Find out if (and why) the Government might think you are a terrorist

Long-time Campaign for Liberty members surely recall that, in 2009, the State of Missouri issued a report labeling C4L members and Ron Paul for President supporters as “possible domestic terrorists.” While this report, produced by a federally-funded “fusion center” was eventually withdrawn, it still stands as an example of how the government could use the powers it has gained in the war on terror to harass those with dissident views.

The threat to free speech, and other rights, posed by recent federal initiatives to counter violent extremism is why Campaign for Liberty is cosponsoring the Brennan Center for Law and Justice’s event on this topic. The event will take place at the National Press Club on Friday from 1:30 to 4.

Among the speakers is Patrick Eddington of the CATO Institute. Readers of the this blog will recognize Mr. Eddington as one of the few in DC who joined Campaign for Liberty in opposing the phony USA Freedom Act.  Mr. Eddington, who has worked on the hill and for the C.I.A., is an excellent choice to explain why conservatives and libertarians should be concerned about government programs targeting those with “extremist” views, like opposition to the welfare state, the warfare state, the surveillance state, and the fiat money system that makes it all possible.

Anyone interested in attending should RSVP to Meghan Koushik at  meghan.koushik@nyu.edu or 646.292.8382.

Below is more information on the event:

The Brennan Center for Justice and the Campaign for Liberty present a congressional briefing: Countering Violent Extremism: A Briefing Friday, October 30, 2015 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. National Press Club 529 14th St NW Washington, DC 20045 In the last several years, the U.S. government has increased emphasis on implementing programs aimed at Countering Violent Extremism (CVE), both internationally and domestically, launching initiatives led by U.S. Attorneys in three pilot cities: Boston, Minneapolis and Los Angeles. Congress too has become involved. The Department of Homeland Security recently established a new Office for Community Partnerships, dedicated to the mission of countering violent extremism. But do CVE programs really work? Can they be structured so as to avoid characterizing minority communities as suspect populations? And how are they received by the communities at which they are targeted? Come hear experts engage in a discussion of these important and timely issues. Panels will be moderated by Michael German, Fellow in the Brennan Center’s Liberty and National Security Program, and Hina Shamsi, Director of the ACLU’s National Security Project. Please RSVP to Meghan Koushik at meghan.koushik@nyu.edu or 646.292.8382. Speakers will include: Patrick Eddington, Cato Institute | Shannon Erwin, Muslim Justice League | Jaylani Hussein, Council on American-Islamic Relations, Minnesota | Arun Kundnani, New York University | Clark McCauley, National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) | Francesco Ragazzi, Leiden University | Rizwaan Sabir, Liverpool John Moores University | David Schanzer, Duke University’s Triangle Center on Terrorism and Homeland Security