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Lucille
02-05-2016, 12:09 PM
Utah Fusion Center Warns Cops: Watch Out for Don't-Tread-on-Me Flags
With LaVoy Finicum's funeral being held today, Utah police are on the lookout for "armed extremists." What sort of advice are they getting?
https://reason.com/blog/2016/02/05/utah-fusion-center-warns-cops-watch-out


Funeral services will be held today in Kanab, Utah, for LaVoy Finicum, the rancher killed last month during the occupation of the Malheur Wildlife Refuge in Oregon. In a bulletin distributed this week to cops across the region, the Utah Statewide Information and Analysis Center—one of the dozens of intelligence-sharing "fusion centers" around the country that get funds from the Department of Homeland Security—warns that "extremists may utilize such a high profile funeral for media attention or to further ideological beliefs." Although "no credible threats to law enforcement are present at this time," the authors still think police should be wary: "Caravans of individuals traveling to the funeral services may be comprised of one or more armed extremists. Law enforcement should remain vigilant and aware that confrontation with these potentially volatile persons, may include more than one individual. These individuals may adhere to a sovereign citizen ideology, and may not recognize law enforcement as a legitimate authority."

The report includes several "visual indicators" to help police determine whether they're dealing with "extremist and disaffected individuals." These range from images associated with specific political groups, such as the Oath Keepers and Three Percenters, to a more generic patriotic symbol, the Gadsden flag—a famous Revolutionary War banner featuring a coiled rattlesnake and the slogan "Don't Tread on Me." One of the "indicators" is a slightly altered version of a picture popular with fans of the Grateful Dead; the guide does not note this potential source of confusion, describing it only as "common sovereign citizen imagery."

https://d1jn4vzj53eli5.cloudfront.net/mc/jwalker/2016_02/siac1.jpg?h=445&w=600

Although "some or parts of these symbols are representative of patriotic and American revolutionary themes," the report says, "they are often associated with extremism." There is little effort to apply even that much nuance to the individual symbols. The Gadsden flag is associated with several political movements, such as the Tea Party protests; it has also been adapted by apolitical subcultures, such as the fans of U.S. Soccer. But the bulletin simply declares that it is "commonly displayed by sovereign citizen extremists."

One private-sector security professional who received the bulletin worries that it could lead to a kind of profiling. "I work with a young man, 24 years old, three associate's degrees, volunteer fire fighter, dreams of becoming a police officer," he says. "He's also an Armenian-Russian immigrant who just earned his American citizenship. He sports a Gadsden flag on his car because of what it represents in our country's history." If a cop sees that car today, the security worker worries, the officer's "thoughts will automatically flip to profiling him" as a violent extremist.

Mike German, a former FBI agent who infiltrated far-right groups in the 1990s, has a similar objection. "I always try to look at these alerts from the perspective of the police officer on the street," he says. "What will the officers know after reading this that they didn't before? Here all they know is to be afraid if they see a Gadsden flag, which could result in an unnecessarily hostile encounter that would increase the chances of violence. There's nothing here that would help them correctly identify someone who held these beliefs, understand what might trigger hostile reactions, or how to talk to them in a way that would defuse any unnecessary tension." He also worries that the bulletin "improperly implies holding such beliefs makes them dangerous"; most of the people involved in these movements are nonviolent, he says, and treating them all like budding terrorists just makes a confrontation more likely.
[...]
The Statewide Information and Analysis Center has not responded to my requests for comment. To read the full bulletin, go here.

ZENemy
02-05-2016, 12:16 PM
The current system in power, and all systems before it fear freedom.

Freedom, to government is "chaos" and is a threat the system itself.

presence
02-05-2016, 12:20 PM
Warning fellow liberty lovers, below are some visual images associated with unconstitutional fascist pig extremists that may beat, detain, or summarily execute you without warning for trivial legalisms.

http://www.pocketbadge.com/images/police_badges.jpg

Weston White
02-05-2016, 12:49 PM
Here all they know is to be afraid if they see a Gadsden flag, which could result in an unnecessarily hostile encounter that would increase the chances of violence. There's nothing here that would help them correctly identify someone who held these beliefs, understand what might trigger hostile reactions, or how to talk to them in a way that would defuse any unnecessary tension." He also worries that the bulletin "improperly implies holding such beliefs makes them dangerous"; most of the people involved in these movements are nonviolent, he says, and treating them all like budding terrorists just makes a confrontation more likely.

Which is exactly the plan. Exactly the plan.

pcosmar
02-05-2016, 01:25 PM
FUSION CENTERS

you can trace a lot of evil to those locations.

LibertyEagle
02-05-2016, 01:31 PM
Probably getting BS from the Southern Poverty Law Center.

phill4paul
02-05-2016, 01:34 PM
FUSION CENTERS

you can trace a lot of evil to those locations.

Blasts from the past...

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?281003-SPLC-releases-list-of-patriot-extremist-groups-by-state

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?185864-MIAC-Fallout-ALIPAC-issues-advisory-against-data-from-SPLC-and-the-ADL

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?183583-The-Facts-Why-I-believe-they-are-going-after-MO-Liberty-Lovers-and-why-we-need-help

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?406222-Why-Are-The-Domestic-Extremists-All-White

many more....https://www.bing.com/search?q=MIAC%20Fusion%20center%20site%3Aronpaulfo rums.com&pc=cosp&ptag=AE89FD93123&form=CONBDF&conlogo=CT3210127

phill4paul
02-05-2016, 01:35 PM
Probably getting BS from the Southern Poverty Law Center.

The government arm of the SPLC, plain and simple.

pcosmar
02-05-2016, 01:59 PM
The government arm of the SPLC, plain and simple.

http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/lauretta-brown/doj-official-praises-southern-poverty-law-centers-work-combating-0

who is who's arm?

phill4paul
02-05-2016, 02:06 PM
http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/lauretta-brown/doj-official-praises-southern-poverty-law-centers-work-combating-0

who is who's arm?

Does get a bit convoluted, don't it? The chicken or the egg or the chicken and the eggs' creator.

otherone
02-05-2016, 03:49 PM
forgot one:

http://www.micetrap.net/shop/catalog/images/middle-finger-confederate-flag-small.gif

DamianTV
02-05-2016, 05:32 PM
If youre white, you might be a terrorist.
If you are known to support a Paul, you might be a terrorist.
If you are brown, you might be a terrorist.
If you have "Support your local police" bumper sticker, you might be a terrorist.
If you go downhill sledding, you might be a terrorist.
If you wonder why California has tried to make diving boards illegal, you might be a terrorist.
If you question the nature of the Federal Reserve Bank, you might be a terrorist.
If you question the official events on 9/11, you might be a terrorist.
If you oppose illegal immigration, you might be a terrorist.
If you oppose welfare, you might be a terrorist.
If you quote the people that wrote the constitution, you might be a terrorist.
If you homeschool, you might be a terrorist.
If you have any concerns about GMO food, you might be a terrorist.
If you dont have 100% confidence in vaccines, you might be a terrorist.
If you didnt support Palin, McCain, Romney, or Trump, you might be a terrorist.
If you grow a garden, you might be a terrorist.
If you collect rainwater, you might be a terrorist.
If you use fingernail clippers to clip your fingernails, you might be a terrorist.
If your child has a sippy cup, you might be a terrorist.
If you enjoyed playing with G.I. Joe figurines, you might be a terrorist.
If you display anything that endorses the United States, such as a flag or Made in U.S.A., you might be a terrorist.
If you block internet cookies or use TOR, you might be a terrorist.
If you use cash to buy stuff, you might be a terrorist.
If you think the economy never really recovered, you might be a terrorist.
If you see something and dont say something, you might be a terrorist.
If your child opens a lemonade stand, you might be a terrorist.
If you are a Christian, you might be a terrorist.
If you are a Muslim, you might be a terrorist.
If you wonder how both Christian and Muslim might get people labeled as terrorists, you might be a terrorist.
If you think that Edward Snowden is a hero, you might be a terrorist.
If you think Gun Registration leads to Gun Confiscation, you might be a terrorist.
If you question Mandatory Health Insurance, you might be a terrorist.
If you smoke tobacco, you might be a terrorist.
If you dont have at least two electrified fences that are at least 20 foot tall with barbed wire around a swimming pool, you might be a terrorist.
If you think that any form of government should get a Search Warrant to conduct surveillance on an individual, you might be a terrorist.
If you walk with a funny stance or wear sunglasses, you might be a terrorist.
If you wear a hoodie, you might be a terrorist.
If you are unwilling to learn to speak spanish, you might be a terrorist.
If you make your own ice cream and do not use all artificial ingredients, you might be a terrorist.
If you wonder how the first book that was banned on Amazon's Kindle was George Orwell's 1984, you might be a terrorist.
If you wear a hat, you might be a terrorist.
If you try to look for any form of alternative medicine, you might be a terrorist.
If you think that our Presidential Election treated Ron Paul unfairly, you might be a terrorist.
If you are a Veteran, you might be a terrorist.
If you smoke pot, you might be a terrorist.
If you are a hippie, you might be a terrorist.
If you read alternative news, you might be a terrorist.
If you feel excluded by all the exclusions of liberty, you might be a terrorist.
If you become depressed for any reason, you might be a terrorist.
If you know that Agenda 21 has been relabeled to Agenda 2030, you might be a terrorist.
If you do not put one of those Auto Insurance Trackers or Mileage Trackers in your car, you might be a terrorist.
If you take pictures, not just of Police, but any pictures, you might be a terrorist.
If you blog about this stuff, you might be a terrorist.
If you are a Journalist, you might be a terrorist.
If you have a colostomy bag and try to board any flights, you might be a terrorist.
If you supported or took part in Occupy Wall Street, you might be a terrorist.
If you let your children climb trees, you might be a terrorist.
If you drink unpasteurized milk, you might be a terrorist.
If you do not use Facebook, you might be a terrorist.
If you did not support Obama during his election and were audited as a result, you might be a terrorist.
If your children were seized by CPS for their own good, you might be a terrorist.
If you transfer more than $2,000 using your bank account, you might be a terrorist.
If you think there may be a link between autism and vaccines, you might be a terrorist.
If you try to block advertisements on the internet, you might be a terrorist.
If you have ever read Catcher in the Rye or Poor Man's James Bond, you might be a terrorist.
If you do not get a flu shot every year, you might be a terrorist.
If you dont like the idea of Smart Meters, you might be a terrorist.
If you dont like the idea of NEST, or Internet Connected Thermostats, you might be a terrorist.
If you use Public WIFI, you might be a terrorist.
If you think the 16th Amendment may have been Unconstitutionally Ratified, you might be a terrorist.
If you do not support Gay Marriage, you might be a terrorist.
If you know the Constitution, you might be a terrorist.
If you have a gun, you might be a terrorist.
If you got shot by a cop while your hands were up, it is because you might have been a terrorist.
If you do nothing wrong but feel like you may have something to hide, you might be a terrorist.
If you are considering moving to another country to avoid paying taxes or fines or loans, you might be a terrorist.
If you are considering moving to the United States legally, you might be a terrorist.
If you own a Koran, you might be a terrorist.
If you think there may be a link between anti depressants and shootings, you might be a terrorist.
If you oppose drug testing for those on welfare or food stamps or unemployment, you might be a terrorist.
If you do not put your seven year old in a child safety seat, you might be a terrorist.
If you are in a Union, you might be a terrorist.
If you put up holiday decorations outside of your home around Christmas, you might be a terrorist.
If you give out candy on Halloween, you might be a terrorist.
If you have either a Gadsden Flag or Ron Paul bumper sticker, you might be a terrorist.
If you eat a Chicken McNugget into the shape of a gun, you might be a terrorist.
If you display anything American on the 5th of May, you might be a terrorist.
If you display anything American on the 4th of July, you might be a terrorist.
If you have ever been called a Prepper, you might be a terrorist.
If you have facial hair and are male, you might be a terrorist.
If you flirt with females where you work or go to school, you might be a terrorist.
If you do not like Modern Art, you might be a terrorist.
If you do not take off your shoes for the TSA in an airport, you might be a terrorist.
If you do not like having your body scanned when boarding a flight, you might be a terrorist.
If you forget a parcel or bag when you go about your business in public, you might be a terrorist.
If you did not excuse your child's absence from public school, you might be a terrorist.
If you are a Patriot, you might be a terrorist.

Yes, it reads like a bad Jeff Foxworthy parody. Did I miss any?

otherone
02-05-2016, 05:35 PM
How long that take you, bro-tato chip?

Anti Federalist
02-05-2016, 06:48 PM
How long that take you, bro-tato chip?

A long time, I reckon, Teddy Bro-sevelt

pcosmar
02-05-2016, 06:50 PM
NOT JUST MISSOURI

just sayin'

again.

TheTexan
02-05-2016, 06:53 PM
Oathkeeper Militia symbol is "commonly" associated with extremists?

More like, always.

oyarde
02-06-2016, 12:29 AM
Well , I reckon it is true that if I have a Dont Tread or not , it is more likely I would stick someone in the neck who tries to harm me than the avg populance .LOL

Pericles
02-07-2016, 07:39 PM
Texas to the rescue to help ID potential terrorists http://www.txdmv.gov/motorists/license-plates/specialty-license-plates/item/347-donttreadonme

http://www.txdmv.gov/media/k2/items/cache/59b514757c03f4e14c006ca63de02928_M.jpg

PursuePeace
02-07-2016, 08:04 PM
Texas to the rescue to help ID potential terrorists http://www.txdmv.gov/motorists/license-plates/specialty-license-plates/item/347-donttreadonme

http://www.txdmv.gov/media/k2/items/cache/59b514757c03f4e14c006ca63de02928_M.jpg


Number Currently Registered:1,411
1,411? Is that all? Apparently, we have way more terrorists in Virginia.

http://freebeacon.com/culture/dont-tread-on-me-license-plates-taking-over-virginia/




https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BxLxj3VIYAAOkp-.jpg

Virginia’s special “Don’t Tread on Me” license plate featuring the Gadsden flag has exploded in popularity since its introduction. It has quickly overtaken many other specialty license plates in the Old Dominion, according to The Virginian-Pilot.

The rattlesnake has overtaken Jamestown, wildlife, and God.

It left clean-fuel vehicles in its dust and is coming next for Virginia’s lighthouses. Autumn likely will fall soon afterward, along with the commonwealth’s great seal.

Virginia’s “Don’t Tread On Me” license plate – yellow and bearing the popular rallying cry for limited government – is quickly climbing the ranks of special tags in the state.

The plates are now on more than 38,000 cars in the commonwealth. The meteoric rise may soon see the plate near the top of the list for specialty plates.


At this rate, “Don’t Tread On Me” could be No. 3 by early 2015.

Lucille
02-09-2016, 01:59 PM
Fusion Center Issues New Statement on Its Warning That Police Should Watch Out for Don't-Tread-on-Me Flags
Many unanswered questions remain about both the bulletin and the DHS-funded intelligence-sharing operation that produced it.
https://reason.com/blog/2016/02/09/fusion-center-replies


Today the Utah Statewide Information and Analysis Center, a "fusion center" partly funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, responded to the controversy over a bulletin it sent to law enforcement officers last week.
[...]
Today the fusion center issued this statement:


The Utah Statewide Information and Analysis Center released an officer safety bulletin on February 3, 2016, regarding events surrounding the funeral of LaVoy Finicum. The bulletin was intended to inform law enforcement officers of the funeral and potential safety concerns based on recent events in Oregon and Nevada.

The bulletin contains symbols that may or may not be espoused by criminal extremist individuals or groups. We understand that law-abiding citizens also espouse these symbols, and we acknowledge so in the bulletin. Public safety personnel are always expected to evaluate and utilize all information in the context of their training in Constitutional Law and rules of criminal procedure.

There was no intent to offend or single out individuals and groups who use these symbols for historical or legitimate purposes. We will attempt to articulate those distinctions clearer in the future.

A few follow-up questions come to mind:
[...]
3. Is there a larger pattern here? It would be comforting to think this was just one poorly drafted document. But fusion centers across the country have a history of producing work with similar problems, including an infamous "strategic report" in Missouri that identified the Gadsden flag as "the most common symbol displayed by militia members and organizations." More broadly, a 2012 congressional investigation concluded that the centers' output was "oftentimes shoddy, rarely timely, sometimes endangering citizens' civil liberties and Privacy Act protections, occasionally taken from already-published public sources, and more often than not unrelated to terrorism." According to the congressional investigators, nearly a third of these reports weren't even circulated after they were written—sometimes because they contained no useful information, sometimes because they "overstepped legal boundaries."

Four years later, is this Finicum bulletin typical of the Utah agency's work? Is it typical of fusion centers in general? Is any sort of review process underway?

These are among the issues I wanted to raise with the agency after I acquired its document last week, but at the time it didn't respond to my calls and emails. And today? Sgt. Todd Royce, the public affairs officer who sent me the statement, tells me "there will be no further comment on the report."

devil21
02-10-2016, 02:34 AM
Texas to the rescue to help ID potential terrorists http://www.txdmv.gov/motorists/license-plates/specialty-license-plates/item/347-donttreadonme

http://www.txdmv.gov/media/k2/items/cache/59b514757c03f4e14c006ca63de02928_M.jpg

Kind of ironic though, since registering and titling your car through the state gives the state ownership of your car and you voluntarily bind yourself to their "treading".