Oath Keepers comments on the NY State Intelligence Agency's (NYSIC) accusations of potential terrorism by NY Oathkeepers at
http://oathkeepers.org/oath/2014/08/06/new-york-oath-keepers-refute-accusations-by-state-intelligence-agency . See NY Oath Keepers rebuttal of NYSIC follows.
NEW YORK OATH KEEPERS REFUTE ACCUSATIONS BY NY STATE INTELLIGENCE AGENCYOn June 12, 2014, the New York State Intelligence Center (NYSIC), which is managed by the New York State Police, issued New York State Counter Terrorism Bulletin: CTM 14-07: Recent Spike in Violence Targeting Law Enforcement. In that bulletin, the NYSIC referred to three recent attacks on Law Enforcement Officers in the month of June, one in Canada and two in the United States. The bulletin stated:
“Based upon reporting it appears all the suspects in these incidents were motivated by elements of a far right anti-government ideology with a particular fixation on law enforcement.”
Here is a summary of the three incidents that the NYSIC used to justify their unwarranted connection to the New York Oath Keepers and other constitutional Liberty groups in New York State.
Incident #1: On June 4, 2014, Justin Bourque, a 24-year-old male in New Brunswick, Canada, with no criminal record, shot and killed three Royal Canadian Mounted Police Officers and was later captured. The report states: “…he struggled to hold a job, turned to drugs, and became increasingly obsessed with guns (particularly the ongoing U.S. gun debate which has spilled over to a lesser degree to Canada) and abuses by police.”
In reviewing Incident #1, where, exactly, is the connection to the New York Oath Keepers and other NY Liberty groups?
Incident #2: On June 6, 2014, Dennis Marx, a 48-year-old male in Forsyth County, Georgia, was shot and killed by Deputies trying to enter the county courthouse with a so-called “assault” rifle, body armor, an assortment of grenades, ammunition, food, water and flexible handcuffs. The NYSIC bulletin states: “Marx was scheduled to appear before a judge at the courthouse that morning on eleven felony drug and weapons charges. As to motive, Marx had long running issues with law enforcement and was a self-identified sovereign citizen.”
Again, in reviewing Incident #2, where, exactly, is the connection to the New York Oath Keepers and other NY Liberty groups?
Incident #3: On June 8, 2014, Jerad and Amanda Miller shot and killed two police officers, and a civilian who tried to stop them in Las Vegas. “…the Millers draped a Gadsden flag (‘Don’t Tread on Me’) over one dead officer, left a swastika on the other, and a note that said: ‘This is the start of the revolution.’” They then fled to a local Wal-Mart with the officers’ guns and ammunition. Additionally, they had: MRE-style food, knives and first aid supplies. They died in a shootout with police at that Wal-Mart.
The NYSIC bulletin also stated: “Jerad Miller had over a decade long criminal history in multiple states, including misdemeanor battery and drug trafficking.” Additionally, the bulletin indicated that, “Jerad and Amanda Miller had also traveled to Bundy’s ranch in Nevada, although they were reportedly asked to leave for being too radical and due to Jerad’s criminal record.”
In reviewing Incident #3, we again ask: Where, exactly, is the connection to the New York Oath Keepers and other NY Liberty groups?
The NYSIC bulletin goes on to assert: “Michael Brian Vanderboegh, a longtime militia member and founder of the III Percent Patriot Movement, which was supported by Jerad and Amanda Miller, traveled to NYS at least once in 2013 to speak to the Liberty Oath Keepers meeting in Monticello, NY.”
NOTE: For the sake of accuracy, Mr. Vanderboegh founded the “National III (Three) Percent Movement,” NOT the “III Percent Patriot Movement.” They are different entities. Plus, Vanderboegh is on record saying, what he created is “a movement, NOT a militia, NOT an organization that can be infiltrated, co-opted or broken up …it’s an ideal.” Also worthy of distinction, the Millers were NOT his supporters.
NO RATIONAL CONNECTIONSo, what exactly caused those who authored the NYSIC bulletin to make the determination that we are a far-right extremist organization, posing a threat to police, when the New York Oath Keepers had absolutely nothing to do with the aforementioned incidents?
Are the good people of New York State expected to go along with NYSIC’s faulty logic and misstatements of fact? Are they expected to ignore the truth—that there is absolutely no rational connection between these three incidents and New York Oath Keepers? Further, can the good people of New York have any confidence in an “intelligence” center that uses such faulty logic to publicly demonize an organization whose clearly stated purpose is to encourage OUR Military and Law Enforcement Officers, and others, to honor their oath? Can any reasonable person conclude that any or all of these three incidents justify the NYSIC classifying the New York Oath Keepers as a far-right extremist organization?
Are we now to presume that the County Sheriffs, District Attorneys, law enforcement officers and other public officials, who regularly speak at New York Oath Keepers’ meetings, are also now, by association, far-right extremists? Using the connecting methodology of the NYSIC, the Sheriffs and other invited guest speakers of New York Oath Keepers must also be considered far-right extremists. After all, they spoke before the same group as Mr. Vanderboegh and are, therefore, connected.
EVIDENCE?Here is another important piece of so-called “evidence” outlined in this bulletin that caused this State agency to wrongly identify the New York Oath Keepers as far-right extremists: “The Oath Keepers is an organization composed of current and former military and law enforcement personnel, who take a pledge to ‘not obey unconstitutional orders such as orders to disarm the American people, to conduct warrantless searches, or to detain Americans as enemy combatants.’”
Is NYSIC suggesting that it is extreme and threatening to encourage our officials to honor their oath and refuse to obey unconstitutional orders?