Study concludes that teens are being targeted by weaponized social media posts to push them toward extremism.

Clarion Project ( [link removed] )

View in browser ( [link removed] )

*********************
The Extremism Roundup
*********************

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

------------------
Islamist Extremism
------------------

Islamic State Fighter in captured fighter jet ( [link removed] )

Islamic State fighter waving a flag while standing on captured government fighter jet in Raqqa, Syria, 2015 - Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

*California Resident Sentenced for Aiding ISIS Fighters*

* A Canadian national living in San Diego, Calif., Abdullahi Ahmed Abdullahi, 37, was sentenced in federal court to 20 years in prison followed by 36 months of supervised release for conspiring with others to provide material support to ISIS.
* From November 2013 through March 2014, Abdullahi encouraged, aided and financially assisted six North American nationals in traveling to Syria, where they joined ISIS and engaged in armed battles to gain control of the territories and civilian populations within Syria. *Read More ( [link removed] )*

*French Company Pleads Guilty to Aiding ISIS*

*

The French cement company Lafarge SA has pleaded guilty in federal court in New York to paying millions of dollars to the Islamic State and the Nusra Front.

*

Between August 2013 and October 2014, Lafarge funneled $6 million to the two terror organizations to ensure continuation of its cement plant operations in Syria.

*

As part of its plea agreement struck with the U.S. Justice Department, Lafarge will pay $778 million in financial penalties. Read Now ( [link removed] ) ** *( [link removed] )*

------------------------------
Alt-Right & Alt-Left Extremism
------------------------------

A member of the Proud Boys sells Proud Boys merchandise ( [link removed] )

A member of the Proud Boys sells Proud Boys merchandise to raise funds to help those jailed from the January 6th riot - Aimee Dilger/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

*Former Proud Boys Leader Pleads Guilty to Seditious Conspiracy*

* A member of the Proud Boys, Shawn Price, 28, of Rockaway Township, N.J., pleaded guilty in the District of Columbia for his actions before and during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
* Price pleaded guilty to interfering with law enforcement officers during a civil disorder.
* Price is to be sentenced on Feb. 9, 2023 and faces a statutory maximum of five years in prison and potential financial penalties. *Read More ( [link removed] )*

*Pro-Choicers Vandalize Michigan Church*

*

Security footage shows three vandals ( [link removed] ) dressed in black approaching the Church of the Resurrection in Lansing, Mich. and scribbling slogans in red paint on the sidewalk. The vandals wrote phrases such as “abort the court” and “death to Christian nationals.”

* The pro-choice group Jane’s Revenge has claimed responsibility for at least 18 arson and vandalism attacks on crisis pregnancy centers and other faith-based organizations throughout the U.S. since May.
*

So far, no arrests have been made ( [link removed] ) for any of these attacks.

*

More than 100 crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs), pro-life organizations and churches have been attacked since the May 2 leak of the Supreme Court draft opinion which overturned Roe v. Wade. Read More ( [link removed] )

*Chicago Mayor Defends Decision to Keep Officer Tied to Proud Boys*
-------------------------------------------------------------------

* Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot defended the decision by Chicago Police Supt. David Brown not to fire an officer who lied about his ties to the Proud Boys group.
* The officer, who was not identified in a report by the Inspector General, was suspended for 120 days. *Read More ( [link removed] )*

*Masked Protester Arrested at Event Featuring Conservative Pundit*

* A masked individual was wrestled to the ground and handcuffed at an event for political pundit Matt Walsh in Houston, Texas. Walsh was at the University of Houston to speak and screen his documentary, “What is a Woman?”
* In the days leading up to the event, an anarchist group attempted to form a protest to counter what they call Walsh’s “transphobia.” *Read More ( [link removed] )*

----------
Hate Crime
----------

Roy Lashley and Robert Lashley ( [link removed] )

Roy Lashley and Robert Lashley - Citrus County Sheriff's Office via 10 Tampa Bay screenshot

*Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Racially Motivated Attack*

*

Roy Lashley, 55, of Citrus Springs, Fla., pleaded guilty to a federal hate crime for attacking a Black man because of his actual and perceived race. Lashley and co-defendent Robert Dewayne Lashley, who pleaded guilty for the same crime on Oct. 4, repeatedly used racial slurs while striking the victim with an ax handle.

*

Lashley faces a maximum term of 10 years imprisonment, three years of mandatory supervised release and a $250,000 fine. *Read More ( [link removed] )*

*Man Charged With Hate Crime in Connection to Attack on Security Guard*

* Jose Manuel Quezada Jr., 33, faces one count each of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon and elder abuse after he allegedly attacked a Black security guard in Pomona, Calif.

* The hate crime allegation was filed because Quezada allegedly made racist remarks toward the 74-year-old guard during the attack. *Read More ( [link removed]- )*

------------------------------------
Hostile Foreign Influence Operations
------------------------------------

LAX Delta Sky Hub ( [link removed] )

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives at the Opening Ceremony of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China on October 16 - Kevin Frayer/Getty Images

FBI Warns Several State Political Parties of Chinese Hackers
------------------------------------------------------------

* The FBI is warning Democratic and Republican state parties that Chinese hackers are scouring their headquarters for vulnerable systems they could potentially hack ahead of midterm elections. *Read More ( [link removed] )*

*Russian Hackers Shut Down Dozens of State Government Websites*
---------------------------------------------------------------

* The Russian hackers group Killnet took responsibility for a wave of cyber attacks that took dozens of state government websites offline through denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. Killnet recently took credit for temporarily taking down websites of multiple U.S. airports. *Read More ( [link removed] )*

------------------------------
Research & Trends in Extremism
------------------------------

Fabian Sommer ( [link removed] )

Report shows a dramatic increase in terror plots on U.S. critical infrastructure - via 8 ABC Nebraska News

Jump in Plots Against Critical Infrastructure
---------------------------------------------

* The National Counterterrorism, Innovation, Technology, and Education Center (NCITE) recently shared a report ( [link removed] ) from September that looks at several extremist groups that target critical infrastructure and noted that there was a dramatic jump in terrorist plots from 2016 to 2022. Read More ( [link removed] )

Teens are Being Driven to Extremism by Targeted Social Media Content
--------------------------------------------------------------------

*

Dana Coester, a professor at the Reed College of Media at West Virginia University, conducted a study of polarization and online extremism.

*

After simulating the internet access of a hypothetical 13-year-old boy for her study, Coester concluded teens and young adult males are being targeted by weaponized social media posts designed to push them toward extremism. *Read More ( [link removed] )*

QUOTABLE
“Freedom of speech is a principal pillar of a free government; when this support is taken away, the constitution of a free society is dissolved, and tyranny is erected on its ruins. Republics and limited monarchies derive their strength and vigor from a popular examination into the action of the magistrates.”

--Benjamin Franklin

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.

*SUPPORT CLARION PROJECT’S VITAL WORK*
Help us create a world unafraid. Make a donation to help us expose extremists who threaten our safety and security. The Clarion Project is a registered 501(c)(3), donations are tax deductible.

DONATE NOW ( [link removed] )

*RECEIVED THIS EMAIL FROM A FRIEND?*
Sign Up to The Extremism Roundup ( [link removed] ) - delivered every Thursday

Fb ( [link removed] ) Tw ( [link removed] ) Yt ( [link removed] )

Copyright © 2022 Clarion Project, All rights reserved.
Clarion Project
2435 North Central Expressway
Suite 1280
Richardson, TX 75080

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences ( [link removed] ) or unsubscribe from this list ( [link removed] ).