Jesse Merel Cannon was sentenced to five years for rioting and assault at a pro-Trump rally

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The Extremism Roundup
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**Promoting Civil Discourse and Marginalizing the Extremes**
A weekly compilation of the most important developments in the struggle against radical ideologies

Militant-Right & Militant-Left Extremism
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*Jesse Merel Cannon during sentencing hearing - Ken Stone via Times of San Diego screenshot*


**Antifa Rioter Sentenced for Assault at Pro-Trump Rally**


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Antifa-affiliated defendant Jesse Merel Cannon, 33, of San Diego, Calif., was sentenced to five years for rioting and assault at a pro-Trump rally, using a chair and a log as weapons.


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Three co-defendants, Luis Francisco Mora, Jeremy Jonathan White, and Brian Cortez Lightfoot Jr., are to face trial with jury selection beginning March 25.


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Sentencing for six out of the original 11 defendants was postponed to June 12, highlighting ongoing legal proceedings. **[Read More]([link removed] 202402-22&utm_medium=email)**


**Florida Highway Patrol Arrests Convicted Neo-Nazi Felon in Possession of Weapons**


- Ronald Lee Murray Jr., 42, from Texas, was arrested by the Florida Highway Patrol for following a truck too closely on I-10; upon pulling him over, police found weapons and antisemitic memorabilia in his vehicle.
- Murray–a convicted felon with prior felonies and currently out on bond–lacked a valid Florida driver's license.
- He faces multiple charges, including driving with a suspended license and illegal weapon/ammunition possession. **[Read More]([link removed] 202402-22&utm_medium=email)**
**Neo-Nazis March in Nashville**


- Masked neo-Nazis marched through Nashville's historic Black neighborhoods, raising swastika flags at the State Capitol, demonstrating the extent of their extremist views.
- The group, identified as Blood Tribe, was founded by Christopher Polhaus, with the explicit aims for a white ethnostate, rejecting inclusivity.
- Local leaders and communities responded to the march,  emphasizing a collective stand against such hate-driven ideologies. **[Read More]([link removed] 202402-22&utm_medium=email)**
**Neo-Nazis Disrupt City Council Meetings**


- The Goyim Defense League, an antisemitic hate group, disrupted Worcester and Framingham City (Mass.) Council meetings with antisemitic rhetoric.
- The group targeted councilors with hateful mailings and previously engaged in public hate acts in Massachusetts and other states. **[Read More]([link removed] 202402-22&utm_medium=email)**

Islamist Extremism
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*Harafa Hussein Abdi, 41 - via BNN screenshot*
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**Minnesota Man Charged for Aiding ISIS and Threatening to Attack NYC**


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Harafa Hussein Abdi, 41, of Minneapolis, was charged with providing and conspiring to provide material support to ISIS.


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Abdi was born in Somalia in 1982, entered the U.S. in 1999, and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2006.


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According to the FBI, Abdi allegedly trained in an ISIS camp, encouraged others to fight on behalf of ISIS, and sent social media messages about committing violent acts in New York City.


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Abdi was taken into custody overseas and was transported back to the U.S. He faces up to 20 years in prison. **[Read More]([link removed] 202402-22&utm_medium=email)**

  Hate Crime
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*Obadiah Lashley, 29, captured holding metal bat before attacking Jewish man - via CBS News New York screenshot*
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**Hate Crime Charges for Antisemitic Attack in Staten Island**


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Obadiah Lashley, 29, was taken into custody for allegedly striking a 25-year-old man in Staten Island, N.Y., on the head with a metal bat after making an anti-Jewish statement.


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Lashley was charged with hate crime assault, criminal possession of a weapon, aggravated harassment and menacing. **[Read More]([link removed] 202402-22&utm_medium=email)**


**Cultural Heritage Center Vandalized**


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The Nokomis Cultural Heritage Center in Meridian Township, Mich., was vandalized with a message implying members are "fake Indians" who assimilated into white culture.


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The center, which lacks security cameras, has faced recent issues, including sign theft, in December 2023. **[Read More]([link removed] 202402-22&utm_medium=email)**********

  School Threats
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*Paragould (Ark.) Police arrested a student for posting a Snapchat photo of a firearm with the caption, “This school ain’t ready for this” - via KAIT8 screenshot*


**Arkansas Child Arrested for School Threat**


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A boy in Paragould, Ark., was arrested for posting a threatening Snapchat photo with an AR-style firearm, hinting at school violence. The photo, which led to police involvement, showed the firearm with a caption implying the school was unprepared for violence.


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Upon investigation, the boy's mother cooperated with authorities, confirming her son's access to the firearm but assuring it was secure. The boy faced charges related to threatening mass violence on school property. His identity remains undisclosed due to his age. **[Read More]([link removed] 202402-22&utm_medium=email)**


**Arrest Made in Connection to Threat to Wisconsin School District**


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An arrest was made in connection to a threat against Bowler School District in Bower, Wis., leading to a school closure for safety. 


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The threat, investigated by Stockbridge-Munsee Police, was not detailed but led to precautionary measures. The department has not released any other details. **[Read More]([link removed] 202402-22&utm_medium=email)**

Hostile Foreign Influence Operations
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*Tony Bobulinski, former associate of the Biden family, after speaking to reporters on October 22, 2020, ahead of the final presidential debate - MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images*
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**Impeachment Testimony Alleges Biden's Involvement in Chinese Business Dealings**


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Tony Bobulinski, a former associate of the Biden family, testified in an impeachment inquiry, accusing President Joe Biden of involvement in his family's foreign business dealings in China.


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Bobulinski claimed President Biden was an enabler in a venture with CEFC China Energy, starting in 2015. The testimony includes allegations of Biden's engagement with CEFC's chairman and claims of a comprehensive attempt by the Chinese Communist Party to influence the Biden family and the Obama-Biden administration. **[Read More]([link removed] 202402-22&utm_medium=email)**


**China Using Fake Local News Sites to Push Propaganda**


- Citizen Lab reports a Beijing PR firm created over 100 fake news sites in 30 countries for pro-China messages.
- Sites mix local news with pro-Beijing content, including anti-U.S. conspiracy theories.
- Despite currently low exposure, there's a risk of amplification through AI chatbots. **[Read More]([link removed] 202402-22&utm_medium=email)**

Research and Trends in Extremism
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*Students hold a rally in support of Israel and demand greater protection from antisemitism on campus at Columbia University - Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images*
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**Nearly Half of American Jews Have Altered Their Behavior Due to Antisemitism**


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The American Jewish Committee (AJC) State of Antisemitism in America 2023 report reveals 46 percent of American Jews altered their behavior due to antisemitism fears, a significant rise from previous years. 


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Antisemitism's surge, especially post the October 7 Hamas attack, underscores the threat's severity. The report emphasizes urgent action against this rise and calls for full implementation of the U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism. 


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The AJC report highlights the impact of antisemitism in various spheres, including online, the workplace, and campuses, stressing the need for a collective response to combat hate. **[Read More]([link removed] 202402-22&utm_medium=email)**


**New GAO Report on Online Extremism Shows Increasing Online Hate Speech**


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A GAO report links online hate speech to rising hate crimes, with a significant portion of internet users encountering hate speech.


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The report found that each company studied had a different way of flagging hateful posts. All of the companies used algorithms, to varying degrees, to flag content and remove it. Some also relied on users to identify harmful content.


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Efforts include monitoring by internet companies and federal data collection, though gaps in understanding online hate crimes persist. **[Read More]([link removed] 202402-22&utm_medium=email)**

Have You Found A Story You Think We Should Cover?
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If you see an article on violent extremism in the U.S. or hostile foreign influence that is reliable, timely, and fits into one of the six categories that we cover in this newsletter, please send us a note, either by replying directly to this email or by [**submitting a contact form**]([link removed] 202402-22&utm_medium=email) under the appropriate "news tip" category.  

QUOTABLE
 
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“We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution.”

*- Abraham Lincoln*

NOTE TO OUR READERS: We have pulled out the salient points of the articles in this newsletter to keep you informed and focused on the most relevant, important and timely news in national security and extremism. While our national security experts stand behind the summary bullets and deem them trustworthy, Clarion Project does not endorse all the views expressed in the articles linked.

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