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Extremists’ recent actions provide us a glimpse of U.S. election turmoil ahead, CSUSB professor writes
The (Toronto) Globe and Mail
June 12, 2020

Brian Levin, professor of criminal justice and the director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino, wrote in an op-ed column: “The unrest in the aftermath of the horrifying death of George Floyd saw a virtual carousel of extremists from across the ideological spectrum briefly capture America’s attention. Right now the public focus has shifted to embrace a more peaceful and diverse reform movement. However, there are lessons to be learned from the forays of extremists into these events.”

Read the complete article at “Extremists’ recent actions provide us a glimpse of U.S. election turmoil ahead.”

Man who supplied guns in Dec. 2 mass shooting that killed 14, including five CSUSB alumni, can’t withdraw guilty plea
The Sun/Southern California News Group/Bay Area News Group
June 12, 2020

Brian Levin, professor of criminal justice and the director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at CSUSB, commented on a decision by a federal judge to reject an attempt by the Riverside man who supplied weapons to the 2015 San Bernardino shooters to withdraw his guilty plea to providing material support to a terrorist.

U.S. District Judge Jesus G. Bernal on Wednesday, June 10, filed a ruling that said Enrique Marquez Jr., 28, did not meet the standard required to pull out of his plea. On Jan. 31, after a two-day hearing in Riverside that included the testimony of psychiatrists, Bernal said he was likely to rule against the petition.

Even though Marquez did not take part in the plot, Levin said, the law tries to hold those who fail to stop a crime accountable.

“This is not only a legal decision that the judge rendered, but it was a justly moral one as well. From the bottom of my heart, it’s my earnest hope that these families of grace can find at least a little solace in the judge’s decision,” Levin said Friday.

Fourteen people, including five CSUSB alumni, died in the Dec. 2, 2015, attack on the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino.

Read the complete article at “Man who supplied guns for San Bernardino terrorist attack can’t undo guilty plea.”

Racist email aimed a fourth grader ‘looks like a hate crime criminal threat,’ CSUSB professor says
The Press-Enterprise/Southern California News Group/Bay Area News Group
June 12, 2020

Brian Levin, director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at CSUSB, was interviewed for an article about Alisa Flowers’ 9-year-old daughter, who logged on to her laptop Wednesday, May 27 — two days after George Floyd died under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer — to retrieve her distance-learning assignments from Corona’s Lincoln Fundamental Elementary School. The African American fourth grader opened an email to find expletives and a racial epithet aimed at her, with a computerized silhouette image of a person hanging from a noose.

Levin called the matter serious.

“Unless there is some evidence countervailing what we know, this looks like a hate crime criminal threat,” Levin said.

It was the latest racial incident in Inland schools this school year, sparking concern from officials and experts. Flowers said a Lincoln school official told her a boy in her daughter’s class sent the email through the account of another child in that same class of about 27 students. Flowers said she learned 14 other emails, each containing “derogatory language” and many based on the perceived ethnicity of students, were sent by the same child to others — mostly fourth-grade students.

Levin said one cannot understate “the devastating impact a lynching threat has on an African American child and family in the heart of our community.”

“The timing of this racist threat has particular resonance because a broad array of young people of all races have shown that it’s a new day,” he said, referring to protests that have swept the nation since Floyd’s May 25 death. “America is not going to tolerate this kind of garbage anymore.”

Read the complete article at “African American girl gets email with racial slur, noose image from Corona classmate.”

Far-right extremists use current social and political upheaval to promote their message, CSUSB professor says
The Philadelphia Inquirer
June 13, 2020

Brian Levin, director of CSUSB’s Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, was one of the experts interviewed for an article about far-right extremists who have found opportunity in the social and political upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic and the killing of George Floyd.

Groups have used a playbook that experts say extremists have long relied on: Latch on to in-person and online movements, whether they agree with the message or not, to establish a foothold in new communities, recruit members, and, in some cases, simply sow mayhem. For some extremists, protests have become a platform.

“When you have people who have divisive or even violent goals showing up at these kinds of highly charged rallies," said Levin, "it gives them the opportunity to spread their message in a forum and with an audience they wouldn’t normally have.”

Read the complete article at “White supremacists and other extremist groups are using protests and a pandemic to amplify their message.”

What is Antifa? Expert from CSUSB and others offer perspective
Spectrum News 1 (Columbus, Ohio)
June 14, 2020

Brian Levin, director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at CSUSB, was interviewed for an article about the far left-wing Antifa movement, which the Trump administration wants to designate a terrorist organization, but that is likely unconstitutional.

One academic who has long studied Antifa has his doubts about some of the allegations lodged against the movement.

“As an organized entity that's somehow driving violence around peaceful protestors just isn't true,” says Levin.

He says while Antifa remains active in areas of the Pacific Northwest and the Bay Area, there's no evidence showing they're behind the rash of violence across the country.

Initial arrest reports show they are independent individuals with no group or movement affiliation.

“Extremist movements also get their energy and their recruits based on what's happening in the mainstream, and the fact that so many progressive leftists now are making peaceful change, is knocking the wind out the sails of the hardened Antifa folks who might want to recruit,” said Levin.

And when it comes to the opposite side of the spectrum, Levin says on the far-right we're seeing decentralization, which makes it difficult to label certain entities as groups when their associations don't rise to that level.

“When the president talked about labeling Antifa as a terrorist group, interestingly enough, it happened around the same day that the far-right Boogaloo Boys, who are looking for a Civil War, were mopped up by the feds on federal charges,” said Levin.

Read the complete article at “What is Antifa? Experts offer perspective.”

Antifa has no organized leadership, CSUSB professor says
The Week

Brian Levin, director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at CSUSB, was one of the experts interviewed for an article at the far-left movement known as Antifa. President Trump is blaming a radical leftist group for organizing violent protests and attacks on police. The article seeks to separate fact from fiction.

Because there is no leadership, hierarchy, or organized recruitment, anyone can call themselves antifa. "It's like calling Deadheads or Red Sox Nation" an organization, said Levin.

Read the complete article at “Antifa, explained.”

These news clips  and others may be viewed at “In the Headlines.”