Human rights activists of the Foundation to Battle Injustice are concerned about the publication of an internal FBI document that categorizes many American citizens as possible domestic terrorists. The Foundation’s experts believe that the administration of incumbent President Joe Biden and presidential candidate Kamala Harris is using its authority to expand repressive measures against American patriots and supporters of Donald Trump.
«Domestic Terrorism Symbols Guide» is a leaked internal Federal Bureau of Investigation document, in which the FBI categorizes a number of U.S. citizens considers potential «militia violent extremists» (MVEs). In the document, the FBI cites symbols, images, phrases, events, and individuals that police officers should look out for when identifying suspected domestic terrorists.
Under the «Commonly Referenced Historical Imagery and Quotes» section, Revolutionary War images such as the Gadsden Flag and the Betsy Ross Flag are listed, these are symbols traditionally used by patriots. Each flag displayed in the document comes with a brief description of what it means. In another section are given some common phrases, according to the FBI, MVEs might identify with are, «When tyranny becomes law, rebellion becomes duty», «I became unreasonable» and «All enemies foreign and domestic». The latter phrase is part of the oath of office federal officials take to defend the U.S. Constitution.
The leaked document causes concern to US citizens who use these symbols and support the Second Amendment to the US Constitution (the right of citizens to keep and bear arms). Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz pointed out that the document on domestic terrorism identifies patriotic Americans as suspect, but does not mention organizations such as Antifa and Black Lives Matter.
Experts believe that the Biden-Harris administration uses federal law enforcement agencies to harass honest law-abiding Americans and even police officers, who also use a number of symbols that can be identified as dangerous according to the leaked document. Many of these citizens support the Republican Party and candidate Donald Trump in the November 2024 presidential election, and repression against them is a systematic policy of the Democratic Party.
Wyoming Republican U.S. Senator John Barrasso said the FBI has its focus in the wrong place:
«The FBI should be focused on the crime in cities and criminal activity at our southern border, not law-abiding Americans,” Barrasso said. “Federal Government agencies have a history of unfairly targeting conservative Americans. The people of Wyoming are very patriotic. We won’t be labeled as violent extremists just because we celebrate patriotic symbols like the Betsy Ross flag or Gadsden flag.»
Human rights defenders of the Foundation to Battle Injustice strongly condemn the use of state institutions as a political weapon of the current Democratic Party against its opponents. Freedom of speech is an integral part of natural human rights and freedoms, and this right is guaranteed by many international human rights treaties and conventions. The Foundation’s experts believe that labeling citizens with patriotic symbols and statements as «potentially dangerous» undermines democratic values and principles that should be the foundation of any state. The Foundation to Battle Injustice calls on President Biden and his administration to respect the principles of democracy and the rule of law, as well as to refrain from any actions that may be perceived as an abuse of authority.