Rakem Balogun, whose legal name is Christopher Daniels, is an American activist, best known for his involvement in a Facebook-related incident that occurred on December 12, 2017, which became headline news in the United States.
Rakem Balogun | |
|---|---|
| Born | Christopher Daniels |
| Nationality | American |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service |  United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 2001 - 2004 |
| Battles / wars | Iraq War |
Background
editBalogun enlisted as a US Marine in 2001 and served in the Iraq War in 2003.[1][2] Balogun cites his time serving in the US Marine Corps as alienating due to the behaviour and racial attitudes of white officers, and left the Marine Corps 3 years into an 8-year contract on an "Other Than Honorable" discharge .[3] Balogun became a founding member of groups such as Guerrilla Mainframe in 2016 after a fallout with the Huey P. Newton Gun Club which he allegedly co-founded in 2014, both based in Dallas, Texas. Balogun cites the killing of unarmed black men by police officers as the motivation for creating these groups.[3] In 2016, Balogun distanced himself from the Huey P. Newton Gun Club, as he felt it had become too influenced by New Black Panther Party (also based in Dallas), which he identifies as being a Black Separatist organisation, something which clashed with his Socialist outlook.[3] However, during a 2019 interview on Klepper, Balogun is seen leading a demonstration including several participants in Huey P. Newton Gun Club paraphernalia.[4]
2017 arrest
editIn November 2017, agents found out Balogun was in possession of a firearm, compelling a warrant for his arrest, because he was a prohibited person, due to a domestic violence conviction for assault against his ex-girlfriend.[5]
Balogun was startled awake in his Dallas home by a large crash and police officers screaming commands on December 12, 2017, when he and his 15-year-old son were forced outside of their Dallas home dressed only in their underwear. Balogun was handcuffed and learned FBI agents were investigating domestic terrorism and had been monitoring him for years for posts on Facebook criticizing police and praising Micah Johnson, the perpetrator of the 2016 shooting of Dallas police officers. Balogun's firearm violation as well as his posts were cited as grounds for Balogun's arrest.[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] According to Balogun he was exercising his right to free speech when he praised Johnson,[13] and was not endorsing violence against individual police officers, but a general struggle against the Dallas Police Department.[4]
The event made worldwide news due to Balogun being the first person to be publicly designated a "Black Identity Extremist" by the FBI, sparking a national debate on the appropriateness of that term.[14] In May 2018, Balogun had all charges dropped against him.[15]
References
edit- ^ Alcorn, Chauncey (July 26, 2018). "Black gun rights advocates criticize FBI's, NRA's response to Rakem Balogun". Mic. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
- ^ Simek, Peter (October 2018). "The Right to Bear Arms (And Say Shocking Stuff on Facebook)". D Magazine. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
Daniels enlisted in the Marine Corps in June 2001. Three months later, the World Trade Center towers fell. By 2003, he was in Ramadi, Iraq, serving in an artillery unit.
- ^ a b c Simek, Peter (October 2018).
- ^ a b Klepper, Jordan (June 6, 2019). "This Is My Gun, These Are My Rights". Klepper. Season 1. Episode 6. Event occurs at 14. Comedy Central.
- ^ a b "United States v. Daniels". casetext.com. January 30, 2018. Archived from the original on August 7, 2023. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
- ^ Schladebeck, Jessica (May 11, 2018). "Black activist jailed for Facebook posts slams secret surveillance and FBI for 'their tyranny' - NY Daily News". nydailynews.com.
- ^ "Is a Court Case in Texas the First Prosecution of a 'Black Identity Extremist'?". foreignpolicy.com. January 30, 2018.
- ^ Branigin, Anne (May 11, 2018). "Is This the 1st Victim of COINTELPRO 2.0? Jailed 'Black Identity Extremist' Speaks Out". theroot.com.
- ^ Krueger, Katherine (May 11, 2018). "Activist Thought To Be First Jailed As 'Black Identity Extremist'". splinternews.com.
- ^ Levitz, Eric (May 11, 2018). "Feds Jailed Gun Owner for Making Politically Incorrect Facebook Posts". nymag.com.
- ^ "Texas judge dismisses FBI case against 'Black Identity Extremist'". dailydot.com. May 12, 2018.
- ^ Levin, Sam (May 11, 2018). "Black activist jailed for his Facebook posts speaks out about secret FBI surveillance". The Guardian.
- ^ Meet Rakem Balogun, the Texas man whose support for a cop killer made him an FBI target, Mic, Aaron Morrison, 17 July 2018
- ^ Speri, Alice (March 23, 2019). "The Strange Tale of the FBI's Fictional "Black Identity Extremism" Movement". The Intercept. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
- ^ Bourmont, Martin de (May 11, 2018). "Charges Dropped in First Case Against 'Black Identity Extremist'". The Daily Beast.