The FBI has stated that the biggest threat to our nation is attacks on the public by white supremacists and white nationalists. Back in 2019, congressional members addressed how the FBI should be confronting the biggest threat to the nation’s public safety.
Statement Before the House Oversight and Reform Committee, Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
Washington, D.C.
June 4, 2019
Confronting White Supremacy
Statement for the Record
Good afternoon, Chairman Raskin, Ranking Member Roy, and members of the subcommittee. Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today. We welcome the opportunity to discuss the FBI’s efforts to combat the threats posed by domestic terrorism and hate crimes. Though we discuss these threats as separate entities and address them from multiple FBI divisions, they are in no way mutually exclusive. Rather, we apply the expertise, passion, and resources of both the Counterterrorism and Criminal Investigative Divisions to these overlapping threats, working to prevent the threats on the horizon and provide justice to the victims of hate crimes. Because individual incidents may be investigated as both domestic terrorism and as a hate crime, we bring the force of the FBI to bear against any event that may fall into these categories, investigating crimes through the lenses of both divisions unless or until one avenue is foreclosed or eliminated.
The FBI’s counterterrorism mission is dedicated to the disruption of terrorist actors and the prevention of terrorist attacks in the homeland. The FBI’s hate crimes mission is to enforce federal civil rights statutes and ensure the protected rights of all persons are preserved. In furtherance of these intersecting missions, our Counterterrorism and Criminal Investigative Divisions are often focused on prevention and enforcement, respectively. While the Counterterrorism Division tends to be more prevention driven, focusing on identifying, disrupting, and dismantling terrorists before they act, our teams devoted to hate crimes concentrate on the victims of attacks and ensuring they are provided the justice they deserve. We would like to take the opportunity to discuss both of these complementary missions with you in further detail, and to explain how we believe each division serves as a force multiplier for the other.
These are from the official website of the FBI. We invite you to do your own research. Here’s an update about one of the terrorists who stormed the US Capitol on January 6th, 2021.
Michigan Man Found Guilty of Charges for Actions Related to Capitol Breach
Defendant Was Among First Rioters to Enter Building, Resisted Law Enforcement Officers in the Rotunda
WASHINGTON – A Michigan man was found guilty by a jury in the District of Columbia today of felony and misdemeanor charges for his actions during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol breach. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the presidential election. Anthony Robert Williams 47, of Southgate, Michigan, was found guilty of the felony offense of obstruction of an official proceeding and four related misdemeanor charges, including entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a Capitol Building; and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol Building. The trial was before Chief U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell.
Yesterday, the Mayor of the city of Boston spoke out against violence in her city and how it affects day to day lives. “We know these threats are continuing to escalate across the country, and that Boston must be the leading light in how we are acting in a coordinated way and tackling and supporting our community members,” said Mayor Michelle Wu Tuesday. She joined officials from the local and state police departments, the FBI and the attorney general’s office to discuss impending actions of known extremist groups.
There are more primary elections coming up in July and August. As much as we want to blame someone for all of this carnage, like the Jayland Walker story we covered a few days ago, we do have power as citizens of this nation and we have an opportunity to give jobs out to those who are fit, sound minded leaders. In a democracy, the politicians work for the citizens in their respective jurisdictions. Folks like Sen. Collins who helped put the Justices on the bench just so they can take away her personal rights as a woman can be removed as well. It may seem late, but if we look at the Ukraine for an example, democracy requires brave citizens, not just young hipper like Presidents. They require public assistance where it relates to messaging and truth telling unlike the lies told on Fox News, a major cable network in the United States that helped promote the big lie.
