (Because of course it does.)
And while there have been some incidents of vandalism and bomb threats coming from the left this year, research shows that extremists on the right poses a much bigger threat. (But that research, once on the DOJ’s website, has magically disappeared.) So the groups targeted by this memo has less to do with the danger they pose than it does with their opposition to the president.
The last time the government acted like this was when they used COINTELPRO to spy on MLK , Malcolm X, the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense and other civil rights leaders and organizations. And we know how that ended. (If you don’t, just watch “Judas and The Black Messiah.”)
So, if you have ever voiced your opposition to the administration’s policies on DEI, said you were a Democratic Socialist or even marched in a BLM protest, you need to watch your back. The feds might be behind you.
Straight From 
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