As the Trump administration intensifies its campaign against leftist individuals and groups, the conviction and lengthy sentencing of Casey Goonan provides a foreboding glimpse into the future. Goonan was sentenced to 19.5 years in prison plus 15 years probation for actions that were deemed terrorism-related, despite the original charges lacking such counts.
Goonan’s perceived crimes included setting fire to a police SUV on the UC Berkeley campus and attempting to ignite a federal building in Oakland. These actions, however, were overshadowed by Goonan’s declarations supporting Hamas and anarchist ideologies, seizing the attention of federal prosecutors who labeled him as a “domestic terrorist.” This case offers insight into how the Department of Justice may operate under Trump’s incoming strategy against the left, outlined in the recent National Security Presidential Memorandum 7 (NSPM-7), which identifies various ideological stances as potential indicators of terrorism.
The memorandum emphasizes a shift in counterterrorism focus away from right-wing extremists to leftist groups and activists, scrutinizing organizations that may oppose the government or support marginalized communities. Goonan’s identity as a transgender person also places him squarely within the administration’s broader targeting criteria, influenced by narratives suggesting a connection between gender-fluid identities and violence.
This ideological turn allows for expansive interpretations of what could constitute extremism, making room for surveillance and scrutiny of a wide range of political expressions that oppose the government. Goonan’s case exemplifies how radicalization theories have been weaponized to justify such actions against those deemed too far left.
Sentencing documents indicate that Goonan’s political activism began long before the offenses in question, compounded by a tumultuous personal history marked by health struggles and mental health crises. His involvement with Palestinian solidarity movements, especially in response to the Israeli government’s actions in Gaza, drew him further into radical activism.
Despite claiming that he is not an arsonist but an activist, Goonan’s challenges were interpreted as unrepentant behavior aimed at inciting further actions. The stark expectations surrounding his incarceration also raise concerns about his health, given his medical history.
As prosecutors pushed for Goonan to be placed in a highly restrictive federal prison unit typically reserved for individuals with alleged terrorist affiliations, his legal team criticized the inflated connections drawn between Goonan’s anarchist beliefs and terrorism. The government’s efforts to unseal Goonan’s communications with the Transgender Law Center, who could provide legal support in a broader class-action lawsuit against the Bureau of Prisons’ policies, also suggest an aggressive stance against potential dissenters.
This situation underscores a growing tension in American politics, where labeling ideological opponents as extremists may lay the groundwork for broader suppressive measures, highlighting the precarious landscape activists face under an administration intent on conflating dissent with terrorism.
