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COVID-19 Detention Camps: Are Government Round-Ups of Resistors in Our Future?
By John W. Whitehead & Nisha Whitehead
It’s no longer a question of whether the government will lock up Americans for defying its mandates but when.
This is what we know: the government has the means, the muscle and the motivation to detain individuals who resist its orders and do not comply with its mandates in a vast array of prisons, detention centers, and FEMA concentration camps paid for with taxpayer dollars.
It’s just a matter of time.
It no longer matters what the hot-button issue might be (vaccine mandates, immigration, gun rights, abortion, same-sex marriage, healthcare, criticizing the government, protesting election results, etc.) or which party is wielding its power like a hammer.
The groundwork has already been laid.
Under the indefinite detention provision of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the President and the military can detain and imprison American citizens with no access to friends, family or the courts if the government believes them to be a terrorist.
So it should come as no surprise that merely criticizing the government or objecting to a COVID-19 vaccine could get you labeled as a terrorist.
After all, it doesn’t take much to be considered a terrorist anymore, especially given that the government likes to use the words “anti-government,” “extremist” and “terrorist” interchangeably.
For instance, the Department of Homeland Security broadly defines extremists as individuals, military veterans and groups “that are mainly antigovernment, rejecting federal authority in favor of state or local authority, or rejecting government authority entirely.”
Military veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan may also be characterized as extremists and potential domestic terrorist threats by the government because they may be “disgruntled, disillusioned or suffering from the psychological effects of war.”
Indeed, if you believe in and exercise your rights under the Constitution (namely, your right to speak freely, worship freely, associate with like-minded individuals who share your political views, criticize the government, own a weapon, demand a warrant before being questioned or searched, or any other activity viewed as potentially anti-government, racist, bigoted, anarchic or sovereign), you could be at the top of the government’s terrorism watch list.
Moreover, as a New York Times editorial warns, you may be an anti-government extremist (a.k.a. domestic terrorist) in the eyes of the police if you are afraid that the government is plotting to confiscate your firearms, if you believe the economy is about to collapse and the government will soon declare martial law, or if you display an unusual number of political and/or ideological bumper stickers on your car.
According to the FBI, you might also be classified as a domestic terrorism threat if you espouse conspiracy theories or dare to subscribe to any views that are contrary to the government’s.
The government also has a growing list—shared with fusion centers and law enforcement agencies—of ideologies, behaviors, affiliations and other characteristics that could flag someone as suspicious and result in their being labeled potential enemies of the state.
This is what happens when you not only put the power to determine who is a potential danger in the hands of government agencies, the courts and the police but also give those agencies liberal authority to lock individuals up for perceived wrongs.
It’s a system just begging to be abused by power-hungry bureaucrats desperate to retain their power at all costs.
It’s happened before.
As history shows, the U.S. government is not averse to locking up its own citizens for its own purposes.
One need only go back to the 1940s, when the federal government proclaimed that Japanese-Americans, labeled potential dissidents, could be put in concentration (a.k.a. internment) camps based only upon their ethnic origin, to see the lengths the federal government will go to in order to maintain “order” in the homeland.
The U.S. Supreme Court validated the detention program in Korematsu v. US (1944), concluding that the government’s need to ensure the safety of the country trumped personal liberties.
Although that Korematsu decision was never formally overturned, Chief Justice Roberts opined in Trump v. Hawaii (2018) that “the forcible relocation of U. S. citizens to concentration camps, solely and explicitly on the basis of race, is objectively unlawful and outside the scope of Presidential authority.”
Roberts’ statements provide little assurance of safety in light of the government’s tendency to sidestep the rule of law when it suits its purposes. Pointing out that such blatantly illegal detentions could happen again—with the blessing of the courts—Justice Scalia once warned, “In times of war, the laws fall silent.”
In fact, the creation of detention camps domestically has long been part of the government’s budget and operations, falling under the jurisdiction of FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
FEMA’s murky history dates back to the 1970s, when President Carter created it by way of an executive order merging many of the government’s disaster relief agencies into one large agency.
During the 1980s, however, reports began to surface of secret military-type training exercises carried out by FEMA and the Department of Defense. Code named Rex-84, 34 federal agencies, including the CIA and the Secret Service, were trained on how to deal with domestic civil unrest.
FEMA’s role in creating top-secret American internment camps is well-documented.
But be careful who you share this information with: it turns out that voicing concerns about the existence of FEMA detention camps is among the growing list of opinions and activities which may make a federal agent or government official think you’re an extremist (a.k.a. terrorist), or sympathetic to terrorist activities, and thus qualify you for indefinite detention under the NDAA. Also included in that list of “dangerous” viewpoints are advocating states’ rights, believing the state to be unnecessary or undesirable, “conspiracy theorizing,” concern about alleged FEMA camps, opposition to war, organizing for “economic justice,” frustration with “mainstream ideologies,” opposition to abortion, opposition to globalization, and ammunition stockpiling. MORE.
The Civil Rights Struggle of 2021
Via FrontPage Magazine
Mandated vaccines for all is the civil rights issue of our time.
The civil rights movement led to the end of legalized racial segregation and the beginning of the ability of African Americans to be free and equal citizens in the United States of America. But similar oppressive government injustice is happening in New York City today.
About a third of all citizens of New York City, among them the majority of African Americans, have not been vaccinated. De Blasio’s mandate to show proof of vaccination and IDs at NYC restaurants, bars, museums, gyms, theaters, concerts, and other indoor settings, discriminates against millions of unvaccinated New Yorkers, who will be prevented from engaging in normal everyday activities, and even students who are prevented from playing in high school sports. Forced vaccination mandates will prevent many New Yorkers from keeping their jobs. Unvaccinated New Yorkers will be legally prohibited from traveling by subway, bus, or plane. But it also normalizes the outrageous mandate that people are required to show their private health papers and personal identification.
Mandated vaccines for all is the civil rights issue of our time. Government overreach has now created loss of privacy of our personal health information and has demonstrated that we can be fined and even jailed for not complying with their unconstitutional and illegal “laws.” But we know that these are not laws, they are government proclamations from the mayor and public officials.
So, what does civil disobedience and a civil rights movement look like in 2021? In the 1960’s the ACLU defended the civil rights and constitutional rights of all citizens. But they’ve gone silent today. Where do we go from here?
It will be up to individuals, community action groups, religious organizations, parents, and political clubs to defend and speak out in an organized and non-violent manner for the protection of our rights which we have fought for as a country for over 250 years. These government mandates are a slippery slope to further erode the rights and privileges of the individual.
The civil rights movement of the 1960s was successful in securing legislative protections for the individual rights of Blacks and all Americans. Sit-ins were effective methods of non-violent civil disobedience. African American students and protesters devised a simple plan to occupy seats at local segregated lunch counters inside department stores and requested to be served, and would not leave after being denied service. They stayed until the store closed or the police arrested them. These brave souls spawned a national movement that attracted widespread media attention and was ultimately successful in overturning segregation policies and eliminating discrimination.
Are unvaccinated New Yorkers suffering similar injustices as their forebears of the civil rights era? While people are aware of the dangers of Covid, we have to balance that danger with not giving up our rights and freedoms that are endowed to us by our U. S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence. MORE.
Democrats’ Latest Spending Spree Includes $1.3 Billion Media Bailout https://t.co/1IMItmBqjW
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) September 29, 2021
Democrats’ Latest $3.5 Trillion Spending Spree Includes $1.3 Billion Media Bailout
Via The Federalist
A relatively unheralded program in the $3.5 trillion Democrat spending spree would provide well more than $1 billion in bailout funds to media organizations.
Several weeks ago, I wrote an article asking why the media in general, and Politico in particular, refuse to cover the irregularities in Joe Biden’s taxes. Turns out they have a lot of reasons not to do so. Approximately 1,269,000,000 reasons, in fact.
A relatively unheralded program in the $3.5 trillion Democrat spending spree would provide well more than $1 billion in bailout funds to media organizations. You read that right: With our nation more than $28 trillion in debt, Democrats want to raise taxes to spend more money on their political allies in corporate media.
Welfare for Writers?
Buried at the back of the 2,465-page spending behemoth is the program by which Democrats in Congress want the federal government to subsidize journalism. Beginning on page 2,326, Section 138517 of the bill provides a payroll tax credit for “compensation of local news journalists.”
The program would provide a credit of up to $50,000 annually for each “local news journalist” on staff, subsidizing half of wages in the first year and 30 percent for four years thereafter. The bill defines “local news journalist” as someone who works “at least 100 hours” each quarter, “during which time such individual regularly gathers, collects, photographs, records, writes, or reports news or information that concerns local events or other matters of local public interest.”
That language implies the credits will go primarily towards small-town reporters. Requiring eligible journalists to work only 100 hours per quarter—less than 10 hours per week—suggests lawmakers want to support publications with part-time or freelance correspondents.
Large Media Corporations Eligible
Consider also which publications classify as a “local newspaper.” Under the bill, an establishment would qualify if:
“(A) the primary content of such publication is original content derived from primary sources and relating to news and current events,
“(B) such publication primarily serves the needs of a regional or local community,
“(D) the publisher of such publication employs no more than 750 employees during the calendar quarter with respect to which a credit is allowed under this section.
This definition contains a lot of wiggle room—not least because the bill doesn’t define a “regional or local community” for purposes of determining news coverage. Would a Washington-based publication, geared towards super-rich Beltway insiders, that focused all of its coverage on Capitol Hill and K Street be classified as “primarily serv[ing] the needs of a regional or local community?” Quite possibly.
The definition also means that a newspaper with the maximum 750 employees—not exactly a small enterprise, by any stretch—could receive $37,500,000 per year from the federal government. These publications would have strong financial incentives to turn every employee—even the people who work on the printing presses—into “local news journalists” for at least 100 hours every quarter, so they can receive a federal bailout of up to $50,000 per worker per year. MORE.
Marine officer who demanded accountability over Afghanistan disaster thrown into the brig https://t.co/LXCgL0bZPj pic.twitter.com/1ikboafv9q
— Conservative News (@BIZPACReview) September 28, 2021
Marine officer who demanded accountability over Afghanistan disaster thrown into the brig
By Chris Donaldson/BIzPac Review
The Marine Corps officer who called out senior leaders in a viral video where he demanded accountability for the debacle in Afghanistan has been thrown into the brig after violating a gag order.
Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller, who laid his life on the line for his country during his 17-year military career, felt so strongly about the chaotic withdrawal from the war-torn country as well as the decisions of the top Pentagon brass that he staked everything on making a statement that resulted in him being relieved of his duties.
Despite efforts to silence him, Scheller continued to speak out about the humiliating foreign policy disaster that has tarnished America’s reputation, practically daring command to put him behind bars which they did, locking him down in “pretrial confinement” at Camp Lejeune.
Scheller’s father confirmed the news. “They had a gag order on him and asked him not to speak,” he told Task & Purpose. “He did, and they incarcerated him. They don’t know what to do with him.”
“All our son did is ask the questions that everybody was asking themselves, but they were too scared to speak out loud,” Stuart Scheller Sr. added. “He was asking for accountability. In fact, I think he even asked for an apology that we made mistakes, but they couldn’t do that, which is mind-blowing.”
Lt. Col. Scheller posted his first video to social media to assail leadership over the failed withdrawal that culminated in the terrorist suicide bombing outside of Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, a blast that claimed the lives of over 200 people, including 13 American service members who returned home in flag-draped caskets.
"I have been fighting for 17 years. I am willing to throw it all away to say to my senior leaders, I demand accountability." – Marine Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller on the failures in Afghanistan that led to American servicemen dying. pic.twitter.com/JPH3nTctrG
— David Hookstead (@dhookstead) August 27, 2021
“I have been fighting for 17 years,” Scheller said. “I am willing to throw it all away to say to my senior leaders: I demand accountability.”
He also specifically called out Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin as well as the Joint Chiefs Of Staff which are led by General Mark Milley, both of whom are distracted with “woke” virtue signaling that has eroded morale and distracted from the military’s primary mission.
Scheller, who was a battalion commander, further infuriated the brass with additional videos, including one posted to YouTube where he urged viewers to “follow me and we will bring the whole f***ing system down.”
The outspoken Marine also warned brass, “The baby boomer’s turn is over,” adding in comments to the New York Post, “I demand accountability, at all levels. If we don’t get it, I’m bringing it.” Scheller also quoted Thomas Jefferson, saying “every generation needs a revolution.”
A USMC spokesperson has confirmed that Scheller has been thrown into the brig.
“Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller Jr. is currently in pre-trial confinement in the Regional Brig for Marine Corps Installations East aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune pending an Article 32 preliminary hearing,” he said.
“The time, date, and location of the proceedings have not been determined. Lt. Col. Scheller will be afforded all due process.” Task & Purpose reported.
Some took to Twitter to express their dismay with Scheller’s imprisonment, noting that he is the only one who is behind bars for the monumental failure in leadership that handed Afghanistan to the Taliban terror regime on a silver platter. MORE.
Australian Hospitals Over Capacity With People Beaten By Police For Not Wearing Masks https://t.co/mqmhDZKIIu
— The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) September 27, 2021
Australian Hospitals Over Capacity With People Beaten By Police For Not Wearing Masks
Via The Babylon Bee
SYDNEY—Australian hospitals are bursting at the seams, having reached their breaking point after being flooded with patients during the pandemic. The Australians streaming into the hospitals don’t have COVID, though, but instead are just bloodied and bruised from cops beating them up for not wearing masks, going outside for fresh air, and talking to other people.
While Australia has done well keeping case numbers down throughout the pandemic, their performance fighting the virus has been offset by the number of people getting curb-stomped by police.
“Well, bugger! It’s way over capacity here, mate,” said one nurse in Sydney. “By the beard of a Koala! We got way too many wankers comin’ on in here and gettin’ all cracked up by the bloody coppers, mate.” In American English, this apparently means, “Well, gosh darn it all! There’s too many people in this hospital, y’all. By the beard of Abraham Lincoln! We have way too many people coming into this here hospital and getting beat up by the popo, dude.”
According to medical professionals in Australia, the concerning rise in people getting absolutely demolished by the police and having to get rushed to the hospital is exacerbated by the fact that hospitals are already overwhelmed with people who got bit by two-story-tall spiders, punched by kangaroos, and elbow-dropped by drop bears.
Check out all of the Bee’s takes on a world gone mad HERE.
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