A History Of Violence: The Right Wing's Attacks On Freedom In America

[KingOfLostSouls]

we have, in recent years, seen the political debate in this country take a sharp heated turn. I am one who, as a partisan, make no secret of my dislike for the opposite side. I do not claim my side is always perfect, but there are a few differing factors that are glaringly obvious and important. the most important being that the republican party and its constituents HAVE earned their designation as violent individuals who use political violence and assassination as tools. the textbook definition of violence for political gain is terrorism. let us just look at some of the more recent attacks against the American public by the conservative party in America.



Richard Poplawski:

The 2009 Pittsburgh police shootings was a shootout that took place on Saturday, April 4, 2009, at 1016 Fairfield Street<1> in the Stanton Heights neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, stemming from an argument over a dog urinating in the house between a mother and her 22-year-old son.<2> At approximately 7:11 a.m. EDT, 22-year-old Richard Poplawski opened fire on two Pittsburgh Police officers responding to a 911 call from Poplawski's mother, who was attempting to get the police officers to remove her son from the home.<2> Three police officers were ultimately confirmed dead, and another two were seriously injured.<3>

Edward Perkovic, a friend of Poplawski, said the gunman feared "the Obama gun ban that's on the way" and "didn't like our rights being infringed upon". Perkovic also stated that Poplawski "didn't like the Zionists controlling the media and controlling, you know, our freedom of speech" and that "He didn't like the control of the guns that was about to happen. He believed everything our forefathers put before us and thought that it was being distorted." Another longtime friend, Aaron Vire, said that Poplawski feared President Obama was going to take away his rights.<10>
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Pittsburgh_police_shootings


Jim Adkisson:

On July 27, 2008, a politically motivated<2><3> fatal shooting took place at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in Knoxville, Tennessee, United States. Motivated by a desire to kill liberals and Democrats, gunman Jim David Adkisson fired a shotgun at members of the congregation during a youth performance of a musical, killing two people and wounding seven others.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knoxville_Unitarian_Universalist_church_shooting


Scott Roeder:

On May 31, 2009, George Tiller, a physician from Wichita, Kansas who was nationally known for being one of the few doctors in the United States to perform late-term abortions, was shot and killed by Scott Roeder, an anti-abortion activist. Tiller was killed during a Sunday morning service at his church, where he was serving as an usher. Multiple action groups and media figures have labeled Tiller's killing an act of domestic terrorism,<2><3><4><5><6><7> and an assassination
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_George_Tiller


Byron Williams:
OAKLAND, Calif. (CBS/KPIX/AP) A California man accused in a shootout with California Highway Patrol officers in Oakland early Sunday told officials that he traveled to San Francisco and planned to attack two nonprofit groups there "to start a revolution," according to a probable cause statement released by police.

Bryon Williams, 45, a convicted felon with two prior bank robbery convictions, targeted workers at the American Civil Liberties Union and the Tides Foundation, said Oakland police Sgt. Michael Weisenberg in court documents.

Williams' mother, Janice Williams, said to the San Francisco Chronicle that her son was angry with "the way Congress was railroading through all these left-wing agenda items."
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20011219-504083.html

Williams wounded two officers before being taken into custody. He later said his intention was to "start a revolution." Williams gives much of the credit to Fox's Glenn Beck for the conspiracy theory that led him to his violent actions.

Williams said Beck would not advocate violence, "but he'll give you every ounce of evidence that you could possibly need."
http://mediamatters.org/blog/201010150024


The Hutaree Militia:
Hutaree (pronounced /huːˈtɑriː/ ( listen)) is a militia movement group adhering to the Christian Patriot movement, based in Adrian, Michigan, in the United States.<1>

The group was formed in early 2008. The name "Hutaree" appears to be a neologism; the group's web site says that it means "Christian warriors". <2>

The group was allegedly preparing for what they believed would be an apocalyptic battle with the forces of the Antichrist, who they believed would be supported and defended by local, state and federal police departments. On their website, all police and military members who would support the current U.S. system of local, state or federal government were described as members of the "brotherhood", and were considered by the Hutaree to be "enemies". <1>

From March 28 to March 30, 2010, nine people thought to be Hutaree members were arrested in police raids in Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana (in Hammond), for their alleged involvement in a plot to kill various police officers and possibly civilians using illegal explosives and/or firearms.

According to a recent report by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), the doctrines of such groups are often fueled by a certain "anger over the changing demographics of the country, the soaring public debt, the troubled economy and an array of initiatives by President Barack Obama that have been branded 'socialist' or even 'fascist' by the heated rhetoric of his political opponents." <16><17> Another SPLC report notes that the number of U.S. militia groups like the Hutaree have increased three-fold since 2008 (from 42 in 2008 to 127 in 2009), and the number of sympathetic groups has doubled in the same two-year period. <16><18>
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hutaree


Jerry and Joe Kane:
Police killers identified as activists on mission to spread anti-government message

In the final moments of their lives, West Memphis Police Department veterans Brandon Paudert and Bill Evans encountered Thursday an old white Plymouth Voyager minivan carrying 16-year-old Joe Kane and his 45-year-old father, Jerry R. Kane -- a man who unbeknownst to them harbored extreme anti-government views. He also had a record of previous trouble with police and a philosophy, which he credited to the Bible, of applying overwhelming violence to "conquer" foes.

Potok said a check of the Southern Poverty center's databases found no mention of Kane, but that he clearly was at least influenced by extreme right-wing organizations. "Without question, Jerry Kane was mouthing some of the core ideas of anti-government, Patriot movement," Potok said.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/may/21/relatives-id-west-memphis-suspects/


Timothy McVeigh:
Timothy James McVeigh (April 23, 1968 – June 11, 2001) detonated a truck bomb in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995, killing 168 people and injuring 450. It was the deadliest act of terrorism within the United States prior to the September 11, 2001 attacks<3> and is referred to as the Oklahoma City bombing. McVeigh, a militia movement sympathizer, sought revenge against the federal government for its handling of the Waco Siege, which had ended in the deaths of 76 people exactly two years earlier. He also hoped to inspire a revolt against what he considered to be a tyrannical federal government. He was convicted of 11 federal offenses, sentenced to death and was executed on June 11, 2001. Terry Nichols and Michael Fortier were also convicted as conspirators in the plot.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_McVeigh






with the exception of McVeigh, these and many other incidents have all happened in the past TWO YEARS ALONE. these are not isolated incidents either. following the health care debate, many member's of the Democratic Caucus in congress had their lives threatened. they had their offices vandalized. they received threatening phone calls and emails. the brother of one member of congress, a democrat, had the gas line to his house cut in an attempt to blow it up. what used to be considered the fringe has become the norm. one of the main reasons for this is to terrorize and intimidate their opposition. to, in the words of florida republican allen west, to "make them afraid to leave their homes." this is not political discourse in our country. it is political terrorism. its criminal harassment. it is violence and intimidation. and in some cases, it is attempted assassination and murder.

furthermore, leaders on the right have provided political cover for this type of thing. sarah palin and her lock and load bullshit. sharon angle talking about 2nd amendment remedies. members of the allen west campaign saying if ballots dont work they'll use bullets. the rand paul campaign curbstomping women. and on. and on. and on. where you might hear, "both sides are to blame." the simple fact is, no they are not. in the short time since barack obama was elected president, activities on the far right militia movement have increased 80% according to the US secret service. the president receives 300% more death threats than any president in history. members of the democratic party are routinely attacked verbally as traitors, etc even though they control 1/2 of congress and the presidency through fair and transparent elections. the simple fact of the matter is this: one side of the political spectrum has advocated and used violence. one side has members who have gone out and committed mass murders. one side has gone out and had members threaten to kill people. one side has been out there curbstomping women. one side has created this history of violence.

and it certainly ain't the pot smoking phish fans in hemp clothing talking about give love a chance.

[Doctor_J]

1. But these are all LIBERALs

I read it on World Nut Daily.