The Fear and Power of White Advantage

The Fear and Power of White Advantage

In the United States, the history of white supremacy infiltrating law enforcement stretches back to the post-Civil War era, with evidence of a persistent pattern of racist ideology embedded within policing institutions. This infiltration has significantly impacted Indigenous water protectors and climate activists, who often face disproportionate surveillance, criminalization, and violence from law enforcement agencies.

During the late 19th century, white supremacist paramilitary groups like the White League in Louisiana openly operated as civic militias aimed at suppressing Black political power and enforcing racial order through violence. These groups blurred the line between state and mob violence, with local law enforcement officials frequently being members or supporters.

Fast forward to contemporary times, and experts such as former FBI agent Michael German reveal that white supremacist and far-right ideologies remain embedded within federal and local law enforcement institutions. German highlights how agencies have historically failed to address, and have at times enabled, far-right violence and domestic terrorism, as seen in events like the January 6 Capitol attack. These institutions have often deprioritized investigations into hate crimes and white nationalist threats, instead surveilling and targeting racial justice and environmental activists, including Indigenous groups defending water rights and climate protections.

The impact on Indigenous water protectors and climate activists has been severe. Activists protecting sacred lands and natural resources have consistently encountered state repression, including surveillance, aggressive policing, and criminal charges, often justified through narratives portraying them as threats to public order. The infiltration of white supremacist ideology into law enforcement partly contributes to this dynamic, facilitating a system where activists of colour are disproportionately targeted while extremist violence from white groups remains under-prosecuted.

This continuity from the overt white supremacist militias during Reconstruction to modern law enforcement's complicity with far-right extremism illustrates a systemic issue that affects marginalized communities, including Indigenous environmental defenders. Addressing this requires comprehensive law enforcement reform and accountability, especially regarding the protection of activists who challenge institutional and environmental injustices.

Some recent examples of this systemic issue include the more than 140 people arrested during the Standing Rock mobilization against the Dakota Access Pipeline in 2016. In Washington, D.C., climate activists have faced mass arrests during demonstrations, with over 600 arrests by Capitol Police over several months. In South Dakota, Governor Kristi Noem attempted to pass riot-boosting legislation in 2019 in response to Keystone XL opponents, which was ruled unconstitutional by the courts. Since then, 25 states have passed laws that threaten vocal environmentalists, especially oil and gas pipeline opponents, with arrest.

In Louisiana, two environmental activists were temporarily imprisoned for possessing a box of plastic. In 2016, riot police with the Morton County Sheriff's Department used rubber bullets, pepper spray, tasers, and arrests to clear water protectors from a road outside a worker camp for the Dakota Access Pipeline. Oscar High Elk, a water protector and founder of Roots Camp, was arrested outside the courthouse where Jasilyn Charger's hearing was being held, despite having a warrant out for his arrest related to a nonviolent direct action. High Elk currently faces felony charges and could see up to 23 years in jail as a result of his arrest.

The organization Global Witness has documented the highest number of killings of environmental defenders in 2019 than any year before. The racist disparity in law enforcement's treatment of different groups has never been clearer. At the time of publishing, at least 82 people have been arrested and five dead after the attack on the Capitol, with reports suggesting that some of the attackers included off-duty police officers and military members.

In conclusion, the history of white supremacy infiltrating U.S. law enforcement is a persistent and systemic issue that requires immediate attention and comprehensive reform. Addressing this issue is crucial for ensuring the safety and protection of marginalized communities, including Indigenous environmental defenders, and for fostering a more just and equitable society.

1. The ongoing infiltration of white supremacist ideology within law enforcement institutions has resulted in the disproportionate surveillance, criminalization, and violence against climate activists and Indigenous water protectors in the U.S.
2. The lack of thorough investigations into hate crimes and white nationalist threats by law enforcement has allowed far-right extremism to persist, as environmental and racial justice activists continue to be targeted.
3. In the contemporary newsletter of a magazine focusing on general-news, environmental-science, and climate-change topics, activists are urged to be alert and take necessary precautions due to the ongoing threats and violence from far-right groups and law enforcement.
4. Activists around the country, such as those defending water rights and climate protections, have faced severe repression, including arrests, aggressive policing, and judicial charges, while extremist violence from white supremacist groups remains under-prosecuted.
5. In the face of these persistent challenges, communities and activists have formed stronger bonds and alliances, inspiring a new wave of activism in the realm of political and environmental activism, aiming to combat climate-change and secure a safer and more just future for all communities.

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