One month after the San Bernardino terrorist attack that left 14 innocent people dead, Dept. of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson told advisors that right wing extremists pose just as much of a threat to the country as Islamic extremists.
Mr. Johnson made the comments during the Homeland Security Advisory Council’s January meeting. City of Austin Mayor Art Acevedo, whom Mr. Johnson (a Muslim) appointed to the Advisory Council, shifted the discussion to the threat of right-wing extremists, according to the official meeting minutes.
“Member Acevedo reminded the Council that the threat from right-wing extremists domestically is just as real as the threat from Islamic extremism,” the minutes state.
Mr. Johnson echoed the sentiment. “Secretary Johnson agreed and noted that CVE [Subcommittee on Combating Violent Extremism], by definition, is not solely focused on one religion,” the minutes state.
Another council member, Cardinal Point Strategies CEO Paul Goldenberg, joined the chorus.
“Member Goldenberg seconded Member Acevedo’s remarks and noted the importance of online sites in right wing extremist communities, not only in America but worldwide,” the minutes state.
The meeting was also attended by the co-chairs of Advisory Council’s Subcommittee on Combating Violent Extremism.
As originally reported by The Daily Caller on Monday, a report published by that subcommittee last week urged Homeland Security to avoid using the words “sharia” and “jihad” (among others) when discussing terrorism, in order to avoid offending Muslims.
At the January meeting, Subcommittee Co-Chair Adnan Kifayat “emphasized that the report will be respectful of the communities it seeks to engage with, and will take into account those communities specific needs.”
As originally reported by TheDC, one of the current sitting members on the subcommittee is a 25-year-old Syrian immigrant who has consistently disparaged America, free speech and white people on social media. That member, Laila Alawa, also publicly stated that the Sept. 11 attacks “changed the world for good.”
This story originally appeared at www.thedailycaller.com
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