Operatives deep within Idaho are bringing division and hate to our communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Western States Center (WSC<\/a>) is a left-wing extremist organization<\/a> that wants to “create a world…free from bigotry and fear”. Eric K. Ward is the Executive Director<\/a> of the WSC, Senior Fellow<\/a> at the Southern Poverty Law Center<\/a> (SPLC), member<\/a> of Political Research Associates<\/a>, and Race Forward<\/a>, His other exploits include Program Officer at the Ford Foundation<\/a>, The Atlantic Philanthropies<\/a>, what appears to be a now defunct<\/a> left-wing organization called the Center for New Community<\/a>, is an aspiring singer-songwriter<\/a> to “advance inclusive democracy<\/a>“, and is involved with many other radical, and nefarious, organizations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Mr. Ward freely goes around making accusations<\/a>, labeling<\/a> others, and inciting hate, for which he receives a prize<\/a>, while endeavoring to preserve<\/a>, or construct<\/a>, an “inclusive democracy<\/a>“, not understanding America is a Republic<\/a>. This article<\/a> identifies WSC as “an affiliate of the Southern Poverty Law Center” <\/em>which “counts on WSC as a core program partner<\/a>” and has been funded<\/a> by several foundations with questionable motives.SPLC even has ties<\/a> to the World Economic Forum<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Several WSC board members<\/a> also have ties to concerning organizations such as two<\/a> with the SPLC<\/a>, Chicago Abortion Fund<\/a>, Center for New Community<\/a>, and Basic<\/a> Rights Oregon<\/a>. In its 2019 990 tax form<\/a> there are board members that served with the Ford Foundation<\/a>, the Institute<\/a> for Research & Education on Human Rights<\/a> (IREHR<\/a>), and one co-chair<\/a> with the Astraea Lesbian Foundation For Justice. Two WSC members<\/a> are already planted<\/a> in Idaho and through groups<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Beyond this, there is this eyebrow raising look at the creation of an Idaho group with similar agendas as the WSC. Take Back Idaho (TBI) is a committee<\/a> formed in late 2021, and comprised<\/a> of former Idaho Supreme Court Chief<\/a> Justice Jim Jones<\/a>, former Speaker of the House Bruce Newcomb<\/a>, former Idaho Secretary of State Ben Ysursa<\/a>, former Idaho Senator Bob Geddes<\/a>, former Idaho Republican Party Executive Director Cheryl Miller<\/a>, and a few others. TBI is “determined<\/a> to take Idaho back from the grip of the IFF, its partner organizations, and their acolytes in the GOP legislative ranks.” Hmmm. This TBI statement<\/a>, “they will focus on educating Idahoans on how to identify and fight dangerous extremism and misinformation”, will make TBI the laughingstock of the state by the end of this article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While examining these WSC and TBI similarities it is important to separate out one’s own opinions and thoughts on the subject matter, instead focusing on the issue that TBI appears to be aligning with a radical and far left extremist organization with ties to even more radical groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On February 26, 2022 both the WSC<\/a> and TBI<\/a> called for Janice McGeachin’s resignation for her participation in the America First Political Action Conference (AFPAC<\/a>), the WSC accusing her of embracing “white nationalism” and both labeling the AFPAC<\/a> as a “White Nationalist Convention”. This in spite of the WSC claim, “Western States Center is nonpartisan and does not support or oppose any candidate for elected public office” found at the bottom of the WSC page<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another target of both organizations is the Idaho Freedom Foundation (IFF<\/a>). Jim Jones<\/a> in particular has issues with the IFF. Again without regard to one’s opinion about the IFF, it is alarming that both WSC<\/a> in June, 2021 and TBI<\/a> in December, 2021 released condemnation of this organization based on IFF concerns regarding Critical Race Theory being taught in the education system. However, in this Accuracy in Media video<\/a> it is clear that haughty educators condone changing the name of what they are teaching<\/a> in order to hide their deeds. Is this not the same as what the WSC and TBI are doing, conniving with each other behind the scenes? <\/p>\n\n\n\n There is also the issue of Shahram Hadian<\/a>. The affiliated WSC Southern Poverty Law Center<\/a> has a particular disdain for him along with TBI leader Jim Jones<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The similarities in these issues might not be good enough to warrant accusations that WSC and TBI are working together, perhaps further documentation is needed. Through a Freedom of Information Act request, Casey Whelan exposed these nefarious activities between the City of Boise and WSC. Individual names have been redacted for their protection, leaving the involved agency name, and with links to those agencies at the end of each email.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since 2019 the WSC has been in contact with Boise City Council staff that began with a rape case<\/a> by four Tanzania refugees<\/a>. During that time, a 2\/21\/19 email involving several agencies discussed strategies to manipulate media information. It was also noted that Jim Jones was in the process of writing a letter with Capital Group<\/a> to discourage legislators from attending a 2\/27\/19 event with Shahram Hadian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With his name on the 2\/26\/19 email list, and several additional agencies, Jones was given praise for his column<\/a>, We don’t need Shahram Hadian’s inflammatory anti-Muslim rhetoric. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In an August 2, 2019 email with even more involved agencies, Mr. Jones was invited to attend a WSC conference, it is unknown whether he did. However, one can see by the agenda<\/a> that the subject matter extended far beyond its claim of just confronting white nationalism. The list of speakers included<\/a> the Council on American-Islamic Relations<\/a> (CAIR<\/a>), another WSC partner<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The 12\/26\/21 email confirms that WSC made contact with the Boise Mayor and a document<\/a> was provided as a tool for governments responding to political violence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n