SPLC chatter predicts arrests of Spokane liberty activists


March 9, 2015 11:11 AM MST

by David Codrea

A courageous individual, demanding recognition of his rights, stands in defiance against the awesome power of a state intent on crushing any who challenge it.
Maria Bosworth

In spite of federal law enforcement officials shaking his hand and telling liberty activist Anthony Bosworth they appreciated his leadership in keeping a Friday armed rally at a federal building in Spokane peaceful and orderly, now that the protesters have dispersed, they may be “swatted” one-by-one for defying a federal judge’s last-minute order banning guns on complex grounds. That’s a not-implausible expectation voiced under a post by former “investigative reporter with a special emphasis on ... extremist groups” Bill Morlin, who presented his recap of the rally on the Southern Poverty Law Center’s “HateWatch” blog.

That SPLC categorized the group of protesters as haters in the first place fits into its standard practice of smearing Bill of Rights-promoting activists by conflating them with violence-initiating bigots and subversives. The tactic has paid off for the group, with the Department of Homeland Security essentially partnering with SPLC to profile Americans who believe in the Constitution as “domestic threats.”

An SPLC presence at the rally was no surprise. Mike Vanderboegh of Sipsey Street Irregulars had predicted it. Also no surprise are some of the comments under Morlin’s report, one in particular claiming U.S. Marshal sources plan on arresting identified participants on an individual basis.

That is a possibility I discussed with Vanderboegh before the rally, and highlights a real fear that has the potential to move those holding irreconcilable positions closer to conflict. A federal judge who threatened contempt charges in her order has been defied. If that is not followed through with enforcement, her edict will have been flouted in a most public and visible way, and her position, ego and anger give strong personal incentive to demand obedience at all costs. So expect those in charge of federal enforcement – and those who enthusiastically follow their orders – to ensure their monopoly of violence authority cannot be successfully challenged by mere upstart citizens.

If arrests are made, expect rules of engagement to treat targets as armed and dangerous, so that any encounters will be planned to surprise and overwhelm, and also to demoralize others from attempting similar future acts of defiance. Expect guns to be confiscated from those arrested, and the media to fully exploit the potential to gin up public fears by displaying “arsenals.” Expect "child protective services" to wield power if it can. Expect prosecutors to bring the full power of the state, with all of its resources, down on people with limited means to defend themselves, and to economically cripple defendants with asset forfeiture if it looks like they intend to try. Expect homes to be foreclosed on, or evictions from rental units, when incomes are cut off and breadwinners are no longer free to earn them. Expect sentences to be severe to set an example of what anyone who defies the state can look forward to.

And expect some, seeing this, to know that “shall not be infringed” is a meaningless phrase unless accompanied with an unbending commitment to see the words are honored in spite of personal costs. And that is where things can really get precipitous, if ramping up enforcement produces the unintended consequence of corresponding resistance by those who fully understand that, and not just in Spokane.