Homegrown Violent Extremists and Minneapolis Protestors

 HVEs and Minneapolis Protestors

 Terrorism Counteraction in the U.S. recently produced categories of terror and terrorism to facilitate investigation and counteraction. One such term is Homegrown violent extremist (HVE), and is used to describe a person who was raised in a western cultural tradition but has rejected those norms and who seeks to replace those norms with something else, by using violent means. Historically, the HVE’s have been raised in America but have embraced the Ideology of Islam.

One working Definition of a Homegrown Violent Extremist (HVE) is this:
“Homegrown violent extremists are those who encourage, endorse, condone, justify, or support the commission of a violent criminal act to achieve political, ideological, religious, social, or economic goals by a citizen or long-term resident of a Western country who has rejected Western cultural values, beliefs, and norms.” (1)


Since 9/11/2001 the principle and largest threat to America, its Western values and traditions, and its form of government, has been the ideology of Islam. Some pundits feel more comfortable identifying the threat as ONLY from some form Islamic fundamentalism or extremism, but elsewhere I have argued that the ideology of Islam, as taught by Mohammad, and transcribed or compiled by early Muslim scholars (2) makes it very clear that Islam requires either the annihilation, or the complete subjugation of all non Muslims. In other words, there is really no such thing as an 'extremist Muslim'. You either ARE a Muslim, or you are not. While that viewpoint is extreme with respect to other religions or ideologies, within Islam itself, it is quit consistent.

When identifying and labeling any extremist group, we look to their objective(s). If that (those) include(s) the complete destruction of any viewpoint in opposition to their own, and the willingness to use violence to achieve that end, then it is pretty easy to attach the label of extremist/terrorist.  

How does one recognize a violent Extremist? One identifies another's membership in a class or species by examining the common characteristics. As the Bible says about Christians: "By your fruits ye shall know them"(Mt 7:20). Examine what the say, of course, but the real truth is observable; what do they D? It is helpful to compare behavior against the list compiled by law lenforcement.

Indicators of VIOLENT EXTREMISTS.

Attempting to obtain explosives; purchase of military style gear;
Leakage on social media; Acquisition of weapons;
Expressing acceptance of violence; Switching from one violent ideology to another;
Attempting to radicalize others; Increased isolation;
Joining groups promoting violence; Discussing ways to avoid law enforcement;
Suspicious financial transactions; praising past successful attacks or attempts;
Suspicious travel; replacing family and friends with violent extremist social groups;
Deleting Social Media posts Counter surveillance;
Encrypted media applications; Acquiring maps/blueprints of potential targets ;
Attempting to travel to a conflict zone
(3)

Looking at the definition and the indicators, the characterization of an HVE is not ideology-dependent. If any person in America, regardless of their citizenship, violently opposes legitimate government law enforcement operations, especially when they cause injury to police, they may treated according to rules of engagement for any other terrorist. 

The dissident protestors in Minneapolis and elsewhere in the U.S., regardless of the sincerity of their beliefs clearly and unambiguously fit the definition (above) of a Homegrown Violent Extremist. It doesn't matter their race, sex, economic status, religious background, education, or anything else; if they oppose law enforcement, are intolerant of any other point of view, and are willing to use violence against others to influence the outcome in their own favor, and start 'checking the boxes' from the list of indicators, then it is (should be) easy to respond accordingly. 

 
JAS 1/2026

 

1.  https://portal.cops.usdoj.gov/resourcecenter/content.ashx/cops-w0738-pub.pdf

2. In Sunni tradition, it is believed that the first caliph Abu Bakr ordered Zayd ibn Thabit to compile the written Quran, relying upon both textual fragments and the memories of those who had memorized it during Muhammad's lifetime, with the rasm (undotted Arabic text) being officially canonized under the third caliph Uthman ibn Affan ( 644–656 CE). Other early scholars recognized include: 'Abd Allah ibn Abbas (619-687 AD)- highly regarded for his knowledge of traditions and his critical interpretation of the Qur'an; Ibn Umar (610-693 AD), a friend and also brother-in-law of Muhammad; Abd Allah ibn Mas'ud (594-693 AD)- also a close companion and friend of Mohammad whom Sunni Islamic tradition regards as the greatest interpreter of the Qu'ran of his time. Source: Wikipedia

(3.) https://nrt.response.epa.gov/sites/107/files/HVEPresentationMaritime.pdf