The Terror of Anti-Terrorism Laws: How the State Exploits Fear to Increase Police Power and Suppress Movements

While calls for anti-terrorism legislation and initiatives have been a mainstay in our political discourse for the past 20 years, they have recently surged in response to the white supremacist violence at the Capitol on January 6. These recent calls for anti-terrorism legislation continue to be justified by its purported ability to promote public safety. However, experience has shown that rather than protecting the public, such legislation instead strengthens the State’s ability to police and oppress Muslim communities, communities of color, and individuals who speak out against State and corporate power. More recently, law enforcement is weaponizing these anti-terrorism laws against community organizers and activists, most notably against 23 people charged with domestic terrorism last month after protesting the proposed “Cop City” police training facility in Atlanta.