CSIS BRIEFS

The Rise of Far-Right

Extremism in the United States
By Seth G. Jones NOVEMBER 2018

THE ISSUE
Right-wing extremism in the United States appears to be growing. e number of terrorist attacks by far-right perpetrators rose over
the past decade, more than quadrupling between 2016 and 2017. e recent pipe bombs and the October 27, 2018, synagogue attack
in Pittsburgh are symptomatic of this trend. U.S. federal and local agencies need to quickly double down to counter this threat. ere
has also been a rise in far-right attacks in Europe, jumping 43 percent between 2016 and 2017.

T
he threat from right-wing terrorism in extremists” and “left-wing extremists” do not correspond to
the United States—and Europe—appears political parties in the United States, such as Republicans
to be rising. Of particular concern are or Democrats. Opinion polls in the United States show that
white supremacists and anti-government most Republicans and Democrats loathe terrorism.3
extremists, such as militia groups and Instead, right-wing terrorism commonly refers to the
so-called sovereign citizens interested in use or threat of violence by sub-national or non-state
plotting attacks against government, racial, religious, and entities whose goals may include racial, ethnic, or religious
political targets in the United States.1 e October 27, 2018, supremacy; opposition to government authority; and the
Pittsburgh synagogue shooting by Robert Bowers, and the end of practices like abortion.4 As Bruce Hoffman writes,
arrest a day earlier of Cesar Sayoc who sent pipe bombs right-wing terrorists generally criticize the democratic
to prominent Democrats, appear to be the most recent state for “its liberal social welfare policies and tolerance of
manifestations of this trend. Both perpetrators were far-right diverse opinion—alongside its permitting of dark-skinned
extremists. Although violent left-wing groups and individuals immigrants in the national labor force and of Jews and
also present a threat, far-right-networks appear to be better other minorities in positions of power or influence.”5
armed and larger. ere also is a continuing threat from Left-wing terrorism, on the other hand, refers to the use
extremists inspired by the Islamic State and al-Qaeda. But the or threat of violence by sub-national or non-state entities
number of attacks from right-wing extremists since 2014 has that oppose capitalism, imperialism, and colonialism;
been greater than attacks from Islamic extremists.2 focus on environmental or animal rights issues; espouse
With the rising trend in right-wing extremism, U.S. federal pro-communist or pro-socialist beliefs; or support a
and local agencies need to shift some of their focus and decentralized sociopolitical system like anarchism.6
intelligence resources to penetrating far-right networks and e rest of this brief is divided into four sections. e first
preventing future attacks. To be clear, the terms “right-wing examines the growth of right-wing terrorism in the United

CENTER FOR STRATEGIC &

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middle east
INTERNATIONAL STUDIES program
States. e second examines its evolving nature in the United Most of these attacks either didn’t kill anyone or led
States, including the use of the internet and social media. e to a small number of deaths. In September 2017, for
third assesses the challenge of far-right extremism in Europe. example, Kenneth James Gleason, a white supremacist,
e fourth discusses policy implications. was charged with shooting and killing Donald Smart,
an African-American, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. A few
THE RISE IN FAR-RIGHT EXTREMISM attacks were more lethal. In June 2015, Dylann Roof
Terrorist attacks by right-wing extremists in the United opened fire with a Glock .45 caliber pistol on parishioners
States have increased. Between 2007 and 2011, the at Emanuel Africa Methodist Episcopal Church in
number of such attacks was five or less per year. ey Charleston, South Carolina, killing nine people. His
then rose to 14 in 2012; continued at a similar level motivations were racist, and he expressed his extremist
between 2012 and 2016, with a mean of 11 attacks and a beliefs on such websites as lastrhodesian.com.11
median of 13 attacks; and then jumped to 31 in 2017.7 FBI
Two decades earlier, Timothy McVeigh orchestrated the
arrests of right-wing extremists also increased in 2018.8
deadliest right-wing attack in recent U.S. history, killing
As Figure 1 highlights, most of the far-right attacks 168 people and injuring more than 680 in Oklahoma City.
involved firearms or incendiary devices (the latter which Michael Fortier, a close friend of McVeigh’s, remarked that
included setting fire to targets like mosques). ese “we both believed that the United Nations was actively
types of weapons are simple to acquire, easy to use, and trying to form a one-world government, disarm the
require little preparation—especially for lone actors. e American public, take away our weapons.”12 As Figure 2
perpetrators attacked religious figures and institutions, highlights, between 2007 and 2017 attacks occurred in
primarily Muslim or Jewish targets (31 percent); private virtually every state in the United States, from California to
citizens and property (29 percent); and U.S. or foreign Texas, Florida, Virginia, and New York.
government targets in the United States, such as the
e perpetrators of the October 2018 attacks were
Forsyth County Courthouse in Georgia or the Mexican
motivated by racist and anti-Semitic views. Cesar Sayoc
consulate in Austin, Texas (14 percent).9 10
allegedly mailed 13 packages containing improvised
e perpetrators of these attacks were mostly white explosive devices (consisting of a PVC pipe, small clock,
supremacists and “sovereign citizens.” e latter category battery, wiring, and explosive material) to prominent
includes a loose mixture of individuals and groups that use Democrats.13 “He was very angry and angry at the world,”
violence, or the threat of violence, to protest government one of his former bosses remarked, “at blacks, Jews, gays.
functions such as taxation. e perpetrators mostly have He always talked about ‘if I had complete autonomy none
been lone actors and small networks of white supremacists of these gays or these blacks would survive.’”14 Robert
and sovereign citizens, rather than groups. Bowers, who killed 11 people at the Tree of Life Jewish

Figure 1: Weapon and Target Type for Right-Wing Attacks, 2007-201710

Weapon Type Target Type

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Figure 2: Right-Wing Terrorist Attacks in the United States, 2007–201754

Synagogue in Pittsburgh, also was motivated by extreme His associate responded, “Yea that’s fine [I] can grow my
right-wing views.15 He espoused anti-immigrant and hair out if need be, drop the boots and braces look etc.”
anti-Jewish views on Gab, a social media network that Daley replied using a symbol for “okay” and then remarked,
has been embraced by white nationalists. Just before the “Trust I did it for a long time too but ultimately the 80s in
shooting, Bowers posted a comment on his Gab account that style of nationalism proved to be ineffective … [I] think
referencing the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS): its time to reimagine the nationalist look and playbook, we
“HIAS likes to bring invaders in that kill our people. I can’t have become predictable that needs to change.” 19
sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your
In another Facebook post, Daley noted, “I would be mindful
optics. I’m going in.”16
of saying anything that could be misconstrued as a call to
Many of these right-wing extremists are trying to be less visible violence. I know people who literally have feds show up at
and less conspicuous. e goal is to avoid the classic skinhead there door over posts. [J]ust food for thought. Trust I’m not
appearance of shaved heads, steel-toe combat boots, and other speaking in terms of morality rather practicality.”20
apparel that might be obvious to law enforcement.17 Islamic
extremists have developed similar tactics, trimming their FACTORS DRIVING FAR-RIGHT EXTREMISM
beards and wearing Western-style clothes to avoid detection Why is there a rise in far-right attacks? Several factors may
from law enforcement and intelligence agencies as they plot have contributed to this growth.
terrorist attacks.18 White supremacist Ben Daley instructed his
First, right-wing extremists are increasingly using the
supporters to wear clothing like polo-style shirts and khakis, as
internet and social media to issue propaganda statements,
well as to get clean-cut military haircuts.
coordinate training (including combat training), organize
As Daley wrote in one private Facebook message travel to attend protests and other events, raise funds,
intercepted by the FBI, “If you are still in LA area it’ll recruit members, and communicate with others. e
probably be me meeting up with you. We go for the internet and social media provide an unparalleled
implicit look so you’ll have to change your [style] up a bit opportunity to reach a broader audience, which is why
when your with us.” Islamic extremists have done the same. As one Islamic

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State defector noted, “e media people are more important president. As one U.S. Department of Homeland Security
than the soldiers…eir monthly income is higher. ey assessment concluded shortly after the election, “Rightwing
have better cars. ey have the power to encourage those extremists have capitalized on the election of the first
inside to fight and the power to bring more recruits to African American president, and are focusing their efforts
the Islamic State.”21 In addition to the Islamic State, other to recruit new members, mobilize existing supporters, and
Salafi-jihadist organizations like al-Qaeda have used social broaden their scope and appeal through propaganda, but
media to recruit, radicalize, raise funds, intimidate, and they have not yet turned to attack planning.”27 Others have
communicate with members and the public. been incensed about a perceived rising tide of immigration
to the United States from countries like Mexico and Syria.
Right-wing networks have used Twitter (with hashtags like
#nationalist and #ultraright in Twitter posts), posted videos Still others have been inspired by President Donald Trump,
on YouTube, established Facebook pages, created Instagram as noted in Department of Justice criminal complaints and
accounts, and communicated on social media sites like Gab indictments. On March 25, 2017, RAM members attended
and through Voice over Internet Protocol applications like a “Make America Great Again” rally in Huntington Beach,
Discord. Some have even sprayed graffiti on neighborhood California and fought protesters. ey carried signs like
walls to advertise their white supremacist ideology. In “DEFEND AMERICA” and “Da Goyim Know” (a phrase used
addition, websites like the Daily Stormer remain influential by some white supremacists to refer to a supposed Jewish
among many neo-Nazi and white supremacy activists.22 conspiracy to control world affairs).28 After the rally, the
Social media sites have been littered with phrases like the Daily Stormer published an article titled “Trumpenkriegers
Fourteen Words (also referred to as the 14 or 14/88) coined Physically Remove Antifa Homos in Huntington Beach.”29
by white supremacist David Lane, a founding member of the e word “antifa” refers to a mix of left-wing and anti-fascist
group the Order. e Fourteen Words includes variations militant networks.
like: “We must secure the existence of our people and a As an FBI special agent explained in a criminal complaint,
future for white children.”23 “based on my training and experience, I know that
Second, right-wing extremists are increasingly traveling ‘Trumpenkriegers’ is intended to mean ‘Fighters for
overseas to meet and exchange views with likeminded Trump.’”30 In addition, Cesar Sayoc, who allegedly sent pipe
individuals.24 In the spring of 2018, for example, several bombs to critics of President Trump, covered the windows of
members of the Rise Above Movement (or RAM)—Robert his white van with images supportive of the president and
Rundo, Ben Daley, and Michael Miselis—traveled to critical of organizations like CNN.31 While the election of
Germany, Ukraine, and Italy to celebrate Adolf Hitler’s President Trump has energized some right-wing extremists,
birthday and to meet with members of European white Trump’s election does not fully explain this trend. e first
notable increase in right-wing terrorist attacks over the past
supremacist groups. RAM is a white supremacist group
decade occurred in 2012—from one attack in 2011 to 14 in
headquartered in southern California. Its members posted
photographs on their Instagram accounts of their Europe 2012—four years before President Trump was elected.
trip with the RAM logo and words like “RAPEFUGEES ARE
FAR-RIGHT EXTREMISM IN EUROPE
NOT WELCOME HERE” and “REVOLT AGAINST MODERN
Like the United States, Europe faces a growing threat from
… ACTIVISIM-ATHLETICS-VIRTUE … RIGHT SIDE.”25 In
extreme right-wing groups. As Figure 3 highlights, extreme
Ukraine, RAM members met with groups like the Azov
right-wing attacks have significantly increased—from 0 in
Battalion, a paramilitary unit of the Ukrainian National
2012 to 9 in 2013; 21 in 2016; and 30 in 2017.32 European
Guard, which the FBI says is associated with neo-Nazi
Union Security Commissioner Sir Julian King has expressed
ideology. e Azov Battalion also is believed to be training
serious concern about the “growing menace” of right-wing
and radicalizing white supremacist organizations based in
extremism: “I’d just like to pause for one moment on this.
the United States.26 ese foreign connections provide U.S.-
I’m not aware of a single EU member state that is not
based groups with an opportunity to improve their tactics,
affected in some way by right-wing violent extremism.”33
develop better counter-intelligence techniques, harden
In 2011, 77 died in a series of attacks by a lone right-
their extremist views, and broaden their global networks.
wing extremist in Oslo and the island of Utoya. Violent
ird, right-wing extremism has been energized over the groups include the Identitäre Bewegung Deutschland (IBD,
past decade by several issues. Some were infuriated by Identitarian Movement Germany) and supporters of the
the election of an African-American, Barack Obama, as Reich Citizen ideology in Germany; the Generace Identity

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Figure 3: Extreme Right-Wing Attacks in Europe, 2012–201755

(Generation of Identity) movement and the Pro-Vlast offenses. In addition, the British domestic intelligence
movement in the Czech Republic; Soldiers of Odin in agency, MI5, and the police disrupted nearly a half-
Belgium; and the Blood & Honour organization in Portugal.34 dozen right-wing terrorist plots in the UK in the first
half of 2018.39
In the UK, extreme right-wing groups have not presented a
significant terrorism threat until recently, partly in response to France also has experienced isolated acts of far-right
rising domestic concerns about refugees and asylum-seekers extremism. In June 2018, for example, French authorities
from countries like Syria and Afghanistan. In 2016 and 2017, arrested 10 suspected far-right extremists—including a retired
the UK banned the far-right groups National Action, Scottish police officer and a retired soldier—from the group Action des
Dawn, and National Socialist Anti-Capitalist Action under Forces Opérationnelles who allegedly were plotting to attack
the Terrorism Act 2000.35 ere also have been several right- Muslims. ey had stockpiled rifles, handguns, homemade
wing attacks in the UK. Examples include the June 2017 grenades, and ammunition around Paris, the Mediterranean
killing of one individual by Darren Osborne at the Finsbury island of Corsica, and the western Charentes-Maritimes
Park Mosque, and the June 2016 assassination of UK Labour region.40 Unlike the Finsbury Park attack in the UK, the Action
Member of Parliament Jo Cox by omas Mair. Some extreme des Forces Opérationnelles plotters claimed they were “only”
right-wing individuals and groups pose a particular threat planning to attack jihadists, radical preachers, and “radicalized
because they have stockpiled firearms and developed the individuals”—yet their definition of “radicalized” individuals
capability to build improvised explosive devices.36 As the UK included women wearing veils.
government concluded in 2018, “We assess the threat from Much like in the United States, right-wing networks
extreme right-wing terrorism is growing.”37 and individuals have broadened their contacts in other
The threat from extreme right-wing groups and countries, especially in Europe and North America. In
individuals is likely more acute in the UK than anywhere addition, right-wing extremists also have increasingly
else in Europe. As the European Union Agency for Law leveraged the internet and social media. As the German
Enforcement Cooperation concluded, “Five foiled, failed Ministry of Interior concluded:
or completed terrorist attacks attributed to rightwing e Internet has become the most important
extremists (RWE) were reported for 2017: all of them by propaganda tool in the right-wing extremist scene.
the UK.”38 In 2017 and early 2018, the UK arrested 27 As soon as right-wing extremist organisations
individuals on suspicion of being a member of National begin planning large-scale public actions or launch
Action, 15 of whom were charged with terrorism campaigns, they almost without exception use the

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 Internet to spread the news. Designated websites, of the far-right threat comes from lone actors and small
social media profiles, online flyers, and images, networks—rather than large groups.
texts and video clips posted on the Internet are Today, some in the Department of Justice, Department
key elements of their online campaigns. Since of Homeland Security, FBI, and state and local law
the right-wing extremist scene began using the enforcement agencies have expressed alarm at far-right
Internet, its basic methodology has been to extremism. e Trump Administration’s counterterrorism
openly show its presence and disseminate on the strategy, released in October 2018, warned that the United
one hand and to shift its communications and States faces a threat from individuals motivated by types
criminal behaviour to protected, non-public areas of violent extremism other than radical Islam, “such as
of the Internet on the other.41 racially motivated extremism, animal rights extremism,
environmental extremism, sovereign citizen extremism,
POLICY IMPLICATIONS and militia extremism.”47 In April 2018, federal authorities
Right-wing extremism is nothing new in the United
charged 57 members of white supremacist organizations
States. After the Civil War, President Ulysses S. Grant
with drug trafficking and kidnapping.48 As U.S. Attorney
conducted an aggressive—and ultimately successful—
General Jeff Sessions remarked following the arrest, “Not
campaign against the Ku Klux Klan and its offshoots
only do white supremacist gangs subscribe to a repugnant,
(such as the Knights of the White Camellia) from the
hateful ideology, they also engage in significant, organized
1860s to the 1870s. Grant deployed federal soldiers
and violent criminal activity.” He continued that “the
to arrest Klan members, enlisted U.S. attorneys to try
Department of Justice has targeted every violent criminal
their cases, supported Congressional legislation like
gang member in the United States. e quantities of drugs,
the Ku Klux Klan Act, and organized federal judges to
guns, and money seized in this case are staggering.”49
oversee Klan trials.42 For much of the twentieth century,
the FBI and local law enforcement agencies effectively e challenge now is to devote sufficient attention and
penetrated and dismantled dozens of right-wing terrorist resources to stop the further rise of right-wing extremism.50
groups, such as the Order and the Covenant, Sword, e goal should be to bring far-right activity to a manageable
and Arm of the Lord.43 In the 1990s, right-wing groups level and to prevent attacks. Several steps are important.
were energized around issues like gun control, free First, federal, state, and local agencies need to focus on
trade agreements, perceived government infringement the rise of right-wing extremism. As noted earlier, the
on civil liberties, and social issues such as abortion, number of right-wing terrorist attacks is now greater
immigration, and same-sex marriage.44 Following the than the number of Islamic extremist attacks. Europe’s
April 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, the FBI and local law evolving terrorism threat has led to a reapportionment of
enforcement agencies again successfully infiltrated far- counterterrorism resources. In the UK, the government
right networks and arrested their leadership. gave the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre, the domestic
Yet far-right extremism persists. e Turner Diaries, a 1978 spy agency MI5, and the police more resources to collect
novel written by William Pierce under the pseudonym intelligence on—and arrest—right-wing terrorists. e
Andrew Macdonald, has been influential in far-right circles. FBI and Joint Terrorism Task Forces, which lead terrorism
It describes a series of events that begins with a white investigations across the United States, have been focused
supremacist military revolution and culminates in a race on the threat from Sunni jihadists and Shia groups like
war, world-wide nuclear war, and extermination of Jews, Hezbollah. e results of the November 2018 mid-term
gays, and non-whites.45 Anti-government activist and elections are unlikely to significantly impact the threat from
white supremacist Louis Beam advocated an organizational right-wing extremists, though partisanship and even hate
structure that he termed “leaderless resistance” to target the speech from all sides could increase.
U.S. government. As Beam noted, “Utilizing the Leaderless Penetrating far-right networks, identifying extremists on
Resistance concept, all individuals and groups operate social media forums, and arresting terrorists before they
independently of each other, and never report to a central attack won’t be easy. Most right-wing extremists are lone
headquarters or single leader for direction or instruction, as actors. Even the alt-right, or alternative right, is a loosely
would those who belong to a typical pyramid organization.”46 connected network of white supremacists, white nationalists,
Beam’s leaderless resistance concept remains inspiring to anti-Semites, neo-Nazis, and other fringe hate groups.
some right-wing extremists and partially explains why much Lone actors and small networks don’t often talk about their

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plots by phone or e-mail, both of which can be intercepted Seth G. Jones is the Harold Brown Chair and Director of the
by law enforcement agencies.51 However, they may be Transnational reats Project at the Center for Strategic and
active on social media forums, which can be monitored. In International Studies (CSIS), as well as the author of A Covert
addition, there is no federal statute in U.S. code for domestic Action: Reagan, the CIA, and the Cold War Struggle in
terrorism.52 ere is also no domestic terrorist organization Poland (W.W. Norton).
designation like there is for international terrorists (such as
e author gives special thanks to Bruce Hoffman, David
the U.S. State Department’s Foreign Terrorist Organization
Brannan, and Max Markusen for their helpful comments
designations) to focus attention on threats from right-wing
and to Clayton Sharb for assistance in collecting and
or left-wing extremists.53
analyzing data.
Second, the U.S. government needs to work closely with
the private sector—including social media companies—and CSIS Briefs are produced by the Center for Strategic
European partners to combat right-wing extremism, as it has and International Studies (CSIS), a private, tax-exempt
in combatting Islamic extremism. Some European states, institution focusing on international public policy issues.
including France and the UK, have put significant pressure Its research is nonpartisan and nonproprietary. CSIS does
on social media companies to remove content that advocates not take specific policy positions. Accordingly, all views,
or otherwise supports terrorism, including if it violates positions, and conclusions expressed in this publication
company terms of service. Restricting extremist access to should be understood to be solely those of the author(s).
social media requires companies to devote staff time and
© 2018 by the Center for Strategic and International
engineering resources to detecting such content and closing
Studies. All rights reserved.
it down. e United States should set out clear requirements
and consider what additional levels of regulation and
assertions of liability might be applied to secure maximum
compliance—especially in cases where individuals and
networks support violence.
e United States has made significant progress since 9/11
in countering the threat from Islamic extremists. It now
needs to do the same with right-wing and other terrorists.
To succeed, Americans will need a sober assessment of the
threat and thoughtful solutions, not political posturing.

CSIS BRIEFS are produced by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a private, tax-exempt institution
focusing on international public policy issues. Its research is nonpartisan and nonproprietary. CSIS does not take specific
policy positions. Accordingly, all views, positions, and conclusions expressed in this publication should be understood to be
solely those of the author(s). © 2018 by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. All rights reserved.
Cover Photo: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images

CSIS BRIEFS | WWW.CSIS.ORG | 7

ENDNOTES Seth G. Jones, Hunting in the Shadows: e Pursuit of Al-Qa’ida Since 9/11
(New York: W.W. Norton, 2012).
1 On recent writings, see, for example, Bruce Hoffman, “Mail Bombs, Hate
19 United States of America v. Robert Paul Rundo, et al.
Crimes, and the Meaning of Terrorism,” Council on Foreign Relations, Oc-
20 Ibid.
tober 30, 2018, https://www.cfr.org/article/mail-bombs-hate-crimes-and-
21 Greg Miller and Souad Mekhennet, “Inside the Surreal World of the
meaning-terrorism; Peter Bergen, “Yes, ere Is Such a ing as Right-Wing
Islamic State’s Propaganda Machine,” Washington Post, November 20, 2015,
Terrorism,” CNN, November 2, 2018, http://peterbergen.com/yes-there-is-
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/inside-the-is-
such-a-thing-as-right-wing-terrorism-cnn-com/.
lamic-states-propaganda-machine/2015/11/20/051e997a-8ce6-11e5-acff-
2 e number of casualties from attacks by Islamic extremists has been
673ae92ddd2b_story.html?utm_term=.e92f675db9a2/.
greater than by right-wing extremists, largely because of a few cases like
22 See, for example, https://dailystormer.name/.
Omar Mateen’s Pulse nightclub attack that killed 49 people and wounded
23 United States of America v. Robert Paul Rundo, Robert Boman, Tyler
53 others.
Laube, and Aaron Eason, Criminal Complaint, United States District Court,
3 See, for example, Caroll Doherty, et al., Economic Issues Decline Among
Central District of California, October 20, 2018, https://int.nyt.com/data/
Public’s Policy Priorities (Washington, DC: Pew Research Center, January
documenthelper/421-robert-rundo-complaint/0f1e76cdeef814133f24/
2018).
optimized/full.pdf.
4 See, for example, the definition of right-wing extremism in Nation-
24 Author interview with senior FBI officials, October 2018.
al Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism
25 United States of America v. Robert Paul Rundo, et al.
(START), Ideological Motivations of Terrorism in the United States, 1970-2016
26 Ibid.
(College Park, MD: START, November 2017), 6, https://www.start.umd.
27 Department of Homeland Security, Rightwing Extremism: Current
edu/pubs/START_IdeologicalMotivationsOfTerrorismInUS_Nov2017.pdf.
Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and
5 Bruce Hoffman, Inside Terrorism, ird Edition (New York: Columbia
Recruitment (Washington, DC: DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis, April
University Press, 2017), 249. Also see Bruce Hoffman, Right-Wing Terrorism
2009).
in Europe (Santa Monica, CA: RAND, March 1982).
28 United States of America v. Robert Paul Rundo, et al.
6 See, for example the definition of left-wing extremism in START, Ideologi-
29 Azzmador, “Trumpenkriegers Physically Remove Antifa Homos in Hun-
cal Motivations of Terrorism in the United States, 1970-2016, 6.
tington Beach,” Daily Stormer, March 26, 2017, https://dailystormer.name/
7 e numbers include CSIS coding of terrorism attacks from the Global
trumpenkriegers-physically-remove-antifa-homos-in-huntington-beach/.
Terrorism Database at the University of Maryland’s National Consortium
30 United States of America v. Robert Paul Rundo, et al.
for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (https://www.start.
31 United States of America v. Cesar Altieri Sayoc; Jennifer Earl, “Cesar
umd.edu/gtd/).
Sayoc, Mail Bombing Suspect, Arrested in Florida,” Fox News, October 26,
8 Author interview with senior FBI officials, October 2018.
2018, https://www.foxnews.com/us/cesar-sayoc-mail-bombing-suspect-ar-
9 e numbers include CSIS coding of terrorism attacks from the Global
Terrorism Database at the University of Maryland’s National Consortium rested-florida-everything-we-know-so-far.
for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (https://www.start. 32 Data from the University of Maryland, Global Terrorism Database
umd.edu/gtd/). (https://www.start.umd.edu/gtd/).
10 e numbers include CSIS coding of terrorism attacks from the Global 33 Matthew Tempest, “Commissioner Warns of ‘Growing Menace’ of Right-
Terrorism Database at the University of Maryland’s National Consortium Wing Terrorism in EU,” Euractiv, March 23, 2017, https://www.euractiv.
for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (https://www.start. com/section/politics/news/commissioner-warns-of-growing-menace-of-
umd.edu/gtd/). right-wing-terrorism-in-eu/.
11 United States of America v. Dylann Storm Roof, Indictment, in the 34 European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol),
United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, Charleston European Union Terrorism Situation and Trend Report (e Hague: Europol,
Division, July 2015, https://www.justice.gov/usao-sc/file/632581/down- 2018).
load. 35 Home Office, “National Action Becomes First Extreme Right-Wing
12 Quoted in Hoffman, Inside Terrorism, 108. Group to be Banned in UK,” December 16, 2016, available at: https://
13 United States of America v. Cesar Altieri Sayoc, Complaint, in the www.gov.uk/government/news/national-action-becomes-first-extreme-
United States Southern District of New York, October 2018, https://www. right-wing-group-to-be-banned-in-uk; Home Office, “Further Extreme
justice.gov/usao-sc/file/632581/download. Right-Wing Groups Banned in the UK,” September 28, 2017, available at:
14 Matt Zapotosky, Annie Gowen, Sari Horwitz, and Cleve R. Wootson, https://www.gov.uk/government/news/further-extreme-right-wing-groups-
Jr., “Who is Cesar Sayoc?” Washington Post, October 26, 2018, https://www. banned-in-the-uk.
washingtonpost.com/nation/2018/10/26/who-is-cesar-altieri-sayoc- 36 David Anderson, “Attacks in London and Manchester: Independent
what-we-know-about-suspected-mail-bomber-arrested-florida/?noredi- Assessment of MI5 and Police Internal Reviews,” December 2017, available
rect=on&utm_term=.a6ca56eaf1dc. at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/
15 United States of America vs. Robert Bowers, Criminal Complaint, Unit- uploads/attachment_data/file/664682/Attacks_in_London_and_Manches-
ed States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, October ter_Open_Report.pdf.
27, 2018, https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdpa/press-release/file/1105371/ 37 Her Majesty’s Government (HMG), CONTEST: e United Kingdom’s Strat-
download. egy for Countering Terrorism, Cm 9608 (London: Her Majesty’s Stationery
16 Screenshot of Robert Bowers’ profile on Gab, October 27, 2018. Office, June 2018), 22. Emphasis added.
17 See, for example, Casey Sanchez, NYT Fashion Pub: Skinhead Style is Back 38 Europol, European Union Terrorism Situation and Trend Report, 51.
(Montgomery, AL: Southern Poverty Law Center, September 21, 2007), 39 HMG, CONTEST, 8.
https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2007/09/21/nyt-fashion-pub-skin- 40 “Le terrorisme d’extrême droite, nouvel enjeu de la sécurité intérieure,”
head-style-back. Le Monde, June 27, 2018, available at: https://www.lemonde.fr/idees/ar-
18 See, for example, tactics adopted by Islamic extremists based in the UK, ticle/2018/06/27/le-terrorisme-d-extreme-droite-nouvel-enjeu-de-la-secu-
who were involved in the July 2005 London attack and the 2006 plot to rite-interieure_5321745_3232.html.
take down airplanes flying from the UK to the United States and Canada. 41 Federal Ministry of the Interior, Brief Summary: 2017 Report on the Pro-

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tection of the Constitution (Berlin: Federal Ministry of the Interior, 2017), 13.
42 Ron Chernow, Grant (New York: Penguin Press, 2017), 706-710.
43 Seth G. Jones and Martin C. Libicki, How Terrorist Groups End: Lessons for
Counter al Qa’ida (Santa Monica, CA: RAND, 2008).
44 Department of Homeland Security, Rightwing Extremism, 4-7.
45 Andrew MacDonald (aka William Pierce), e Turner Diaries, Second
Edition (Washington, DC: National Alliance, 1980).
46 Louis Beam, “Leaderless Resistance,” Seditionist, Issue 12, February
1992, 5.
47 White House, National Strategy for Counterterrorism of the United States of
America (Washington, DC: White House, October 2018), p. 10, https://www.
whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/NSCT.pdf.
48 United States of America v. Joshua David Lane, et al., ird Superseding
Indictment, United States District Court, Northern District of Texas, May
1, 2018, https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndtx/press-release/file/1058866/
download.
49 U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District
of Texas, “57 Member/Associates of Various White Supremacists Gangs
Charged in Kidnapping and Drug Conspiracies,” May 1, 2018, https://www.
justice.gov/usao-ndtx/pr/57-memberassociates-various-white-suprema-
cists-gangs-charged-kidnapping-and-drug.
50 See, for example, Janet Reitman, “U.S. Law Enforcement Failed to See
the reat of White Nationalism,” New York Times Magazine, November 3,
2018, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/03/magazine/FBI-charlottes-
ville-white-nationalism-far-right.html.
51 Author interview with senior FBI officials, October 2018.
52 See, for example, Michael German and Sara Robinson, Wrong Priorities
on Fighting Terrorism (New York: Brennan Center for Justice, New York Uni-
versity School of Law, 2018).
53 See the U.S. State Departments designation of Foreign Terrorist Organi-
zations at https://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/other/des/123085.htm.
54 e numbers include CSIS coding of terrorism attacks from the Global
Terrorism Database at the University of Maryland’s National Consortium
for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (https://www.start.
umd.edu/gtd/).
55 Data from the University of Maryland, Global Terrorism Database
(https://www.start.umd.edu/gtd/).

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