Paul Joseph Watson
Infowars.com
September 16, 2010
Infowars.com
September 16, 2010
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| Governor Rendell apologized to the groups that were targeted, noting that protest was a constitutional right. Photo: Cliff. | |
One of the Pennsylvania protest groups that was targeted for surveillance by Homeland Security as a possible terror threat has demanded an investigation into the scandal after Gov. Ed Rendell was forced to issue an apology and cancel a $108,000-a-year contract with the Institute of Terrorism Research and Response, the American-Israeli group that provided DHS with intelligence on pro-gas drilling, anti-war and Tea Party organizations.
“This has angered me more than anything so far,” Gas Drilling Awareness Coalition member Janine Dymond of Harding said Wednesday. “We’re not even against drilling. We’re against the regulation of this industry and the loss of our rights. But we’re labeled as potential terrorists.”
Governor Rendell apologized to the groups that were targeted, noting that protest was a constitutional right, but refused to fire Department of Homeland Security Director James F. Powers Jr.
“Obviously I’m thrilled that Rendell apologized and everything, but I still think (Powers) needs to be fired,” Gas Drilling Awareness Coalition co-founder Dr. Thomas Jiunta of Lehman Township said. “For people exercising their right to free speech and opinions about natural gas drilling to be put on the same level as terrorists is not only extreme, but unconscionable. I think there definitely needs to be an investigation.”
As we have documented for years, the true target of the domestic anti-terror apparatus has always been peaceful Americans who show much as the slightest interest in anything political or have any kind of grievance against the state whatsoever. Until consequences are brought to bare, and the whole culture of training police and federal authorities that American citizens are their enemy is irrevocably altered, peaceful protest groups will continue to be treated as terrorists.
During the Clinton years we saw numerous reports issued by the FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force that characterized the most banal and seemingly pro-American activities as signs of potential domestic terror. One advisory leaflet encouraged people to contact the JTTF if they came into contact with Americans who were “defenders of the US Constitution” or those who “make numerous references to the US Constitution”. Lone individuals were listed under the category “single issue terrorists”.
A Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Law Enforcement pamphlet issued in 2006identified buying baby formula, beer, wearing Levi jeans, carrying identifying documents like a drivers license and traveling with women or children, all as signs of potential terrorism. Being a “nice guy” was also a potential characteristic of a domestic terrorist, according to the document.
A Virginia training manual that also became public in 2006 and was used to help state employees recognize terrorists listed anti-government and property rights activists as terrorists and included binoculars, video cameras, paper pads and notebooks in a compendium of terrorist tools.
Authorities are already acting on the premise that anyone who is mildly political or talks about the Constitution is a potential terrorist.
In May 2008, a student of a large bible college in east Texas was accused by federal agents of committing an “act of terror and espionage” after he gave a talk to a group of Boy Scouts in which he encouraged them to educate themselves about the U.S. constitution.
In July 2007, the Kuhns, a North Carolina couple were terrorized by sheriff’s deputy Brian Scarborough, who broke into their house, assaulted them and then arrested the couple for the crime of flying an upside down U.S. flag.
In 2004, Kelly Rushing was charged with making “terroristic threats” after he handed out Alex Jones videos and recordings of a Congressman Ron Paul speech on C-Span to Lyon County, Kentucky officials and Kentucky State Trooper Lewis Dobbs.
These are just a handful of the plethora of cases we have covered where Americans are treated as terrorists simply for engaging in peaceful protest or merely routine behavior.
We have to understand that Homeland Security was explicitly set up and has been operating for the primary purpose of oppressing the American people since its inception. DHS is a hostile threat to the very bedrock of the country, the US Constitution, and until the entire organization is disbanded it will continue to trample on the rights of citizens from all political persuasions.
Photo courtesy of Cliff1066.
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Paul Joseph Watson is the editor and writer for Prison Planet.com. He is the author of Order Out Of Chaos. Watson is also a fill-in host for The Alex Jones Show. Watson has been interviewed by many publications and radio shows, including Vanity Fair and Coast to Coast AM, America’s most listened to late night talk show.
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