Chapter Fourteen: Terrorism in the United States

Chapter Fourteen:Chapter Fourteen:

Terrorism in the United StatesTerrorism in the United States

Nationalistic Separatism: Nationalistic Separatism: The Case of Puerto RicoThe Case of Puerto Rico

Nationalistic Separatism: The Case Nationalistic Separatism: The Case of Puerto Ricoof Puerto Rico

1898- The United States captured Puerto 1898- The United States captured Puerto Rico in the Spanish-American warRico in the Spanish-American war The United States granted Puerto Rico The United States granted Puerto Rico

commonwealth statuscommonwealth status Three opinions of the Puerto Rican Three opinions of the Puerto Rican

populationpopulation Some desire Puerto Rican statehoodSome desire Puerto Rican statehood Some want to create an independent Some want to create an independent

countrycountry Some want to maintain a commonwealth Some want to maintain a commonwealth

statusstatus

Revolutionary organizations that Revolutionary organizations that embraced the nationalist terrorist embraced the nationalist terrorist campaigncampaign Armed Forces of National Liberation Armed Forces of National Liberation

(FALN)(FALN) Volunteers for the Puerto Rican Volunteers for the Puerto Rican

Revolution (OVRP)Revolution (OVRP) The Armed Forces of Liberation (FARP)The Armed Forces of Liberation (FARP) The Guerilla Forces of Liberation (GEL)The Guerilla Forces of Liberation (GEL) The Pedro Albizu Compos Revolutionary The Pedro Albizu Compos Revolutionary

Forces (PACRF)Forces (PACRF)

Nationalistic Separatism: The Nationalistic Separatism: The Case of Puerto RicoCase of Puerto Rico

The Development of Right-The Development of Right-Wing ViolenceWing Violence

History of right-wing extremismHistory of right-wing extremism The first incident of antifederal behavior came The first incident of antifederal behavior came

shortly after the American Revolutionary Warshortly after the American Revolutionary War 1791- The Whiskey Rebellion1791- The Whiskey Rebellion

Antifederal attitudes were common in some Antifederal attitudes were common in some circles in the early 1800scircles in the early 1800s The Know-Nothings (a.k.a., the Order of the The Know-Nothings (a.k.a., the Order of the

Sons of America and the Sons of the Star Sons of America and the Sons of the Star Spangled Banner) were anti-Catholic, anti-Spangled Banner) were anti-Catholic, anti-Irish, and anti-immigrationIrish, and anti-immigration

The Civil WarThe Civil War Southerners were fighting to keep the power Southerners were fighting to keep the power

of local governmentof local government

The Development of Right-Wing The Development of Right-Wing ViolenceViolence


The Ku Klux KlanThe Ku Klux Klan Founded by Nathan Bedford Forrest, the KKK Founded by Nathan Bedford Forrest, the KKK

was created as an antiunionist organization that was created as an antiunionist organization that would preserve southern culture and traditionswould preserve southern culture and traditions

Shortly after the Civil War, hooded Knight Riders Shortly after the Civil War, hooded Knight Riders terrorized African Americans to frighten them terrorized African Americans to frighten them into political and social submissioninto political and social submission

In the 1920s, the Klan sought political legitimacyIn the 1920s, the Klan sought political legitimacy The modern KKK grew after WWII, becoming up The modern KKK grew after WWII, becoming up

to the present day, fragmented, decentralized, to the present day, fragmented, decentralized, and dominated by hate-filled rhetoricand dominated by hate-filled rhetoric


Right-wing extremism from the 1930s to the presentRight-wing extremism from the 1930s to the present Michael Barkun says that a new religion, Christian Michael Barkun says that a new religion, Christian

Identity, grew from the extremist perspectiveIdentity, grew from the extremist perspective Anglo-Israelism saw white Americans as the lost Anglo-Israelism saw white Americans as the lost

tribes of Israel. William Swift preached this tribes of Israel. William Swift preached this message beginning in the late 1940smessage beginning in the late 1940s

Two of Swift’s disciples, William Potter Gale and Two of Swift’s disciples, William Potter Gale and Richard Butler, went on to form right-wing Richard Butler, went on to form right-wing associationsassociations Gale formed the Posse ComitatusGale formed the Posse Comitatus Butler formed the Aryan NationButler formed the Aryan Nation

Christian Identity is based on the premise that Christian Identity is based on the premise that God was whiteGod was white


Identity theologyIdentity theology Identity theology is based on a story of Identity theology is based on a story of

conflict and hate. According to this theology, conflict and hate. According to this theology, Jews have gained control of the United Jews have gained control of the United States by conspiring to create the Federal States by conspiring to create the Federal Reserve System. The struggle between Reserve System. The struggle between whites and Jews will continue until whites whites and Jews will continue until whites ultimately achieve victory with God’s helpultimately achieve victory with God’s help

Before the Christian Identity movementBefore the Christian Identity movement Before the Christian Identity movement, Before the Christian Identity movement,

American extremism was characterized by American extremism was characterized by ethnocentrism and localized violenceethnocentrism and localized violence

Contemporary Right-Wing Contemporary Right-Wing Behavior, Beliefs, and Behavior, Beliefs, and

TacticsTactics

Contemporary Right-Wing Contemporary Right-Wing Behavior, Beliefs, and TacticsBehavior, Beliefs, and Tactics

Issues that hold the right-wing Issues that hold the right-wing movement togethermovement together The right-wing tends to follow one The right-wing tends to follow one

of the forms of extremist religionsof the forms of extremist religions The movement is dominated by a The movement is dominated by a

belief in conspiracy and conspiracy belief in conspiracy and conspiracy theoriestheories

Right-wing extremists continue to Right-wing extremists continue to embrace patriotism and gunembrace patriotism and gun


Limit of right-wing terrorismLimit of right-wing terrorism Groups are rural and tend to Groups are rural and tend to

emerge from farm-based emerge from farm-based compoundscompounds


Trends of the right-wing movement in 1984Trends of the right-wing movement in 1984 The White supremacy movementThe White supremacy movement

Ku Klux KlanKu Klux Klan Neo-NazisNeo-Nazis Other White European or Aryan-based Other White European or Aryan-based

organizationsorganizations SurvivalismSurvivalism

Survivalists withdraw from society, forming Survivalists withdraw from society, forming compounds in rural areascompounds in rural areas

ReligionReligion Many right wing extremists follow Christian Many right wing extremists follow Christian

IdentityIdentity


Rejuvenation of the extremist rightRejuvenation of the extremist right The Brady BillThe Brady Bill

The Brady Bill caused many conservatives to fear The Brady Bill caused many conservatives to fear federal gun-control legislation; Extremists felt they federal gun-control legislation; Extremists felt they had an issue that appealed to mainstream had an issue that appealed to mainstream conservativesconservatives

Ruby RidgeRuby Ridge The Ruby Ridge incident had a strong symbolic The Ruby Ridge incident had a strong symbolic

impact on the extremist rightimpact on the extremist right The Waco siegeThe Waco siege

Although David Koresh had nothing to do with right-Although David Koresh had nothing to do with right-wing extremists per se, he had the formula: guns, a wing extremists per se, he had the formula: guns, a survivalist compound, and a belief in a Warrior Godsurvivalist compound, and a belief in a Warrior God


Current situation of the extremist rightCurrent situation of the extremist right After September 11, 2001, violent After September 11, 2001, violent

members of the right-wing members of the right-wing movement melted away from large movement melted away from large organizations and began to organizations and began to congregate in small groupscongregate in small groups

The existence of the smaller groups The existence of the smaller groups engaged in more individualistic engaged in more individualistic violenceviolence

Conspiracies, Militias, and Conspiracies, Militias, and the Call to Armsthe Call to Arms

Conspiracies, Militias, and the Call Conspiracies, Militias, and the Call to Armsto Arms

Nordic ChristianityNordic Christianity Using ancient Norse rites, they claimed Using ancient Norse rites, they claimed

to worship the Triune Christian Deity, to worship the Triune Christian Deity, but they added Odin (Wotan) and Thor. but they added Odin (Wotan) and Thor. Odin, the chief of the Norse gods, Odin, the chief of the Norse gods, called Nordic warriors to racial called Nordic warriors to racial purification from Valhalla, or the Viking purification from Valhalla, or the Viking heaven. Thor, the god of thunder, heaven. Thor, the god of thunder, sounded the call with a hammer that sounded the call with a hammer that shook the heavensshook the heavens


CreatorismCreatorism Creatorists call for a holy war or Creatorists call for a holy war or

RAHOWARAHOWA Creatorism is a religion with more Creatorism is a religion with more

violent tendencies than Christian violent tendencies than Christian IdentityIdentity


Free-Wheeling FundamentalistsFree-Wheeling Fundamentalists The majority of right-wing extremists The majority of right-wing extremists

retreated to more conservative churches retreated to more conservative churches and relied on individual interpretations of and relied on individual interpretations of scripture from lay preachers along the scripture from lay preachers along the American frontier to justify antigovernment American frontier to justify antigovernment actions. This group can be described as actions. This group can be described as Free-Wheeling FundamentalistsFree-Wheeling Fundamentalists

They believe that the federal government They believe that the federal government and local governments are their enemies and local governments are their enemies and the God will assist them in their and the God will assist them in their confrontation with evilconfrontation with evil


MilitiasMilitias Militias thrive on conspiracy theories.Militias thrive on conspiracy theories. They believe the U.S. government is leading the They believe the U.S. government is leading the

country into a single world government controlled by country into a single world government controlled by the United Nations and that the New World Order is a the United Nations and that the New World Order is a continuation of a conspiracy outlined in the Protocols of continuation of a conspiracy outlined in the Protocols of ZionZion,, a document written after World War I, claiming a document written after World War I, claiming that Jews are out to control the worldthat Jews are out to control the world

Militias are almost always religious, but few embrace Militias are almost always religious, but few embrace Christian Identity, Nordic Christianity, or Creatorism. For Christian Identity, Nordic Christianity, or Creatorism. For justification, they rely on Free-Wheeling justification, they rely on Free-Wheeling Fundamentalism and violent passages of Christian Fundamentalism and violent passages of Christian scripture quoted out of context.scripture quoted out of context.

Simply joining a militia group does not make a person a Simply joining a militia group does not make a person a terroristterrorist

Conspiracies, Militias, and the Conspiracies, Militias, and the Call to ArmsCall to Arms

Paramilitary groupsParamilitary groups Paramilitary groups, or armed Paramilitary groups, or armed

civilian militias that organize civilian militias that organize themselves in a military manner, themselves in a military manner, operate on different levelsoperate on different levels

Paramilitary groups come in a Paramilitary groups come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and variety of shapes and sizes, and most of their action is rhetoricalmost of their action is rhetorical


Third positionThird position The Third Position tried to unite The Third Position tried to unite

both left- and right-wing both left- and right-wing extremistsextremists

Both extremes found that they had Both extremes found that they had some things in common: They hate some things in common: They hate the government, they have no use the government, they have no use for large corporations, and they for large corporations, and they distrust the mediadistrust the media


Small violent groups after Small violent groups after September 11, 2001September 11, 2001 These small groups embrace the These small groups embrace the

ideas of Marighella and felt that ideas of Marighella and felt that any act of violence would help to any act of violence would help to create the mayhem necessary to create the mayhem necessary to topple the governmenttopple the government

Pierce’s Blueprint for Pierce’s Blueprint for RevolutionRevolution

Pierce’s Blueprint for RevolutionPierce’s Blueprint for Revolution William PierceWilliam Pierce

William Pierce was a White William Pierce was a White supremacist with headquarters in supremacist with headquarters in rural West Virginia. He led an rural West Virginia. He led an organization called the National organization called the National Alliance, purchased Resistance Alliance, purchased Resistance Records, a recording label for Records, a recording label for Skinhead hate musicSkinhead hate music

Pierce’s Blueprint for RevolutionPierce’s Blueprint for Revolution The Turner DiariesThe Turner Diaries

The Turner Diaries The Turner Diaries is a diatribe is a diatribe against minorities and Jewsagainst minorities and Jews

From a technical standpoint, it is a From a technical standpoint, it is a how-to manual for low-level how-to manual for low-level terrorismterrorism

Pierce’s Blueprint for RevolutionPierce’s Blueprint for Revolution Dangers of Dangers of The Turner DiariesThe Turner Diaries

It could inspire copycat crimesIt could inspire copycat crimes Some who have read this book Some who have read this book

have taken actionhave taken action Robert Matthews founded The Robert Matthews founded The

OrderOrder Timothy McVeigh was arrested Timothy McVeigh was arrested

with a worn copy of with a worn copy of The Turner The Turner DiariesDiaries

Pierce’s Blueprint for RevolutionPierce’s Blueprint for Revolution HunterHunter

Hunter Hunter tells the story of a lone wolf tells the story of a lone wolf named Hunter who decides to named Hunter who decides to launch a one-person revolutionlaunch a one-person revolution

It could and has inspired copycat It could and has inspired copycat crimescrimes

The Decline of the LeftThe Decline of the Left

The Decline of the LeftThe Decline of the Left Contributions to the demise of left-wing Contributions to the demise of left-wing

terrorismterrorism Intellectual elites controlled the movement, Intellectual elites controlled the movement,

yet the movement lost its base when yet the movement lost its base when student activism began to disappear from student activism began to disappear from American academic lifeAmerican academic life

Left-wing groups had engaged in symbolic Left-wing groups had engaged in symbolic violenceviolence

Guilt may have been a factor in the demiseGuilt may have been a factor in the demise Left-wing movements became more specific, Left-wing movements became more specific,

focusing not only on certain political focusing not only on certain political behavior, but on particular causesbehavior, but on particular causes

Ecoterrorism, Animal Ecoterrorism, Animal Rights, and Genetic Rights, and Genetic

EngineeringEngineering

Ecoterrorism, Animal Rights, and Ecoterrorism, Animal Rights, and Genetic EngineeringGenetic Engineering

Earth Liberation Front (ELF)Earth Liberation Front (ELF) ELF migrated from Europe to the ELF migrated from Europe to the

United StatesUnited States The alliance has been responsible The alliance has been responsible

for more than six hundred criminal for more than six hundred criminal acts since 1996acts since 1996

Its tactics include sabotage, tree Its tactics include sabotage, tree spiking, property damage, spiking, property damage, intimidation, and arsonintimidation, and arson


The Monkey Wrench GangThe Monkey Wrench Gang, by Edward , by Edward AbbeyAbbey In In The Monkey Wrench GangThe Monkey Wrench Gang, the , the

heroes drive through the western heroes drive through the western states sabotaging bulldozers, burning states sabotaging bulldozers, burning billboards, and damaging the property billboards, and damaging the property of people they deem to be destroying of people they deem to be destroying the environmentthe environment

Abbey, however, is an environmental Abbey, however, is an environmental activist rather than a hate-filled activist rather than a hate-filled ideologueideologue


Ecoterrorism todayEcoterrorism today Most violence associated with ecoterrorism Most violence associated with ecoterrorism

has taken place in the American Westhas taken place in the American West From 1995-1999, damages total $28.8 From 1995-1999, damages total $28.8

millionmillion ELF activities have increased each year ELF activities have increased each year

since 1999since 1999 Ecoterrorists are uncompromising, illogical Ecoterrorists are uncompromising, illogical

extremists just like their right-wing extremists just like their right-wing counterparts; They use ecology as a counterparts; They use ecology as a surrogate religionsurrogate religion

Antiabortion ViolenceAntiabortion Violence

Antiabortion ViolenceAntiabortion Violence Tactics of antiabortionistsTactics of antiabortionists

Antiabortionists began with Antiabortionists began with bombing and arson attacksbombing and arson attacks

Today assault and gunmen along Today assault and gunmen along with bombing and arson are with bombing and arson are antiabortionist tacticsantiabortionist tactics

Antiabortion ViolenceAntiabortion Violence Justification for antiabortion actsJustification for antiabortion acts

Violent antiabortionist advocates Violent antiabortionist advocates justify their actions in the same justify their actions in the same manner as other political manner as other political extremistsextremists

Accepting the status quo is worse Accepting the status quo is worse than using violence to change than using violence to change behavior. It is the standard behavior. It is the standard justification for terrorismjustification for terrorism

Antiabortion ViolenceAntiabortion Violence Explanations for violent political behaviorExplanations for violent political behavior

Social control breaks down under stress Social control breaks down under stress and urbanizationand urbanization

Violence increases when people are not Violence increases when people are not satisfied with political outcomessatisfied with political outcomes

Violence can be reinforced by social and Violence can be reinforced by social and cultural valuescultural values

Violence can stem from a group’s Violence can stem from a group’s strength or weakness, its lack of faith in strength or weakness, its lack of faith in the political system, or its frustration the political system, or its frustration with economic conditionswith economic conditions

Antiabortion ViolenceAntiabortion Violence David Nice and abortion clinic bombingsDavid Nice and abortion clinic bombings

Bombings tend to be regionalizedBombings tend to be regionalized Most of the bombings occurred in areas of rapidly Most of the bombings occurred in areas of rapidly

expanding population and declining social expanding population and declining social controls. This means bombings tended to occur in controls. This means bombings tended to occur in urban areasurban areas

Bombings also reflected a method a Bombings also reflected a method a communicating frustration with political communicating frustration with political processes and outcomesprocesses and outcomes

States that experience bombings also exhibit a States that experience bombings also exhibit a greater toleration for crimes against womengreater toleration for crimes against women

Bombings are a sign of weaknessBombings are a sign of weakness Killing was a means of communicationKilling was a means of communication

Black Hebrew Israelism: An Black Hebrew Israelism: An Apocalyptic Single Apocalyptic Single

IssueIssue

Black Hebrew Israelism: An Black Hebrew Israelism: An Apocalyptic Single IssueApocalyptic Single Issue

Black Hebrew IsraelismBlack Hebrew Israelism Black Hebrew Israelism is a Christian Identity with Black Hebrew Israelism is a Christian Identity with

an African twistan African twist Black Hebrew Israelites believe that the original Black Hebrew Israelites believe that the original

Israelites were dark-skinned AfricansIsraelites were dark-skinned Africans The mythology of Black Hebrew Israelites and The mythology of Black Hebrew Israelites and

their beliefs dates back to the Civil War. In the their beliefs dates back to the Civil War. In the latter part of the twentieth century, again like latter part of the twentieth century, again like Christian Identity, the group developed an Christian Identity, the group developed an elaborate theology to explain the status of African elaborate theology to explain the status of African AmericansAmericans

The The African Heritage Study BibleAfrican Heritage Study Bible is used to is used to demonstrate that the Jews who Moses led out of demonstrate that the Jews who Moses led out of Egypt were blackEgypt were black


Hulon Mitchell Jr.Hulon Mitchell Jr. Mitchell and Linda Gaines moved to Miami, Florida, Mitchell and Linda Gaines moved to Miami, Florida,

in 1979 and laid the foundation for a Black Hebrew in 1979 and laid the foundation for a Black Hebrew Israelite group known as the Nation of YahwehIsraelite group known as the Nation of Yahweh

By 1985, the Nation of Yahweh developed into a By 1985, the Nation of Yahweh developed into a group of worshippers who focused their attention on group of worshippers who focused their attention on MitchellMitchell

Mitchell began expanding his theology, teaching Mitchell began expanding his theology, teaching that whites were devils and his followers were to kill that whites were devils and his followers were to kill them in the name of God. He created an internal them in the name of God. He created an internal group called the Brotherhoodgroup called the Brotherhood,, and one could obtain and one could obtain membership only by killing a white personmembership only by killing a white person

Over the next few years, Mitchell dispatched Death Over the next few years, Mitchell dispatched Death Angels to kill whites in the Miami areaAngels to kill whites in the Miami area


The tension between believing and actingThe tension between believing and acting Black Hebrew Israelism is indicative of Black Hebrew Israelism is indicative of

the tension between believing and the tension between believing and acting, and it presents a dilemma for acting, and it presents a dilemma for those charged with securitythose charged with security

The problem for those charged with The problem for those charged with preventing violence is that when a preventing violence is that when a belief system degrades or demonizes belief system degrades or demonizes another group, violence often followsanother group, violence often follows

Chapter Fourteen: Terrorism in the United States

Documents

rightwing associationsgale

case of puerto rico1898

aryan nationchristian

american extremism

american revolutionary

white americans

african americans

william swift