NGOs Call on FBI to Investigate Funding of Candidates and Media that Engage in Violent Rhetoric Against Public Servants

Chamber of Commerce, American Crossroads And Fox News Supported Eliminationist Rhetoric

WASHINGTON, Jan. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Yesterday, StopDomesticTerror.com, a group of NGOs seeking accountability for those who incite and commit homemade terror, sent a letter to FBI Director Robert Mueller requesting that the FBI investigate and prosecute IRS and FCC-approved organizations that fund and promote violence against political candidates and others. See full letter here: http://www.velvetrevolution.us/images/FBI_Shut_Down_Funders.pdf. StopDomesticTerror.com has been warning for years about the far right inciting violence, and Frank Schaeffer, a former member of the right who helped launch the campaign, has gone on record as saying that many of these threats are a product of "lobbyist run" groups that have "a small army ... at their beck and call." He calls them, "American Brown Shirts at the ready." For example, he names Freedom Works and Americans For Prosperity for being major supporters of intimidation tactics during the health care debate. http://www.alternet.org/health/141833?page=1

During the 2010 election campaign, another lobbyist run group, the United States Chamber of Commerce spent $162,000 to support Jesse Kelly in his "Shoot A Fully Automatic M16" eliminationist attacks on Gabrielle Giffords. American Crossroads/Crossroads GPS poured millions of dollars in ads supporting Sarah Palin backed candidates, including over $1.5 million for Sharon Angle who advocated "Second Amendment remedies" against Congress. In fact, Sharon Angle was supported by more than 20 registered organizations with expenditures topping more than $8 million. Glenn Beck supported Michelle Bachman with free airtime after she asked her constituents to be "armed and dangerous," and he held a fundraiser for the Chamber of Commerce which declared "war" on President Obama and the judiciary. FOX Chairman Rupert Murdoch helped fund the Chamber's ad campaigns with a million dollar donation. Other groups authorized by the Internal Revenue Service also provided funding and material support to groups and candidates that promoted violence against other candidates.

StopDomesticTerror.com has called on the FBI to work with the IRS to revoke the tax status of groups such as SarahPac, the Chamber of Commerce, American Crossroads, Freedom Works and Americans for Prosperity that support and fund people who foment violence against fellow Americans and the United States Government under the guise of legitimate political activity. Many of these organizations are registered and operating for the promotion of the "public welfare" or as business leagues and political action committees yet they are funding candidates that undermine democracy. Moreover, the campaign urges the FCC to revoke the licenses of news and media organizations that allow commentators to call for violence against fellow Americans whether directly or with coded words and commentary.

While Fox News, SarahPac, the Chamber of Commerce and American Crossroads and others are not designated terrorist organizations, they have provided funding and material support for people, candidates and groups that have used language advocating violence against public servants, and violence has occurred as a result. Therefore, StopDomesticTerror.com has called for these groups to be shuttered, and the principals behind them held accountable for crossing the line that has led to violence.

SOURCE StopDomesticTerror.com