The realities of the domestic terrorist watchlist (US)
With the recent movement to further classify antifa, anarchists, and trans people as domestic terrorists I think it's a good time to bring back information about what the domestic terrorist watchlist (DTW) actually looks like. A lot of people spend a lot of time afraid that their random internet comments or posts have put them on "the list"- this is almost certainly not true.
There are 3 main groups of people who get put on the DTW: People from Southwest Asia/people who have Southwest Asian heritage (especially if they are Muslim), Black people, and Indigenous people.
White people are not put on the DTW at anywhere close to the rate that the above groups are.
Generally, to get on the DTW you have to attract the attention of the state somehow. This comes with affiliating with people who are already on the DTW and associating yourself with direct action and direct actionists who may not be on the DTW. Groups like land and water defenders are some of the primary targets of the DTW. Low level direct action does not usually get you put on the DTW.
Being on the DTW is not a secret. While you don't get a handy letter in the mail telling you that you have been put on the DTW it does show up on a background check. If you have had a background check recently and the DTW did not show up on it then you know you are not on the DTW.
Once you are on the DTW there is no way off and no way to appeal. It is not a judicial or legal category despite showing up on a background check. They do not need to prove to a judge that you are a domestic terrorist in order to add you to the list therefore there is no way to prove you are not a domestic terrorist.
Being on the DTW adds high levels of surveillance to your life. Because the DTW shows up on every background check you are likely to be pulled over frequently for little to no reason at all when your car registration shows your vehicle is registered to someone on the DTW. It can be hard to find jobs while on the DTW because you will get flagged as being on the DTW on every background check. It can be hard to find housing as many rental companies don't want to rent to someone on the DTW. The full DTW is not public.
Because the DTW involves such high levels of surveillance they only add people to it if they consider them worth the effort of surveilling. This is why comments like "I hate trump" or "I love trans people" said on the internet are not going to get you added to the DTW (in the current political climate)- these statements do not make you worth the efforts of high levels of surveillance. They cannot possibly enact the level of surveillance that people on the DTW get on every person who talks about disliking trump or supporting trans people on the internet.
This does not mean that these kinds of comments aren't monitored by police, the FBI, and secret service. Making certain kinds of threats towards government officials on the internet can get the secret service and FBI to show up at your door to warn you and ask you to take the comment down. Be aware of this risk when you make threats online, but you aren't going to be on the DTW for them unless they think they are particularly credible. Generally expressing a dislike for the government does not get the FBI and secret service to show up at your door- it's specifically threats that can do this.
This post is not meant to scare you out of taking action. It is entirely possible to live while on the DTW- though there are increased barriers to accessing typical life. What's most important is that we support our comrades who are on the DTW and are experiencing these barriers. The DTW is designed to isolate and create fear. People on the DTW report that once they disclose they are on it people no longer want to associate with them or get dinner with them etc. because those people are afraid of being put on the list themselves. It's important that we ensure our comrades are still supported.
This post mainly exists to add some realism to the conversation online surrounding the DTW. I see a lot of people genuinely very afraid that they are on the DTW for running a trans positivity blog. If the FBI doesn't consider you worth the effort to surveil then you are not on the DTW and you don't have to be afraid. Remain cautious in what you post so the secret service doesn't show up on your doorstep asking you about you threats to the white house (but remember you don't have to, and should not, talk to them about it) but don't be afraid to continue posting about being trans, an anarchist, or antifa. Do not let the fear tactic work on you. The US government wants to scare you into silence. They cannot surveil everyone who posts "I love trans people" to the extent that people on the DTW are surveilled. You're fine.
I would encourage people to reblog this to dispel some of the fear that people have around the DTW. Most people don't understand the realities of the list because much of it is kept highly secretive and I want to change that.
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