US District Attorney Encourages Idaho Citizens to Inform on "Extremist" Neighbors

DOJ wants Idahoans to believe that conservatives are right-wing terrorists.

On Monday, January 16, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho headlined a day-long forum In Caldwell, titled “United Against Hate.” Approximately 200 people attended the half-day event. They heard presentations from more than 12 experts on hate.

The basic point: the country is about to be overrun by right-wing extremists and the U.S. Department of Justice is taking measures to find them and prosecute them before they strike. But the feds need your help. The federal government wants Idaho citizens to be proactive in reporting hate incidents.

U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit, who hosted the gathering, made some stunning claims. “In Idaho,” he claimed, “we have witnessed a troubling pattern of hateful acts.” Nationwide, hate incidents were reportedly up 13% in 2020.

Notice Hurwitt’s subtle reframing. Hate crimes did not go up 13%. Hate incidents were up 13%. “Hate incidents” are not crimes, but rather occurrences in which a party feels disrespected. If Jill announces that her son is gay, and Jane does not celebrate, that could be a hate incident. If Bill pledges allegiance to Black Lives Matter and Fred answers that “all lives matter,” Fred's reaction may be a hate incident. Jane might be a homophobe. Fred might be a waaacist. Hate incidents reveal the potential for a future hate crime.

The federal government aims to ensure that hate crimes do not happen so its District Attorneys are encouraging citizens to tell the feds when neighbors commit “hate incidents.” These people must be surveilled.

Another panelist gave the flavor of what a hate incident could be. This panelist was afraid to speak out against Idaho extremists or put up a BLM sign because she thought taking a stand might hurt business at her “Jalapenos” restaurants (which she owns). Rich white people have nothing to worry about, she claimed. Then she went further: It is the responsibility of rich white people to listen and actively work to heal the pain suffered by others. Failure to listen and validate the claims of minorities could now be a hate incident.

More shockingly, according to the presentations, Meridian, Idaho will be the home to a new Fusion Center, operated by the Idaho State Police in cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security. One part of the Fusion Center’s mission is to amass and evaluate “threat assessments.” According to the Department of Homeland Security, "Fusion Centers are state-owned and operated centers that serve as focal points in states and major urban areas for the receipt, analysis, gathering and sharing of threat-related information between State, Local, Tribal and Territorial, federal and private sector partners."

Data will be kept on Idaho citizens in various threat assessment files. The data might be used against them in the future. No search warrants. No due process. Only accusations for thought crimes.

Informers are being educated to inform at the College of Idaho. Co-President of the College of Idaho, Jim Everett, proudly announced the large percentage of minorities enrolled in the college. A prized College of Idaho student who calls herself Bezawit Mekasha Kassaye took the stage to support the Narrative during the event. As a minority, she did not want to be someone’s statistic. She performed a poem to honor MLK, but her dream was different: “I have a dream that I will not be assassinated by cops or patriots.”

Cops or patriots? They are the bad guys. Who are the good guys? The Social Justice Warriors graduating from College of Idaho and running the Department of Justice.

There are reasons to be worried about this development. Claims of right-wing extremism are just part of Idaho politics now. Every establishment shill or fake Republican group claims that the conservative wing of the Party or the freedom caucus is filled with extremely extreme extremists. Now they have brought in the federal government to verify their claims. And the feds dutifully do so.

It would be nice to see the Idaho State Police, at the very least, to pull out of the arrangement with the DOJ–that is, to end cooperation with a corrupt, partisan institution. If it does not, then the legislature should direct it to pull out when it is considering their budget.

Below are documents handed out to attendees at the Caldwell event January 16, 2023.