NJOHSP at a Glance YOUR WEEK in REVIEW | February 8, 2021
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NJOHSP at a glance YOUR WEEK IN REVIEW | February 8, 2021
Experts Voice Long-Term Concerns Over Domestic Terrorism During House Hearing On February 4, the US House Committee on Homeland Security held its first hearing looking into last month’s riot at the US Capitol, during which several experts suggested domestic terrorism could be an issue that persists for decades. Christopher Rodriguez, Director of the Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency in Washington, DC, warned that the threats the country faces now are on par with the post-9/11 environment. He said extremist groups are fueled by misinformation and dangerous conspiracies that “do not espouse mainstream perspectives nor should they be treated and validated as such.” Elizabeth Neumann, former Assistant Secretary for Counterterrorism and Threat Prevention for the US Department of Homeland Security during the Trump Administration, expressed a similar view, stating, “I do believe that we’ll be fighting domestic terrorism that has its roots and inspiration points from Jan. 6 for the next 10-20 years.” Jonathan Greenblatt of the Anti-Defamation League told lawmakers that the insurrection was a significant moment for the white supremacist movement and that its supporters viewed the event as a “victory.” As of February 4, a bipartisan majority of the committee endorsed the idea of creating new laws that address domestic terrorism.
Canada Labels 13 Groups With Terrorist Designation On February 3, Canada formally announced it would designate the Proud Boys, Atomwaffen Division, The Base, Russian Imperial Movement, and nine other entities as terrorist groups. The groups were labeled as such based on their history of being ideologically motivated extremist groups with violent tendencies. The action taken against these groups will allow the Canadian government to freeze financial assets, thereby providing the capability to thwart possible funding for training, recruitment, and attacks. The 13 groups named to the list include five associated with ISIS, three with ties to al-Qa’ida, and one organization operating in Kashmir. This decision makes Canada the first country to name the Proud Boys a terrorist group. Last month, the nation’s Parliament unanimously decided to pass a motion asking Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to designate the Proud Boys as a terrorist group. Certain rights groups in Canada feared that including the group would broaden the definition of terrorism to the point that it possibly infringed on free speech and the right to protest.
2 University Campuses Defaced With White Supremacist Group Propaganda White supremacist graffiti was found across Northern Kentucky University’s campus on January 27. On February 1, authorities stated that the suspect was caught on 12 security cameras around 1:30 a.m. defacing several electrical poles and doors on campus. No specific details about the suspect was obtained from the videos other than he appears to be a white male who wore all black clothing, a white hat, and a blue backpack. The suspect sprayed the label “Patriot Front” at several locations. Patriot Front is a white supremacist group with considerable activity in Kentucky and Ohio, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. It was later reported that white supremacist stickers promoting Patriot Front’s website were also found over the weekend on Xavier University’s campus in Ohio. The investigations are ongoing, and local authorities are asking anyone with a tip to report it to the respective campus police departments.
Contact Information Any agency with information or comments/questions on this or other analytical products, please contact the NJOHSP Intelligence Management Bureau at [email protected] or 609-584-4000.
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