Friday, April 17, 2009

AZ Right to Life responds to Napolitano's characterization of "right wing radicals"


Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano Slams Pro-lifers In Report to Law Enforcement Agencies Nationwide


Arizona Right to Life is saddened and deeply disappointed by a recent report made public by Department of Homeland Security Secretary and former Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano regarding many organizations throughout the nation, including pro-life groups and our nation's military.

Arizona Right to Life PAC cannot understand the mental acuity behind recent comments made by Secretary Napolitano. In a Homeland Security report sent to police and sheriff's departments, titled "Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment," Napolitano warned about groups like Arizona Right to Life,

"Rightwing extremism in the United States...[includes groups] rejecting federal authority in favor of state or local authority....[and] may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration."
The report asserts that "right wing extremists" made up domestic terrorist groups that were responsible for an increase in violent attacks in the 1990's, including the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, and hints that with Barack Obama as the first African-American president, there will be a rise in white supremacist militias.

This characterization of many worthy organizations, such as Arizona Right to Life, as hate groups or terrorist groups is extremely offensive and lacks any basis in truth. Organizations such as Arizona Right to Life are composed of peaceful citizens from all walks of life and all political parties. These organizations work to restore, in law, all protection of all innocent human beings, including unborn children, as was the case prior to the U.S. Supreme Court's edict in Roe v. Wade in 1973. This work does not reflect the action or attitude of a hate group or terrorist group. Quite the contrary, the whole goal of these organizations is to end violence against all human beings.

Secretary Napolitano, and the Obama Administration, feign a lack of understanding and "concern" over the mission of pro-life organizations as a thinly veiled maneuver to forward an agenda based on extremist disregard for human life. As citizens of a nation founded on the tenets of justice and freedom, no one should be willing to tolerate such blatant manipulation and disregard for truth.

The answer that all Americans should be demanding of this administration is "Why is the Department of Homeland Security spending our time and resources singling out groups like pro-life supporters instead of focusing on identifying and apprehending the real terrorists - like al-Qaeda - groups that have vowed to destroy America?". If Secretary Napolitano is unwilling or unable to address the true threats to this country, it is imperative that she be immediately replaced by someone who can and will.

Secretary Napolitano has issued a weak apology to the United States Military for the outrageous and erroneous statements made in this report. This is not enough. We urge our grassroots supporters to contact Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and demand that she formally apologize, recant the statements made against the many organizations that have been libeled by this report and begin to fulfill her obligation to address the many real threats against our country. Contact information can be found at www.dhs.gov/xutil/contactus.shtm.

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