Mr A DeanJun 14, 2023
Francisca Sinn

I’m going to keep repeating this - calling right-wing extremists who are armed, organized, and threatening violence, “militias” works to their goal of establishing legitimacy. They are terrorists. Call. Them. Out.

And if you’re in media and calling them “militias”, but refer to Daesh, ISIS, Al-Qaida, or the Taliban as “terrorists”, you should really think about why that is and the bias that you’re internalizing in your work.

#Terrorism
#DomesticTerrorism

Jun 12, 2023 at 2:56amWeb
Show threadNoctisEqui 🇺🇦🇵🇸🇪🇹🏳️‍🌈Jun 12, 2023

@fsinn

Agreed

Show threadken TaylorJun 12, 2023
@fsinn well whatever you want to call them, the reasoning behind the 2nd amendment was not to give individuals gun rights but for the state to have a"well organized militia" necessary to prevent citizen uprisings like Shay's and subsequently the Whiskey Rebellion shortly afterwards. And Washington didn't fool around with courts, he just sent troops in to arrest and enforce and confiscate the militias' guns.
Show threadFrancisca SinnJun 12, 2023
@UnUtopianOptimist This is a valid, but separate, point.
Show threadoldfartjmb says FREE PALESTINEJun 12, 2023

@fsinn

You are sooooooooo right.

@JRBuckley

Show threadChupacabra 78704Jun 12, 2023
@fsinn Agreed. I ain't scared.
Show threadRiaResistsJun 12, 2023
@fsinn yeah!
I’m disappointed at the kid glove treatment of those covering F’ing Nazis.
WTAF?
Show threadPeter RelphJun 12, 2023
@fsinn

I suspect that it is only in the US that a militia would be assumed to be legitimate, everywhere else they would be seen as terrorists, fascists, vigilantes, armed gangs, mercenaries.

Only a lawless society would see militias as an improvement.
Show threadTsutsuku (he/they)Jun 12, 2023
@peterrelph @fsinn I'm sure it made plenty of sense in 1776, the problem is that our society is a few centuries overdue for a firmware update and there's a bunch of security vulnerabilities that need to be patched.
Show threado Viri, un robochi de JujuyJun 12, 2023
@fsinn Agree. We should talk more about them as terrorist *cells*. We have a well established vocabulary for terrorism, let's use it.
Show threadFrancisca SinnJun 12, 2023
@viriato This. 100%.
Show threadVirginia HollowayJun 12, 2023
@fsinn @rvawonk “Militia” definitely does have an at least neutral connotation. “Terrorist cells,” “Death Squads,” or even “Insurgents” seems more accurate. Is “Death Squads” too much? Look at the whole RWDS self-identify. Or maybe calling them that is just validating for them in that context.
Show threadFrancisca SinnJun 12, 2023
@VirginiaHolloway I’m going to defer to @rvawonk ‘s expertise on how terminology might be received by the groups themselves. What I see is that, for example, the “Proud Boys” have been officially identified as a terrorist organization in both Canada and New Zealand but most journalists don’t mention that, and framing like this, “made a militia call to arms” ⬇️ is, IMO, nonsense and failing.
Show threadmybarkingdogsJun 12, 2023

@fsinn @VirginiaHolloway @rvawonk

"Terrorists" should suffice, or is that only applicable to non-white, non-Christian people from The Other?

Show threadk cavaliereJun 12, 2023
@fsinn Thank you! Terrorists are terrorists. There is no such thing as a conditional terrorist. That includes "christian nationalists". Using "christianity" as a front doesn't give anyone permission to commit terrorist acts. Call'em out, everyone.
Show threadFrank BennettJun 12, 2023
@fsinn Cells.
Show threada.d. 🗽🇺🇸Jun 12, 2023
@fsinn … the white isis, no reason to call them Christian Extremist because they aren’t true Christians.
Show threadpmroman 🇪🇺Jun 12, 2023
@zebibyte @fsinn I use the term terrorist to refer to individuals or groups using terrorism. I define terrorism as the indiscriminate targeting of non combatant innocent civilians in order to create terror and chaos, with the purpose of hurting society as a whole. Anyone using terrorism is a terrorist.
Show threada.d. 🗽🇺🇸Jun 13, 2023
@pmroman @fsinn 👍
Show threadFrancisca SinnJun 12, 2023
@zebibyte I don’t believe them to be Christians following the teachings of Christ, but that's neither here nor there. They have an ethos that is white supremacist, male dominant, female subservient, and they recruit on the basis of their “God given rights” and “Christian” religious teachings to justify their abuse of others, advocating for a “Christian” nationalism that forces everyone to be governed by rules they set on that basis. That’s why I use “Christian” nationalism, or “ChristoFascism”.
Show threada.d. 🗽🇺🇸Jun 13, 2023
@fsinn They are using their " God given rights " and I truly believe it. They are following God .. of this world. #satan
Show threadTman972Jun 12, 2023

@fsinn

Sure as long as the lefts 'militias' are held to the same standards. Like BLM and Antifa.

You cant trample on people and call for violence and not expect to meet with violence in return. We need to deescalate these groups not embolden them with more screen time and mentions

Show threadFrancisca SinnJun 12, 2023

@tman972 What you’re saying is right wing propaganda and not based in reality. Until there’s an organization comparable to the “Oath Keepers” or “Proud Boys” on the “left” , there’s nothing to discuss.

On the off-chance you’re interested in learning why you’re wrong, I’ll not mute yet. Harass replies on my feed and I’ll block you.

Show threadCatherine is not giving up.Jun 12, 2023
@tman972 @fsinn first, there is no organized Antifa group. Second, BLM is not violent. Lastly,neither Antifa nor the BLM are running around in the woods wearing camouflage and firing rifles.
Show threadpaulJun 12, 2023

@fsinn

Same as it ever was, same as it ever was

Show threadKerri LevineJun 12, 2023

@fsinn

I'll keep helping you get the message out.

#FightFascism

Show threadTofu GolemJun 12, 2023

@fsinn
Now hold on there!

We are not allowed to call white people terrorists unless they are from Ireland.

If you do, the mainstream American media will make the rest of us read yet another tiresome think piece about “polarization.”

Show threadI see Dud people!Jun 12, 2023
@tofugolem
LOL!! "American Media" and "Think Piece" in the same sentence! Like any mainstream media outlet thinks for itself! @fsinn
Show threadTofu GolemJun 12, 2023
@BackFromTheDud @fsinn
Definitely not. They are little more than a conveyor belt for lies from the conservative safe-space.
Show threadSLCW💥Jun 12, 2023
@fsinn They're not militias. They're a cult that engages in domestic terrorism and violence as a way of achieving their political goals. Carrying a gun because you're mad about your inability to succeed within the democratic process doesn't make you a part of a militia. It makes you a pathetic, anti-American asshole.
Show threadMyOpinionJun 12, 2023
@fsinn The Nazi symbol should be banned in the USA. All Nazis should be arrested as terrorists the moment they are revealed to be Nazis. It is time to stop play with these scum.
Show threadsagebielJun 12, 2023
@fsinn so loaded just say criminal @charles_ex
Show threadFrancisca SinnJun 12, 2023

@msgbi No, I mean “terrorist”. Not every action they take is criminal, and with Republicans easing the way with enabling (lack of) gun laws, they may not be criminal at all, even if someone is physically injured or killed. But their actions and intent are terrorism - using violence and threats of violence to force their political goals. So yes, loaded, because it is accurate, dangerous, and violent, and in order to address it properly, people have to stop downplaying it.

@charles_ex

Show threadsagebielJun 12, 2023
@fsinn @charles_ex terrorist groups are being seen more and more nuanced the closer it is from their home. Domestic seems like always higher hurdle to label it. Definition get thrown around too. Meant it more generally. Here it's rechtsextreme gewalt
Show threadLuke CôtéJun 12, 2023
@fsinn they are in many ways Crusaders. It’s unfortunate that western cultural depictions are all so ridiculous and detached from reality.
Show threadMoxxyJun 12, 2023
@locutusof @fsinn In what way are they soldiers in a military campaign ordered by a Pope during the medieval period?
Show threadLuke CôtéJun 13, 2023
@moxxy @fsinn really? Religious warriors fighting for a despot. Wannabe despot here.
Show threadMoxxyJun 13, 2023
@locutusof @fsinn You used the capital C crusaders then complained about how “western cultural depictions are all so ridiculous and detached from reality”… you literally used a ridiculous cultural depiction that was detached from reality. The Crusades had nothing to do with despotism, furthering the silly hypocrisy you’re engaged in. Criticize them, fine, but there’s no need to be hypocritical and wrong while you do it
Show threadLuke CôtéJun 13, 2023

@moxxy you got me. Shoulda used a lower case c.

Cultural depictions ie: Monty Python.

Cultural depictions don’t include the carnage.

Maybe if they did and were shown as aggressors invading the lands of other people…maybe…things would be different.

Dubya stood on the White House lawn and called his war a crusade.

Take a chill pill or smoke a joint.

Show threadMoxxyJun 13, 2023
@locutusof lol, project your own lack of calm on someone else. All I did was point out that you were (and continue to be) a hypocrite. Hope that works out for ya!
Show threadBellison22Jun 12, 2023
@fsinn 👍👍👍👍👍
Show threadEric McCorkleJun 12, 2023

@fsinn

100% this. "Militia" refers to *legal* civilian defensive organizations. These people are the opposite: outlaws and terrorists, aiming to wage war against both civilians and the government.

Show threadFrancisca SinnJun 12, 2023
@emc2 This, this, this. ⬆️
Show threadStarkRGJun 16, 2023
@emc2 @fsinn The militia referred to in the 2nd Amendment is a less formal version of what the National Guard is (combined with local police departments). They provided a quickly-assemblable quasi-military to protect outlying settlements from bandits and Natives (who were mostly just responding to the agressiveness of the invaders). Since we now _have_ the National Guard (not to mention far fewer bandits and agressive Natives) the purpose of the 2nd Amendment has been completely superceded and it is entirely unnecessary.
Show thread2¢Jun 12, 2023
@fsinn thinking of internalizing bias, perhaps I should call them all militias.
Show threadMushifootJun 12, 2023
@fsinn Calling them heavily armed & violent "gangs" also works for me. Anyone referring to them as a "militia" ought to ask when they received their commission from their state's governor.
Show thread66gardenersJun 12, 2023
@fsinn
#MAGATerrorists to be exact
Show threadJBStraitJun 12, 2023
@fsinn There have been endless right wing terrorist attacks in America since the 90’s in the name of “well-regulated militias.” Federal buildings blown up, bombings of numerous medical clinics, and then the event that I’m still astonished so many “real Americans” support, Jan 6. I’m sick of the kid gloves. If RW extremists what to take on the police on Tuesday then they need to feel the full impact that domestic terrorism deserves.
Show threadKevin CarsonJun 12, 2023
@fsinn "Death squads" and "brownshirts" are also pretty effective at conveying the historical parallels.
Show threadmrwolff8Jun 12, 2023
@fsinn too general, and leads the way to labeling all activists similarly. Also overused by neolibs.
Show threadPatricia KaydenJun 12, 2023
@fsinn Yep. Domestic terrorism is alive and well in these United States!!
Show threadStarkRGJun 16, 2023
@fsinn Everyone knows that terrorists are brown and militias are white. /s
Show threadRev. GothAliceJun 16, 2023

@fsinn It lets them claim legitimacy according to the second amendment.

They DO NOT have a legitimate claim to the second amendment. They DO NOT have a right to kill those they find "scary".