Domestic terrorism in the United States
In the United States, domestic terrorism is defined as terrorist acts that were carried out within the United States by U.S. citizens and/or U.S. permanent residents.[1] As of 2021, the United States government considers white supremacists to be the top domestic terrorism threat.
Definition
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) defines domestic terrorism as violent, criminal acts which are committed by individuals and/or groups in order to further ideological goals stemming from domestic influences, such as those of a political, religious, social, racial, or environmental nature.[2]
Under current United States law, outlined in the USA PATRIOT Act, acts of domestic terrorism are those which: "(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."[3][4][5]
While the PATRIOT Act defines "domestic terrorism" for the purposes of authorizing law enforcement investigations, no federal criminal offense exists which is referred to as "domestic terrorism". While international terrorism ("acts of terrorism transcending national boundaries") is a defined crime in federal law,[6] acts of domestic terrorism are charged under specific laws, such as killing federal agents or "attempting to use explosives to destroy a building in interstate commerce".[7]
Citizens suspected of terrorism are usually investigated and arrested by federal law enforcement, such as the FBI. For instance, from 2016 to 2018, the FBI arrested 355 suspects on charges related to domestic terrorism. Per the FBI, the vast majority were motivated by racist and anti-government ideology.[8] Some state and local jurisdictions, including Washington, D.C.[9] and New York State[10] do define terrorism as a crime, without regard as to whether the perpetrators are international in origin.
Terrorist organizations
Alpha 66 and Omega 7
Alpha 66 (still existent) and Omega 7 (now defunct) were two affiliated Cuban exile action groups which carried out many bombings and acts of sabotage. While many of these attacks have historically been directed at Cuba and the Castro government, many of them occurred domestically, especially during the period of Cuba-US diplomacy and negotiations in the 1970s which is known as "el Diálogo" (the dialogue) when powerful anti-Castro figures in Miami attempted to terrorize those members of their community who advocated a more moderate approach to Cuba. For instance, Luciano Nieves was killed because he advocated peaceful coexistence with Cuba. WQBA-AM news director Emilio Milian lost his legs in a car bomb after he publicly condemned Cuban exile violence. These cases of terrorism were extensively documented by Joan Didion in the book Miami. Human Rights Watch released a report in 1992 in which it claimed that the more extreme exiles have created a political environment in Miami where "moderation can be a dangerous position."
Animal Liberation Front
Animal Liberation Front (ALF) was labelled a serious domestic terrorist threat by the FBI in the early 2000s. ALF is a loosely organized animal rights extremist movement practicing direct action against companies and individuals to cause economic loss and destroy its victim. ALF campaigns have escalated and expanded to encompass harassment and crimes against employees and other companies with business relationships with the target company.[30][31][32] In 2004, the deputy assistant director of the FBI testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee: "Individuals within the movement have discussed actively targeting food producers, biomedical researchers, and even law enforcement with physical harm. But even more disturbing is the recent employment of improvised explosive devices against consumer product testing companies, accompanied by threats of more, larger bombings and even potential assassinations of researchers, corporate officers and employees."[30]
Army of God
Army of God (AOG)[33] is a loose network of individuals and groups connected by ideological affinity and the determination to use force to end abortion in the United States. Acts of anti-abortion violence increased in the mid-1990s culminating in a series of bombings by Eric Robert Rudolph, whose targets included two abortion clinics, a gay and lesbian night club, and the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. Letters sent to newspapers claim responsibility for the bombing of the abortion clinics in the name of the Army of God.
Aryan Nations
Aryan Nations (AN) is a white nationalist neo-Nazi organization founded in the 1970s by Richard Girnt Butler as an arm of the Christian Identity group known as the Church of Jesus Christ–Christian. As of December 2007, there were two main factions that claimed descent from Butler's group. The Aryan Nations has been called a "terrorist threat" by the FBI.[34] The RAND Corporation has called it the "first truly nationwide terrorist network" in the United States.[35]
Atomwaffen Division
Atomwaffen Division (AWD) or simply Atomwaffen is a neo-Nazi organization based in Florida that promotes former American Nazi Party and National Socialist Liberation Front (NSLF) member convict James Mason's Siege and "Universal Order" ideology as well as race war against minorities, Jews, and LGBT people. Atomwaffen also draws influence from Nazi esotericism and the occult. The group has about 80 full members and a "large" amount of initiates and 20 cells across 23 states in America. The organization also has a United Kingdom branch called the Sonnenkrieg Division (SKD), a Baltic branch called Feuerkrieg Division (FKD), a presence in Canada by a group called Northern Order and one located in Germany. The organization has been responsible for the deaths of eight people most notably the murder of Blaze Bernstein, a gay Jewish California student and the killings of Jeremy Himmelman and Andrew Oneschuk.
The Covenant, The Sword, and the Arm of the Lord
The Covenant, The Sword, and the Arm of the Lord (CSA) was a radical Christian Identity organization formed in 1971 in the small community of Elijah in southern Missouri, United States. One of its members, Richard Wayne Snell was responsible for the murder of a pawnshop owner and a Missouri state trooper. The CSA collapsed following an FBI and ATF siege in 1985.
Earth Liberation Front
Earth Liberation Front was labeled a serious domestic terrorist threat by the FBI in the early 2000s. Most notable for their arsons resulting in millions of dollars in damage, they have also vandalized and destroyed vehicles, construction and logging equipment, and buildings. For example, William Cottrell was indicted in 2004 for his role in a series of arsons and vandalisms to more than 120 SUVs in California, resulting in more than $2.5 million in damages. Michael James Scarpitti was convicted of a "series of arson and property destruction attacks in 2002 and 2003 against sport utility vehicles, fast food restaurants, construction vehicles, and construction sites" in Virginia.[31][30] "Eight of the terrorist incidents that occurred in the United States in 2001 have been attributed to the Earth Liberation Front."[36]
Jewish Defense League
Jewish Defense League (JDL) was founded in 1968[37] by Rabbi Meir Kahane in New York City. FBI statistics show that from 1980 to 1985, 15 terrorist attacks were attempted in the U.S. by JDL members.[38] The FBI's Mary Doran described the JDL in 2004 Congressional testimony as "a proscribed terrorist group".[39] The National Consortium for the Study of Terror and Responses to Terrorism states that during the JDL's first two decades of activity it was an "active terrorist organization."[40][41] Kahane later founded the far right Israeli political party Kach.
Ku Klux Klan
The Ku Klux Klan (KKK) was determined to be a "terrorist organization" in 1870 by a federal grand jury,[42] and the FBI has been investigating crimes by white supremacy extremists including Klan members since 1918.[43] During reconstruction at the end of the Civil War the first KKK used domestic terrorism against the Northerners in the South ("called "Carpetbaggers") as well as against freed slaves. During the late 20th century, leading up to the Civil Rights Movement, various unrelated KKK groups used threats, violence, arson, and murder to further their anti-Black, anti-Catholic, anti-Communist, anti-immigrant, antisemitic, homophobic and white-supremacist agenda. Other groups with agendas similar to the Ku Klux Klan include neo-Nazis, white power skinheads, and other far-right movements.
May 19 Communist Organization
May 19 Communist Organization (variously referred to as the May 19 Communist Coalition, May 19 Communist, and various alternatives of M19CO), was a U.S.-based, self-described revolutionary organization formed by members of the Weather Underground Organization. The group was originally known as the New York chapter of the Prairie Fire Organizing Committee (PFOC), an organization devoted to legally promoting the causes of the Weather Underground. This was part of Prairie Fire Manifesto change in Weather Underground Organization strategy, which demanded both aboveground mass and clandestine organizations. The role of the clandestine organization would be to build the "consciousness of action" and prepare the way for the development of a people's militia. Concurrently, the role of the mass movement (i.e., above-ground Prairie Fire Collective) would include support for, and encouragement of, armed action. Such an alliance would, according to Weather, "help create the 'sea' for the guerrillas to swim in."[44]
The Order
The Order, also known as the Brüder Schweigen or Silent Brotherhood, was a white nationalist revolutionary group active in the United States between 1983 and 1984. It is probably best known for the 1984 murder of radio talk show host Alan Berg. The group also carried out several bank and car robberies, three murders, and money counterfeiting until its leader, Robert Jay Mathews, was killed in a shootout with FBI agents on Whidbey Island, Washington, in December 1984.
Phineas Priesthood
Phineas Priesthood (Phineas Priests) is a Christian Identity movement that opposes interracial sex, the mixing of races, homosexuality, and abortion. It is also marked by antisemitism, anti-multiculturalism, and opposition to taxation. It is not considered an organization because it is not led by a governing body, there are no gatherings, and there is no membership process. One becomes a Phineas Priest by simply adopting the beliefs of the Priesthood and acting upon those beliefs. Members of the Priesthood are often called terrorists for, among other things, planning to blow up FBI buildings, abortion clinic bombings, and bank robberies.
Symbionese Liberation Army
Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) was an American self-styled, far-left "urban guerrilla warfare group" that considered itself a revolutionary vanguard army. The group committed bank robberies, two murders, and other acts of violence between 1973 and 1975. Among their most notorious acts was the kidnapping of the newspaper heiress Patty Hearst.
United Freedom Front
United Freedom Front (UFF) was a small American Marxist organization active in the 1970s and 1980s. It was originally called the Sam Melville/Jonathan Jackson Unit, and its members became known as the Ohio 7 when they were brought to trial. Between 1975 and 1984 the UFF carried out at least 20 bombings and nine bank robberies in the northeastern United States, targeting corporate buildings, courthouses, and military facilities.[45] Brent L. Smith describes them as "undoubtedly the most successful of the leftist terrorists of the 1970s and 1980s."[46] The group's members were eventually apprehended and convicted of conspiracy, murder, attempted murder, and other charges. Jaan Laaman alone remains incarcerated today, following the death of Tom Manning in 2019.
Weather Underground
The Weather Underground Organization was a far left organization, active from 1969 to 1975, that originated as a faction of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS).[47] Mostly composed of the national office leadership of SDS and their supporters, the group collapsed shortly after the U.S. withdrawal from Vietnam in 1975.