The "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, VA on August 12 was not about freedom of speech, but about Neo-Nazis and white supremacists terrorizing the inhabitants of a small American town. Hate groups must be added to the FBI's terrorist watch list, and this petition demands that US Congress introduce legislation to that effect.
Terrorism is defined as the use of violence or intimidation in pursuit of political aims. The events of August 12 in Charlottesville, VA, which left 3 people dead and dozens injured, were the result of terrorism and not "freedom of speech."
Hundreds of armed white supremacists with assault rifles marching in a small American town is intimidation. The intentional killing of a pedestrian with a vehicle is murder. The chant of "blood and soil" is a call to genocide. None of the acts of August 12 constitute protected speech, but instead, terrorism.
As an American citizen, a resident of Charlottesville, and VA5 constituent, I demand that US House of Representatives introduce legislation in Congress placing all hate groups tracked by the SPLC in the FBI's terrorist watch list, and that Federal resources be devoted to monitor, prevent, and counter any and all terrorist activities arising from those groups. And I invite all my fellow Americans to demand their senators and representatives join in support of this legislation.
