The FBI has faced widespread criticism after its director, Christopher Wray, downplayed the role of white supremacism in a recent panel discussion at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
During the event, Wray acknowledged that the FBI considers domestic terrorism, including white supremacist groups, a growing threat. However, he also made a point to emphasize that most domestic terrorism incidents are committed by individuals who are not part of any organized group, and that the majority of attacks are committed by a “lone wolf” with no known ties to any larger movement.
Critics have accused Wray of minimizing the threat posed by white supremacist groups and ignoring the long history of terrorist attacks committed by individuals with ties to these groups.
“We are not just dealing with a few isolated individuals,” said Nancy Mancias, national coordinator for Code Pink, a progressive anti-war organization. “The FBI’s failure to acknowledge the role of white supremacist groups in these incidents is a continuation of their long-standing pattern of downplaying the threat posed by these groups.
“The FBI has failed us,” she added. “They have failed to take these threats seriously, and they have failed to take the necessary steps to combat them.”
Others have pointed out that Wray’s comments are at odds with the agency’s own statistics, which show that in 2020, the majority of domestic terrorism incidents were committed by individuals with ties to white supremacist groups.
It’s not the first time the FBI has faced criticism for its handling of white supremacist violence. In 2019, the agency was accused of failing to take action against neo-Nazis and other white supremacist groups despite warning signs that attacks were imminent.
The criticism comes as the country grapples with a surge in violent attacks attributed to white supremacist ideologies. Last week, a gunman opened fire on two Asian-American spas in the Atlanta area, killing eight people and wounding several others. The FBI is still investigating the motive behind the attack, but suspects that it may have been motivated by hatred towards Asian Americans.
In the face of growing public concern over the rise of white supremacist violence, experts say the FBI’s failure to acknowledge the problem is not only misguided, but also dangerous.
“You can’t effectively address a problem if you don’t acknowledge its existence,” said Mark Potok, a senior fellow at the Southern Poverty Law Center. “The FBI’s refusal to recognize the threat posed by white supremacist groups is a stark reminder that they are not taking the necessary steps to combat this threat.”
