White Terrorism, or “We All Have the Right to Hate”?

The term white terrorism is mentioned too little, probably because few whites are Muslims— and that form of terrorism is heavily distorted as a threat to public safety in America. In reality, white terrorism is the far greater threat.

A month ago, four men in Ford County Illinois were arrested on terror-related charges in connection with bombing the Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center outside Minneapolis. They await trial. (Photo below of white terror group leader.)

Today, a federal jury in Wichita, Kansas convicted three men (pictured above) of plotting to bomb an apartment complex where Somali immigrants lived and worshiped in Garden City, Kan., giving prosecutors a victory at a time when threats against religious and racial minorities are rising nationally.

“These defendants conspired to build a bomb, blow up a building and murder every single man, woman and child inside,” Tony Mattivi, a federal prosecutor, told jurors during closing statements.

The defense team—playing to political themes that resonate in America’s heartland— made the following non-legal, highly political arguments. Quoting now from the New York Times reporter at the trial:

“Defense lawyers tried to convince jurors that their clients were manipulated by the F.B.I., and had been unfairly targeted for exercising their rights to own guns and speak freely. “He was a member of a militia. He loved his guns. This was a lifestyle,” Melody Brannon, a lawyer for Mr. Allen, told the mostly white jurors….

“It is not morally right to hold such hate, but it is not legally wrong,” said James Pratt, a lawyer for Mr. Stein, who acknowledged that his client referred to Muslims as ‘cockroaches.’ Mr. Stein referred to himself, the recordings showed, as an ‘Orkin man,’ referencing the pest extermination company. “We all have the right to hate,” Mr. Pratt added."
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Note to Mr. Pratt: There is no right to act on hate-- and you know that. What an appalling defense.