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I worked in CVE (countering violent extremism) during the Obama era, during which time many of us urged DHS, NCTC, DOJ, and the NSC to pay attention to the rise of violent white supremacist groups.
We were told they were protected by 1st and 2nd amendment rights and
THREAD https://twitter.com/attackerman/status/1352269112777568260
We were told they were protected by 1st and 2nd amendment rights and
THREAD https://twitter.com/attackerman/status/1352269112777568260
charged with state and federal criminal laws when necessary. That's fine, but these rules didn't apply to Muslims charged with the same or less egregious activity.
It will be interesting to see how this administration tackles what is very much a problem
It will be interesting to see how this administration tackles what is very much a problem
Here is what the article says, "States need to enforce laws against illegal militias—that is, every militia not controlled by the state—and social and religious organizations need to have “kind of like a rehab program” for those detoxing from conspiracy theories like QAnon."
“Using our churches, our veterans groups, we need to have a program to help talk about this subject and persuade people that extremism and violence is toxic – it affects your health [and] your mental stability,” he said."
Sounds a lot like CVE
Sounds a lot like CVE
CVE doesn't work when folks on the ground aren't sold. DVE won't work either. I wrote this piece to give an overview of the issues with CVE and I guarantee they will apply in the violent white supremacist context as well: https://observer.com/2015/04/countering-violent-extremism-still-an-uphill-battle/
In my opinion, after much research on how violent ideologies spread, and working in communities to see how they interact with these issues, there are three components to countering this threat:
1) straight up, good old fashioned law enforcement
2) deplatforming
1) straight up, good old fashioned law enforcement
2) deplatforming
3) dismantling the narrative
These groups create alternate realities, different narratives that prop their grievances. Society needs a shared story to be cohesive. As a nation we haven't had any reconciliation with our violent past. No reparations for slavery
These groups create alternate realities, different narratives that prop their grievances. Society needs a shared story to be cohesive. As a nation we haven't had any reconciliation with our violent past. No reparations for slavery
or the genocide of first peoples. No national recognition of the truth of the Confederacy. We need a national truth and reconciliation movement to establish a shared narrative about our history. That will help dismantle the alternate reality these cults create.
What we are seeing with QAnon today is a good example of what happens when the narrative falls apart. Like cult members who suddenly see reality, they are now considering maybe they were duped. They were. Disproving their narrative works,
the question is how. When their stories fall apart, people naturally drift away, and that's the moment doors need to be open (for followers, not leaders) to return to their communities.
It's a huge task here in the US, where we still lionize Confederate leaders
It's a huge task here in the US, where we still lionize Confederate leaders
and the Confederate cause. It will take a couple of generations to dismantle their narrative, but designating the Confederacy as an enemy of the state is a good place to start. If we can't figure out how to do this without demonizing our own citizens, Germany
may have some advice for us.
The leaders of these groups must be dealt with by law enforcement, and the followers treated as cult victims. But beyond that, until America has a shared story, this won't go away.
The leaders of these groups must be dealt with by law enforcement, and the followers treated as cult victims. But beyond that, until America has a shared story, this won't go away.
