VeeshanVault

(07-20) 16:12 PDT Oakland, Calif. (AP) --

A California man arrested after a freeway shootout with authorities was planning to attack people at the American Civil Liberties Union and another nonprofit group, authorities said Tuesday.

Byron Williams, 45, was upset with the ACLU and Tides Foundation for their political views, Oakland police Officer Jeff Thomason said.

Williams told investigators he was on his way to San Francisco late Saturday when California Highway Patrol officers pulled him over on Interstate 580.

Authorities say Williams, wearing a bulletproof vest and armed with three guns, opened fire.

He was arrested after sustaining gunshot wounds to his arms and legs after a 15-minute gun battle with CHP officers.

Williams said during police interviews at the hospital that he wanted to "start a revolution by traveling to San Francisco and killing people of importance at the Tides Foundation and the ACLU," according to a probable cause statement filed with the court.

Authorities said Williams has shown a deep-rooted anger for left-leaning politics.

He was arraigned Tuesday but did not enter a plea to four counts of attempted murder, plus weapons enhancements. He was released from the hospital earlier in the day after being treated for his injuries.

No CHP officers were seriously injured.

Fairweather Pure wrote:Fear + Ignorance = Violence

Since the Republican base is a breeding ground for the first 2 parts of the equation, the violence is going to keep coming.

Boogahz wrote:What about the story quoted tells you that he was "on the Right?"

Authorities said Williams has shown a deep-rooted anger for left-leaning politics

Boogahz wrote:Ever heard of The Weathermen? "Left-wing" bombers and riot starters in the US.

Boogahz wrote:Ever look at the numbers for "terrorist" acts in Europe? Left-wing terrorist acts greatly outnumber acts from the Right in recent years.

Kilmoll the Sexy wrote:You do realize that those right wing loonies rebelling against an oppressive government is why this country is in existence right?

Republicanism is the political value system that has been a major part of American civic thought since the American Revolution[1]It stresses liberty and inalienable rights as central values, makes the people as a whole sovereign, rejects inherited political power, expects citizens to be independent in their performance of civic duties, and vilifies corruption. American republicanism was founded and first practiced by the Founding Fathers in the 18th century. This system was based on early Roman, Renaissance and English models and ideas. It formed the basis for the American Revolution and the consequential Declaration of Independence (1776) and the Constitution (1787), as well as the Gettysburg Address.

Republicanism is not the same as democracy, for republicanism asserts that people have unalienable rights that cannot be voted away by a majority of voters, whereas in a democracy the voters can terminate the rights of an unpopular minority.[2]. "Republicanism" is derived from the term "republic", but the two words have different meanings, therefore people sometimes confuse them. "Republic" is a form of government and "republicanism" is a political ideology.

Two major parties were explicitly named after the idea—the Republican party of Thomas Jefferson (founded in 1793, and often called the "Democratic-Republican party" by political scientists), and the current Republican party (founded in 1854).

Kilmoll the Sexy wrote:That would make both of you wrong then. Just because some buffoon found some similarities in things like age and wealth would not make them conservatives. The only thing conservative about the Loyalists is that they just wanted status quo. The Patriots formed militias, rebelled against being taxed, and preached republicanism. I will cut and paste from wiki on that because it is just easier....

Republicanism is the political value system that has been a major part of American civic thought since the American Revolution[1]It stresses liberty and inalienable rights as central values, makes the people as a whole sovereign, rejects inherited political power, expects citizens to be independent in their performance of civic duties, and vilifies corruption. American republicanism was founded and first practiced by the Founding Fathers in the 18th century. This system was based on early Roman, Renaissance and English models and ideas. It formed the basis for the American Revolution and the consequential Declaration of Independence (1776) and the Constitution (1787), as well as the Gettysburg Address.

Republicanism is not the same as democracy, for republicanism asserts that people have unalienable rights that cannot be voted away by a majority of voters, whereas in a democracy the voters can terminate the rights of an unpopular minority.[2]. "Republicanism" is derived from the term "republic", but the two words have different meanings, therefore people sometimes confuse them. "Republic" is a form of government and "republicanism" is a political ideology.

Two major parties were explicitly named after the idea—the Republican party of Thomas Jefferson (founded in 1793, and often called the "Democratic-Republican party" by political scientists), and the current Republican party (founded in 1854).

Kilmoll the Sexy wrote:I agree. Republicans 150 years ago would have revolted and thrown our current government to the curb via violent military action.