Which best describes a Domestic Violent Extremist?

• A. A foreign government agent
• B. An individual-based actor operating within the United States or its territories without direction from foreign actors, who seeks to further political or social goals wholly or in part through unlawful acts of force or violence
• C. A domestic policy advocate
• D. A nonviolent activist group

Answer: (B)

Domestic violent extremists are individuals (or small groups) who operate inside the United States or its territories and pursue political or social objectives through unlawful violence or the threat of violence. The defining factors are that they act domestically, are not directed by a foreign power, and rely on force to advance their goals. This sets them apart from foreign actors who act under direction from outside the country, from domestic policy advocates who work through legal channels, and from nonviolent activists who pursue change without using violence. Understanding this combination of domestic location, violent means, and autonomous direction within the country is what characterizes this type of extremism.