Imagine this: a news headline comes out that a ring of armed terrorists, led by leaders with criminal records, had seized a federal building, claiming they will “kill or be killed if necessary” if their requests are not met. What is your initial reaction? What do you expect law enforcement to do about this situation? When it comes to dealing with terrorism in the United States, we have a pattern of action, and that is immediate action. But this particular group of terrorists escaped all forms of intimidation. Not a single arrest was made. How safe do you feel knowing law enforcement allows these gun-toting terrorists to continue wreaking havoc on the land you call home?

Let’s say this group happened to be individuals who belonged to a radical Muslim group? Your immediate thoughts are ISIS and your immediate gut feeling is that this is a threat to the nation. What building could they take over next? Let’s say this group happened to be a group of black men. You already know how that would go down, history would simply repeat itself. The National Guard would be called in, just as it was in Ferguson and Baltimore. Tear gas, arrests, whatever was needed to subdue the frustrated protesters was utilized promptly. However when the rebels at hand are white, everything is handled carefully, hesitantly and with intent to “smooth things out” so few are hurt. Such is the current case in Oregon, and such has been the case in past events such as the events near Waco Texas and Ruby Ridge.

ABC News headlines will have you believe that these terrorists are simply “militiamen” who are “peacefully protesting." However, when they have distinctly claimed that they will kill or will be killed, how peaceful can they really be? For some reason the media can not grasp the fact that these men are criminals, these men are threats and these men are anti-government terrorists. But why is it when there is a group of black protesters angry with a government that has continually failed them, immediate action to repress them is taken without hesitation, careful planning, nor carried out with intent to cause the least harm? This harrowing double standard of media coverage and law enforcement’s reaction must come into question when events like this happen. If for a second you believed that these men were any less of a threat, or any less of criminals than any other terrorist who has made news headlines, it is imperative you take a step back and realize the bias being perpetuated. As Americans who claim to want equality, peace and prosperity, we can not do so when we take so many steps in the wrong direction. The treatment of these Oregon “militiamen” has been sourly sugarcoated with white privilege, for had their skin color been any darker, their standoff would never have made it to eight days and counting. Be outraged with people who attempt to defend them, be outraged at sugarcoated news coverage and be outraged with our government’s selective discrimination. A terrorist is a terrorist, no exclusions, no exceptions.