If only someone had written a 922-page playbook on how white nationalists planned to politically, educationally, socially, and institutionally destroy Black lives and Black futures.
Anywho.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently convened the Far-Left Terrorism Summit in Washington, D.C. The conference, officially called the Ministerial on the Resurgence of Political Violence, gathered representatives from over 65 nations to focus strictly on countering what these white nationalists are calling “global left-wing extremism.”
But don’t get it twisted. Just because they’re talking globally, don’t think they’re not acting locally. Mo’Nique, a journalist with The Black Belt Daily (IG: @theblackbeltdaily), reported that much of the conversation from that convening centered on going after (surveilling, arresting, and prosecuting) people who protest data centers, support Cuba, call out the genocide in Gaza, sign petitions to boycott companies with good relationships with President Donald Trump and crew, and more.
Regarding the Summer of 2020, which some have labeled the George Floyd Rebellion, Rubio said his biggest regret was that the US didn’t lock up more people or prosecute them more harshly. What Rubio said, without saying it, was: We learned from that mistake, and we’re not going to make it again.
Consider that a teaser for more anti-democratic moves to come.
Following the money
But wait; there’s more. The U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent promised to “debank and defund” anyone that Team Trump deems a threat. And you may be saying to yourself, “That’s not me. I’m just a Black person living my life.” But Bessent is talking about cutting off access to funds to “do” life. And Rubio’s promising persecution for those same folk labeled threats.
And again, you’re thinking, “That’s not me.” And if so, you don’t know U.S. history. But why look at past tyrannical moves when they’re broadcasting, making those same moves today? Rubio and crew are talking about targeting nonprofits, charities, and funders that financially support freedom and justice movements.
Who’s already on the list?
And dig some of the names of “targets” that have already made this nefarious list: Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (do you see a pattern?), NY mayor Zohran Mamdani, the National Lawyers Guild, Code Pink, The People’s Forum, Black Alliance for Peace, the Amazon Labor Union, Viva Palestina, Ben Cohen (co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream), Eve Ensler, author of the Vagina Monologues (because everyone knows Republicans hate vaginas), and George Floyd (even though he’s dead).
The Trump administration is using this report to justify designating these individuals and groups as part of the mythic far-left terrorist network. This means, if you have ever protested, signed a petition, boycotted a company, or donated to a group that supports Cuba, you (yes YOU) could be on this list.
Hell, potentially, if you liked or shared anything on social media that celebrates progressive Black women, supports Black nations’ right to be sovereign, calls out the genocide in Palestine, points out the environmental dangers of data centers, co-signs Amazon workers’ constitutional right to unionize, or post a positive word about any individuals and organizations on this BS list, you too could be considered a far-left terrorist.
The expanding definition of ‘threat’
Last September, Trump wrote an executive order to this effect… National Security Presidential Memorandum-7 (NSPM-7). The Criminal-in-Chief promised to investigate, disrupt, and prosecute individuals and organizations purportedly involved in domestic terrorism and organized political violence.
Again, if Auntie Maxine and others could make this list simply for standing for justice, then why not you? If Ben of Ben & Jerry’s could make this list because he prefers a country where there’s justice for all, whether they buy his ice cream or not, then why not you? If this list contains the names of people who have issues with environmentally dangerous data centers or who protest(ed) stores for their racist practices (hello Target), then why not you?
The surveillance state is already here
Making matters far worse are the 80,000 – 100,000 automatic license plate reader (ALPR) cameras (owned by Flock Safety) currently in operation on highways, in neighborhoods, and outside local stores. The ACLU reports that Flock seeks to build a nationwide mass surveillance system. And Flock isn’t alone. An army of other companies is trying to make a bank off tracking, logging, and sharing your movements (with various law enforcement agencies, ICE, and others) without a warrant.
That means being on this bogus list could have very real consequences.
And Flock’s ALPR cameras aren’t normal traffic cameras. Their surveillance tech records and tracks every car that comes into view. Then an AI algorithm catalogs the make, model, color, license plate number, bumper stickers, and even scratches. This personal info is then uploaded into a nationwide database that any law enforcement agency with a Flock contract can search. And the regulations and oversight of this madness are almost non-existent.
If this is a crime-deterrent initiative, it’s one of the most expensive and inefficient in history. Fewer than 1% of cars scanned by ALPRs are linked to any wrongdoing. Plus, they often misread license plate information. But if the crime Flock, other similar companies, and the Trump administration are seeking to deter is being too Black, too Brown, or too pro justice and human rights (regardless of race), then the “powers that be” believe they’re making a sound investment.
And FYI… if you protest against Flock, the Trump-adjacent billionaires will most likely add you to their bogus terrorist list. So basically, anyone who seeks to fight for basic rights, freedoms, and respect for humanity can be branded a terrorist by the very people who are trashing our rights, freedoms, and humanity. If that’s not sci-fi dystopian-level evil, I don’t know what is.
Fighting back
If only these white nationalist James Bond movie villain-level thugs had spelled out their fiendish plans in a 922-page manifesto that was free to the public. Maybe then we wouldn’t be facing such an anti-democratic, anti-humanity, anti-justice reality.
But seeing as we’re already here, and despite the dangers, we must still fight back. if you want to take action to fight back against the surveillance that threatens all manner of freedoms, visit this website https://www.aclu.org/get-the-flock-out-toolkit for more information.
