Topic: Domestic Terrorism

Adama Ba, who was raided by the NYPD Terrorism Task Force at age 16 in Harlem, argues against labeling the January 6 Capitol rioters as terrorists. She suggests that expanding domestic terrorism laws and labels often backfires on innocent black and brown communities. The discussion touches on the specific legal definitions of terrorism, which require a motive for political gain, and draws parallels to the security climate following the September 11 attacks.

A review of historical anti-terrorism efforts shows that laws passed after events like the Oklahoma City bombing often target minority groups rather than those resembling the original perpetrators. Adama Ba notes that while mass shootings are frequently committed by white males, police presence often increases in black and brown schools as a result. The segment highlights the danger of using the "terrorist" label loosely, as it allows the government to circumvent civil rights and target peaceful protesters.

Michael German, a former FBI agent and fellow for the Brennan Center for Justice, criticizes the FBI for molding disparate acts of violence into a singular "movement" to justify investigations. He argues that the Black Identity Extremist label was created to target activists whose actions are protected by the First Amendment. By connecting individuals to a named group, the FBI can bypass legal restrictions on investigating political activity.

The HBO documentary "The Newburgh Sting" examines the 2009 conviction of four men in Newburgh, New York, for a terror plot that critics claim was entirely manufactured by the FBI. The discussion transitions into modern labels like "Domestic Violent Extremist" (DVE), which the hosts suggest is a coded term for white nationalists. They also discuss the emerging categorization of "medical extremists" or "anti-vaxxers," arguing that the government uses these labels to marginalize those who rely on natural immunity or refuse specific medical mandates.

A throwback to episode 31 examines an FBI report on "Black Identity Extremists." The hosts argue that the same tactics used to label and infiltrate Black movements are now being applied to the MAGA movement. They discuss "gang-stalking" and the use of provocateurs to justify government crackdowns on any group that challenges the status quo.

The discussion introduces the term Black Identity Extremist (BIE), which originated in a leaked 2017 FBI document. The bureau classified the movement as a domestic terror threat, claiming the 2014 shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, triggered retaliatory violence against police officers.

The FBI used the 2016 Dallas shooting and other unrelated attacks to justify the Black Identity Extremist Assessment. This classification allows the bureau to utilize invasive surveillance tactics against individuals perceived to be part of the movement, despite critics arguing the events were unconnected.