DHS used terrorism prevention program to fund group linking GOP to white supremacists
The Division of Homeland Safety used an anti-terrorism program to fund a “media literacy” initiative linking spiritual and conservative organizations to neo-Nazis and white supremacists, paperwork reveal.
The DHS accepted a $352,109 grant software below the Focused Violence and Terrorism Prevention Grant Program for the College of Dayton to look into “elevating societal consciousness, media literacy and on-line crucial considering initiatives,” in keeping with paperwork obtained by the Media Analysis Heart.
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Dayton’s grant software sought to fund its “Stopping Radicalization to Extremist Violence by means of Training, Community-Constructing and Coaching in Southwest Ohio (PREVENTS-OH)” venture, which has a aim to “stop home violent extremism in Southwest Ohio.” Dayton cited the Southern Poverty Legislation Heart in its evaluation that Ohio ranks extremely for “anti-government extremist teams.”
Prevention techniques embody creating consciousness about “components for radicalization to violence associated to media literacy and on-line crucial considering for college students.”
Dayton cited work from its Human Rights Heart that assessed “regional wants and capacities for violent extremism prevention” to point out the sorts of content material a DHS grant would possibly assist produce.
That quotation included a presentation titled “Extremism, rhetoric and democratic precarity,” which has an affect pyramid that presenter Michael Loadenthal, a analysis fellow on the College of Cincinnati, mentioned shows the “fashionable far-right.”
The presentation was given earlier than Dayton was a grantee however was utilized in its grant software for DHS as a part of Dayton’s bid for funding.
Dr. Michael Loadenthal
In response to Loadenthal, the “pyramid of far-right radicalization” reveals “mainstream conservativism” within the first part, which incorporates Fox News, the Christian Broadcasting Community, the Heritage Basis, the Republican Nationwide Committee, and the Nationwide Rifle Affiliation.
The extra radical second tier, which Loadenthal says is “falsely referred to as the alt-light,” consists of Trump supporters, Breitbart News, PragerU, and Turning Level USA.
The following two tiers, which Loadenthal dubs the “alt-right” and “accelerationists,” start together with white nationalist and neo-Nazi entities such because the Each day Stormer.
“This terrorism job power is engaged in an lively effort to demonize and eradicate Christian, conservative and Republican organizations utilizing federal taxpayer {dollars},” MRC founder and President L. Brent Bozell III informed the Washington Examiner in a press release. “What now we have uncovered requires legal prosecution. The American folks must know those that are abusing their positions within the federal authorities might be held accountable for his or her legal habits.”
MRC despatched a letter Tuesday to Home Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) asking for the Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Authorities to research the DHS.
“The Media Analysis Heart has uncovered disturbing documentation that proves that the federal government is colluding with left-wing activists, lecturers, and state and native officers in an lively effort to focus on a number of the most prestigious conservatives and outstanding political, spiritual, and media teams within the nation, linking them on to Nazis and terrorists,” the letter, obtained by the Washington Examiner, states.
The DHS, nonetheless, has denied the claims.
“This seminar was not funded, organized, or hosted by the Division of Homeland Safety,” a DHS spokesperson informed the Washington Examiner. “Equally, the introduced chart was not developed, introduced, or endorsed by the Division of Homeland Safety and was not a part of any profitable grant software to the Division of Homeland Safety. DHS doesn’t profile, goal, or discriminate towards any particular person for exercising their constitutional rights protected by the First Modification.”
Regardless of the assertion, the DHS’s personal J.R. Masztalics, regional prevention coordinator for the DHS Heart for Prevention Packages and Partnerships, or CP3, was a presenter in the identical occasion at which Loadenthal spoke. The CP3 administers the TVTP program.
When requested about Masztalics and the inclusion of the presentation within the College of Dayton’s software for a grant, the DHS determined to not amend its assertion.
TVTP started throughout the Trump administration to review terrorism prevention. It was revamped throughout President Joe Biden’s tenure to “comprehensively fight home violent extremism.” The Biden administration has beforehand labeled mother and father who converse at college boards and Catholics as home terrorists and extremists.
“On the heels of the Durham report, we now have proof that the Biden administration is ratcheting up its anti-American focusing on of Christians, conservatives, and Republicans. That is abhorrent and legal,” Vice President of MRC Free Speech America Dan Schneider mentioned in a press release to the Washington Examiner. “We name on federal prosecutors to carry violators accountable below our civil rights legal guidelines.”
The College of Dayton and Loadenthal didn’t reply to requests for remark from the Washington Examiner.
