The U.S. Justice Department on Wednesday announced federal charges against a Florida man officials said made racist threats targeting the co-founder of a local Black Lives Matter chapter intending to run for city council in Charlottesville, Virginia. Daniel McMahon , 31, was arrested and charged on four counts, including willful interference with a candidate for elective office, threats to injure in interstate commerce and cyberstalking. According to the feds, McMahon, who has white nationalist ties, targeted BLM activist Don Gathers because of his race and because he was running for public office. Don Gathers, an activist with the Charlottesville chapter of Black Lives Matter, intended to announce his city council candidacy earlier this year. (Photo: NBC 29 video screenshot) Gathers, an African-American faith leader, had planned to formally announce his bid for city council on Jan. 8, 2019. He postponed the campaign, however, after receiving threatening messages from McMahon on social media the day before. Federal officials now accuse McMahon of attempting to “disrupt the American political process” by making threats intended to harm and intimidate Gathers, who they said feared for his life. “As alleged [in] the indictment, this defendant was motivated by racial animus and used his […]

Click here to view original web page at atlantablackstar.com