The Rise of Far-Right Extremism in the United States - Center ...

To be clear, the terms “right-wing extremists” and “left-wing extremists” do not correspond to political parties in the United States, such as ... 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Thethreatfromright-wingterrorismintheUnitedStates—andEurope—appearstoberising.Ofparticularconcernarewhitesupremacistsandanti-governmentextremists,suchasmilitiagroupsandso-calledsovereigncitizensinterestedinplottingattacksagainstgovernment,racial,religious,andpoliticaltargetsintheUnitedStates.1TheOctober27,2018,PittsburghsynagogueshootingbyRobertBowers,andthearrestadayearlierofCesarSayocwhosentpipebombstoprominentDemocrats,appeartobethemostrecentmanifestationsofthistrend.Bothperpetratorswerefar-rightextremists.Althoughviolentleft-winggroupsandindividualsalsopresentathreat,far-right-networksappeartobebetterarmedandlarger.TherealsoisacontinuingthreatfromextremistsinspiredbytheIslamicStateandal-Qaeda. Butthenumberofattacksfromright-wingextremistssince2014hasbeengreaterthan attacksfromIslamicextremists.2 Withtherisingtrendinright-wingextremism,U.S.federalandlocalagenciesneedtoshiftsomeoftheirfocusandintelligenceresourcestopenetratingfar-rightnetworksandpreventingfutureattacks.Tobeclear,theterms“right-wingextremists”and“left-wingextremists”donotcorrespondtopoliticalpartiesintheUnitedStates,suchasRepublicansorDemocrats.OpinionpollsintheUnitedStatesshowthatmostRepublicansandDemocratsloatheterrorism.3 Instead,right-wingterrorismcommonlyreferstotheuseorthreatofviolencebysub-nationalornon-stateentitieswhosegoalsmayincluderacial,ethnic,orreligioussupremacy;oppositiontogovernmentauthority;andtheendofpracticeslikeabortion.4AsBruceHoffmanwrites,right-wingterroristsgenerallycriticizethedemocraticstatefor“itsliberalsocialwelfarepoliciesandtoleranceofdiverseopinion—alongsideitspermittingofdark-skinnedimmigrantsinthenationallaborforceandofJewsandotherminoritiesinpositionsofpowerorinfluence.”5Left-wingterrorism,ontheotherhand,referstotheuseorthreatofviolencebysub-nationalornon-stateentitiesthatopposecapitalism,imperialism,andcolonialism;focusonenvironmentaloranimalrightsissues;espousepro-communistorpro-socialistbeliefs;orsupportadecentralizedsociopoliticalsystemlikeanarchism.6 Therestofthisbriefisdividedintofoursections.Thefirstexaminesthegrowthofright-wingterrorismintheUnitedStates.ThesecondexaminesitsevolvingnatureintheUnitedStates,includingtheuseoftheinternetandsocialmedia.Thethirdassessesthechallengeoffar-rightextremisminEurope.Thefourthdiscussespolicyimplications. TheRiseinFar-RightExtremism Terroristattacksbyright-wingextremistsintheUnitedStateshaveincreased.Between2007and2011,thenumberofsuchattackswasfiveorlessperyear.Theythenroseto14in2012;continuedatasimilarlevelbetween2012and2016,withameanof11attacksandamedianof13attacks;andthenjumpedto31in2017.7FBIarrestsofright-wingextremistsalsoincreasedin2018.8 AsFigure1highlights,mostofthefar-rightattacksinvolvedfirearmsorincendiarydevices(thelatterwhichincludedsettingfiretotargetslikemosques).Thesetypesofweaponsaresimpletoacquire,easytouse,andrequirelittlepreparation—especiallyforloneactors.Theperpetratorsattackedreligiousfiguresandinstitutions,primarilyMuslimorJewishtargets(31percent);privatecitizensandproperty(29percent);andU.S.orforeigngovernmenttargetsintheUnitedStates,suchastheForsythCountyCourthouseinGeorgiaortheMexicanconsulateinAustin,Texas(14percent).9 Figure1:WeaponandTargetTypeforRight-Wing Attacks,2007-201710 Theperpetratorsoftheseattacksweremostlywhitesupremacistsand“sovereigncitizens.”Thelattercategoryincludesaloosemixtureofindividualsandgroupsthatuseviolence,orthethreatofviolence,toprotestgovernmentfunctionssuchastaxation.Theperpetratorsmostlyhavebeenloneactorsandsmallnetworksofwhitesupremacistsandsovereigncitizens,ratherthangroups. Mostoftheseattackseitherdidn’tkillanyoneorledtoasmallnumberofdeaths.InSeptember2017,forexample,KennethJamesGleason,awhitesupremacist,waschargedwithshootingandkillingDonaldSmart,anAfrican-American,inBatonRouge,Louisiana.Afewattacksweremorelethal.InJune2015,DylannRoofopenedfirewithaGlock.45caliberpistolonparishionersatEmanuelAfricaMethodistEpiscopalChurchinCharleston,SouthCarolina,killingninepeople.Hismotivationswereracist,andheexpressedhisextremistbeliefsonsuchwebsitesaslastrhodesian.com.11 Twodecadesearlier,TimothyMcVeighorchestratedthedeadliestright-wingattackinrecentU.S.history,killing168peopleandinjuringmorethan680inOklahomaCity.MichaelFortier,aclosefriendofMcVeigh’s,remarkedthat“webothbelievedthattheUnitedNationswasactivelytryingtoformaone-worldgovernment,disarmtheAmericanpublic,takeawayourweapons.”12AsFigure2highlights,between2007and2017attacksoccurredinvirtuallyeverystateintheUnitedStates,fromCaliforniatoTexas,Florida,Virginia,andNewYork. Figure2:Right-WingTerroristAttacksintheUnitedStates,2007–201713 TheperpetratorsoftheOctober2018attacksweremotivatedbyracistandanti-Semiticviews.CesarSayocallegedlymailed13packagescontainingimprovisedexplosivedevices(consistingofaPVCpipe,smallclock,battery,wiring,andexplosivematerial)toprominentDemocrats.14“Hewasveryangryandangryattheworld,”oneofhisformerbossesremarked,“atblacks,Jews,gays.Healwaystalkedabout‘ifIhadcompleteautonomynoneofthesegaysortheseblackswouldsurvive.’”15RobertBowers,whokilled11peopleattheTreeofLifeJewishSynagogueinPittsburgh,alsowasmotivatedbyextremeright-wingviews.16Heespousedanti-immigrantandanti-JewishviewsonGab,asocialmedianetworkthathasbeenembracedbywhitenationalists.Justbeforetheshooting,BowerspostedacommentonhisGabaccountreferencingtheHebrewImmigrantAidSociety(HIAS):“HIASlikestobringinvadersinthatkillourpeople.Ican’tsitbyandwatchmypeoplegetslaughtered.Screwyouroptics.I’mgoingin.”17 Manyoftheseright-wingextremistsaretryingtobelessvisibleandlessconspicuous.Thegoalistoavoidtheclassicskinheadappearanceofshavedheads,steel-toecombatboots,andotherapparelthatmightbeobvioustolawenforcement.18Islamicextremistshavedevelopedsimilartactics,trimmingtheirbeardsandwearingWestern-styleclothestoavoiddetectionfromlawenforcementandintelligenceagenciesastheyplotterroristattacks.19WhitesupremacistBenDaleyinstructedhissupporterstowearclothinglikepolo-styleshirtsandkhakis,aswellastogetclean-cutmilitaryhaircuts. AsDaleywroteinoneprivateFacebookmessageinterceptedbytheFBI,“IfyouarestillinLAareait’llprobablybememeetingupwithyou.Wegofortheimplicitlooksoyou’llhavetochangeyour[style]upabitwhenyourwithus.” Hisassociateresponded,“Yeathat’sfine[I]cangrowmyhairoutifneedbe,dropthebootsandbraceslooketc.” Daleyrepliedusingasymbolfor“okay”andthenremarked,“TrustIdiditforalongtimetoobutultimatelythe80sinthatstyleofnationalismprovedtobeineffective…[I]thinkitstimetoreimaginethenationalistlookandplaybook,wehavebecomepredictablethatneedstochange.”20 InanotherFacebookpost,Daleynoted,“Iwouldbemindfulofsayinganythingthatcouldbemisconstruedasacalltoviolence.Iknowpeoplewholiterallyhavefedsshowupattheredooroverposts.[J]ustfoodforthought.TrustI’mnotspeakingintermsofmoralityratherpracticality.”21 FactorsDrivingFar-RightExtremism Whyisthereariseinfar-rightattacks?Severalfactorsmayhavecontributedtothisgrowth. First,right-wingextremistsareincreasinglyusingtheinternetandsocialmediatoissuepropagandastatements,coordinatetraining(includingcombattraining),organizetraveltoattendprotestsandotherevents,raisefunds,recruitmembers,andcommunicatewithothers.Theinternetandsocialmediaprovideanunparalleledopportunitytoreachabroaderaudience,whichiswhyIslamicextremistshavedonethesame.AsoneIslamicStatedefectornoted,“Themediapeoplearemoreimportantthanthesoldiers…Theirmonthlyincomeishigher.Theyhavebettercars.TheyhavethepowertoencouragethoseinsidetofightandthepowertobringmorerecruitstotheIslamicState.”22InadditiontotheIslamicState,otherSalafi-jihadistorganizationslikeal-Qaedahaveusedsocialmediatorecruit,radicalize,raisefunds,intimidate,andcommunicatewithmembersandthepublic. Right-wingnetworkshaveusedTwitter(withhashtagslike#nationalistand#ultrarightinTwitterposts),postedvideosonYouTube,establishedFacebookpages,createdInstagramaccounts,andcommunicatedonsocialmediasiteslikeGabandthroughVoiceoverInternetProtocolapplicationslikeDiscord.Somehaveevensprayedgraffitionneighborhoodwallstoadvertisetheirwhitesupremacistideology.Inaddition,websitesliketheDailyStormerremaininfluentialamongmanyneo-Naziandwhitesupremacyactivists.23SocialmediasiteshavebeenlitteredwithphrasesliketheFourteenWords(alsoreferredtoasthe14or14/88)coinedbywhitesupremacistDavidLane,afoundingmemberofthegrouptheOrder.TheFourteenWordsincludesvariationslike:“Wemustsecuretheexistenceofourpeopleandafutureforwhitechildren.”24 Second,right-wingextremistsareincreasinglytravelingoverseastomeetandexchangeviewswithlikemindedindividuals.[5]Inthespringof2018,forexample,severalmembersoftheRiseAboveMovement(orRAM)—RobertRundo,BenDaley,andMichaelMiselis—traveledtoGermany,Ukraine,andItalytocelebrateAdolfHitler’sbirthdayandtomeetwithmembersofEuropeanwhitesupremacistgroups.RAMisawhitesupremacistgroupheadquarteredinsouthernCalifornia.ItsmemberspostedphotographsontheirInstagramaccountsoftheirEuropetripwiththeRAMlogoandwordslike“RAPEFUGEESARENOTWELCOMEHERE”and“REVOLTAGAINSTMODERN…ACTIVISIM-ATHLETICS-VIRTUE…RIGHTSIDE.”26InUkraine,RAMmembersmetwithgroupsliketheAzovBattalion,aparamilitaryunitoftheUkrainianNationalGuard,whichtheFBIsaysisassociatedwithneo-Naziideology.TheAzovBattalionalsoisbelievedtobetrainingandradicalizingwhitesupremacistorganizationsbasedintheUnitedStates.27TheseforeignconnectionsprovideU.S.-basedgroupswithanopportunitytoimprovetheirtactics,developbettercounter-intelligencetechniques,hardentheirextremistviews,andbroadentheirglobalnetworks. Third,right-wingextremismhasbeenenergizedoverthepastdecadebyseveralissues.SomewereinfuriatedbytheelectionofanAfrican-American,BarackObama,aspresident.AsoneU.S.DepartmentofHomelandSecurityassessmentconcludedshortlyaftertheelection,“RightwingextremistshavecapitalizedontheelectionofthefirstAfricanAmericanpresident,andarefocusingtheireffortstorecruitnewmembers,mobilizeexistingsupporters,andbroadentheirscopeandappealthroughpropaganda,buttheyhavenotyetturnedtoattackplanning.”28OthershavebeenincensedaboutaperceivedrisingtideofimmigrationtotheUnitedStatesfromcountrieslikeMexicoandSyria. StillothershavebeeninspiredbyPresidentDonaldTrump,asnotedinDepartmentofJusticecriminalcomplaintsandindictments.OnMarch25,2017,RAMmembersattendeda“MakeAmericaGreatAgain”rallyinHuntingtonBeach,Californiaandfoughtprotesters.Theycarriedsignslike“DEFENDAMERICA”and“DaGoyimKnow”(aphraseusedbysomewhitesupremaciststorefertoasupposedJewishconspiracytocontrolworldaffairs).29Aftertherally,theDailyStormerpublishedanarticletitled“TrumpenkriegersPhysicallyRemoveAntifaHomosinHuntingtonBeach.”30Theword“antifa”referstoamixofleft-wingandanti-fascistmilitantnetworks. AsanFBIspecialagentexplainedinacriminalcomplaint,“basedonmytrainingandexperience,Iknowthat‘Trumpenkriegers’isintendedtomean‘FightersforTrump.’”31WhiletheelectionofPresidentTrumphasenergizedsomeright-wingextremists,Trump’selectiondoesnotfullyexplainthistrend.Thefirstnotableincreaseinright-wingterroristattacksoverthepastdecadeoccurredin2012—fromoneattackin2011to14in2012—fouryearsbeforePresidentTrumpwaselected. Far-RightExtremisminEurope LiketheUnitedStates,Europefacesagrowingthreatfromextremeright-winggroups.AsFigure3highlights,extremeright-wingattackshavesignificantlyincreased—from0in2012to9in2013;21in2016;and30in2017.32EuropeanUnionSecurityCommissionerSirJulianKinghasexpressedseriousconcernaboutthe“growingmenace”ofright-wingextremism:“I’djustliketopauseforonemomentonthis.I’mnotawareofasingleEUmemberstatethatisnotaffectedinsomewaybyright-wingviolentextremism.”33In2011,77diedinaseriesofattacksbyaloneright-wingextremistinOsloandtheislandofUtoya.ViolentgroupsincludetheIdentitäreBewegungDeutschland(IBD,IdentitarianMovementGermany)andsupportersoftheReichCitizenideologyinGermany;theGeneraceIdentity(GenerationofIdentity)movementandthePro-VlastmovementintheCzechRepublic;SoldiersofOdininBelgium;andtheBlood&HonourorganizationinPortugal.34 Figure3:ExtremeRight-WingAttacksinEurope,2012–201735 IntheUK,extremeright-winggroupshavenotpresentedasignificantterrorismthreatuntilrecently,partlyinresponsetorisingdomesticconcernsaboutrefugeesandasylum-seekersfromcountrieslikeSyriaandAfghanistan.In2016and2017,theUKbannedthefar-rightgroupsNationalAction,ScottishDawn,andNationalSocialistAnti-CapitalistActionundertheTerrorismAct2000.36Therealsohavebeenseveralright-wingattacksintheUK.ExamplesincludetheJune2017killingofoneindividualbyDarrenOsborneattheFinsburyParkMosque,andtheJune2016assassinationofUKLabourMemberofParliamentJoCoxbyThomasMair.Someextremeright-wingindividualsandgroupsposeaparticularthreatbecausetheyhavestockpiledfirearmsanddevelopedthecapabilitytobuildimprovisedexplosivedevices.37AstheUKgovernmentconcludedin2018,“Weassessthethreatfromextremeright-wingterrorismisgrowing.”38 Thethreatfromextremeright-winggroupsandindividualsislikelymoreacuteintheUKthananywhereelseinEurope.AstheEuropeanUnionAgencyforLawEnforcementCooperationconcluded,“Fivefoiled,failedorcompletedterroristattacksattributedtorightwingextremists(RWE)werereportedfor2017:allofthembytheUK.”39In2017andearly2018,theUKarrested27individualsonsuspicionofbeingamemberofNationalAction,15ofwhomwerechargedwithterrorismoffenses.Inaddition,theBritishdomesticintelligenceagency,MI5,andthepolicedisruptednearlyahalf-dozenright-wingterroristplotsintheUKinthefirsthalfof2018.40 Francealsohasexperiencedisolatedactsoffar-rightextremism.InJune2018,forexample,Frenchauthoritiesarrested10suspectedfar-rightextremists—includingaretiredpoliceofficerandaretiredsoldier—fromthegroupActiondesForcesOpérationnelleswhoallegedlywereplottingtoattackMuslims.Theyhadstockpiledrifles,handguns,homemadegrenades,andammunitionaroundParis,theMediterraneanislandofCorsica,andthewesternCharentes-Maritimesregion.41UnliketheFinsburyParkattackintheUK,theActiondesForcesOpérationnellesplottersclaimedtheywere“only”planningtoattackjihadists,radicalpreachers,and“radicalizedindividuals”—yettheirdefinitionof“radicalized”individualsincludedwomenwearingveils. MuchlikeintheUnitedStates,right-wingnetworksandindividualshavebroadenedtheircontactsinothercountries,especiallyinEuropeandNorthAmerica.Inaddition,right-wingextremistsalsohaveincreasinglyleveragedtheinternetandsocialmedia.AstheGermanMinistryofInteriorconcluded: TheInternethasbecomethemostimportantpropagandatoolintheright-wingextremistscene.Assoonasright-wingextremistorganisationsbeginplanninglarge-scalepublicactionsorlaunchcampaigns,theyalmostwithoutexceptionusetheInternettospreadthenews.Designatedwebsites,socialmediaprofiles,onlineflyers,andimages,textsandvideoclipspostedontheInternetarekeyelementsoftheironlinecampaigns.Sincetheright-wingextremistscenebeganusingtheInternet,itsbasicmethodologyhasbeentoopenlyshowitspresenceanddisseminateontheonehandandtoshiftitscommunicationsandcriminalbehaviourtoprotected,non-publicareasoftheInternetontheother.42 PolicyImplications Right-wingextremismisnothingnewintheUnitedStates.AftertheCivilWar,PresidentUlyssesS.Grantconductedanaggressive—andultimatelysuccessful—campaignagainsttheKuKluxKlananditsoffshoots(suchastheKnightsoftheWhiteCamellia)fromthe1860stothe1870s.GrantdeployedfederalsoldierstoarrestKlanmembers,enlistedU.S.attorneystotrytheircases,supportedCongressionallegislationliketheKuKluxKlanAct,andorganizedfederaljudgestooverseeKlantrials.43Formuchofthetwentiethcentury,theFBIandlocallawenforcementagencieseffectivelypenetratedanddismantleddozensofright-wingterroristgroups,suchastheOrderandtheCovenant,Sword,andArmoftheLord.44Inthe1990s,right-winggroupswereenergizedaroundissueslikeguncontrol,freetradeagreements,perceivedgovernmentinfringementoncivilliberties,andsocialissuessuchasabortion,immigration,andsame-sexmarriage.45FollowingtheApril1995OklahomaCitybombing,theFBIandlocallawenforcementagenciesagainsuccessfullyinfiltratedfar-rightnetworksandarrestedtheirleadership. Yetfar-rightextremismpersists.TheTurnerDiaries,a1978novelwrittenbyWilliamPierceunderthepseudonymAndrewMacdonald,hasbeeninfluentialinfar-rightcircles.Itdescribesaseriesofeventsthatbeginswithawhitesupremacistmilitaryrevolutionandculminatesinaracewar,world-widenuclearwar,andexterminationofJews,gays,andnon-whites.46Anti-governmentactivistandwhitesupremacistLouisBeamadvocatedanorganizationalstructurethathetermed“leaderlessresistance”totargettheU.S.government.AsBeamnoted,“UtilizingtheLeaderlessResistanceconcept,allindividualsandgroupsoperateindependentlyofeachother,andneverreporttoacentralheadquartersorsingleleaderfordirectionorinstruction,aswouldthosewhobelongtoatypicalpyramidorganization.”47Beam’sleaderlessresistanceconceptremainsinspiringtosomeright-wingextremistsandpartiallyexplainswhymuchofthefar-rightthreatcomesfromloneactorsandsmallnetworks—ratherthanlargegroups. Today,someintheDepartmentofJustice,DepartmentofHomelandSecurity,FBI,andstateandlocallawenforcementagencieshaveexpressedalarmatfar-rightextremism.TheTrumpAdministration’scounterterrorismstrategy,releasedinOctober2018,warnedthattheUnitedStatesfacesathreatfromindividualsmotivatedbytypesofviolentextremismotherthanradicalIslam,“suchasraciallymotivatedextremism,animalrightsextremism,environmentalextremism,sovereigncitizenextremism,andmilitiaextremism.”48InApril2018,federalauthoritiescharged57membersofwhitesupremacistorganizationswithdrugtraffickingandkidnapping.49AsU.S.AttorneyGeneralJeffSessionsremarkedfollowingthearrest,“Notonlydowhitesupremacistgangssubscribetoarepugnant,hatefulideology,theyalsoengageinsignificant,organizedandviolentcriminalactivity.”Hecontinuedthat“theDepartmentofJusticehastargetedeveryviolentcriminalgangmemberintheUnitedStates.Thequantitiesofdrugs,guns,andmoneyseizedinthiscasearestaggering.”50 Thechallengenowistodevotesufficientattentionandresourcestostopthefurtherriseofright-wingextremism.51Thegoalshouldbetobringfar-rightactivitytoamanageablelevelandtopreventattacks.Severalstepsareimportant. First,federal,state,andlocalagenciesneedtofocusontheriseofright-wingextremism.Asnotedearlier,thenumberofright-wingterroristattacksisnowgreaterthanthenumberofIslamicextremistattacks.Europe’sevolvingterrorismthreathasledtoareapportionmentofcounterterrorismresources.IntheUK,thegovernmentgavetheJointTerrorismAnalysisCentre,thedomesticspyagencyMI5,andthepolicemoreresourcestocollectintelligenceon—andarrest—right-wingterrorists.TheFBIandJointTerrorismTaskForces,whichleadterrorisminvestigationsacrosstheUnitedStates,havebeenfocusedonthethreatfromSunnijihadistsandShiagroupslikeHezbollah. Penetratingfar-rightnetworks,identifyingextremistsonsocialmediaforums,andarrestingterroristsbeforetheyattackwon’tbeeasy.Mostright-wingextremistsareloneactors.Eventhealt-right,oralternativeright,isalooselyconnectednetworkofwhitesupremacists,whitenationalists,anti-Semites,neo-Nazis,andotherfringehategroups.Loneactorsandsmallnetworksdon’toftentalkabouttheirplotsbyphoneore-mail,bothofwhichcanbeinterceptedbylawenforcementagencies.52However,theymaybeactiveonsocialmediaforums,whichcanbemonitored.Inaddition,thereisnofederalstatuteinU.S.codefordomesticterrorism.53 Thereisalsonodomesticterroristorganizationdesignationlikethereisforinternationalterrorists(suchastheU.S.StateDepartment’sForeignTerroristOrganizationdesignations)tofocusattentiononthreatsfromright-wingorleft-wingextremists.54 Second,theU.S.governmentneedstoworkcloselywiththeprivatesector—includingsocialmediacompanies—andEuropeanpartnerstocombatright-wingextremism,asithasincombattingIslamicextremism.SomeEuropeanstates,includingFranceandtheUK,haveputsignificantpressureonsocialmediacompaniestoremovecontentthatadvocatesorotherwisesupportsterrorism,includingifitviolatescompanytermsofservice.Restrictingextremistaccesstosocialmediarequirescompaniestodevotestafftimeandengineeringresourcestodetectingsuchcontentandclosingitdown.TheUnitedStatesshouldsetoutclearrequirementsandconsiderwhatadditionallevelsofregulationandassertionsofliabilitymightbeappliedtosecuremaximumcompliance—especiallyincaseswhereindividualsandnetworkssupportviolence. TheUnitedStateshasmadesignificantprogresssince9/11incounteringthethreatfromIslamicextremists.Itnowneedstodothesamewithright-wingandotherterrorists.Tosucceed,Americanswillneedasoberassessmentofthethreatandthoughtfulsolutions,notpoliticalposturing. SethG.JonesistheHaroldBrownChairandDirectoroftheTransnationalThreatsProjectattheCenterforStrategicandInternationalStudies(CSIS),aswellastheauthorofACovertAction:Reagan,theCIA,andtheColdWarStruggleinPoland(W.W.Norton). CSISBriefsareproducedbytheCenterforStrategicandInternationalStudies(CSIS),aprivate,tax-exemptinstitutionfocusingoninternationalpublicpolicyissues.Itsresearchisnonpartisanandnonproprietary.CSISdoesnottakespecificpolicypositions.Accordingly,allviews,positions,andconclusionsexpressedinthispublicationshouldbeunderstoodtobesolelythoseoftheauthor(s). ©2018bytheCenterforStrategicandInternationalStudies.Allrightsreserved. 1Onrecentwritings,see,forexample,BruceHoffman,“MailBombs,HateCrimes,andtheMeaningofTerrorism,”CouncilonForeignRelations,October30,2018,https://www.cfr.org/article/mail-bombs-hate-crimes-and-meaning-terrorism;PeterBergen,“Yes,ThereIsSuchaThingasRight-WingTerrorism,”CNN,November2,2018,http://peterbergen.com/yes-there-is-such-a-thing-as-right-wing-terrorism-cnn-com/. 2ThenumberofcasualtiesfromattacksbyIslamicextremistshasbeengreaterthanbyright-wingextremists,largelybecauseofafewcaseslikeOmarMateen’sPulsenightclubattackthatkilled49peopleandwounded53others. 3See,forexample,CarollDoherty,etal.,EconomicIssuesDeclineAmongPublic’sPolicyPriorities(Washington,DC:PewResearchCenter,January2018). 4See,forexample,thedefinitionofright-wingextremisminNationalConsortiumfortheStudyofTerrorismandResponsestoTerrorism(START),IdeologicalMotivationsofTerrorismintheUnitedStates,1970-2016(CollegePark,MD:START,November2017),6,https://www.start.umd.edu/pubs/START_IdeologicalMotivationsOfTerrorismInUS_Nov2017.pdf. 5BruceHoffman,InsideTerrorism,ThirdEdition(NewYork:ColumbiaUniversityPress,2017),249.AlsoseeBruceHoffman,Right-WingTerrorisminEurope(SantaMonica,CA:RAND,March1982). 6See,forexamplethedefinitionofleft-wingextremisminSTART,IdeologicalMotivationsofTerrorismintheUnitedStates,1970-2016,6. 7ThenumbersincludeCSIScodingofterrorismattacksfromtheGlobalTerrorismDatabaseattheUniversityofMaryland’sNationalConsortiumfortheStudyofTerrorismandResponsestoTerrorism(https://www.start.umd.edu/gtd/). 8AuthorinterviewwithseniorFBIofficials,October2018. 9ThenumbersincludeCSIScodingofterrorismattacksfromtheGlobalTerrorismDatabaseattheUniversityofMaryland’sNationalConsortiumfortheStudyofTerrorismandResponsestoTerrorism(https://www.start.umd.edu/gtd/). 10ThenumbersincludeCSIScodingofterrorismattacksfromtheGlobalTerrorismDatabaseattheUniversityofMaryland’sNationalConsortiumfortheStudyofTerrorismandResponsestoTerrorism(https://www.start.umd.edu/gtd/). 11UnitedStatesofAmericav.DylannStormRoof,Indictment,intheUnitedStatesDistrictCourtfortheDistrictofSouthCarolina,CharlestonDivision,July2015,https://www.justice.gov/usao-sc/file/632581/download. 12QuotedinHoffman,InsideTerrorism,108. 13ThenumbersincludeCSIScodingofterrorismattacksfromtheGlobalTerrorismDatabaseattheUniversityofMaryland’sNationalConsortiumfortheStudyofTerrorismandResponsestoTerrorism(https://www.start.umd.edu/gtd/). 14UnitedStatesofAmericav.CesarAltieriSayoc,Complaint,intheUnitedStatesSouthernDistrictofNewYork,October2018,https://www.justice.gov/usao-sc/file/632581/download. 15MattZapotosky,AnnieGowen,SariHorwitz,andCleveR.Wootson,Jr.,“WhoisCesarSayoc?”WashingtonPost,October26,2018,https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2018/10/26/who-is-cesar-altieri-sayoc-what-we-know-about-suspected-mail-bomber-arrested-florida/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.a6ca56eaf1dc. 16UnitedStatesofAmericavs.RobertBowers,CriminalComplaint,UnitedStatesDistrictCourtfortheWesternDistrictofPennsylvania,October27,2018,https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdpa/press-release/file/1105371/download. 17ScreenshotofRobertBowers’profileonGab,October27,2018. 18See,forexample,CaseySanchez,NYTFashionPub:SkinheadStyleisBack(Montgomery,AL:SouthernPovertyLawCenter,September21,2007),https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2007/09/21/nyt-fashion-pub-skinhead-style-back. 19See,forexample,tacticsadoptedbyIslamicextremistsbasedintheUK,whowereinvolvedintheJuly2005Londonattackandthe2006plottotakedownairplanesflyingfromtheUKtotheUnitedStatesandCanada.SethG.Jones,HuntingintheShadows:ThePursuitofAl-Qa’idaSince9/11(NewYork:W.W.Norton,2012). 20UnitedStatesofAmericav.RobertPaulRundo,etal. 21Ibid. 22GregMillerandSouadMekhennet,“InsidetheSurrealWorldoftheIslamicState’sPropagandaMachine,”WashingtonPost,November20,2015,https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/inside-the-islamic-states-propaganda-machine/2015/11/20/051e997a-8ce6-11e5-acff-673ae92ddd2b_story.html?utm_term=.e92f675db9a2/. 23See,forexample,https://dailystormer.name/. 24UnitedStatesofAmericav.RobertPaulRundo,RobertBoman,TylerLaube,andAaronEason,CriminalComplaint,UnitedStatesDistrictCourt,CentralDistrictofCalifornia,October20,2018,https://int.nyt.com/data/documenthelper/421-robert-rundo-complaint/0f1e76cdeef814133f24/optimized/full.pdf. 25AuthorinterviewwithseniorFBIofficials,October2018. 26UnitedStatesofAmericav.RobertPaulRundo,etal. 27Ibid. 28DepartmentofHomelandSecurity,RightwingExtremism:CurrentEconomicandPoliticalClimateFuelingResurgenceinRadicalizationandRecruitment(Washington,DC:DHSOfficeofIntelligenceandAnalysis,April2009). 29UnitedStatesofAmericav.RobertPaulRundo,etal. 30Azzmador,“TrumpenkriegersPhysicallyRemoveAntifaHomosinHuntingtonBeach,”DailyStormer,March26,2017,https://dailystormer.name/trumpenkriegers-physically-remove-antifa-homos-in-huntington-beach/. 31UnitedStatesofAmericav.RobertPaulRundo,etal. 32DatafromtheUniversityofMaryland,GlobalTerrorismDatabase(https://www.start.umd.edu/gtd/). 33MatthewTempest,“CommissionerWarnsof‘GrowingMenace’ofRight-WingTerrorisminEU,”Euractiv,March23,2017,https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/commissioner-warns-of-growing-menace-of-right-wing-terrorism-in-eu/. 34EuropeanUnionAgencyforLawEnforcementCooperation(Europol),EuropeanUnionTerrorismSituationandTrendReport(TheHague:Europol,2018). 35DatafromtheUniversityofMaryland,GlobalTerrorismDatabase(https://www.start.umd.edu/gtd/). 36HomeOffice,“NationalActionBecomesFirstExtremeRight-WingGrouptobeBannedinUK,”December16,2016,availableat:https://www.gov.uk/government/news/national-action-becomes-first-extreme-right-wing-group-to-be-banned-in-uk;HomeOffice,“FurtherExtremeRight-WingGroupsBannedintheUK,”September28,2017,availableat:https://www.gov.uk/government/news/further-extreme-right-wing-groups-banned-in-the-uk. 37DavidAnderson,“AttacksinLondonandManchester:IndependentAssessmentofMI5andPoliceInternalReviews,”December2017,availableat:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/664682/Attacks_in_London_and_Manchester_Open_Report.pdf. 38HerMajesty’sGovernment(HMG),CONTEST:TheUnitedKingdom’sStrategyforCounteringTerrorism,Cm9608(London:HerMajesty’sStationeryOffice,June2018),22.Emphasisadded. 39Europol,EuropeanUnionTerrorismSituationandTrendReport,51. 40HMG,CONTEST,8. 41“Leterrorismed’extrêmedroite,nouvelenjeudelasécuritéintérieure,”LeMonde,June27,2018,availableat:https://www.lemonde.fr/idees/article/2018/06/27/le-terrorisme-d-extreme-droite-nouvel-enjeu-de-la-securite-interieure_5321745_3232.html. 42FederalMinistryoftheInterior,BriefSummary:2017ReportontheProtectionoftheConstitution(Berlin:FederalMinistryoftheInterior,2017),13. 43RonChernow,Grant(NewYork:PenguinPress,2017),706-710. 44SethG.JonesandMartinC.Libicki,HowTerroristGroupsEnd:LessonsforCounteralQa’ida(SantaMonica,CA:RAND,2008). 45DepartmentofHomelandSecurity,RightwingExtremism,4-7. 46AndrewMacDonald(akaWilliamPierce),TheTurnerDiaries,SecondEdition(Washington,DC:NationalAlliance,1980). 47LouisBeam,“LeaderlessResistance,”Seditionist,Issue12,February1992,5. 48WhiteHouse,NationalStrategyforCounterterrorismoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica(Washington,DC:WhiteHouse,October2018),p.10,https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/NSCT.pdf. 49UnitedStatesofAmericav.JoshuaDavidLane,etal.,ThirdSupersedingIndictment,UnitedStatesDistrictCourt,NorthernDistrictofTexas,May1,2018,https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndtx/press-release/file/1058866/download. 50U.S.DepartmentofJustice,U.S.Attorney’sOffice,NorthernDistrictofTexas,“57Member/AssociatesofVariousWhiteSupremacistsGangsChargedinKidnappingandDrugConspiracies,”May1,2018,https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndtx/pr/57-memberassociates-various-white-supremacists-gangs-charged-kidnapping-and-drug. 51See,forexample,JanetReitman,“U.S.LawEnforcementFailedtoSeetheThreatofWhiteNationalism,”NewYorkTimesMagazine,November3,2018,https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/03/magazine/FBI-charlottesville-white-nationalism-far-right.html. 52AuthorinterviewwithseniorFBIofficials,October2018. 53See,forexample,MichaelGermanandSaraRobinson,WrongPrioritiesonFightingTerrorism(NewYork:BrennanCenterforJustice,NewYorkUniversitySchoolofLaw,2018). 54SeetheU.S.StateDepartmentsdesignationofForeignTerroristOrganizationsathttps://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/other/des/123085.htm. 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