On May 10, 2010 at 9:35 PM, there was a firebomb attack at the Islamic Center of Northeast Florida (ICNEF) in Jacksonville, Florida. Media reports state that no one was injured and no significant damage was done.
WJXT reports that the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department stated that “an explosive device caused a small fire” at the back of the building. The fire was put out with fire extinguishers and caused minimal damage. WJXT also reported that the FBI had obtained surveillance video of a man who was carrying a gasoline can, and that the video would be released later on May 11, 2010.
WOKV reported that in April 2010 a man interrupted a service at the Jacksonville mosque, stating “stop this blaspheming” and said that “I will be back.” Police have not yet established if there is any connnection.
Islamic Center of Northeast Florida (ICNEF) in Jacksonville, Florida (Photo: ICNEF web site) WOKV Photo of ICNEF After Attack (Photo: WOKV)
Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) condemns such hate and violence. We support our unqualified, universal human rights, including our freedom of conscience and the pluralism to allow such freedoms. We urge all those who promote hate and violence to unburden their hearts from hate and violence.
R.E.A.L. condemns the actions of any individual who claims to be representing a religious view of any kind when they commit terrorism. R.E.A.L. is disappointed in the failure of the Jerusalem courts to swiftly and expeditiously prosecute Yaakov Teitel, and we urge the Israeli people and the Israeli government to speak out on this disgrace.
In November 2009, American Jewish immigrant to Israel, Yaakov “Jack” Teitel, had been charged with murder and attempted murder, as a result of reported “hate crimes” over a 12 year period against Muslims, Arabs, homosexuals, leftists, Jews, and Messianic Jews.
Israeli Haaretz and other media have described Mr. Teitel as a “Jewish terrorist.” Haaretz previously reported that Mr. Teitel’s alleged crimes included “two murders, four attempted murders, four cases of incitement, three weapons violations, four cases of illegally manufacturing weapons, one arson and threats motivated by hate.”
In Haaretz’s report “Cool, calculated ‘Jewish terrorist’ shows no remorse in court,” it stated that the “charge sheet states everything was premeditated,” and that Mr. Teitel stated ‘It is a pleasure and an honor to serve my Lord. I do not regret it,’ he shouted during a hearing to extend his remand, adding that he had no doubt that God approved of his actions.”
Both Haaretz and Yedioth Ahronoth have published photographs of Yaakov Teitel smiling at previous trials.
Photograph of Smiling Yaakov (Jack) Teitel in the Jerusalem District Court, January 11, 2010. (Photo: Haaretz/Ana Kaplan)Another Photograph of Smiling Yaakov Teitel (Photo: Yedioth Ahronoth)
Media Reports and Background:
Haaretz: “Suspected Jewish terrorist unfit to stand trial, evaluation says”
— Israel’s Haaretz news: “Yaakov (Jack) Teitel was charged last November with the murder of 2 Palestinians, 3 counts of attempted murder.”
— Haaretz: “Teitel, a resident of the settlement Shvut Rachel, was charged last November with murdering two Palestinians and attempting to murder three people, including Hebrew University Professor Zeev Sternhell and Ariel teenager Ami Ortiz. Ortiz, from a family of Messianic Jews, was gravely wounded by a bomb packaged inside a Purim gift in March 2008.”
— “In the evaluation, submitted to the court Tuesday, Jerusalem’s district psychiatrist wrote that Teital had been declared unfit as a result of flaws in the way in which he perceived his alleged actions.”
— “It should be noted, however, that the ruling does not affect Teitel’s responsibility for the crimes attributed to him, as he is charged with many separate events spread across eleven years. In order for the defense to claim his mental state affected his accountability for these crimes the defense would have to prove he was legally insane in each one of those incidents.”
— “The evaluation will, however, likely bring about a postponement of Teitel’s trial, until there is an improvement in his mental state.”
January 12, 2010 – Haaretz: “FBI and Shin Bet began tracking ‘Jewish terrorist’ year before arrest” — “Teitel refuses to cooperate with his attorney, saying he does not recognize court’s authority.”
— Haaretz: “A year prior to Yakov ‘Jack’ Teitel’s arrest, the Shin Bet and the FBI were in close contact as part of an investigation into bombings targeting homosexuals, messianic Christians and left-wing figures, Haaretz has learned.”
— “The Israeli authorities considered translating the pamphlets on how to make explosive devices the bomber had made for dissemination to other intelligence services in the hope of possibly finding a link through their data bases.”
January 10, 2010 – Haaretz: “U.S. immigrant gets expulsion order for supporting ‘Jewish terrorist'” “The 22-year-old was vocal in supporting Yaakov Teitel’s alleged murder of a Palestinian.”
— “A young American immigrant was recently expelled from the West Bank for allegedly supporting ‘Jewish terrorist’ Yaakov Teitel.”
— “Teitel was charged in November with two murders, three attempted murders and other acts of violence. The indictment also lists Teitel’s efforts for more than a decade to harm Arabs, gays and lesbians, leftists, police officers and messianic Jews.” November 13, 2009 – Haaretz: “Cool, calculated ‘Jewish terrorist’ shows no remorse in court”
— Haaretz reports: “The indictment against Yaakov (Jack) Teitel on Thursday presented an image of a precise, trained terrorist who operated for 12 years, leaving nearly no trace. Until he was caught.”
— “‘It is a pleasure and an honor to serve my Lord. I do not regret it,’ he shouted during a hearing to extend his remand, adding that he had no doubt that God approved of his actions.”
“Teitel was arrested in Jerusalem in a joint police-Shin Bet operation on October 7. He is suspected of attempted murder, aggravated assault, arms offenses and racial incitement.”
“So far, Teitel has confessed to carrying out the following:
* The 1997 murder of an east Jerusalem taxi driver
* The 1997 murder of a Palestinian shepherd south of Mount Hebron
* Placing an explosive device in the Ramallah-adjacent settlement of Eli in 2006 – the device was found and disarmed safely
* Placing an explosive device near a Beit Shemesh monetary in 2007, which resulted in one Palestinian injured
* A 2007 explosion which took place in the Ramot neighborhood in Jerusalem – a police cruiser was severely damaged, but no injuries were reported
* Hurling explosives at a police car in June 2007 – no injuries or damage were reported
* Sending a parcel bomb to a messianic family residing in Ariel, which resulted in a 15-year-old boy suffering severe injuries
* Placing a pipe bomb near Prof. Zeev Sternhell’s Jerusalem home in September of 2008 – Sternhell was lightly wounded.”
AP reports that Neo-Nazi and white supremacist propaganda such as the “Turner Diaries,” as well as Adolf Hitler books, and weapons were discovered in a recent raid of a suspected Hutaree militia members in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. The “Turner Diaries” propaganda found was also used to inspireterrorist Timothy McVeigh in the April 19, 1995 Oklahoma City terrorist bombing.
— “Several cardboard tubes including two ‘with green/cannon fuse;’ a 6-by- 3/4-inch-gallon nipple with end caps; a two-page document about a “funnel shape charge;” a 2005 daily planner book; a grenade holder; a Hutaree flag; three DVDs labeled ‘Waco’; a notebook detailing the doctrine and ranks of the Hutaree; and gas masks; at Stone’s trailer home in Lenawee County’s Dover Township.”
— ” Substances believed to be crack cocaine and steroids and a lock pick set at the mobile home of suspected Hutaree member Kristopher Sickles in Sandusky, Ohio.”
— “A copy of “My New Order” by Hitler; audio of ‘The Turner Diaries,’ a novel that is popular with white supremacists; a samurai sword; a jeweled dagger; a ballistic helmet; an intrusion detection machine; and a CD titled ‘Explosives, Ordnance and Demolition;’ at the two-story home of suspected Hutaree member Thomas Piatek in Whiting, Ind.”
Cover of White Supremacist - Neo Nazi Propaganda "The Turner Diaries" Used to Inspire April 19, 1995 Oklahoma City Bombings and Audio Now Found in Hutaree Militia Raid (Image: Anti-Defamation League ADL)
Federal law enforcement agencies held raids on groups in Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana on March 27 and 28, 2010, arresting eight individuals who were members of the Christian extremist militia “Hutaree,” which a federal indictment describes as an “anti-government extremist organization which advocates violence against local, state, and Federal law enforcement.” They have been charged with attempted use of weapons of mass destruction, seditious conspiracy, teaching the use of explosive materials, and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence. A bond hearing is scheduled for the arrested on March 31 at 1 PM. The Wall Street Journal also suggests that one of the indicted may have been an undercover federal agent.
Eight Hutaree Christian Militia Indicted Members: Top row, from left, are Joshua Clough, Michael Meeks, Thomas Piatek and Kristopher Sickles. Bottom row, from left, are David Stone Jr., David Stone Sr., Tina Stone and Jacob Ward. (Photos from U.S. Marshals Service)
On the night of March 29, 2010, the ninth member of the Hutaree militia indicted, Joshua Matthew Stone, was arrested after a standoff with law enforcement agencies. The Detroit News reports that “He faces charges that include sedition and use of weapons of mass destruction. Stone was allegedly the second-in-command of the Hutaree, a group that describes itself as a Christian militia preparing to battle the forces of the Antichrist. His father, David Brian Stone, was its alleged leader.”
Joshua Matthew Stone (Photo: U.S. Marshals Service)
Hutaree Militia Patch Promoting Colonial Christian Republic (CCR)
The Department of Justice states that “According to the indictment, Hutaree members view local, state, and federal law enforcement as the ‘brotherhood’, their enemy, and have been preparing to engage them in armed conflict. The indictment further alleges that the Hutaree planned to kill an unidentified member of local law enforcement and then attack the law enforcement officers who gather in Michigan for the funeral. According to the plan, the Hutaree would attack law enforcement vehicles during the funeral procession with Improvised Explosive Devices with Explosively Formed Projectiles, which, according to the indictment, constitute weapons of mass destruction. Subsequently, and in furtherance of this plan, David Brian Stone, the Hutaree’s leader, obtained information about such devices over the internet and emailed diagrams of such devices to a person he believed capable of manufacturing the devices. He then had his son, Joshua Matthew Stone, and others gather materials necessary for the manufacturing of such devices.”
“According to the indictment, in June 2009, David Brian Stone and his other son, David Brian Stone, Jr., taught other Hutaree members how to make and use explosive devices intending or knowing that the information would be used to further a crime of violence. In addition, the grand jury charged all nine defendants with carrying or possessing a firearm during a crime of violence on at least one occasion. U.S. Attorney McQuade said, ‘Because the Hutaree had planned a covert reconnaissance operation for April which had the potential of placing an unsuspecting member of the public at risk, the safety of the public and of the law enforcement
community demanded intervention at this time.'”
“Andrew Arena, FBI Special Agent in Charge, said, ‘This is an example of radical and extremist fringe groups which can be found throughout our society. The FBI takes such extremist groups seriously, especially those who would target innocent citizens and the law enforcement officers who protect the citizens of the United States. The FBI would like to thank our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners who are member of the Joint Terrorism Task Force, for their assistance in this case.”
Hutaree Video Still Photo - Hutaree Recruiting Members for Militia Activities (Photo: YouTube)
U.S. Government Viewed Militia Group Planning Near-Term Attack in April
On March 30, 2010, U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade told the Associated Press that “FBI agents moved quickly against Hutaree because its members were planning an attack sometime in April.” AP reported that U.S. Attorney McQuade said that “federal authorities had been monitoring members of a Michigan-based Christian militia for some time but were forced to “take them down” over the weekend after learning of an imminent threat against police.”
The Hutaree videos posted on their YouTube page include explosion of flammable bombs, sniper training, and mock booby trap and killing of troops. In the Hutaree YouTube videos, the group members hide their faces behind masks.
Hutaree’s web page had a scrolling announcement in red that read “Training April 24th contact headquarters immediately.”
Hutaree Recruitment Video Shows Bomb Explosion as Part of Hutaree Training (Photo: YouTube)Hutaree Sniper Training - Photo 1 (Photo: YouTube)More Hutaree Sniper Training - Simulating Camouflaged Weapons in Woods (Photo: YouTube)Hutaree Recruitment Video Shows Hunting for Troops (Photo: YouTube)Hutaree Recruitment Video Clip Showing Mock Booby Trap (Photo: YouTube)Hutaree Video Clip Shows Simulation of Hutaree Making Certain Soldier is Dead After Booby Trap Bombing (Photo: YouTube)Hutaree Practices Smoke Bomb in Wooded Road Area (Photo: YouTube)Camouflaged Hutaree Practicing Evasive Efforts After Attack - Hiding Their Faces Behind Masks (Photo: YouTube)
Hutaree Militia Sought Christian Extremist “Colonial Christian Republic”
The Hutaree militia sought a Christian extremist “Colonial Christian Republic” or “CCR,” as they referenced it. The CCR was part of their “flag,” and part of their military arm patch. On the Hutaree web site, they called for their members to be “Christian warriors,” in described their values they believe that Jesus wanted us to be ready to defend ourselves using the sword.” Their doctrine states that they believed their armed military efforts were necessary to prepare for the anti-Christ, mocking “the Christian church of today” as “The foolish ones are the ones that expect Christ to arrive too soon,” and justifying their military goals and planning as “based on faith.”
Hutaree Promotes Colonial Christian Republic (CCR) on Website and UniformHutaree Practicing Automatic Rifle Maneuvers wearing CCR Patch (Photo: YouTube)Armed Hutaree Raising Black CCR Flag (Photo: YouTube)Hutaree's CCR Flag Over Their Militia Training Area (Photo: YouTube)Another Hutaree Flag Over Militia Training Area (Photo: YouTube)
Hutaree Friends and Supporters
Hutaree’s Facebook site showed over 30 supporters, including members and promoters of various militia groups and militia causes. Hutaree’s online presence included a group photograph of some of their members in militia uniforms.
Friends of the Hutaree’s YouTube video page include supporters of the Ku Klux Klan, promoters of the Neo Nazi diatribe Turner Diaries, promoters of Confederate States of the United States, and others promoting “white power” and “Aryan” causes.
Hutaree promotes a group called the “Patriot Broadcasting Network” in Michigan, and Militias in Michigan and Ohio. It also promotes a group called “Poker Face” who distributes the”American Freedom Radio” that supports 9/11 conspiracy views and related groups.
Hutaree Militia Training with Automatic Rifles (Photo: YouTube)
Local Michigan Individual’s Reaction; Culture of Weapons, Hate
The Detroit News reports that the Adrian, Michigan area is “no stranger to controversial anti-government movements,” and a number of those they interviewed felt there was nothing to be concerned about. Peter Hayes of Hayes Insurance Agency tells the Detroit News that “I don’t know what they were doing, but they apparently hadn’t caused any trouble here that anyone knew of,” and that “it seemed like a lot of overkill to me this weekend.”
The Detroit News also reports that “Adrian, the Lenawee County seat, is the home base of the Rev. Rick Strawcutter, whose low-power radio station “Radio Free Lenawee” garnered attention for broadcasts stridently denouncing the federal government before it was shut down by the FCC in 2001 because it hadn’t obtained the proper broadcast license.” “Strawcutter, 59, also produced a widely distributed anti-government video, ‘America in Peril,’ which was taped inside his church in 1993…. Last week, he posted a YouTube video in which he lambasted Washington, D.C., politicians. ‘These people are so drunk with power,’ he said. ‘They’re pulling off a dictatorship … maybe this is the last stop, and there’ll be no more elections.’ Strawcutter insisted he has never advocated violence.”
The National Radio Club has a report on “Radio Free Lenawee” and its canceling by the FCC for failure to obtain a proper broadcast license. In the National Radio Club posted report, “The pastor has been operating the station without a license since 1996. The program often has featured nationally known conservative speakers, and the pastor talks about everything from gun control to his own anti-government views. He has been criticized by national watchdog groups, which say he has links to some of the most widely known hate groups in the country. When federal agents first started looking into the station, the pastor kept a gun in the station room.” “The pastor sells videos in the backroom of his 250-member church that offer anti-government rhetoric and Jewish conspiracy beliefs. He has said he believes blacks and whites should not marry and homosexuals in prison should be executed.” The report also states that Pete Hayes with Hayes Insurance Agency, Inc. (also mentioned in the Detroit News report) advertised on the “Radio Free Lenawee” to support Strawcutter, quoting Hayes as stating “”I was just doing it to support him… He’s a very intelligent person.”
The Toledo Blade reported on Strawcutter: “‘He’s a popular figure with people in the neo-Nazi movement,’ says Dr. John Nutter, a former Michigan State University professor who has infiltrated such groups.”
ABC reports that “Brittany Bryant, who is engaged to David Stone Jr., son of the Hutaree’s leader and one of the members arrested in the sweep, said federal officials got it wrong. ‘I don’t think they’re dangerous,’ Bryant said. ‘They’re not doing anything wrong. They’re doing what they want to do.'”
The Detroit Free Press reports on Facebook “Images posted to the public account of Tina Kelley — charged Monday as the recently married Tina Stone — show her wedding to Hutaree ringleader David B. Stone. The wedding party, including a small child, can be seen carrying assault rifles during the event.” TPM has also reported on this in their article “For Hutaree, Militia Ethos Extended To Family Life.”
TPM reports that in “recent wedding pictures posted on Facebook, several Hutaree members who are now in custody are shown posing in front of the militia flag with assault rifles.”
“The pictures were posted on the page of Tina Kelley, which appears to be the maiden name of Tina Stone. Stone is the wife of David Brian Stone, described in the federal indictment as the leader of Hutaree. The couple and two of David Stone’s sons are among the nine Hutaree members charged with seditious conspiracy, attempted use of weapons of mass destruction, and other crimes. The pictures were uploaded last December, at around the same time Kelley updated her relationship status to ‘married.’ Her primary Facebook picture is the patch of the ‘Colonial Christian Republic,’ also featured on the Hutaree Web site. She is friends with several Stones and friends with “Hutaree Christian Militia.” In one group shot, she is shown with several men in fatigues — including a man who appears to be David Stone — along with a woman in formal wear, all wielding assault rifles. Behind them is the flag of Hutaree and a Gadsden flag, a classic symbol of the movement.”
Other Facebook images show Tina Stone and David Stone with weapons, and Tina Stone posing with a small child given an assault rifle to hold.
The Voice of the Martyrs Speaks Out on Christian Love
The VOM stated that “in light of recent arrests in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana, VOM has found itself the subject of media inquiry. While we understand that all are innocent until proven guilty and wait for results of the legal process, we want to clearly state that violence is not an acceptable response to religious differences. Our Christian brothers and sisters who have suffered persecution in Jos and other places do not advocate a violent response; they are not calling us to take up arms or to provide them with weapons. Instead they offer love and forgiveness to those who attack them, in the hopes of representing Christ’s love and living out the gospel message.”
“The Voice of the Martyrs exists to provide practical and spiritual support to persecuted Christians in restricted nations, while inviting Christians in the free world into fellowship with them. One of the ways we invite Christians in the free world into that fellowship is through our web site, www.persecution.com. VOM web policy allows any person or group to place a link to persecution.com on their web site if they would like to inform others about the persecution of Christians. Such a link does not imply that VOM has any direct contact or partnership with the owners of the site. VOM policy is that the ministry does not link to outside ministries or organizations on persecution.com; we do not ‘trade links.'”
“To the best of our knowledge, no VOM personnel were aware of Hutaree’s existence or the fact that it had a link to VOM on its web site. VOM has not had any direct contact or partnership with the organization.”
Others may also choose to point to the following passages in the Christian Bible: John 13:34 “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” Luke 6:27-28: “But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.”
Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) urges all those who promote hate and supremacism, of any kind, religious or racial, to reject ideologies of hate and intolerance. We support our unqualified, universal human rights for all. We urge hate group supporters to drop the burden of the hate of supremacism from their hearts, and to rejoin the family of humanity in support of our universal human rights.
Stormfront forum member Daniel Cowart pleaded guilty on March 29, 2010 “to eight counts in a federal indictment charging him with crimes related to a racially-motivated plot to murder dozens of people.” Daniel Cowart could get between 10 to 75 years in prison for this terrorist plot. According to the Associated Press, “Under a plea deal, lawyers on both sides agreed to recommend that Cowart serve between 12 and 18 years in prison. However, terms of the agreement allow U.S. Dist. Judge J. Daniel Breen to ignore the request and sentence Cowart to considerably more time. But if the judge ignores the recommendations, Cowart would have the option of withdrawing his plea.”
Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) has been reporting on this racist terrorist plot. The October 24, 2008 federal affidavit stated that Daniel Cowart and his co-conspirator Paul Schlesselman planned to kill 102 individuals and Barack Obama.
According to the October 24, 2008 federal affidavit in this case, “Each individual claims to have very strong beliefs and views regarding ‘White Power’ and ‘Skinhead’ views. The individuals began discussing going on a ‘killing spree’ that included killing 88 people and beheading 14 African Americans.” The number 88 is significant for Nazi white supremacists as representing the symbols HH, as H is the 8th letter of the alphabet. It is their code for “Heil Hitler.” The number 14 has a similar significance for two white supremacist 14-word slogans (ADL, additional reports).
The affidavit also states “while driving around Cowart and Schlesselman observed a church and decide to shoot a window out.” The affidavit identifies the target as the Beech Grove Church of Christ in Brownsville, Tennessee.
Daniel Cowart -Pleads Guilty to Racial Terrorist Plot
“Daniel Cowart pleaded guilty today to eight counts in a federal indictment charging him with crimes related to a racially-motivated plot to murder dozens of people, the Justice Department announced.”
“Cowart pleaded guilty to threatening to kill and inflict bodily harm upon a major candidate for the office of President of the United States, conspiracy, interstate transportation of a short-barreled shotgun, interstate transportation of a firearm for the purpose of committing a felony, unlicensed transportation of an unauthorized short-barreled shotgun, possession of a short-barreled shotgun, intentional damage to religious real property, and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.”
“Cowart, 21, of Bells, Tenn., admitted to conspiring with Paul Schlesselman of West Helena, Ark., to engage in a killing spree specifically targeting African-Americans. He further acknowledged that he intended to culminate these attacks by assassinating President Obama, a U.S. Senator and a presidential candidate at the time of the planned attacks. Cowart also admitted to shooting the window of the Allen Baptist Church in Brownsville, Tenn. Under the plea agreement, Cowart faces a sentence of at least 10 years and could face up to 75 years in prison. ‘Despite great civil rights progress, this unthinkable conspiracy serves as a reminder that hate-fueled violence remains all too common in our country,’ said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. ‘Tragedy was averted thanks to the capable work of the Crockett County Sheriff’s Department and their willingness to work with the ATF, the Secret Service and the FBI.’ ‘Crimes committed against individuals because of their race will not be tolerated,’ said Lawrence J. Laurenzi, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee. ‘I commend the work of the investigative agencies in thwarting what could have been a series of tragic events.'”
Stormfront Forum Member Daniel Cowart with Swastika Tattoo and Rifle (Photo: Inquister)
In October 2008, CBS reported that “CBS News traced Cowart’s email and discovered that he is a forum member of the website StormFront.org, reportedly the nation’s largest website for white supremacists known as ‘white-power.'” Stormfront is identified as a “white nationalist hate group” by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC).
In November 2009 and January 2010, Stormfront forum members posted articles on Daniel Cowart’s case as someone “in our ranks,” and were concerned about the legal outcome of his trial. One of the Stormfront forum members, Saxoness90, who lists her location as the Confederate States of America (“C.S.A.”), believed that Stormfront forum member Daniel Cowart was either “secretly prosecuted” or was “found innocent and equited [sic], and the media is all hushed up hoping no one will ever find out.” The Stormfront forum member goes on to praise Daniel Cowart’s attorney for allegedly objecting that their were not enough whites in the grand jury. (See screenshots of postings.) The Stormfront forum members go on to promote former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke and Confederate President Jefferson Davis.
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Update: The day after Stormfront forum member Daniel Cowart pleaded guilty to this racial terrorist plot, on the March 30, 2010 Stormfront co-leader Derek Black radio show on WPBR-AM, a caller came on the show to promote Holocaust Denial, and Derek Black promoted the “good calls” that he was getting. Stormfront leader Don Black used the radio show to also praise “race realism” and to condemn the “Jewish view of America.”
According to the ADL, “Baker allegedly spray-painted swastikas and the words ‘White Power’ on the walls.” ADL also reported that Baker was a member of the racist hate group “Christian Identity,” and all of the members of the arson group were “believed to be members of the white supremacist group Aryan Alliance.” ADL reported that “Stone told officials that his role in the fire got him ‘two stripes’ from Baker, his Christian Identity sponsor. He said Christian Identity members earn stripes ‘for committing acts of violence against enemies,’ according to the affidavit.'”
Tennessee Man Sentenced to 183 Months in Prison for Burning Islamic Center
WASHINGTON – Senior Judge Robert L. Echols of the Middle District of Tennessee today sentenced Eric Ian Baker to 183 months in prison for vandalizing and burning down the Islamic Center of Columbia, Tenn., the Justice Department announced. Baker pleaded guilty on Sept. 18, 2009, to destruction of religious property and using fire to commit a felony.
Baker, 34, previously admitted to the court that he and two others constructed Molotov cocktail explosive devices, ignited them and used them to destroy the mosque on Feb. 9, 2008. Baker further admitted that he committed the arson because of the religious character of the property and that he painted swastikas and the phrase “White Power” on the mosque in the course of the arson.
One of Baker’s co-defendants, Michael Corey Golden, was sentenced to 171 months for his role in the arson. The other co-defendant, Jonathan Edward Stone, pleaded guilty but has not yet been sentenced.
“The right to worship without fear of this kind of violent interference is among our most fundamental civil rights,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “We will aggressively prosecute anyone who seeks to intimidate or injure any congregation because of what they believe, how they worship, or who they are.”
“This type of crime strikes at the heart of our civil rights and religious freedoms in America. I am very pleased that through local, state and federal cooperation, all defendants responsible for this vile attack have been brought to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Edward M. Yarbrough for the Middle District of Tennessee.
This case was investigated by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Tennessee State Bomb and Arson and the Columbia, Tenn., Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal McDonough from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Nashville and Trial Attorney Jonathan Skrmetti from the Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case.
Oklahoma Daily: Author explores relationship between America and Islam
— Reza Aslan frustrated that Americans don’t see the difference between political extremists and Violent Extremists political supremacists
— “Americans do not know the difference between Islamists, who have a clear goal of creating a national Islamic state, and terrorists who call themselves jihadists.”
— U.S.government’s 9/11 Commission Report defines Islamism
9/11 Commission Report, Page 562, (Notes Chapter 12, Note 3)
“3. Islamist terrorism is an immediate derivative of Islamism. This term distinguishes itself from Islamic by the fact that the latter refers to a religion and culture in existence over a millennium, whereas the first is a political/religious phenomenon linked to the great events of the 20th century. Furthermore Islamists define themselves as ‘Islamiyyoun/Islamists’ precisely to differentiate themselves from ‘Muslimun/Muslims.’ . . . Islamism is defined as ‘an Islamic militant, anti-democratic movement, bearing a holistic vision of Islam whose final aim is the restoration of the caliphate.'”
— Adobe Acrobat PDF format link to Notes
— 9/11 Commission Report Excerpt – Clusty
Mississippi: Former Klansman Convicted in ’64 Slayings Sues FBI
— Edgar Ray Killen convicted in 2005 of manslaughter in the deaths of Michael Schwerner, James Chaney and Andrew Goodman.
— Now Edgar Ray Killen “claims they [the FBI] conspired to suppress his rights to ‘defend his society and culture'”
Terrorists Joseph Stack (Austin Terror Attack – left) and Nidal Hasan (Fort Hood Terror Attack – right) — Both Attacked U.S. Govt Sites in Texas, Killing U.S. Govt Employees
We cannot decide one is “terrorism” and one is not, based on political sympathy, political correctness, or political appeasement to one view or another — whether it is Nidal Hasan or Joseph Stacks. We cannot ignore that terrorist attacks of political violence have been committed and simply dismiss them as a “crime.” Most of all, we cannot have a double standard on terrorism, and be outraged by some terrorist attacks, and flippantly dismiss terrorist attacks by others. There is no “good” terrorism; there is no “acceptable” terrorism. Terrorism is terrorism, and terrorism is wrong.
As the son of murdered IRS employee Vernon Hunter states, “How is it heroic to take upon acts that Al Qaeda used on September 11 of 2001? What makes that heroic?” Ken Hunter continues “Are you telling me that an American citizen committing an attack of terrorism against the United States is heroic?”
Collage of Just a FEW Screen Shots from “White Nationalist Hate Group” Stormfront Members Praising Joseph Stacks’ Terrorism and Supporting Future Terrorist Attacks on America
If these were comments on an Islamic group’s web site, there would be widespread calls for investigations into those praising and promoting acts of “terrorism”, but when such comments are on a non-Islamic group’s web site, the response is (to be most generous) “muted.”
How would we have felt if that was our father, Vernon Hunter, who was murdered by Stark’s terrorist attack? How would we have felt if it was an attack on our town, where we worked, or someone we knew, and we heard people call the attacker a “hero,” or we heard people dismissing the terrorists’ suicide bombing as “going out with a bang”?
Vernon Hunter, Vietnam Veteran Murdered in Austin Terrorist Attack
Has our nation’s people become so heartless, so vindictive, so merciless, and so cruel?
What type of a nation are we living in that we can accept this as civilized discussion?
An attack on the U.S. government is an attack on all Americans, because whether you like it or not, whether you agree with it or not, it is your representative government. That is what it means to live in a democracy. The majority make decisions to choose our representative government. If you don’t like those decisions, you have many political means to effect change yourself.
But a terrorist attack that murders one our fellow Americans is an attack on all Americans, because the message sent by the terrorist is they don’t respect human life – theirs or ours – and they will take it at will.
If America is a nation that is responsible for equality and liberty, it is also nation of people who also love our inalienable right to life. In its defining declaration, America is a nation that loves life, not death. A nation where life itself is an inalienable right that defines our very identity can never afford a double standard on the deadly disease of terrorism, which ultimately seeks political and ideological change through death.
CAIR’s Nihad Awad’s Double Standard on Terrorism – Praising Hamas Terrorist Group, While Condemning Joseph Stacks’ Terror Attack (Source: Investigative Project on Terrorism)
But I also recognize that, if it had been a Muslim-American flying a jet into a U.S. government building and killing a U.S. government employee, there would have been little hesitancy among many Americans in deciding whether or not it was an act of “terrorism.” Everyone reading this knows this is a fact. We cannot hold a double-standard on terrorism where we can assume terrorism for some, but not for others, based on their different ideologies. Terrorism is terrorism.
Certainly in America, a nation that suffered repeated attacks by planes flown into commercial and government buildings on 9/11, one would think that Americans would be uniquely sensitive and outraged at those who seek to use planes as terrorist weapons against our government, regardless of their political views. Given the untold millions who have been endlessly inconvenienced by terrorist use of planes demanding extraordinary security measures for the traveling public, one would think that Americans would be furious at anyone who dared to try to use a plane again to attack Americans, whether it is Farouk Abdulmutallab in Detroit or Joseph Stacks in Austin. The muted response by Americans and the world to this latest abuse of air travel by the terrorist Joseph Stacks is disturbing and disheartening.
But Mr. Fitzgerald didn’t leave it at that. Instead, he had to offer his own double standard as an answer to CAIR’s double standard, dismissing Stack’s terrorist attack, not as terrorism, but as “simply Going Out with a Bang.” Mr. Fitzgerald pointed out in comments later below his posting that it should be “obvious” that he did not “promote” such activity by Joseph Stack, but simply was dismissing it as “terrorism.”
Jihad Watch’s Hugh Fitzgerald Dismisses Joseph Stack’s Terrorist Attack as “simply Going Out with a Bang”
I was stunned, gap-mouthed as I read the posting by a group that states that it seeks to oppose jihadist terrorism, who simply dismissed the suicide bombing by Joseph Stack as “going out with a bang.” Unbelievable. Mr. Fitzgerald argues that unless you are “inculcated from a young age with hatred” or unless you have a well-understood political ideology, this means that attacks of political violence against U.S. federal government offices are somehow not “terrorism.”
In his rambling political manifesto, terrorist Joseph Stacks called for Americans to “revolt,” stating that it takes “a body count” to effect political change against “a government full of hypocrites,” and appears to be defending his terrorist actions as one of those “dying for their freedom in this country.” But for Mr. Fitzgerald that is not a sufficient political ideology to constitute Joseph Stacks’ actions as “terrorism.” If it had been another ideological argument by Violent Extremists, there is no doubt that “Jihad Watch” would have little hesitation in defining it as “terrorism.”
I had contacted Jihad Watch and strongly suggested that Mr. Fitzgerald should revisit his posting and reconsider the comments in his article dismissing Joseph Stack’s murderous attack on America’s government as something less than “terrorism.” But that has not happened. I continue to urge Jihad Watch to reconsider what Mr. Fitzgerald has stated on Joseph Stack’s terrorist attack on U.S. government offices in Austin, Texas.
Imagine if it had been any Muslim group or CAIR writing on their website, dismissing a terrorist attack on America by a Muslim-American using a plane, as someone “simply going out with a bang,” while stating that they did not “promote” such activity. There would be a hue and cry across the nation’s airwaves, and calls for an investigation. But when this is stated about a non-Muslim terrorist attack, there is merely a shrugging of shoulders. We must not have a double standard on terrorism, and certainly we must never answer a double standard with a double standard of our own.
I recognize that it will not make me popular to point this out, or to criticize Mr. Fitzgerald’s own double standard on Joseph Stack’s terrorist attack in Austin. But our human rights mission prioritizes consistency and credibility first. Like all people, I and my organizations would also wish to have popularity. But as the recent debacle with Amnesty International has shown, there are no shortcuts to credibility and consistency on human rights issues. I would rather stand alone with my conscience than compromise our credibility on human rights to look the other way at those who would praise or to those who would dismiss terrorist attacks.
There are many who believe that to challenge those who would promote jihad, we must never criticize or challenge those perceived as leaders against jihad. The argument goes that if you criticize, challenge, or disagree with someone viewed as a leader against jihad, then you are somehow “helping the enemy,” and you are better off “to look the other way.” The idea that we can have frank and honest debate is not even considered as an option by some who seek to be fighting for our freedom against jihadists. The very idea that anyone leading the “anti-jihad community” could be wrong is not an idea that some leaders will even countenance. To those challenging violent extremism, that has to change. You won’t ever influence others by tactics which are only designed to close your ranks and keep them that way.
I have worked at recognizing my own limitations and imperfections. I make mistakes like other normal human beings. Moreover, I frequently publicly apologize for such mistakes, which I have found some to find quite infuriating. But that won’t stop me from apologizing or also from making other human mistakes as all of us do from time to time. I learned years ago if you are afraid to be wrong, you will also be afraid to do anything in your life. But courage is not the same as arrogance. We must all be willing to recognize when we need to make corrections in things we say or do.
So here is another one of my own apologies. From a public perspective, I have been one of those who has too often “looked the other way” at mistakes by some within the “anti-jihad community.” Instead, I have often tried to privately communicate and hope to influence others. But sometimes there has to be a moment where one can no longer “look the other way” at such mistakes. Today, this is mine here.
I think of Vernon Hunter’s wife and son. I think of the congregation that prayed for him Sunday in Texas. I think of all of those around the country who don’t even know his name or anything about him as a victim of a terrorist attack. I think of those who dismiss the terrorist attack against our government, murdering a veteran in our armed forces as someone “simply going out with a bang.” No, Vernon Hunter and our government deserve more respect, more dignity, and more mercy than such comments.
And to those at Stormfront and elsewhere who view the terrorist Joseph Stack as a “hero,” I feel sorry for you and your hate. I urge you to release the hate from your heart, and learn that in the civilized world of humanity, “heroes” are not terrorist murderers.
There comes a time when you must face a fork in the road in your life’s journey as to what direction you will head. Sometimes you have decide whether you want to spend your life fighting against something or fighting for something. I would rather be for something.
