Repression and Ideology:How Police Justify Labelling Demonstrators as "Terrorists"

by Chip Berlet and Matthew N. Lyons

This article originally appeared in Police Misconduct and Civil Rights Law Report
Vol. 5, Nos. 13-14, Jan-Feb., and March-April 1998.

Copyright 1998, the West Group

[Editor's Note: Chip Berlet, a journalist, and Matthew N. Lyons, a historian, are critical of mainstream analytical models used to demonize dissident social and political movements as either "subversive" or "extremist." After the bombing of the Oklahoma City federal building, their ideas gained widespread exposure in numerous media interviews and articles. Although they are harsh critics of the armed militia movement, they argued that the portrayal of all militia members as potential terrorists probably engaged in criminal activity was inaccurate and raised serious civil liberties and civil rights issues. Berlet was subpoenaed (although not called to the stand) as an expert witness by the legal team appointed to defend Terry Nichols, who was eventually convicted for his role in the bombing.