Photo above is of a section of the crowd gathered at the Ellipse January 6, 2021, in Washington, DC. The crowd was friendly, peaceful and courteous crowd, described by many as “church revival like”. Crowd estimates of those who were actually there range between 1,000,000 and 2,000,000 people in attendance. Photo by Michael Reed for The Standard.

OP-ED

My name is Zoe Warren. Yesterday, February 16th, I got a visit from the South Carolina Joint Terrorism Task Force of the FBI. On January 6th, 2021, I was on assignment at the ‘Save America Rally’ in Washington, DC reporting for The Standard SC.

Zoe Warren poses for a photo along the route to the US Capitol January 6, 2021.

The Joint Terrorism Task Force didn’t come to ask me for help identifying people who broke the law (though I have hours of footage). They came to ask me if I went inside the Capitol. They came with a business card with the word TERRORISM on it. What is the reason for a TERRORISM task force asking an American questions about his involvement in a protest that was Americans protesting perceived bad actions of their own government?

I am not anti government! I am pro responsible government and what happened to me is the definition of IRRESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT producing IRRESPONSIBLE policies and then weaponizing federal agents to perform acts of bureaucratic bullying. The young men who came to my door were consummate professionals. They were kind, they were trained, and they were thorough. Perfect American investigators with a passion to protect America, but yesterday they were abused. They were being used for an agenda. I don’t have any ties to the Russian Imperialist movement, or Al Qaeda! I am not involved with any FBI designated international terrorist organizations! Who sent them and why were they from a terrorism task force?

The “Save America” Rally ralliers on  January 6, 2021 were peaceful and family oriented. Many people displayed banners, signs, placards which gave messages of Trump support and warned of subversive Marxist activity in America. The crowd was overwhelmingly anti-Communist and Pro-America. The same crowd walked toward the US Capitol. Zoe Warren captured the essence of the march and rally in video and print news reports. Photo by Michael Reed for TheStandardSC.

Who will they be weaponized against next? Soccer Moms protesting school boards that allow porn on library shelves? Native Americans protesting planned oil pipelines through their lands? Black Lives Matter activists protesting perceived offenses? This kind of political weaponization of labels and the government was used against my forefathers in this country to silence them and marginalize their voices.

This is why I am running for Lt. Governor. To put an end to bureaucratic bullying and federal tyranny! Can any citizen turn in another citizen and get them added to a list to be investigated for terrorism? Or does the call have to be from higher up? Why a year after January 6th? I put my report out on January 11th of 2021. Surely, they are asking a bit late? Why now? Am I being targeted because I am running alongside Trucker Bob Musselwhite for South Carolina Governor? Was it a plan from someone higher up? Was it politically motivated?

I am personally going to be meeting with local law enforcement to determine the difference between crime and terror.

I have already begun talking to state Legislators to collaborate for reforms to protect my South Carolina family of every race, creed, color, and gender from bureaucratic bullying.

I have already begun calling my Congressional delegation to collaborate for federal reforms that will put an end ONCE AND FOR ALL to this type of policy perversion.

The banner pictured above was one of many banners displayed by family oriented conservative supporters of President Trump at the January 6th, 2021, “Save America” rally held in Washington, DC. The Standard newspaper had editor Michael Reed and editor at large Zoe Warren in attendance to record what actually happened. There was much that took place that has been ignored by the dominant, or legacy, press. There was also much that has been distorted about the large gathering of Christian, pro-family, and pro-America ralliers at the event. Photo by Michael Reed for The Standard.

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This is an attempt to label lynch me—to put me on a list of potential terrorists and it is happening to too many South Carolinians—it is happening to too many Americans!! We aren’t racial, or religious extremists! We don’t subscribe to threats and political violence!

Our campaign denounces all forms of racial supremacy! We are opposed to threats and political violence and will fight it with every resource available and ounce of our being!

Our campaign is going to FIX this issue!

Trucker Bob Musselwhite and Zoe Warren are going to pursue clear state Domestic Terror definitions and protections for South Carolina citizens.

We are also going to pursue forming a commission to END BUREAUCRATIC BULLYING!

This cannot continue! We will not stand down! We will not allow this to continue, because we will not comply with unconstitutional, immoral policies. Not now! Not ever!

Zoe Warren is Editor at Large for The Standard newspaper, a photojournalist, husband, father of three, missionary, musician, filmmaker, documentarian, and storyteller. He is the founder of Pistuo Productions, a narrative film and commercial video production company, the media ministry God’s Plain Truth TV, the Pakistan mission organization Gospel Fire Army, and the studio music project “Striving and Rest.” He has also announced his intention to declare as a candidate for Lt. Governor in SC. Warren may be reached at pistuoproductions@gmail.com.