Right Wing white militias, white nationalists, read white supremacists, sprung up throughout the country since Obama and further with the instigation of Donald Trump. For all practical purposes, they are left alone. But this is how we handle activist black men with guns. This FBI assault on this innocent man is merely shameful and needs maximum exposure.
As reported by The Guardian’s Sam in his article titled “Black activist jailed for his Facebook posts speaks out about FBI secret FBI surveillance,” the FBI seems to have the same disease that law enforcement has in general. They treat congruous actions by black and white men differently. And guess who ends up in jail.
Rakem Balogun thought he was dreaming when armed agents in tactical gear stormed his apartment. Startled awake by a large crash and officers screaming commands, he soon realized his nightmare was real, and he and his 15-year-old son were forced outside of their Dallas home, wearing only underwear.
Handcuffed and shaking in the cold wind, Balogun thought a misunderstanding must have led the FBI to his door on 12 December 2017. The father of three said he was shocked to later learn that agents investigating “domestic terrorism” had been monitoring him for years and were arresting him that day in part because of his Facebook posts criticizing police.
“It’s tyranny at its finest,” said Balogun, 34. “I have not been doing anything illegal for them to have surveillance on me. I have not hurt anyone or threatened anyone.”
Balogun told the Guardian that he was upset about police killing innocent black men including Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. He said the FBI targeted him for promoting black-led community groups and fighting government abuse. Balogun said he never threatened anyone, after all, violence is the method of “our” oppressor.
FBI targetting black men under secret Black Identity Extremists (BIE) effort
Balogun seems to be
the first person targeted and prosecuted under a secretive US surveillance effort to track so-called “black identity extremists”. In a leaked August 2017 report from the FBI’s Domestic Terrorism Analysis Unit, officials claimed that there had been a “resurgence in ideologically motivated, violent criminal activity” stemming from African Americans’ “perceptions of police brutality”.
It is disheartening that the term “perceptions of police brutality” is being used. That police brutally attack black men more than anyone else is not a perception. It is a fact. Black Lives Matter (BLM) is a direct result of that reality.
It is sad that while the FBI destroyed Balogun’s life, they treated Cliven Bundy, a real criminal, with kit gloves. I wrote about open carry and who really can in the article “Let’s be real about guns, safety, open carry, and privilege (VIDEO)” and about an easy way to get sensible gun control in this country.
Christopher Daniels aka Rakem Balogun was no bum. He worked for an IT company. Because of the arrest, he lost his home, his car, and his job. Does anyone think the government will make amends? This FBI act is a scare tactic intent on suggesting to some that they should remain passive. Activating is existential.