Terrorists plead guilty to plot to disrupt US power grid in hopes to launch race war

Domestic terrorists operating under the flag of white supremacy are not patriots. They are not the self-anointed heroes that they think they are.

As evidence of their misguided political and cultural beliefs, three men pleaded guilty today (Feb. 23) to crimes related to a scheme to attack power grids in the United States in furtherance of white supremacist ideology with hopes to sparking a race war.

According to court documents, Christopher Brenner Cook, 20, of Columbus, Ohio; Jonathan Allen Frost, 24, of West Lafayette, Indiana, and of Katy, Texas; and Jackson Matthew Sawall, 22, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to provide material support to terrorists. The charge and plea agreements indicate that the defendants knew and intended that the material support they conspired to provide would be used to prepare for and carry out the federal offense of destroying energy facilities.

“These three defendants admitted to engaging in a disturbing plot, in furtherance of white supremacist ideology, to attack energy facilities in order to damage the economy and stoke division in our country,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security Matthew G. Olsen. 

“The defendants in this case wanted to attack regional power substations and expected the damage would lead to economic distress and civil unrest,” said Assistant Director Timothy Langan of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division. “These individuals wanted to carry out such a plot because of their adherence to racially or ethnically motivated violent extremist views. When individuals move from espousing particular views to planning or committing acts of violence the FBI will investigate and take action to stop their plans.”

RELATED: White supremacists continue to gain support

According to court documents, in fall 2019, Frost and Cook met in an online chat group. Frost shared the idea of attacking a power grid with Cook, and within weeks, the two began efforts to recruit others to join in their plan.

As part of the recruitment process, Cook circulated a book list of readings that promoted the ideology of white supremacy and Neo-Nazism. By late 2019, Sawall – a friend of Cook’s – joined the conspiracy and assisted Cook with online recruitment efforts, operational security and organization.

As part of the conspiracy, each defendant was assigned a substation in a different region of the United States. The plan was to attack the substations, or power grids, with powerful rifles. The defendants believed their plan would cost the government millions of dollars and cause unrest for Americans in the region. They had conversations about how the possibility of the power being out for many months could cause war, even a race war, and induce the next Great Depression.

In February 2020, the co-conspirators met in Columbus, Ohio, to further discuss their plot. Frost provided Cook with an AR-47 and the two took the rifle to a shooting range to train.

Frost also provided Cook and Sawall with suicide necklaces during the Columbus meeting. The necklaces were filled with fentanyl and were to be ingested if and when the defendants were caught by law enforcement. Both Cook and Sawall expressed their commitment to dying in furtherance of their mission.

Upon arriving in Columbus, Sawall and Cook purchased spray paint and painted a swastika flag under a bridge at a park with the caption, “Join the Front.” The defendants had additional propaganda plans for their time in Ohio, but they were derailed during a traffic stop, during which Sawall swallowed his suicide pill but ultimately survived.

Court documents detail that Cook and Frost continued to travel together after their Ohio meeting, and drove to Texas in March 2020. Cook stayed in different cities with various juveniles who he was attempting to recruit for their plot.

Cook, Frost and Sawall were each charged with providing material support to terrorism by a bill of information filed on Feb. 7. The defendants face a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

“These defendants conspired to use violence to sow hate, create chaos, and endanger the safety of the American people,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio. 

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AAPI perspective, follow me on Twitter @DioknoEd.

AAPI need to be on guard against anti-Asian attacks throughout the holidays, warns DHS

DHS: AAPI should be cautious during the upcoming hohlidays.

Through the Holiday Season through to the Lunar New Year festivities  in 2022, Asian Americans need to brace themselves against racially or ethnically motivated violent attacks by extremists and anti-government/anti-authority violent extremists, says the Department of Homeland Security.

From 2010 through 2020, racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists advocating for the superiority of the white race have committed 18 lethal attacks in the United States, according to the FBI.

Although a DHS report concludes that it "is not aware of an imminent and credible threat to a specific location in the United States,"  DHS warns that domestic terrorists, including racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists advocating for the superiority of the white race, pose the greatest threat against the U.S. and the concept of Democracy.

The Secretary of Homeland Security has issued Wednesday (Nov. 10) an updated National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) Bulletin regarding the current heightened threat environment across the United States. 

The U.S. continues to face a diverse and challenging threat environment as it approaches several religious holidays and associated mass gatherings that in the past have served as potential targets for acts of violence. 

These threats include those posed by individuals and small groups engaged in violence, including domestic violent extremists (DVEs) and those inspired or motivated by foreign terrorists and other malign foreign influences. These actors continue to exploit online forums to influence and spread violent extremist narratives and promote violent activity.

 

The ongoing global pandemic continues to exacerbate these threats, in part due to perceived government overreach in implementation of public health safety measures and the racist undertones blaming COVID-19 on China and Chinese. 

Further, foreign terrorist organizations and DVEs continue to attempt to inspire potential followers to conduct attacks in the U.S., including by exploiting the clumsy withdrawal of U.S. personnel in Afghanistan. 

Despite the DHS report, as of Nov. 10, the department is not aware of an imminent and credible threat to a specific location in the United States.

The general public, but especially people of color, should exercise extreme caution while celebrating, shopping, attending sporting events or attending religious services during the holidays as they present "targets of opportunity" for violent attacks to amplify racist grievances or present the U.S. as an unstable and unsafe society.

The DHS warns that online activity from foreign and domestic threat actors, to include foreign intelligence services, foreign terrorist organizations, and DVEs, will continue to introduce, amplify, and disseminate narratives that promote violence, and have called for violence against elected officials, political representatives, government facilities, law enforcement, religious communities or commercial facilities, and perceived ideological opponents.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AAPI persepctive, follow me on Twitter @DioknoEd.

Dark clouds ahead after the Census results show AAPI population growth

Attacks against Asian Americans may be entering a new and more ominous phase. In the three months of April, May and June, over 3,000 incidents of hate have been reported to Stop AAPI Hate. That's almost half of the 6,603 hate acts reported  in the year from March 2020 to March 2021.

"Our data clearly shows that Asian Americans across the country continue to be attacked, and that the hate incidents that we have been tracking since March 2020 are not going away," Manjusha Kulkarni, co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate and executive director of the Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council, said in a news release.

And, based on an alert from the Department of Homeland Security, the attacks will continue and likely become more violent and more organized by conservative extremists.

Stop AAPI Hate began collecting reports of hate incidents targeting Asians and Asian Americans,  since March 2020. A recently released report covers the 9,081 incident reports to Stop AAPI Hate from March 19, 2020 to June 30, 2021. The number of hate incidents reported to the nonprofit agency increased from 6,603 to 9,081 during April—June 2021. 

Another way to look at the alarming data is: 4,548 hate incidents occurred in 2020.  With about 4.5 months still to go in 2021, there are already 4,533 of hate incidents reported, about equal to all of last year.

Despite mainstream media's proclivity to sensationalize the attacks of Blacks on Asians, the overwhelming number of hate incidents against AAPI were by Whites.

A day after the Census Bureau announced the results of the 2020 Census effort showing that the AAPI population of 24 million, was the fastest growing ethnic and racial group in the U.S. and for the first time, that the White population was declininig; on Friday, the Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro N. Mayorkas, issued a new National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) Bulletin regarding the heightened threat environment across the United States.

"Through the remainder of 2021, racially- or ethnically-motivated violent extremists (RMVEs) and anti-government/anti-authority violent extremists will remain a national threat priority for the United States," warns the bulletin. 

"These extremists may seek to exploit the emergence of COVID-19 variants by viewing the potential re-establishment of public health restrictions across the United States as a rationale to conduct attacks. 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."

Anti-Asian attacks have been linked to the spread of COVID-19, when the Trump administration repeatedly blamed China for the coronavirus resulting in the framatic surge of anti-Asian hate incidents.

On top of that, the 20th Anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks, as well as religious holidays, could serve as a catalyst for a resurgence of anti-Asian, or anti-Muslim  incidents.

“DHS remains committed to sharing timely information with the public about the heightened threat environment in order to protect communities across our country,” said Secretary Mayorkas.  

“Today’s NTAS Bulletin advises the public about the heightened threat landscape we face and how DHS is working with our partners, at every level of government and in the community, to combat domestic terrorism and targeted violence in all its forms.  We are committed to ensuring every initiative undertaken by DHS in response to the threat is consistent with privacy protections, civil rights and civil liberties, First Amendment-protected rights, and other applicable laws.”  

DHS has established a new, dedicated domestic terrorism branch within the Department’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A).  Further, DHS has established the Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships (CP3) to help build local prevention frameworks to provide communities with the tools they need to counter terrorism and other targeted violence."

Threats in the Homeland include those posed by domestic terrorists, individuals and groups engaged in grievance-based and/or racist violence, and those inspired or motivated by foreign terrorists and other malign foreign influences.  These actors are increasingly exploiting online forums to influence and spread violent extremist narratives and promote violent activity.  

Anti-Asian hate can be deadly like the mass shootings of six Asian womn in Atlanta.

Among the possible actions that domestic terrorists could use to stir up anti-government organizations and lone wolves acting on their own, include:

• Through the remainder of 2021, racially- or ethnically-motivated violent extremists (RMVEs) and anti-government/anti-authority violent extremists will remain a national threat priority for the United States. These extremists may seek to exploit the emergence of COVID-19 variants by viewing the potential re-establishment of public health restrictions across the United States as a rationale to conduct attacks.  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.

• Historically, mass-casualty domestic violent extremist attacks linked to RMVEs have targeted houses of worship and crowded commercial facilities or gatherings. Some RMVEs advocate via online platforms for a race war and have stated that civil disorder provides opportunities to engage in violence in furtherance of ideological objectives. 
• The reopening of institutions, including schools, as well as several dates of religious significance over the next few months, could also provide increased targets of opportunity for violence though there are currently no credible or imminent threats identified to these locations.
• Law enforcement have expressed concerns 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. With a diverse array of threats, DHS is concerned that increased outbreaks of violence in some locations, as well as targeted attacks against law enforcement, may strain local resources.

 How you can help

• Report suspicious activity and threats of violence, including online threats,  to local law enforcement, FBI Field Offices, or local Fusion Center.
• If you know someone who is struggling with mental health issues or may be a danger to themselves or others, support is available.

Be prepared and stay informed

• Be prepared for emergency situations and remain aware of circumstances that may place you at risk.
• Maintain digital media literacy to recognize and build resilience to false and harmful narratives.
• Make note of your surroundings and the nearest security personnel.
• Government agencies will provide details about emerging threats as information is identified. The public is encouraged to listen to local authorities and public safety officials.

Report: White extremism continues to gain support

Symbols of hate were prominent at the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.

OPINION

Our country is in a rough patch right now as it struggles to redefine itself and what it means to be an "American." Unfortunately, it might mean it is going to get worse before it gets any better, according to several reports.

The "worse" part lies at the feet of whites. as people of color tippy-toe around the  fears of whites who see their privileges and status being whittled away. 

Several years ago, when asked about the future of race relations in this country -- my country -- my response was: Don't ask me. Ask white people to give an honest answer.

White people don't like to talk about race. It's a topic of great discomfort for them because -- try as they might -- they have no idea what it is like to be a person of color in a culture that has been painted, written, taught and lauded from a white perspective.

Intellectually, they can perhaps understand the trials and tribulations of a POC, but they can't feel the pain and angst of always being slightly out of place, of being that square peg trying to fit in that round hole designed and created by white people.

More recently, with the massive demographic changes that is occurring in the next few decades, a defense mechanism kicks in for white people, often taking the form of white supremacy.

There is a direct link between white supremacists and the insurrectionists who forced their way into the Capitol on Jan. 6. It was not coincidence that the Confederate flag and references to Nazism were on display during that failed coup attempt.

As white supremacists became bolder, violence towards Asian Americans is rising. Connecting the dots is not difficult.

The question law enforcement agencies should be asking themselves is not what AAPI could be doing to protect themselves, but how do you shove white extremism back into a dark chest, lock it and then throw away the key.

The administration of President Joe Biden has made fighting domestic terrorism a top priority for the Department of Justice. 

Make no mistake, the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6 was led by white supremacists who easily absorbed the anti-government rhetoric into their value system. Stopping Biden from taking office was stopping in line with stopping the loss of white power, privilege and status.

The extremist armed militias, which the government allows to exist, the racist sympathizers who we have allowed to seep into our armed forces and law enforcement are a clear and present danger to our country. 

An internal FBI report that was written before Jan. 6 and was published days after the attack at the Capitol predicted the violence to come, saying the events in 2020 were “likely to embolden US domestic violent extremists in 2021.”

The right-wing extremists view tje Capitol coup attempt as a success -- white supremacists are stepping up their propaganda campaign attempting to lure in more recruits among the disaffected whites who see their privileged position in this society in danger.

Between public displays of propaganda like banners and graffiti, in-person events and incidents of anti-Semitic language, the growth of white supremacy hit an all-time high in 2020, according to a new report from the Anti-Defamation League’s Center on Extremism.

The group, which has worked to record incidents of racist, anti-Semitic and anti-LGBTQ propaganda for years, has reported 5,125 instances of white supremacy propaganda in 2020 — nearly twice the number recorded in 2019.

“Hate propaganda is a tried-and-true tactic for white supremacists, and this on the ground activity is now higher than we’ve ever previously recorded,” said Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL CEO. “White supremacists appear to be more emboldened than ever, and the election year, the pandemic and other factors may have provided these extremists with additional encouragement.”

“As if a pandemic, social justice protests and a polarizing election were not enough, one of the other things we’ve been dealing with is a significant increase in efforts by white supremacists to spread their messages around the country,” Segal said in an interview with Carless. “What the numbers suggest is a doubling down on what they view as a successful tactic.”

“Three organizations were responsible for more than 90% of the propaganda incidents,” Carless reported. “The most active group by far was Texas-based Patriot Front, headed by white supremacist Thomas Rousseau, which was behind 4,105 of the incidents. Patriot Front masks its racism in vague phrases like ‘America First’ and ‘Reclaim America,’ but the group’s official manifesto makes its white supremacist goals clear.”

The racist signs and symbols and graffiti on temples and Asian-owned businesses and houses of worship can impact both POC and whites.

Sarah Vinson, a forensic psychiatrist and associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Morehouse School of Medicine told USA Today: “When you see these signs up, it can make you less trusting of the white people you’re around, because you don’t know who it is that put it up, and you don’t know who is tolerating that,” she said. “White people who harbor those beliefs may also find those signs validating and reassuring.”

“Propaganda gives white supremacists the ability to maximize media and online attention while limiting their risk of exposure or arrest,” said Oren Segal, vice president of ADL’s Center on Extremism. “The literature helps to bolster recruitment efforts and spreads fear by targeting specific groups, including the Jewish, Black, Muslim and LGBTQ+ communities, as well as non-white immigrants.”

The "Unclassified Summary of Assessment on Domestic Violent Extremism" a joint report by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) warned of the growing threat in the 2021.

The report assesses that "domestic violent extremists (DVEs) who are motivated by a range of ideologies and galvanized by recent political and societal events in the United States pose an elevated threat to the Homeland in 2021. Enduring DVE motivations pertaining to biases against minority populations and perceived government overreach will almost certainly continue to drive DVE radicalization and mobilization to violence. Newer sociopolitical developments—such as narratives of fraud in the recent general election, the emboldening impact of the violent breach of the US Capitol, conditions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and conspiracy theories promoting violence—will almost certainly spur some DVEs to try to engage in violence this year." 

The report came out the day after a deadly shooting spree at three spas in the Atlanta area, killing eight people, including six women of Asian descent. Although the shooting might not meet the legal requirements to be classified as a hate crime, it's impact and the way it is perceived by AAPI communities, especially the Sikh community, is as it was an attack motivated by hate. Crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have been on the rise at an alarming rate.

Almost daily, new acts of violence continue to assault AAPI, including the shooting rampage that occurred at an Indianapolis FedEx facility Wednesday where four of the eight victims were Sikhs.

“Whatever the motivation here,” said Biden in the aftermath, “I know that Asian Americans are very concerned. Because as you know I have been speaking about the brutality against Asian-Americans for the last couple months, and I think it’s very, very troublesome.”

Biden has endorsed legislation addressing the rise in hate crimes against AAPI. The US Senate is expected to vote on the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act Wednesday, April 21.

The bill co-authored by Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, and Rep. Grace Meng, D-N.Y., would instruct the Justice Department to speed up the review of Covid-19 related hate crimes. It also aims to give local law enforcement more support to respond to violence against Asian Americans and curb the use of discriminatory language on the rise since the pandemic started last year and assign a point person in the Justice Dept. to keep tabs on hate incidents.

“We will vote on the bill on Wednesday. And I dare any senator to vote against this legislation,” the Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said during a rally in  New York. “If they do, shame on them, shame on them. Because this is what America is all about. We will pass this legislation, and the bill will address the rise in hate crime.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: A word of caution. This post is news laced with opinion. Readers are encouraged to peruse other sources of news to form their own opinion.

Homeland Security issues warning on the continuing threat of domestic terrorists

Supporters of Donald Trump stormed the Capitol Jan. 6.

Even though the Justice Department is tracking down the insurrectionists who invaded the Capitol and threatened members of Congress and then-Vice President Mike Pence last Jan. 6, Homeland Security has warned that the domestic terrorists, emboldened by what they view as a victory, will not go away soon.

With the second impeachment trial of Donald Trump set to begin in the Senate Tuesday (Feb. 9) Homeland Security has issued a National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) Bulletin due to a heightened threat environment across the United States, which DHS believes will persist.  

Intelligence suggests that white supremacists and some ideologically-motivated violent extremists with objections to the exercise of governmental authority and questions the legitimacy of President Joe Biden, as well as other perceived grievances fueled by false narratives, could continue to mobilize to incite or commit violence.

Following is the DHS alert:

• Throughout 2020, Domestic Violent Extremists (DVEs) targeted individuals with opposing views engaged in First Amendment-protected, non-violent protest activity.  DVEs motivated by a range of issues, including anger over COVID-19 restrictions, the 2020 election results, and police use of force have plotted and on occasion carried out attacks against government facilities. 
• Long-standing racial and ethnic tension—including opposition to immigration—has driven DVE attacks, including a 2019 shooting in El Paso, Texas that killed 23 people.
• DHS is concerned these same drivers to violence will remain through early 2021 and some DVEs may be emboldened by the January 6, 2021 breach of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. to target elected officials and government facilities.
• DHS remains concerned that Homegrown Violent Extremists (HVEs) inspired by foreign terrorist groups, who committed three attacks targeting government officials in 2020, remain a threat.
• Threats of violence against critical infrastructure, including the electric, telecommunications and healthcare sectors, increased in 2020 with violent extremists citing misinformation and conspiracy theories about COVID-19 for their actions.  
• DHS, as well as other Federal agencies and law enforcement partners will continue to take precautions to protect people and infrastructure across the United States.
• DHS remains committed to preventing violence and threats meant to intimidate or coerce specific populations on the basis of their religion, race, ethnicity, identity or political views.
• DHS encourages state, local, tribal, and territorial homeland security partners to continue prioritizing physical security measures, particularly around government facilities, to protect people and critical infrastructure.

How the public can help

• We ask the public to report suspicious activity and threats of violence, including online activity,  to local law enforcement, FBI Field Offices, or their local Fusion Center.
• Your choice can make a difference. Choose non-violent ways to make your voice heard and support friends and family in doing the same.
• Communities are strongest when they are not divided:  Strengthen your community by standing together against violence.

Be prepared

• Avoiding large crowds, including protests, is safest due to ongoing pandemic conditions. However, if taking part in protests do so peacefully, safely, and wear masks.
• Be responsible for your personal safety. Make note of your surroundings and security personnel. Carry emergency contact as well as medical and other needs information with you.
• Connect, Plan, Train, and Report to prepare businesses & employees.

Stay Informed

• Local, state and federal agencies will provide specific information about emerging threats as additional information is identified. The public is encouraged to listen to local law enforcement and public safety officials.
• Last year, DHS released a Homeland Threat Assessment  to the public examining the threat environment through 2021.