DHS Issues Warning About Domestic Extremists, Trump Mob Answers With Anti-Mask, Anti-Vax Protests

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Little noticed last week, the Department of Homeland Security Warns New COVID Restrictions May Spark Attacks by Domestic Extremists:

Domestic extremist groups could use the new restrictions meant to stem the spread of COVID-19 as an excuse to launch attacks, the Department of Homeland Security warned. “Pandemic-related stressors have contributed to increased societal strains and tensions, driving several plots by domestic violent extremists, and they may contribute to more violence this year,” warned the Department of Homeland Security in its latest terrorism bulletin.

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The risk of attacks surrounding COVID-19 restrictions is an example of how online forums that spread conspiracy theories have also called for violence. “Actors are increasingly exploiting online forums to influence and spread violent extremist narratives and promote violent activity,” reads the bulletin. “Such threats are also exacerbated by impacts of the ongoing global pandemic, including grievances over public health safety measures and perceived government restrictions.” Amid the emergence of new COVID-19 variants, the potential for new restrictions could become “a rationale to conduct attacks,” according to the Department of Homeland Security.

It isn’t just about the pandemic. As part of the threat assessment, DHS also warned there has been concern among law enforcement that “the broader sharing of false narratives and conspiracy theories will gain traction in mainstream environments, resulting in individuals or small groups embracing violent tactics to achieve their desired objectives.” These conspiracy theories often have to do with former President Donald Trump and the lie that he won the election. Recently, DHS warned local officials of potential violence sparked by an “increasing but modest level of individuals calling for violence in response to the unsubstantiated claims of fraud related to the 2020 election fraud and the alleged ‘reinstatement’ of former President Trump.”

Remember the anti-lockdown protests in the spring of 2020 promoted by Donald Trump’s tweets to “liberate” states responsibly trying to control the spread of Covid-19? In Trump’s ‘LIBERATE’ tweets, extremists see a call to arms. These supposedly spontaneous protests were actually organized and funded by the vast right-wing network of think tanks and political action committees, just like the Tea Party protestors a decade ago. The Quiet Hand of Conservative Groups in the Anti-Lockdown Protests:

An informal coalition of influential conservative leaders and groups, some with close connections to the White House, has been quietly working to nurture protests and apply political and legal pressure to overturn state and local orders intended to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

The groups have tapped their networks to drive up turnout at recent rallies in state capitals, dispatched their lawyers to file lawsuits, and paid for polling and research to undercut the arguments behind restrictions that have closed businesses and limited the movement of most Americans.

Among those fighting the orders are FreedomWorks and Tea Party Patriots, which played pivotal roles in the beginning of Tea Party protests starting more than a decade ago. Also involved are a law firm led partly by former Trump White House officials, a network of state-based conservative policy groups, and an ad hoc coalition of conservative leaders known as Save Our Country that has advised the White House on strategies for a tiered reopening of the economy.

Little did anyone fully understand at the time that these anti-lockdown protests were a dress rehearsal for the MAGA/QAnon seditious insurrection at our nation’s Capitol on January 6. Capitol Mob Has Roots In Anti-lockdown Protests (excerpt):

Anti-lockdown and anti-mask groups, which now count some 3 million members on Facebook, were a crucial recruiting ground for the “Stop the Steal” effort that culminated in the deadly siege of the U.S. Capitol on January 6. “The ranks of ‘Stop the Steal’ groups were able to swell to hundreds of thousands almost overnight largely because they drew on this established base that had already been radicalized,” said Devin Burghart, executive director of the Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights, which documents far-right organizing and white nationalism.

Behind the Proud Boys, boogaloo proponents, and QAnon adherents who stormed the Capitol on January 6 were legions of others who started with a less ambitious gateway cause: that no politician should stand in the way of their right to order a steak on Saturday night.

The latest round of anti-mask, anti-vax protests are no doubt organized and funded by the same vast right-wing network of think tanks and political action committees. They should be on the FBI’s domestic terrorist watch list.

The Department of Homeland Security bulletin last week proved prescient. Joe.My.God blog posts, Oklahoma GOP Stages Anti-Vax Rally At State Capitol:

Oklahoma City’s ABC News affiliate reports:

Hundreds of people gathered at the state Capitol on Saturday for what they called the Oklahoma Freedom Rally, with many protesting against mandates on the COVID-19 vaccine and masks. While hundreds of people made it inside the Capitol rotunda for the rally, hundreds more were still outside as of 5 p.m., waiting to get in.

Some even held their own mini-rallies. People inside the Capitol sang “America the Beautiful,” chanted “USA!” and recited the pledge of allegiance. Many held American flags and signs that said “no vaccine mandate,” “protect our freedom” and “mandate medical freedom.”

Oklahoma City’s NBC News affiliate reports:

The rally was put on by several Republican groups. “It’s only a matter of time before you won’t be able to do anything without the permission of a communist government who will require proof of vaccination,” Oklahoma GOP Chairman John Bennett said.

He invited Oklahomans to attend the rally earlier this week in a video message. The rally came after Bennett recently made a controversial post comparing unvaccinated people to Jews in the Holocaust. [This insanity has become a thing among the MAGA/QAnon cult anti-maskers, anti-vaxxers.]

“I don’t approve of the vaccines. I approve, I thank everyone for making them, for making them available, and for them being free, but I don’t to be forced into it, because that starts to infringe on our rights,” attendee Karen Monahan said.

Once again, these MAGA/QAnon insurrectionists took over a state capitol building:

https://twitter.com/reeseg_3/status/1426644480111915009

In Los Angeles, CA the protest turned violent. The Huffington Post reports, Man Stabbed, 2 Reporters Attacked As Violence Erupts At Los Angeles Anti-Vaccine Rally:

A man was stabbed and at least two journalists attacked Saturday as vicious fighting erupted between coronavirus anti-vaccine protesters, many of them Proud Boys wearing American flag and Donald Trump MAGA garb, and counter-protesters outside Los Angeles City Hall.

Police didn’t immediately have information about the stabbing victim, who was treated on the scene by Los Angeles Fire Department personnel. They reported no arrests by late afternoon, but an investigation was continuing.

Frank Stolze, a reporter for the National Public Radio station KPCC, was screamed at, then shoved and kicked by anti-mask and anti-vaccine protesters while he was trying to conduct an interview, the Los Angeles Times reported. He filed a police complaint, the LA Police Department confirmed.

He later tweeted that he was “mad but fine,” and noted that he had never experienced anything like that in his 30 years as a reporter.

Journalist Tina-Desiree Berg was also photographed being attacked, and she posted a tweet of being rushed by a group of Proud Boys. It wasn’t immediately clear whether she filed a police report.

In a tweet, she identified what appeared to be an orange thermos in one attacker’s hand as a “weapon” used by other anti-vaccine protesters.

https://twitter.com/chadloder/status/1426711680034037763

Critics on Twitter slammed police officers for standing by during much of the violence. Journalist Andrew Kimmel indicated that the paramilitary Proud Boys were responsible for many of the street attacks. He said one of the gang continually pointed him out to others.

Los Angeles City Council President Nury Martinez blasted the violence.

“These aren’t ‘patriots.’ Not wearing a mask and being anti-vax isn’t patriotism — it’s stupidity,” she said in a statement. “We have to be able to have differences of opinions without resorting to violence. Attacking counter-protesters and journalists has no place in a democracy, and certainly no place in Los Angeles.”

Members of the Proud Boys have been descending on school board meetings in some communities to rail against mask mandates to keep students safe and threaten members supporting health precautions in schools.

The latest round of MAGA/QAnon cult member anti-mask, anti-vax protests are orchestrated to keep the Trump mob engaged and incited to violence for the next violent seditious insurrection against the U.S. government. These are not just fringy anti-vaxxers. This is an organized domestic terrorist movement, make no mistake about it.





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