Amherst county Republican committee invites anti-Muslim activist Chris Gaubatz to Virginia
鈥婥hris Gaubatz of the anti-Muslim hate group听Understanding the Threat听(UTT) is scheduled to speak at a meeting tonight, January 9, organized by the Amherst County Republican Committee in Virginia at Second Stage in Amherst, Virginia.
Gaubatz has a history of pushing anti-Muslim conspiracy theories, including claiming that all Muslims are 鈥渇unding terrorism鈥� through zakat (the almsgiving pillar of Islam) and claiming that American Muslims and Muslim civil rights organizations are engaged in 鈥渢otal warfare鈥� against the United States.
As first by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the event was originally scheduled to take place a the Amherst Sheriff鈥檚 Office. However, after CAIR contacted the sheriff鈥檚 office and issued a press release about Gaubatz and UTT鈥檚 anti-Muslim track record, the sheriff鈥檚 office dropped the event. This left event organizers scrambling to find a new location.
Robert McCaw, CAIR鈥檚 government affairs director, said his organization welcomed the venue change.
鈥淔ar too often, local Republican committees and sheriff offices are taken in by the deceit of network Islamophobia trainers who promise real insights into national security but only deliver hate, bigotry, and suspicion of the American Muslim community,鈥� McCaw told Hatewatch.
Despite the setback, the Republican group has chosen to host the anti-Muslim figure at a new location.
Gaubatz works closely alongside his boss John Guandolo, the founder and president of UTT. Both regularly travel the country briefing law enforcement and civilians alike about the so-called 鈥渢hreat鈥� of 鈥渏ihadi networks鈥� in the United States.
Since in disgrace from the FBI in 2008 after a sexually inappropriate relationship with a witness during an investigation, Guandolo has turned to a career peddling anti-Muslim rhetoric and conspiracy theories as a self-styled "counterterrorism consultant." He has Muslim student organizations on college campuses only exist to 鈥渞ecruit jihadis鈥� and that 鈥渄o not have a First Amendment right to do anything.鈥�
Last year, court documents came to light, first reported by the Center for New Community, Hennepin County, Minnesota Sheriff Richard Stanek accused Guandolo of assaulting him during a law enforcement conference in Reno, Nevada. The tension between the two men stemmed from Guandolo accusing Stanek of supporting the Muslim Brotherhood because he would not book a UTT training in his county.
The Amherst County Republican Committee suggests problematic rhetoric will be prevalent during the presentation, noting Gaubatz is scheduled to speak about 鈥渢he threat to our country by Muslim extremist[s].鈥�
The leadership at UTT relies heavily on law enforcement and elected officials to profit from pushing anti-Muslim conspiracy theories and demonizing American Muslims. As McCaw points out, 鈥淗atemongers such as Guandolo and Gaubatz are often legitimized by elected officials, law enforcement agencies, and mainstream Republican groups by lending them their name and a forum to spread hate.鈥�
听
