Wednesday, 06 November 2024

U.S. Army Base Backtracks After Referring To Pro-Life Orgs As ‘Terrorist Groups’


A sign after a ceremony renaming Fort Bragg as Fort Liberty, near Fayetteville, North Carolina, on June 2, 2023. Calls to rename nine military bases, all of which are located in southern states that seceded and briefly formed the Confederacy, gained momentum during nationwide protests against racism and police brutality that were sparked by the 2020 murder of George Floyd, an African American man, who died at the hands of a white police officer in Minneapolis.Credit: Photo by ALLISON JOYCE/AFP via Getty Images.

A U.S. Army base in North Carolina on Thursday disavowed training slides previously shown that referred to several pro-life organizations as “terrorist groups” after images were widely circulated on social media. 

Slides referring to the National Right to Life and Operation Rescue as terrorists were used during a recent anti-terrorism training at Fort Liberty, formerly known as Fort Bragg, military authorities confirmed on Thursday.

“After conducting a commander’s inquiry, we determined that the slides presented on social media were not vetted by the appropriate approval authorities, and do not reflect the views of the XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Liberty, the U.S. Army or the Department of Defense,” Fort Liberty said in a statement. “The slides were developed by a local garrison employee to train Soldiers manning access control points at Fort Liberty.”

“These slides will no longer be used, and all future training products will be reviewed to ensure they align with the current DoD anti-terrorism guidance,” the statement added. 

The slides were first flagged by Sam Shoemate on X, who describes himself as an “advocate for service members seeking justice.” 

The slides cited the pro-life groups’ opposition to Roe v. Wade and activities like “mass demonstrations” and sidewalk counseling. They also showed an image of a pro-life license plate urging people to “choose life.”  Additionally, it linked the two groups to bombings and attempted murders. 

Carol Tobias, president of the National Right to Life, said the organization has “always … condemned violence against anyone.”

“Only under the Biden Administration can peaceful law-abiding citizens and their peaceful activities be considered ‘terrorism’” she said. “The Biden Administration promotes the deaths of preborn babies and advocates for unlimited abortion, but peaceful pro-life Americans are labeled ‘terrorists.’”

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Operation Rescue President Troy Newman told the Washington Examiner that the slides were previously used by the FBI and appeared to be recycled for the recent presentation at Fort Liberty. 

“We have morons running the DOJ and the FBI,” he said, adding that the Biden administration was “turning its eyes inward to peaceful, patriotic individuals with different views.”

North Carolina GOP Senator Ted Budd called for the Army to conduct a full investigation into the presentation. 

“Smearing pro-life Americans as terrorists is despicable. The materials briefed at Fort Liberty are disturbing,” he said. “As soon as I became aware of it, I directed my team to contact Army and Fort Liberty officials. They have begun an investigation. The Army must get to the bottom of this and see that it never happens again.”


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