(JNS) The Democratic members of New Jersey’s representation to the U.S. House of Representatives sent a letter to the FBI asking the agency to up the federal response related to the far-right group the Proud Boys, which has recently increased its activity in the state. Those who signed the letter were Reps. Josh Gottheimer, Tom Malinowski, Andy Kim, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Mikie Sherrill, Bill Pascrell Jr., Donald Norcross, Frank Pallone Jr., Albio Sires and Donald M. Payne Jr.

A report from the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness (NJOHSP) increased the threat posed by white supremacist extremists from “moderate” to “high” in 2020, joining homegrown violent extremists as the most persistent hostile actors statewide. Further, last week, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security released its inaugural threat assessment which stated that white supremacists “will remain the most persistent and lethal threat in the homeland.”