Anti-Defamation League, U.S. Attorney’s Office and Delaware Valley Intelligence Center Train Hundreds of Law Enforcement Officials on Extremism

  • October 30, 2017

Philadelphia, PA, October 30, 2017 … The Anti-Defamation League (“ADL”), U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (“USAO”) and the Delaware Valley Intelligence Center (“DVIC”), trained hundreds of law enforcement officials in the region last week on extremism.

On Thursday, October 26, the agencies brought together over 350 federal, state and local law enforcement professionals from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware for a half-day summit entitled “Hate Wave: Countering Violent Extremism from Orlando to Charlottesville.” Attendees were briefed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s lead investigator in the Orlando Pulse Nightclub shooting, a National Counterterrorism Center analyst on homegrown violent extremism, and ADL experts on right-wing extremism.

“Every day, law enforcement professionals confront the worst forms of bigotry facing our citizens – extremism, terrorism and hate crime,” said Nancy K. Baron-Baer, ADL Regional Director. “As the largest non-governmental trainer of law enforcement in the nation, ADL is deeply committed to helping law enforcement more effectively combat extremist violence. We were thrilled to partner with USAO and DVIC to bring this critically important training to law enforcement professionals in our region.”

“When we first conceived of this conference with ADL and DVIC, the Orlando Pulse Nightclub shooting was the deadliest mass shooting in American history; sadly, this month’s shooting in Las Vegas has earned that dubious distinction,” said Louis Lappen, Acting U.S. Attorney. “The recent events in Las Vegas and Charlottesville underscore the need for law enforcement to share best practices to combat extremist-motivated violence.”

“Clearly, these are unsettled times, and as a nation, we face real challenges at home and abroad,” said Stacy Irving, DVIC Senior Advisor. “From hate crimes to terrorist attacks, there has never been a more crucial time for law enforcement agencies to join together to develop strategies and to collaborate with neighborhoods, civic associations and private sector partners.”

Topics presented at the summit included: the current landscape of the right-wing extremist movement, including Neo-Nazis, racist skinheads, klan groups, white supremacist prison gangs, and Christian Identity extremists; the Alt-Right movement, one of the fastest-growing white supremacist movements in America today; the evolving threat of homegrown violent extremists, often inspired by ISIS, Al Qaeda and other Islamic extremist groups; and the Orlando Pulse Nightclub shooting, including lessons learned for law enforcement in responding to violent extremist acts.

“Law enforcement and communities across the country are working hard to counter the possibility of a hate related attack,” said Dennis Wilson, Deputy Commissioner of the Philadelphia Police Department, who delivered the opening remarks. “The Philadelphia Police Department is committed to countering extremism, terrorism and hate crimes and to insure the safety and security of our people”.

Hate Wave: Countering Violent Extremism from Orlando to Charlottesville” was sponsored by the Anti-Defamation League, SugarHouse Casino, Pennsylvania Department of Homeland Security, Allied Universal, Liberty Property Trust and the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia.

 

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The Anti-Defamation League was founded in 1913 to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all.  Today it is the world’s leading organization combating anti-Semitism, exposing hate groups, training law enforcement on hate crimes, developing anti-bias curricula for students, countering cyber-hate and relentlessly pursuing equal rights for all. Click to learn more about ADL’s work fighting extremism and supporting law enforcement, and follow us on Twitter: @ADLPhiladelphia

 

Acting United States Attorney Louis D. Lappen leads the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, one of the largest in the country with 130 Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) currently on staff.

 

The Delaware Valley Intelligence Center, located in South Philadelphia, utilizes a collaborative and proactive approach to forecast and prevent threats to the region, while ensuring the protection of people’s civil rights and civil Liberties.

Source: Press Release
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