Several diaries today have crystalized the mounting violent tendencies of the Teabagger/Screamer/Birther/912ers. Many have wondered why these folks have not been arrested during meetings or due to their pronouncements on teevee, twitter, facebook, etc. There is a ramping up of calls for threats with guns and physical attacks. Read, for instance, Breaking: wingnut tweets followers to bring guns to meetings by RiderOnTheStorm, currently at the top of the rec list and Jed Lewison's FP Violent threats target SEIU over health care town hall meetings.
Read also, the update in Susan S's rec'd diary, Tampa Town Hall Misconceptions. Recall the rhetoric of Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and particularly Glen Beck who is solidly behind the rising violence. They will all scream about their First Amendment Free Speech rights. Good for them.
A huge hat tip to the consistently thoughtful Jay Elias for his discussion of the restrictions in Brandenburg re: "imminent harm." My brief discussion with Jay involved the definition of terrorism in the Patriot Act and whether or not the Act could trump SCOTUS precedent on free speech. I love smart people here. So, let's look at what the Patriot Act states regarding Domestic Terrorism:
The Patriot Act defines Domestic Terrorism as:
(5) the term "domestic terrorism" means activities that—
(A) involve acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State;
(B) appear to be intended—
(i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population;
(ii) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or
(iii) to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping; and
(C) occur primarily within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States.
To "engage in terrorist activity" is defined as committing, inciting to commit or planning and preparing to undertake an act of terrorism.
Now, let's look at what Glen Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Republican "leadership" and their spawn have actually done.
- Created organizations with the sole intent to facilitate the failure of the Obama Administration through deceit;
- Encouraged these organizations (Teabaggers, Birthers, 912ers, Screamers) to disrupt Town Meetings for the sole purpose of derailing Health Care reform;
- Encouraged members of these organizations to "surround" and "intimidate" politicians and citizens.
Ok, number one -- fine, that's politics. While I believe the insidious intent was to bring more misery on most Americans -- I'll just give that one my middle finger.
Number two is the trigger for the triggers. These demagogues have fed the consummately ignorant in this country a load of crap and told them to prevent other citizens from enjoying free speech and the freedom of assembly.
Number three is where all of these assholes are in violation of the Patriot Act -- all of them from Boehner to Limbaugh to Hannity and particularly the insane Beck. No CYA by Beck regarding violence can backtrack on the fact that he has specifically incited it. Look again at the definition of Domestic Terrorism:
activities that
B) appear to be intended—
(i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population;
(ii) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion;
This section was meant to be used against us. It is frigging vague -- "appear to be intended." Fine -- as many others have had to do, fight it out in court while you are sitting in an orange jumpsuit behind bars. I hate this law, but fuck it -- it is on the books not just for scary Muslims, black, brown and hippie people.
If anyone can explain why the FBI or Department of Justice has not utilized this tool when Congress men and women and civilians are being intimidated and coerced, I'd like to hear it.
Update: Mega Hat Tip to Crashing Vor for this comment he made in another thread and I forgot to include because I think it is brilliant:
Title 18 was inserted into the act by right wingers to shut down protests by black people denied their civil rights.
As used in this
section, the term "participating lawfully in speech or peaceful
assembly" shall not mean the aiding, abetting, or inciting of other
persons to riot or to commit any act of physical violence upon any
individual or against any real or personal property in furtherance
of a riot.
How sweetly ironic to use it against their ideological heirs.