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sedition
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Date: Wed, 3 May 1995 09:02:32 -0400 (EDT)
From: Dick Bell
April 28, 1995
A Message from the National Chairman of the Democratic National Committee....
In the aftermath of the Oklahoma tragedy, Americans are asking how our society became so violent, how we can build more peaceful communities, and how such a horrifying act could have been committed against so many innocent people.
I am writing to you because there are organized efforts in this country that spread hatred and encourage violence in our communities. These purveyors of hate are working nonstop to intimidate law enforcement efforts and create a climate of lawlessness.
Just recently, the national talk show host and Watergate felon G. Gordon Liddy instructed his radio listeners how to kill federal Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms officials. He urged his audience to "kill the sons of bitches" by shooting them in the head. (Minneapolis Star-Tribune, 2/24/95)
In addition Liddy told his listeners how to construct a bomb using ammonium nitrate, diesel fuel and dynamite. He specifically said: "And that would do enormous work; the work would either take out a wall of a quarry, or take out that building." (Dallas Morning News, 4/20/95)
In San Francisco, radio listeners on KSFO recently heard talk show hosts speak of "lynching a few liberals" and encouraging listeners to "shoot illegal immigrants who come across the border." (Minneapolis Star-Tribune, 2/24/95)
And radio talk show host Chuck Baker called for "an armed revolution" against the government weeks before one of his listeners fired nearly 30 bullets at the White House. (Minneapolis Star-Tribune, 2/24/95)
These are just a few examples of some of the venom spewed on the airwaves. Other organized groups also are spreading hatred and encouraging violence. (See the attached document for further examples.)
In a recent letter appealing for contributions, the National Rifle Association likened federal law enforcement agents to Nazi stormtroopers and implied that citizens need to arm themselves against the government. The NRA said: "Not too long ago, it was unthinkable for Federal agents wearing Nazi bucket helmets and black storm trooper uniforms to attack law-abiding citizens."
This sort of violent speech should be repugnant to all Americans. And there is clearly a connection between such hateful diatribes and the escalation of violence that our country has experienced.
It is the responsibility of each and every one of us to work to end this uncivil discourse before more innocent lives are lost. Today I am writing to urge everyone to speak out against those who threaten the civility of our society. Our voices are stronger than theirs if we make them heard. I encourage you to:
* send letters to your local newspapers calling for an end to these efforts to incite violence;* call your local radio stations and tell them that you want the purveyors of hate to be held accountable for their remarks;* call or write to your elected officials and tell them you want them to work toward ending these efforts to destroy our communities; and,* organize local efforts in your communities to protest against the irresponsible media outlets that put this garbage on the air.
Many people are profiting by distributing these hateful attacks. Media organizations make money this way, talk show hosts get rich, and the NRA's bank account increases when more people buy guns to wage war on the government. All of them have an incentive to continue to fan the flames of hatred. And we have an incentive -- the protection of our families -- to stop them.
Together we can work to ensure that our society adheres to rational and civil discourse. We have no choice but to act now to ensure that we remain a peaceful and law abiding society.
Thank you for acting as a concerned citizen.
Sincerely,
Don Fowler National Chairman Democratic National Committee
PURVEYORS OF HATE
G. Gordon Liddy: How to Make a Bomb at Home and "Kill the sons of bitches"
"Kill the sons of bitches" with "Head Shots": Liddy, who has expressed sympathy for right-wing militias, told his listeners how to kill federal Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents: "They've got a big target on there -ATF. Don't shoot at that because they've got a vest on underneath that. Headshots, head shots." Later in the program, Liddy said: "Kill the sons of bitches." [Minneapolis Star-Tribune, 2/24/95]
Liddy revised advice -- Shoot ATF Agents in the "Groin Area": At an April 25 press conference, Liddy revised his advice. "You shoot twice to the body,center of mass, and if that does not work, then shoot to the groin area. They cannot use their -- move their hips fast enough, and you'll probably get a femoral artery, and you'll knock them down at any rate." [New York Post,4/27/95]
Liddy Tells Radio Audience to "Shoot Back": On April 19, Liddy said that,although he is a longtime critic of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), he has never advocated violence against the federal agency. However, Liddy said he does believe people should "shoot back" if they are subject to an attack by the ATF.
"Anybody who has listened to me knows that I have not advocated at any time blowing up the ATF, the building they're in, or anything else like that. What I have said is that if you are subject to a lethal attack... by the ATF,have a prearranged cellular call for members of the militia who can come and protect you. And if they shoot, try to kill you, shoot back. Save your life. That's obvious."
Liddy also said that if any connection is established between the Branch Davidian anniversary and the Oklahoma City bombing it should "wake up Congress" to hold oversight hearings on the role of the ATF. Such hearings would "get to the bottom of Waco... and the war against the American people,"he said, especially "if they're going to sit there and twiddle their thumbs when they should be holding hearings to get to the bottom of Waco... and the war against the American people." [Dallas Morning News, 4/20/95]
Liddy Supports "militias": Liddy told the Dallas Morning News that callers to his show have expressed interest in forming local militias to help protect against attacks by federal agents.
"And what I said is that if you're going to make an arrangement like that,you should have a pre-authorized signal that you can use via a cellular telephone, so that if they cut your phone wires, you can be in touch with your friends in the militia. And if you're under assault by these people,the militia can come and surround them and force them to cease and desist."[Dallas Morning News, 4/20/95]
Liddy Tells Audience How to Make Bombs at Home: Liddy also described for listeners how to construct a bomb - using ammonium nitrate, diesel fuel and dynamite.
"And that would do enormous work, the work would be either take out a wall of a quarry, or take out that building," he said. After the show, Mr. Liddy defended those remarks: "That is common knowledge. Have you ever heard of anything called The Anarchist Cookbook? I can tell you how to make an atomic bomb, too." [Dallas Morning News, 4/20/95]
Liddy used drawings of President and Mrs. Clinton as targets: Liddy has announced on his radio show that he uses drawings of the President and Mrs.Clinton for target practice. "I thought it might improve my aim," said Liddy, "It didn't." He added, "Having said that, I accept no responsibility for somebody shooting up the White House." [Washington Post, 4/26/95]
North Carolina "Militia" Group Quotes Liddy's "Meet Force with Force": North Carolina militia leader Albert Esposito has repeated Liddy's alleged statement about the new crime law's assault weapons ban: "[Liddy] said, 'If they pass it, don't obey it. And if they come after you, meet force with force.'
"According to the Anti-Defamation League, Esposito's Citizens for the Reinstatement of Constitutional Government is a mixture of anti-government,religious and conspiratorial ideas -- supporting the Bible and the Constitution, while resisting the New World Order and removing "treasonous politicians and corrupt judges". The group is encouraged to amass caches of the "Four B's": Bibles, bullets, beans and bandages. Many members own semiautomatic weapons, including AR-15s and AK-47s. [Anti-Defamation League report, "Armed and Dangerous: Militias Take Aim at the Federal Government"]
Chuck Baker: "Armed Revolution" Ideas Prompt Duran Attack on White House
Chuck Baker speaks to "Patriot" movement: Chuck Baker is a Colorado Springs,CO radio talk show host. His show follows Rush Limbaugh for three hours on KVOR in Colorado Springs. As the Minneapolis Star-Tribune described it,"While Limbaugh speaks to the conservative movement, Baker speaks to the"patriot" movement about forming guerrilla squadrons and taking out the"slimeballs" in Congress. [Minneapolis Star-Tribune, 2/24/95]
Duran Allegedly Inspired by Baker: Francisco Martin Duran's defense forensic psychiatrist Neil Blumberg testified in court that Duran attacked the White House in part due to revolutionary ideas about the government Duran heard from radio talk show hosts Rush Limbaugh and Chuck Baker. [States NewsService, 3/27/95]
Baker Backs "Armed Revolution" Against U.S. Government: Last August, Linda Thompson of the "Unorganized Militia of the United States" came on Baker's show to advocate an armed march on Washington to remove the "traitors" in Congress: "We have 2 million U.S. troops, half of them are out of the country. . . All of the troops they could muster would be 500,000 people. They would be outnumbered 5 to 1 if only 1 percent of the country went up against them."
Baker, broadcasting from a gun shop, responded positively - telling his guest that soldiers "would come over to our side."
A week later, a caller urged the formation of organized militias and asked,"Who do we shoot? Other than Kennedy, Foley and Mitchell, the others are borderline traitors. They're the kingpins right now, besides the Slick One(Clinton)... You've got to get your ammo."
Baker's response was sympathetic: "Am I advocating the overthrow of this government?... I'm advocating the cleansing." Citing the power of the "masses in rebellion," he asked: "Why are we sitting here?" Later that day, a caller accused Baker of advocating "armed
---
Later that day, a caller accused Baker of advocating "armedrebellion." The talk host corrected her: "An armed revolution."
Inspired by Baker, Baker listener Duran and scores of other listeners called a local Congressional office in August to oppose an assault weapons ban. So many calls were irate or obscene that Duran's threat to "go to Washington and take someone out" went unnoticed.
Weeks later, in October, Duran fired nearly 30 bullets at the White House.[Minneapolis Star-Tribune, 2/24/95]
Baker Takes Leave, Not Responsibility: After the Denver Post reported unsubstantiated rumors that Duran was inspired by Baker's show, the radio host took a leave of absence this month.
Talking about his decision on the air, Baker was quoted by the Denver paper as saying: "So what if the jerk, the wacko, the creep that shot the WhiteHouse said that? If this man thinks I or Rush Limbaugh are the reason he went out there, he needs psychiatric counseling in the first degree."
KVOR general manager Donn Seidholz said, "We have no proof whatsoever that Duran listened to the show." He acknowledged, however, that "we could have influence on people's behavior." "Do we take responsibility for it? No,"Seidholz said. [The Sunday Gazette Mail, 11/27/94]
Rush Limbaugh: Second Violent Revolution Is Coming
Second Violent Revolution: Two months ago, Limbaugh (while talking about property rights and "environmental wackos" said that the "second violent American revolution is just about -- I got my fingers about a quarter of an inch apart -- is just about that far away. Because these people are sick and tired of a bunch of bureaucrats in Washington driving into town and telling them what they can and can't do with their land." [Washington Post, 4/25/95]
Talk Radio Encouraging Violence Against Sarah Brady, Liberals and Immigrants:
Sarah Brady should be "put down" like an animal: In Phoenix, KFYI "hot talk"host Bob Mohan declared that gun control advocate Sarah Brady "ought to be put down. A humane shot at a veterinarian's would be an easy way to do it."
"Lynch a few liberals": In liberal San Francisco, KSFO - owned by ABC/Capital Cities - recently abandoned its diverse lineup of talk hosts and switched to"hot talk." It's all right, all the time. Now San Franciscans can hear hosts who speak of "lynching a few liberals" and encourage listeners to "shoot illegal immigrants who come across the border" for reward money. [MinneapolisStar-Tribune, 2/24/95] NRA National Campaign Against the BATF -- Government "thugs" can "kill us":
NRA April 1995 Solicitation Says Weapons Ban Allows Government to "Kill Us":An April 1995 NRA direct mail solicitation says that "anti-gunners" have dispatched the ATF "to take away our Constitutional rights, break in our doors, seize our guns, destroy our property, and even injure or kill us." It adds that, "In [President] Clinton's administration, if you have a badge, you have the government's go-ahead to harass, intimidate.. even murder law-abiding citizens." [Washington Post, 4/28/95; NRA direct mail piece]
NRA Ad Criticizes ATF: On March 1, the NRA published a full-page advertisement criticizing the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF)in the Washington Post. On March 2, the NRA ran the ad in USA Today.
The ad, headlined "TELL THE CLINTON WHITE HOUSE TO STAY OUT OF YOUR HOUSE"and featuring two men wielding 9mm carbines in BATF uniforms, described the AFT's "reign of storm-trooper tactics" including "even deadly assault". "Worse yet," it says ATF's "tyrannical record" would broaden under the recently-passed Clinton crime bill. The ad called on the Clinton Administration to (1) regain control of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; (2) expose and prosecute those guilty of civil rights abuses and(3) institute strict policies that honor the Bill of Rights. [NRA Advertisement in Washington Post, 3/1/95; NRA World Wide Web Site; Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 3/5/95]
NRA Ads Ran While Rumors ATF Planned Assault on "Militias": The NRA's full-page advertisement attacking the BATF ran during a period in which the NRA was aware that those in the militia movement believed the Government intended to undertake raids against various militia groups.
In a March 23, 1995 letter to members, the NRA noted "As early as January of this year, NRA-ILA became aware of rumors of pending raids by the federal government on citizen militia units. The rumors, circulated through various computer networks, indicated that raids were to take place March 25, 1995.NRA-ILA began gathering all available information on the rumored raids and initiated several quiet attempts to either confirm or disprove the rumors.These attempts included correspondence with key U.S. Senators and Representatives asking for their assistance in investigating the rumors..."
The NRA also posted a letter from Rep. Steve Stockman (R-TX) to Attorney General Janet Reno inquiring about "an impending raid, by several Federal agencies against the `citizen's militias' groups" and another from Sens Larry Craig (R-ID) and Lauch Faircloth (R-NC) to Reno concerning "reports we have heard recently concerning military training of federal law enforcement personnel." [NRA World Wide Web Site] ```
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