U.S. Attorney Attending The White House Summit On Countering Violent Extremism

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – United States Attorney Benjamin Wagner is pleased to be in attendance at a Summit on Countering Violent Extremism being hosted by the White House today in Washington, D.C.  The Summit will highlight domestic and international efforts to prevent violent extremists and their supporters from radicalizing, recruiting, or inspiring individuals or groups in the United States and abroad to commit acts of violence, efforts made even more imperative in light of recent, tragic attacks in Ottawa, Sydney, Paris, and Copenhagen.  It is expected that Summit participants will include President Barack Obama, Vice-President Joe Biden, Secretary of State John Kerry, Attorney General Eric Holder, and many others deeply involved in the efforts to prevent such acts of violence. 

Individual United States Attorney Offices play a role in these efforts, as a critical part of President Obama’s national strategy to prevent violent extremism domestically focuses on partnering on a local level with social service providers, religious leaders, community members and law enforcement agencies to address violent extremism as part of the broader mandate of providing public safety and crime prevention in each of our communities.  A focus of the Summit, and of efforts by U.S. Attorneys, is developing ways to empower local communities by raising awareness and providing them with useful information so that they are better equipped to protect young people from the lure of radicalization.  

“Protecting our citizens and our communities means more than simply finding effective ways to respond to terrorist incidents,” said U.S. Attorney Wagner.  “It requires working hand-in-hand with people of all faiths to help further our understanding and ability to identify and address the various factors that can lead to radicalization and violence.  I am honored to participate in this Summit, and I look forward to working with the people of our community at home to carry out this very important work.”   

Additional information concerning efforts to prevent violent extremism can be found in an editorial by President Obama, published in today’s edition of the Los Angeles Times.