Petition Asks For White House To Declare Copblock And Others 'Domestic Terrorists'

from the get-the-DHS-on-it! dept

Fri, Sep 26th 2014 10:18am — Tim Cushing

In what I'm sure is a huge coincidence, a petition at We the People was submitted Sept. 19th asking for the government to label "Copblock.org" (and any variation) members as "domestic terrorists." [h/t Police State USA] This seems to follow news of Austin police officer Justin Berry's designation of these organizations as "domestic extremists" far too closely to be just some sort of random happening -- more or less within five days of the information first being exposed.

Here's the stupidity in full:

CopBlock.Org and its affiliates on social media are often applauding and encouraging violence towards law enforcement officers and their families. At times, they are even directly causing said violence in their communities, and then supporting each other online or in person for their illegal activities. I believe that many people who are active in this organization are committing terroristic acts by inspiring, inciting, or taking parts in acts that are designed to take human lives in cold blood for political gain. The statements made by this organization and its affiliates should be taken very seriously by local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, and proper action should be taken to combat this. I believe the US DHS and FBI should monitor and investigate this Organization.

Last things first, the DHS/FBI probably already monitor groups like this to a certain extent. Both work closely with local law enforcement and if local officers are complaining about being filmed or otherwise "harassed" by civilians, chances are certain reports have been kicked up the ladder to agencies with bigger budgets, more manpower and (especially in the case of the DHS) plenty of spare time to collect and collate information on Constitutionally-protected activities.

Next, there's the unfounded accusations that these organizations are "directly causing violence." As I've noted earlier, police accountability organizations draw more than their share of people who can't articulate their objections to law enforcement tactics beyond vague threats and misspelled swear words, but those running these organizations (along with a majority of their members) do not encourage violence towards law enforcement members. Holding someone accountable for their actions does not mean acting as judge, jury and executioner.

"...take human lives in cold blood for political gain." I can't even. Pushing for accountability through activism isn't a political sport. Law enforcement agencies aren't partisan entities. They don't check voter registrations before ordering people to stop filming or restraining someone into a coma/morgue. That's not how this works. At all.

The petition stills needs ~95,000 signatures before it can be officially ignored, but at the rate it's going, it will never get there, despite pushes from law enforcement advocacy groups. About all that can be done with this information is a bit of data mining to determine which state harbors the most resentment towards police accountability.

What this does definitely show is that there's a subset of law enforcement (and their supporters) that find the activities of these groups threatening, and are looking for any route at all to shut them down. The percentage of those seeking this is probably no larger than the subset of Copblock members who actively wish injury and death on law enforcement members. Just as Copblock shouldn't be judged by a vocal minority, neither should law enforcement advocates. To most, these groups are just another part of the job. Some handle the extra attention better than others but there's no concerted effort being made to shut them down.

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Filed Under: copblock, petitions, police, white house

17 Comments

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Anonymous Coward, 26 Sep 2014 @ 10:28am

The worst kind of domestic terrorist is the kind that directly causes non-specific violence through the non-aggression principle.

Had the petitioner read more than the comments on stories he/she/they would know that the Copblock founders are peace and accountability activists.
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Anonymous Coward, 26 Sep 2014 @ 10:48am

"Pot petitions government to label porcelain cups as 'black.'"
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AHAHAHAHAHA, 26 Sep 2014 @ 10:55am

no, really, AHAHAHAHAHAHA
Seriously, my sides, AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

"CopBlock.Org and its affiliates on social media are often applauding and encouraging violence towards law enforcement officers and their families."

that's some straight fucking North Korea style redefinition of terms. Somebody didn't just graduate from the Kim Jong Il college of bullshit, they are a tenured professor there.
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Anonymous Coward, 26 Sep 2014 @ 10:59am

If this site and others get removed then how are the government and police going to monitor for any further action of alledged terroism. By removing the sites then the government and police are removing the easy ability to monitor for terrorism. Talk about shooting the goose that lays the golden egg. lol
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Anonymous Hero, 26 Sep 2014 @ 11:02am

So what?
> Next, there's the unfounded accusations that these organizations are "directly causing violence."

Why should that matter? When has the lack of imminent violence towards US citizens stopped us from blowing people up?
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Anonymous Coward, 26 Sep 2014 @ 11:03am

In a sane society, the formation of such organizations would cause the government at all levels to take a long hard look at the police, as it is a warning that the police are out of control.
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Anonymous Coward, 26 Sep 2014 @ 11:08am

At times, they are even directly causing said violence in their communities

Ah, the classic 'why did you make me hit you?' defense. Reeks of blatant sexism too.
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Anonymous Coward, 26 Sep 2014 @ 11:29am

Was the American Revolutionary War fought by terrorists? I guess it all depends on who wins the war and gets to write the history books.
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Anonymous Coward, 26 Sep 2014 @ 11:34am

Somebody didn't get the satire.
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Oblate (profile), 26 Sep 2014 @ 11:50am

Re: no, really, AHAHAHAHAHAHA
Maybe they view it as an assault on their sense of entitlement, and an attack on their perceived right to beat, rob, or shoot anyone they want to without repercussions.
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me again, 26 Sep 2014 @ 12:08pm

So does this mean all the churches who promote anti-gay agendas are the cause of all anti-gay hate crimes and intolerance? So by that logic, all churches are terrorist organizations because some of them do so...

Christianity is now terrorism according to the police.
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Anonymous Coward, 26 Sep 2014 @ 12:29pm

Re:
But out of whose control? Out of the public's control, certainly, but then so is the government. And I haven't heard of many cases of the police significantly acting against the government.
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That Anonymous Coward (profile), 26 Sep 2014 @ 1:45pm

So with a few word changes, that entire sentence can cover the actions of many of the police in this country who are actively murdering people with no actual penalty for what even the most simple minds (without a badge) would consider crimes.

Perhaps maybe we should make the groups armed with military weapons are flagged as terrorists first.
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Padpaw (profile), 26 Sep 2014 @ 1:59pm

Re:
that's easy they start kicking down the doors of everyone they have listed and haul them away to re education camps for terrorism related reasons.
people will be terrified that if they speak out against their government their families will be targeted and fairly soon all but a few will comply.
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drewdad (profile), 27 Sep 2014 @ 6:40am

Someone is trolling Techdirt...
...and they're succeeding.
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Ed (profile), 27 Sep 2014 @ 6:45am

I would wager the people who proposed that petition and its signers are more of a danger to others than Copblock.
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Sep 2014 @ 1:27am

Now i wonder if any abc agents have had the thought to "fudge the scores"........what am i talking about.......i wonder what the PERCENTAGE of abc agents have had the thought to "fudge the scores"

Nah, why would they reasearch and implement the technology to manipulate public opinion, you'd have to be some sort of control freak or some such
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