Step 1: Create overreaching laws and sell them to the public with the word "terrorist".
Step 2: Evolve the definition of the world "terrorist" behind the scenes.
We are seeing similar word play in Canada as the word "terrorist" evolves into "radicalized". Of important utility to our government as they attempt to shift public perception of environmentalists over to "radical" or "extreme" due to the prominence of our oil industry. With success expect these sorts of labels to be slowly painted over our Native population in some old fashioned establishment racism.
Lots of "freeman-on-the-land" types are being charged as terrorists. I had two that the CBC was chomping at the bit to sensationalize. Imagine their dismay when it was resolved administratively, without jail time.
For a good example of how they're attacking the Radicals, Google "Dean Clifford" sometime. In jail over a year, even though he keeps beating all his charges.
I wasn't really referring to the ELF or related groups. I was referring to specifically Canadian examples of activits, often native with land right claims, protesting unsound industry.
> ... attempt to shift public perception of environmentalists ...
That might be a little tough, because eco-terrorism is already a thing - I remember the word being used as far back as the early 90s. So they would have to equate participation in the democratic process to burning down housing developments and research facilities, a tall order.
Step 2: Evolve the definition of the world "terrorist" behind the scenes.
We are seeing similar word play in Canada as the word "terrorist" evolves into "radicalized". Of important utility to our government as they attempt to shift public perception of environmentalists over to "radical" or "extreme" due to the prominence of our oil industry. With success expect these sorts of labels to be slowly painted over our Native population in some old fashioned establishment racism.