EXCLUSIVE Top House Democrat Intros Bill Requiring Feds to Track White-Supremacist Terror

[DonViejo]

Source: The Daily Beast



‘[R]ight-wing domestic terrorism is on the rise, and [presents] a more dangerous threat to the homeland than international terrorism,’ reads an accompanying fact sheet.

Betsy Woodruff
Updated 06.05.19 1:15PM ET Published 06.05.19 12:48PM ET

Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), chairman of House Committee on Homeland Security, has introduced new legislation on white-supremacist terrorism, according to legislative text reviewed by The Daily Beast.

The bill would require the FBI, the Justice Department, and the Department of Homeland Security to track domestic terrorism—including terror attacks committed by right-wing and white supremacist extremists—and release an annual, unclassified report on attacks.

A fact sheet from the committee, reviewed by The Daily Beast, says right-wing terrorism appears to present a more significant threat than foreign terrorism.

“The limited information available to the public shows that right-wing domestic terrorism is on the rise, and, in recent years, has presented a more dangerous threat to the homeland than international terrorism,” the fact sheet said.

Read more: https://www.thedailybeast.com/top-house-democrat-intros-bill-requiring-feds-to-track-white-supremacist-terror?ref=home

[ProudLib72]

1. Keep us informed of the R's response

My gut instinct is that they will kill it.

[ancianita]

2. The FBI's stated mission is assessing threat.It should lead the way in tracking right-wing terrorism

Like years ago.

[onetexan]

3. they should work with the SPLC whose already tracking the domestic terrrorist groups

Here's the SPLC's HATE MAP link: https://www.splcenter.org/hate-map

i thought Tx has the largest #hate groups (73) but apparently it's beaten by FL (75) & CA (83). Who knew there were so many in CA!!

[Duppers]

4. Exactly!

I donate to SPLC. They're damn good.

[inanna]

5. The SPLC has endorsed the bill.

In the OP's linked article, it's about halfway down the page.

Also yesterday from the SPLC's news page:

SPLC to Congress: Myth of ‘white genocide’ driving white nationalist terror attacks

June 04, 2019

The SPLC’s Lecia Brooks testified today before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (Committee on Oversight and Reform) about the need for federal action to confront the deadly white nationalist movement. Brooks delivered the following oral remarks to the subcommittee chaired by U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin, in addition to written testimony.

...

https://www.splcenter.org/news/2019/06/04/splc-congress-myth-white-genocide-driving-white-nationalist-terror-attacks


And this (from today):

SPLC statement on YouTube’s decision to remove hateful content


June 05, 2019

YouTube announced plans today to clean up extremism and hate speech on its popular service by removing thousands of videos and channels that advocate neo-Nazism, white supremacy and other bigoted ideologies.

The decision by YouTube, which is owned by Google, makes it the latest Silicon Valley giant to remove content centered on extremist ideals. Earlier this year, Facebook announced a ban on praise, support and representation of white nationalism and white separatism on its platform as well as on Instagram, which Facebook owns and controls. Twitter also bars violent extremist groups.

But as with other outlets before it, YouTube’s decision to remove hateful content depends on its ability to enact and enforce policies and procedures that will prevent this content from becoming a global organizing tool for the radical right.

It has taken Silicon Valley years to acknowledge its role in allowing this toxic environment to exist online. A simple Google search led Dylann Roof down a hate-filled path toward killing nine people at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston. The platform’s own algorithm has, for years, pushed individuals toward increasingly extreme content.

...

https://www.splcenter.org/news/2019/06/05/splc-statement-youtubes-decision-remove-hateful-content

[onetexan]

6. Excellent news!! Thank you!

[pecosbob]

7. Now rewrite the terrorism laws so actual terrorists can be arrested and held