Why the Capitol Rioters Shouldn’t Be Called “Terrorists”

Recently, Twitter user @HarshaWalia wrote a great thread about why the insurrectionists who rioted at the Capitol shouldn’t be referred to as terrorists. My instant reaction was one of shock — “How are they not terrorists?!” However, after reading her thread, there are some compelling points, especially for those of us interested in ending — instead of expanding — state surveillance.

Read the thread below, and let us know what your thoughts are. Do you think calling them “terrorists” is appropriate or not?

Unpopular opinion but being connected to many people impacted by terrorist designation – let me be clear that calling for its expansion to white supremacists won't work. It is fundamentally regressive law and targets Black, Indigenous, Muslim, Sikh, left communities by design. https://t.co/MTWE3VJcZd
— Harsha Walia (@HarshaWalia) January 7, 2021

Having organized w/security certificate detainees, west coast warriors raided, land defenders targeted by Sitka, countless refugees & permanent residents facing deportation & admissibility hearings on security grounds, I know anti-terror legal infrastructure is rotten by design.
— Harsha Walia (@HarshaWalia) January 7, 2021

1. Do we need to label white supremacists as 'terrorists'? Like, people being organized and dangerous white supremacists, neo-Nazis, fascists isn't enough that we feel the need to finder 'stronger' language like terrorism? Shouldn't NAZIS shock us and mobilize us into action?
— Harsha Walia (@HarshaWalia) January 11, 2021

2. Importantly, "terrorism", and sedition & insurrection, are all state-defined terms.

Their invocation is to signal threat to state & its legitimacy. These are words most commonly deployed against those considered *outside* the state, and hence *as* threats to the state –
— Harsha Walia (@HarshaWalia) January 11, 2021

White supremacists are deeply invested in white supremacy as nation-building. Naming white supremacist orgs as 'terrorist' places them as anomalies or marginal (being 'un-Canadian' or 'un-American'), rather than central organizing & ideological force of violence in US & Canada.
— Harsha Walia (@HarshaWalia) January 11, 2021

Issue is not that state doesnt have enough tools at its disposal – it's that state has chosen not to & will not disrupt white supremacist orgs willingly; calls for more strict 'counter terrorism' is smoke and mirrors; there are technically lots of existing tools at their disposal
— Harsha Walia (@HarshaWalia) January 11, 2021

This isnt just discursive debate (ie what is terrorism, or can definition of terrorism be expanded); there are material consequences for War on Terror. Governing through criminalization & securitization is not neutral terrain; it is fundamentally & foundationally a racial regime.
— Harsha Walia (@HarshaWalia) January 11, 2021

esp Muslim, Arab, Kurdish, Sikh orgs as well as left organizations such as PFLP or FMLN, being labelled as 'terrorists' or accused of being affiliated with 'terrorist entities' to escalate the state violence of detention and deportation of non-citizens.
— Harsha Walia (@HarshaWalia) January 11, 2021

5. To think some kind of 'racial equality' can be achieved in anti-terror legislation – those that argue that as long as white supremacists are included within these laws and policies, then it's 'okay' – is to give long-time cover to anti-terror laws & funding and infrastructure,
— Harsha Walia (@HarshaWalia) January 11, 2021

Similarly, justifying anything under cover of anti-terror or legislation expands police powers, surveillance, criminalization through secret trials, preemptive detention, disappearances & torture in blacksites, CVE programs, military interventions, extradition & deportation.
— Harsha Walia (@HarshaWalia) January 11, 2021

There is no short cut; we fight reactionary and violent revanchist forces by confronting them, organizing against them, mobilizing against them, educating in communities etc; we simply cannot expect a state invested in & upholding the violence we want to end to do this for us.
— Harsha Walia (@HarshaWalia) January 11, 2021