FBI Chief Christopher Wray Warns Of ‘Persistent, Pervasive’ White Supremacy Threat

[stymiegreen]

FBI Chief Christopher Wray Warns Of ‘Persistent, Pervasive’ White Supremacy Threat

His warning in congressional testimony comes after reports that Homeland Security dismantled its domestic terrorism unit.
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https://www.huffpost.com/entry/fbi-chri ... mg00000067

By Mary Papenfuss

FBI Director Christopher Wray testified before Congress on Thursday that white supremacy is a “persistent, pervasive threat” to U.S. security — despite President Donald Trump’s indications to the contrary.

“How would you define the danger to public safety that is posed by white supremacist extremism?” House Appropriations Committee Chair Rep. Jose Serrano (D-N.Y.) asked.

Wray responded that the “danger ... of white supremacists, violent extremism or any other kind of extremism is, of course, significant.”

He added: “We assess that it is a persistent, pervasive threat. We tackle it both through our joint terrorism task forces on the domestic terrorism side as well as through our civil rights program on the civil side through hate-crime enforcement.”

The warning comes just weeks after Trump said he didn’t “really” see a rise in global right-wing violence after an avowed white nationalist was charged in the fatal shooting of 50 people at two New Zealand mosques last month. Such violence is committed by a “small group of people that have very, very serious problems, I guess,” Trump insisted.

Wray’s pronouncement also follows reports that the Department of Homeland Security dismantled its domestic terrorism unit even as American right-wing violence has become the leading cause of terrorism in the U.S. Officials of the department conceded to CBS News this week that the unit has been “restructured” but said that Homeland Security remains committed to battling all domestic terrorism. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen last month insisted that Islamist militants and those they inspire are the primary terrorist threat to the U.S.

In fact, more domestic terrorism suspects were arrested in the United States over the last two federal budget years than those inspired by foreign Islamic extremists. Most domestic terrorism suspects are right-wing extremists. But domestic terrorism is not a crime under federal law, so suspects are charged with weapon violations and other crimes.

Wray was also asked how the FBI is addressing a 17% spike in hate crimes in the U.S.

“We are determined not to tolerate hate-filled violence in our communities, so we’re going to aggressively investigate those cases,” he said.

Trump has been accused of emboldening white nationalists with comments such as referring to black-majority nations as “shithole countries” and immigrants as “animals.” He said after the 2017 Charlottesville, Virginia, march of white nationalists that there were “good people” on both sides of the issue.

Counterprotester Heather Heyer, 32, was killed and 19 others were injured when white nationalist James Alex Fields ran into them with his car in Charlottesville. He pleaded guilty last week to federal hate-crime charges and said he had hoped to kill more of the people he injured. He had already been sentenced to life in prison last year but reportedly pleaded guilty to the hate crimes in a bid to avoid the death penalty.

Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney last month defended the president from charges that he tacitly supports right-wing extremism, declaring, “The president is not a white supremacist.”

[CaptQuint]

Chris was right

[VinceBordenIII]

Internet is radicalizing a lot of people on the right. ALSO radicalizing is the sense some people have that the government doesn't give a damn about their people.

Have you guys noticed how Dems shied away from talking about Christians in Sri Lanka? Stuff like that is radicalizing, as well, because people feel like they don't have representation, IMO. It's polarizing. I am full of sympathy (for what it's worth) for the dead Muslim worshippers in NZ, and also for the Christian worshippers in Sri Lanka.

[CaptQuint]

Christians are shooting jews and burning down mosques because politicians aren't giving them shout outs on twitter?

[Burn1dwn]

Internet is radicalizing a lot of people on the right. ALSO radicalizing is the sense some people have that the government doesn't give a damn about their people.

Have you guys noticed how Dems shied away from talking about Christians in Sri Lanka? Stuff like that is radicalizing, as well, because people feel like they don't have representation, IMO. It's polarizing. I am full of sympathy (for what it's worth) for the dead Muslim worshippers in NZ, and also for the Christian worshippers in Sri Lanka.

Oh the irony....

[VinceBordenIII]

Christians are shooting jews and burning down mosques because politicians aren't giving them shout outs on twitter?

No, people are being radicalized not just by radical sites, but because the "other" side gives them fuel. They feel attacked, and it makes some of them more susceptible to the radical messages and fringe sites.

[VinceBordenIII]

Internet is radicalizing a lot of people on the right. ALSO radicalizing is the sense some people have that the government doesn't give a damn about their people.

Have you guys noticed how Dems shied away from talking about Christians in Sri Lanka? Stuff like that is radicalizing, as well, because people feel like they don't have representation, IMO. It's polarizing. I am full of sympathy (for what it's worth) for the dead Muslim worshippers in NZ, and also for the Christian worshippers in Sri Lanka.

Oh the irony....

How so?

[CaptQuint]

Christians are shooting jews and burning down mosques because politicians aren't giving them shout outs on twitter?

No, people are being radicalized not just by radical sites, but because the "other" side gives them fuel. They feel attacked, and it makes some of them more susceptible to the radical messages and fringe sites.

So this is the liberals fault? Do the white supremacists need love and attention? A firm talking to and a hug?

[VinceBordenIII]

Christians are shooting jews and burning down mosques because politicians aren't giving them shout outs on twitter?

No, people are being radicalized not just by radical sites, but because the "other" side gives them fuel. They feel attacked, and it makes some of them more susceptible to the radical messages and fringe sites.

So this is the liberals fault? Do the white supremacists need love and attention? A firm talking to and a hug?

C'mon, you can do better than this. Mockery is such a lazy way of discussing things. It's so obvious it should be a truism, that people who feel marginalized will react. They will form a common identity and the things they perceive as anti-them will be used by others to radicalize them. Don't you wonder why saying something as simple as "Islamic Terrorism" is such a third rail for some pols?

[CaptQuint]

Christians are shooting jews and burning down mosques because politicians aren't giving them shout outs on twitter?

No, people are being radicalized not just by radical sites, but because the "other" side gives them fuel. They feel attacked, and it makes some of them more susceptible to the radical messages and fringe sites.

So this is the liberals fault? Do the white supremacists need love and attention? A firm talking to and a hug?

C'mon, you can do better than this. Mockery is such a lazy way of discussing things. It's so obvious it should be a truism, that people who feel marginalized will react. They will form a common identity and the things they perceive as anti-them will be used by others to radicalize them. Don't you wonder why saying something as simple as "Islamic Terrorism" is such a third rail for some pols?

How is this the lefts fault?

[Burn1dwn]

Internet is radicalizing a lot of people on the right. ALSO radicalizing is the sense some people have that the government doesn't give a damn about their people.

Have you guys noticed how Dems shied away from talking about Christians in Sri Lanka? Stuff like that is radicalizing, as well, because people feel like they don't have representation, IMO. It's polarizing. I am full of sympathy (for what it's worth) for the dead Muslim worshippers in NZ, and also for the Christian worshippers in Sri Lanka.

Oh the irony....

How so?

You ended your post by pushing an internet created "crisis". Who gives a fuck how Obama and Clinton labeled the victims? Anyone reading their tweets know they are talking abour Christians. Crying about it only adds to the bullshit.

[VinceBordenIII]

Internet is radicalizing a lot of people on the right. ALSO radicalizing is the sense some people have that the government doesn't give a damn about their people.

Have you guys noticed how Dems shied away from talking about Christians in Sri Lanka? Stuff like that is radicalizing, as well, because people feel like they don't have representation, IMO. It's polarizing. I am full of sympathy (for what it's worth) for the dead Muslim worshippers in NZ, and also for the Christian worshippers in Sri Lanka.

Oh the irony....

How so?

You ended your post by pushing an internet created "crisis". Who gives a fuck how Obama and Clinton labeled the victims? Anyone reading their tweets know they are talking abour Christians. Crying about it only adds to the bullshit.

I'm not pushing anything. I gave one example of what makes identity groups vulnerable to others' philosophies. You could point out many such things. For example, as s a white guy, I notice all the "evil white men" and "evil white people" shit. It doesn't radicalize me, but it does offend me.

[VinceBordenIII]

Christians are shooting jews and burning down mosques because politicians aren't giving them shout outs on twitter?

No, people are being radicalized not just by radical sites, but because the "other" side gives them fuel. They feel attacked, and it makes some of them more susceptible to the radical messages and fringe sites.

So this is the liberals fault? Do the white supremacists need love and attention? A firm talking to and a hug?

C'mon, you can do better than this. Mockery is such a lazy way of discussing things. It's so obvious it should be a truism, that people who feel marginalized will react. They will form a common identity and the things they perceive as anti-them will be used by others to radicalize them. Don't you wonder why saying something as simple as "Islamic Terrorism" is such a third rail for some pols?

How is this the lefts fault?

It's not the left's fault, but they might consider that people notice what they are willing to - and NOT willing to - identify or criticize.

[CaptQuint]

The term "Easter Worshippers" should be banned for safety reasons

[CaptQuint]

Christians are shooting jews and burning down mosques because politicians aren't giving them shout outs on twitter?

No, people are being radicalized not just by radical sites, but because the "other" side gives them fuel. They feel attacked, and it makes some of them more susceptible to the radical messages and fringe sites.

So this is the liberals fault? Do the white supremacists need love and attention? A firm talking to and a hug?

C'mon, you can do better than this. Mockery is such a lazy way of discussing things. It's so obvious it should be a truism, that people who feel marginalized will react. They will form a common identity and the things they perceive as anti-them will be used by others to radicalize them. Don't you wonder why saying something as simple as "Islamic Terrorism" is such a third rail for some pols?

How is this the lefts fault?

It's not the left's fault, but they might consider that people notice what they are willing to - and NOT willing to - identify or criticize.

And that can lead to hating Zionists, got it

[VinceBordenIII]

OK, well, I tried. This isn't a place for conversation. Let's just post memes.

[Burn1dwn]

Internet is radicalizing a lot of people on the right. ALSO radicalizing is the sense some people have that the government doesn't give a damn about their people.

Have you guys noticed how Dems shied away from talking about Christians in Sri Lanka? Stuff like that is radicalizing, as well, because people feel like they don't have representation, IMO. It's polarizing. I am full of sympathy (for what it's worth) for the dead Muslim worshippers in NZ, and also for the Christian worshippers in Sri Lanka.

Oh the irony....

How so?

You ended your post by pushing an internet created "crisis". Who gives a fuck how Obama and Clinton labeled the victims? Anyone reading their tweets know they are talking abour Christians. Crying about it only adds to the bullshit.

I'm not pushing anything. I gave one example of what makes identity groups vulnerable to others' philosophies. You could point out many such things. For example, as s a white guy, I notice all the "evil white men" and "evil white people" shit. It doesn't radicalize me, but it does offend me.

You're right. I misread your post as whining about the term. I just hate all the faux outrage from both sides. This seems like one of the sillier ones.

[Wut]

Internet is radicalizing a lot of people on the right. ALSO radicalizing is the sense some people have that the government doesn't give a damn about their people.

Have you guys noticed how Dems shied away from talking about Christians in Sri Lanka? Stuff like that is radicalizing, as well, because people feel like they don't have representation, IMO. It's polarizing. I am full of sympathy (for what it's worth) for the dead Muslim worshippers in NZ, and also for the Christian worshippers in Sri Lanka.

Oh the irony....

How so?

You ended your post by pushing an internet created "crisis". Who gives a fuck how Obama and Clinton labeled the victims? Anyone reading their tweets know they are talking abour Christians. Crying about it only adds to the bullshit.

I'm not pushing anything. I gave one example of what makes identity groups vulnerable to others' philosophies. You could point out many such things. For example, as s a white guy, I notice all the "evil white men" and "evil white people" shit. It doesn't radicalize me, but it does offend me.

You're right. I misread your post as whining about the term. I just hate all the faux outrage from both sides. This seems like one of the sillier ones.

You may have misinterpreted it due to Cheezy and Biker whining about it in the next thread

[Burn1dwn]

That was probably it. Hilarious to see the guys get worked up with how the former President expresses himself through tweets. That is defintely ironic.