(Source: MIRS.news, Published 09/10/20240 (EAST LANSING) – FBI Special Agent Brett Mason outlined “the pathway to violence” and key behaviors potentially signaling someone is about to engage in a violent attack at the MI Response To Hate conference put on by the Michigan Department of Civil Rights and the Michigan Alliance Against Hate Crimes Tuesday.

Mason's workshop presentation was titled ‘Radicalization to Violence.’ He said, in children, isolation from peer groups can play a role in them potentially becoming radicalized into violence. He said since the pandemic, this trend has become more pronounced. 

“There are always costs, and one of the costs to long-distance learning is more isolation. We are paying for that,” Mason said. “Now I'm not saying that to condemn any of the policies. It is just a fact.” 

Examples Mason gave of behaviors potentially indicating someone is on the pathway to violence include animal cruelty, self-medicating through substance abuse and stalking, which he described as “homicide in slow motion.” 

He said that “many communities don’t feel comfortable talking” to law enforcement to report these behaviors. He encouraged people to think of other community tools and resources if they do not feel comfortable speaking to the police, and not let predatory behavior go unnoticed. 

“The first half of my career was investigating corrupt cops that abused their authority, so I know it’s out there, and I know that it is extremely damaging to the profession and extremely damaging to the communities they serve.” 

Other presentations given at the event surrounded the topics of extremism in video games, the history of race and policing and a legal overview of hate crimes and hate incidents. 

Attorney General Dana Nessel also spoke at the introduction to the event, condemning Donald Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, at the conference for untrue allegations he made about Haitian immigrants stealing and eating pets in Springfield, Ohio. 

Nessel also questioned why no one has called for Oakland County Probate Judge Kathleen Ryan to step down following the release of recordings of Ryan making racist, homophobic remarks during her speech.