Waco Seige Paper (3)
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The Horrid Waco Siege
Claire Medley
Public Safety & Security, Florida State University
CCJ 3032: Crime in the Media
Dr. Cassandra Torres
10/22/2023
The Horrid Waco Siege
The Waco Siege, a 51-day standoff that ended in a devastating fire and the loss of over 80
lives, is an event deeply embedded in the memory of the United States. It was a fight between a religious cult known as the Branch Davidians and federal law enforcement agencies, most notably the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The tragedy marked the beginning of multiple new protocols for all law enforcement agencies, local or national. The events that unfolded at the Mount Carmel Center near Waco, Texas in early 1993 continue to captivate and divide public opinion, sparking debates
over religious freedom, government overreach, and the use of force in law enforcement.
The Lead Up
To understand the Waco Siege, it is important to start with the origins and beliefs of the Branch Davidians. The cult emerged as an offshoot of the Davidian movement, itself a derivative
group of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. David Koresh, born Vernon Wayne Howell, became
the leader of the Branch Davidians in the late 1980s. The Branch Davidians' beliefs were a blend of apocalyptic prophecy, messianic beliefs, and a deep distrust of the government. Koresh claimed to be the final prophet, and his followers believed in an impending apocalypse. Koresh took what he called “spiritual wives” to assert his spiritual authority (Melton, 2023). David claimed that these wives had to be virgins, thus leading to him taking minors to be his wives. He also believed that children that he had with his wives would eventually go on and rule the world.
The series of events that led to the Waco Siege can be traced back to multiple different factors. After citizens around Mount Carmel had heard multiple gun shots of automatic weapons,
the ATF was called. The local police had already heard from multiple ex members of the cult of many suspicious acts going on at the compound. One of the many accusations was child abuse,
specifically about Koresh marrying young girls in the cult. After hearing from locals and ex members, the local police started and the investigation that was later sent to the ATF for more help. The ATF, investigating allegations of illegal firearms possession and child abuse within the
Branch Davidian community, obtained a search warrant for the Mount Carmel Center. After hearing that a newspaper company was about to release a story about Koresh, the ATF rushed to execute the siege (Schwarts, 2016). On February 28, 1993, in an attempt to execute the warrant, ATF agents engaged in a firefight with the Branch Davidians, resulting in the deaths of four ATF
agents and several Branch Davidians. This violent confrontation marked the beginning of the siege.
The Siege
The 51-day standoff that ensued was marked by tensions, negotiations, and a complex mess of factors. The FBI took over from the ATF and sought to resolve the situation peacefully. With news broadcasters present, the FBI needed to handle the situation carefully to not worry the
public. The FBI tried to negotiate with Koresh throughout the standoff, not wanting to fire on Mount Carmel with women and children in the building. After one of two FBI negotiation teams gained the trust of David, David agreed to allow for children to be taken out of the compound. By the end of the 51-day standoff, 21 kids and 14 adults were allowed to leave Mount Carmel and be taken to safety (USA Department of Justice, 2018). The other negotiation team believed that agitating Koresh would cause him to finally come out of the Mount Carmel Compound. This
FBI team played loud sounds over the phone, destroyed Koresh’s cars and even shone bright lights at the compound to get Koresh to stand down. During the phone calls with the FBI, Koresh
often talked about how he was the Messiah and how God gave him his last name. David often threatened the FBI with violence if they tried to hurt his family, but also said that the Davidians
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were not planning a mass suicide. After a request from religious scholars reached out to Koresh, Koresh sent a message to his lawyer announcing that he was writing his message on the Seven Seals and would come out of Mount Carmel when he was done (History, 2017). Annoyed at how long the negotiations were taking, the second negotiation FBI team decided that the standoff had gone on for too long and action needed to be taken. On April 19, 1993, the siege came to a tragic end when a fire engulfed the Mount Carmel Center. The FBI had
released tear gas into Mount Carmel to try and force the Branch Davidians out of the building. The circumstances surrounding the fire remain highly controversial, with some believing that it was a deliberate act of mass suicide by the Branch Davidians, while others argue that the FBI's use of tear gas played a role in the blaze. The fire resulted in the deaths of more than 80 Branch Davidians, including 25 children, and marked the end of one of the most notorious events in American law enforcement history.
Public Reaction and Legal Implications
The Waco Siege provoked a strong reaction from the American public, sparking debates about the role of government, religious freedom, and the use of force by law enforcement agencies. The difference between the Waco Siege and other fights between the government and religious groups is the fact that the entire siege was broadcast live. This allowed citizens all over the country to witness dire mistakes that risked many children's lives. The Waco Siege ignited debates about the boundaries of religious freedom and belief in the United States. Critics argued that the government's actions encroached upon the Branch Davidians' religious liberties. Many people believed that the government had gone after the Branch Davidians just for the fact that their beliefs were different from mainstream ideas of religion. On the flip side, after 14-year-old Kiri Jewell testified in court and said that Koresh had been having relations with her since she
was 10, many people began to agree with ATF’s reason for the raid (L.A Times Archives, 1995).
In response to the tragedy, there was a call for a reevaluation of government policies and practices when dealing with religious groups, with a renewed focus on protecting First Amendment rights.
It also had significant legal implications. A grand jury investigation followed the events at Waco, but no charges were brought against federal agents (
Britannica, 2023
)
. The incident led to the Waco hearings, during which congressional committees examined the government's handling of the situation, offering insights into the decision-making processes and actions of law enforcement agencies during the siege. The legal and public relations fallout from Waco continues to remind people how to handle similar situations involving standoffs with armed groups or religious cults. Law enforcement agencies are now more cautious and aware of the potential legal consequences when conducting operations in highly sensitive environments.
Impact on Law Enforcement
The Waco Siege has had a lasting impact on law enforcement practices in the United States. The lessons learned from Waco influenced changes in law enforcement tactics, policies, and strategies, particularly in the handling of standoffs with armed groups. Critics ridiculed ATF for raiding the compound instead of arresting Koresh in a public setting where he didn’t have access to weapons, or calling off the raid when an undercover agent reported that Koresh knew about the raid. It emphasized the importance of effective communication, negotiation, and de-
escalation techniques. Both the FBI and ATF have changed training policies to help combat miscommunication during negotiations with armed groups, and the FBI started a crisis response group to handle communication between negotiators, agents, and others (Wilson, 2018). There has also been a change in the regulation of military equipment.
The Waco Siege brought into question the accountability of law enforcement agencies in such situations. In response, there were calls for increased transparency and external oversight, emphasizing the need for independent investigations into law enforcement actions. Janet Reno, the Attorney General at the time, later took responsibility for the use of tear gas. Though she did claim that the FBI still played no role in the fire at Mount Carmel (
Britannica, 2023
)
. This push for greater accountability has had a lasting impact on law enforcement operations and has led to stricter reporting requirements and oversight mechanisms.
Conclusion
The Waco Siege remains a complex and horrid episode in American history, driven by a combination of religious passion, government intervention, and a tragic loss of life. The siege serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between individual rights, religious freedoms, and the need for law enforcement to maintain order. Understanding the Waco Siege is essential in the
context of examining the complexities of government intervention in religious communities and the importance of avoiding violent confrontations whenever possible. It also serves as a tragic lesson on the necessity of thorough investigations and accountability in law enforcement operations. Ultimately, the Waco Siege is a constant reminder of the need for communication, understanding, and peaceful resolution in situations of extreme conflict.
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References
Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2023, October 16). Waco siege. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/Waco-siege
History. (2017, December 19). HISTORY
. https://www.history.com/topics/1990s/waco-siege
Los Angles Times. (2019, March 5). Waco Case Tests Boundaries of Religious Liberty : Rights: Some say government targeted Davidians with such firepower because agents viewed them as a cult. - Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times
. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-07-29-me-29231-story.html
Melton, J. Gordon (2023, August 11). Branch Davidian. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Branch-Davidian
Report to the Deputy Attorney General on the events at WACO, Texas:
(2018, February 14). https://www.justice.gov/archives/publications/waco/report-deputy-attorney-general-
events-waco-texas-appendix-g-list-children-released-during-standoff
Schwarts, Jeremy. (2018, September 25). Lessons for media still echo from Waco tragedy. Austin American-Statesman
. https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2018/04/19/lessons-
for-media-still-echo-from-waco-tragedy/10037809007/
Wilson, Mark. (2018, September 25). How failures during the Waco siege changed everything for the FBI, ATF. Austin American-Statesman
. https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2018/04/19/how-failures-during-the-waco-siege-
changed-everything-for-the-fbi-atf/10039028007/