Petition wants White House to call Black Lives Matter a ‘terrorist organization’
Black Lives Matter may as well be ISIS — according to more than 119,000 people who have signed an online White House petition calling for the federal government to deem the group a “terrorist organization.”
The petition, submitted through the White House’s “We the People” project, states, “It is time for the pentagon to be consistent in its actions – and just as they rightfully declared ISIS a terror group, they must declare Black Lives Matter a terror group – on the grounds of principle, integrity, morality, and safety.”
The Black Lives Matter movement, known for holding anti-police brutality protests across the country, has recently picked up steam in the wake of the last week’s police shooting deaths of two black men – Atlon Sterling and Philando Castile – in Louisiana and Minnesota, respectively.
The petition was created on July 6 – the same day that Castile was shot and killed during a car stop in suburban St. Paul – by a user only identified as Y.S. and quickly gained momentum following the next-day slaying of five Dallas police officers during a Black Lives Matter protest.
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Protesters gather at the Louisiana Capitol to protest the shooting of Alton Sterling on July 9, 2016 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.Photo: Getty Images
Dallas cop-killer Micah Xavier Johnson, 25, an ex-US Army reservist who developed a hatred for white people, told police in an hours-long standoff that he had acted alone and was not affiliated with any group, though he said he was acting in support of the movement.
Activists at the July 7 Black Lives Matter march in Dallas said that Johnson was not a part of their protest, The Daily Beast reported.
The anti-Black Lives Matter petition says, “Terrorism is defined as ‘the use of violence and intimidation in pursuit of political aims.’ This definition is the same definition used to declare ISIS and other groups, as terrorist organizations.”
“Black Lives Matter has earned this title due to its actions in Ferguson, Baltimore, and even at a Bernie Sanders rally, as well as all over the United States and Canada,” the petition adds.
Petitions on the White House website need to reach 100,000 signatures within 30 days in order to receive an official response from the White House within 60 days.
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Baton Rouge police rush a crowd of protesters and start making arrests on July 9, 2016 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.Photo: Getty Images
A counter petition on the White House website sprung up on Sunday urging the Obama administration to not recognize Black Lives Matter as a terrorist group.
That petition, which garnered about 1,200 signatures by Tuesday, states, “A petition to recognize the black lives matter movement was started and that’s not what the movement is about. It’s about bringing change to America through nonviolent protests.”
Following the Dallas cop massacre, Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick was quick to directly blame Black Lives Matter protests for the killings.
On Monday, Police Commissioner Bill Bratton defended his criticism of the group, saying, “The issue of concern I have is when an organization or any organization seeks to define us, or stereotype us.”
A Black Lives Matter rep did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the petition.
Black Lives Matter may as well be ISIS — according to more than 119,000 people who have signed an online White House petition calling for the federal government to deem the group a “terrorist organization.”
The petition, submitted through the White House’s “We the People” project, states, “It is time for the pentagon to be consistent in its actions – and just as they rightfully declared ISIS a terror group, they must declare Black Lives Matter a terror group – on the grounds of principle, integrity, morality, and safety.”
The Black Lives Matter movement, known for holding anti-police brutality protests across the country, has recently picked up steam in the wake of the last week’s police shooting deaths of two black men – Atlon Sterling and Philando Castile – in Louisiana and Minnesota, respectively.
The petition was created on July 6 – the same day that Castile was shot and killed during a car stop in suburban St. Paul – by a user only identified as Y.S. and quickly gained momentum following the next-day slaying of five Dallas police officers during a Black Lives Matter protest.
Modal Trigger
Protesters gather at the Louisiana Capitol to protest the shooting of Alton Sterling on July 9, 2016 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.Photo: Getty Images
Dallas cop-killer Micah Xavier Johnson, 25, an ex-US Army reservist who developed a hatred for white people, told police in an hours-long standoff that he had acted alone and was not affiliated with any group, though he said he was acting in support of the movement.
Activists at the July 7 Black Lives Matter march in Dallas said that Johnson was not a part of their protest, The Daily Beast reported.
The anti-Black Lives Matter petition says, “Terrorism is defined as ‘the use of violence and intimidation in pursuit of political aims.’ This definition is the same definition used to declare ISIS and other groups, as terrorist organizations.”
“Black Lives Matter has earned this title due to its actions in Ferguson, Baltimore, and even at a Bernie Sanders rally, as well as all over the United States and Canada,” the petition adds.
Petitions on the White House website need to reach 100,000 signatures within 30 days in order to receive an official response from the White House within 60 days.
Modal Trigger
Baton Rouge police rush a crowd of protesters and start making arrests on July 9, 2016 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.Photo: Getty Images
A counter petition on the White House website sprung up on Sunday urging the Obama administration to not recognize Black Lives Matter as a terrorist group.
That petition, which garnered about 1,200 signatures by Tuesday, states, “A petition to recognize the black lives matter movement was started and that’s not what the movement is about. It’s about bringing change to America through nonviolent protests.”
Following the Dallas cop massacre, Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick was quick to directly blame Black Lives Matter protests for the killings.
On Monday, Police Commissioner Bill Bratton defended his criticism of the group, saying, “The issue of concern I have is when an organization or any organization seeks to define us, or stereotype us.”
A Black Lives Matter rep did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the petition.
