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Person

Bishop M. Garrison, Jr

Nationality:

American
Occupation:

Former Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Defense on Human Capital, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Political Party:

Democratic
Lives:

Northern Virginia

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Bishop M. Garrison, Jr. was the senior advisor to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) on human capital, diversity, equity, and inclusion until 2022. 1 Prior to joining the Biden administration, Garrison held positions with Democratic political campaigns, left-of-center advocacy groups, and the Obama administration. 2 He is an advocate in support of critical race theory, a left-wing approach to studying race that alleges that the history of the United States can be entirely explained by racial oppression. 3 Garrison has also supported the controversial left-of-center 1619 Project as a “good place to start” for racial engagement. 4

Garrison was in charge of the controversial Countering Extremism Working Group (CEWG)5 established during Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s 60 day stand down to address extremism across the DOD. 6 CEWG is tasked with running a commission on extremism across the DOD,7 evaluating the Uniformed Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), analyzing insider threat programs, analyzing the DOD’s capability to screen public information on DOD employees 8  executing continuous employee vetting, 9 and updating the definition of “extremism.” 10

Some conservatives argued that the CEWG will be used to purge supporters of former President Donald Trump from military service due to Garrison’s previous statements calling President Trump’s supporters racist. 11 12 Garrison also claimed that calls for civility during President Trump’s first impeachment trial were “the death of this nation.” 13 Garrison has also called on Americans to use the Capitol riots on January 6, 2021 as an opportunity to “finally put an end to the misinformation, hatred, and vitriol that plague us.” 14

Garrison has called white supremacy the greatest threat to the U.S. military;15 identified the inability to hold Russia accountable for alleged interference in the 2016 presidential election the greatest foreign policy blunder of the past 100 years;16 and claimed that racism, misogyny, and sexism played a role in the 2016 presidential election. 17

Biden Administration Role

After working as a member of the Biden-Harris Transition team for counterterrorism, 18 Bishop Garrison became the senior advisor to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) on human capital, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) 19 in February 2021. 20 He left the administration in 2022.21

Garrison was in charge of the controversial Countering Extremism Working Group (CEWG)22 established during Secretary Austin’s 60 day stand down to address extremism across the Department. 23 CEWG is responsible for evaluating and potentially changing DOD policy on the Uniformed Code of Military Justice (UCMJ, insider threat programs, employee screening, and the DOD definition of “extremism.” 24  25 26

Despite stating that he did not personally see white supremacy during his time in the military, Garrison has identified white supremacy as the greatest national security threat to the military due to alleged white supremacist recruitment efforts aimed at veterans. 27 28 Garrison has claimed that white supremacy and white nationalist extremism are “nation-ending” threats unless the government invests in combatting violent extremist programs and engages in “difficult, uncomfortable” conversations about race and privilege. 29

Some conservatives have expressed concern that the CEWG will be used to purge supporters of former President Trump from military service due to Garrison’s track record regarding the former president. 30 Garrison has claimed that President Trump’s supporters are racists and white supremacists and argued that calls for civility during President Trump’s impeachment proceedings represented “the death of this nation.” 31 32 Garrison has also recommended the controversial and in parts historically inaccurate 1619 Project as a “good place to start” for racial engagement. 33

In April 2021, Garrison was a panelist in an event co-hosted by the left-of-center Center for American Progress (CAP) and the McCain Institute for International Leadership on “A Blueprint for Ending White Supremacist Violence.” 34 He confirmed that CEWG’s was working towards providing a broader definition of “extremist behavior” and policing conduct on social media. 35

Political Activism and Contributions

In a January 6, 2021 tweet, Garrison said that the riots at the Capitol should be used as an opportunity to “finally put an end to the misinformation, hatred, and vitriol that plague us,” with critics suggesting he was referring to supporters of then-President Trump. 36

In a September 1, 2020 podcast, Garrison connected policing today to the Jim Crow-era South, expressed concerns that a Defense Department ban on displays such as the Confederate flag may come at the expense of the LGBT flag, and called the idea that Confederate generals and statues of them are part of American heritage and culture “asinine.” 37

In a June 9, 2020 conversation with the American Council on Germany, Garrison said that properly teaching history in elementary, middle, and high school is the one way to truly fight racism. Garrison endorsed a number of far-left policies during the discussion, including an expansive reparations policy and “tearing down [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] to the studs so you never hear ICE in government again. 38

In March 2020, Garrison said that racism and extremism affects and undermines U.S security, diplomatic relationships, and credibility abroad and that the U.S. cannot claim to be a beacon of freedom in the world if it continues to “accept the ongoing murder of innocent black people.” 39 40  Chinese Communist Party officials parroted these ideas during a March 2021 summit in Alaska with Secretary of State Tony Blinken. 41

In 2018, Garrison said that America has “undemocratic, slavery-based” beginnings. 42 That same year, Garrison published an article claiming that the president has a “constitutional responsibility to confront climate change” as a national security threat. 43 Garrison has also argued in favor of weakened immigration enforcement, including amnesty for illegal immigrants brought to the United States as children, and has called for technology companies to combat the “digital black plague” of “disinformation” on social media. 44 45

In 2016, Garrison was the deputy foreign policy advisor for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s unsuccessful 2016 presidential campaign. 46 Garrison has since claimed that the failure hold Russia accountable for its alleged interference in the 2016 presidential election is the greatest foreign policy blunder of the past 100 years. 47

In 2014, Garrison called for a complete ban on standard-capacity magazines and popular classes of rifles in common use for private citizens. He also suggested that all antique, curios, and relic firearms should be required to be “no longer operational.” 48

Garrison has consistently made campaign contributions to Democratic Party campaigns and committees since 2017. 49

Obama Administration Roles

Garrison was the director of veterans outreach in Virginia for Organizing for America in support of former President Barack Obama during the 2012 presidential election. 50 Garrison then held various roles in the Obama administration. 51

While in the Obama administration, Garrison worked as Deputy White House Liaison and Acting Special Assistant to the Secretary of Defense and Special Assistant and White House Liaison at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Garrison also worked as an advisor to the science and technology directorate and as a task force deputy lead for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Passenger Recommendations Task Force at the Department of Homeland Security. 52

Advocacy Work

From March 2019 to February 2021, Garrison was the director of national security outreach for the left-of-center Human Rights First. He is a co-founder of the Joseph Rainey Center for Public Policy and sat on the board of directors of the Council for a Livable World, a left-of-center nonprofit organization that has called on the United States to destroy its nuclear arsenal. 53

From August 2018 until March 2019, Garrison worked at the left-leaning Truman National Security Project (TNSP) in various roles. 54

In 2019, as the interim executive director of TNSP, Garrison spoke alongside U.S. Representatives John Sarbanes (D-MD) and Katie Porter (D-CA) at a press conference in support of the “For the People Act,” proposed left-of-center legislation aimed at changing how elections are conducted. 55  The conference also featured representatives from Public Citizen, Democracy 21, Indivisible, the Center for American Progress (CAP), the NAACP Washington Bureau, the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, the National LGBTQ Task Force, People for the American Way, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the Sierra Club, and the Communications Workers of America (CWA). 56

Early Life and Personal Information

Bishop Garrison, Jr., was born in Lexington, South Carolina. 57 He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 2002 and served as an officer in the United States Army until 2007. Garrison holds a law degree from the College of William and Mary58 and resides in Northern Virginia with his family. 59

References

  1. “Bishop Garrison.” National Security Institute. Accessed January 31, 2024. Available at: https://nationalsecurity.gmu.edu/fellows/bishop-garrison/
  2. “Bishop Garrison.” Bishop Garrison LinkedIn Profile. Accessed June 6, 2021. https://www.linkedin.com/in/bishopgarrison/.
  3. Crane, Emily. “Purge at the Pentagon: Outrage as Defense Secretary’s woke race advisor plans trawl of military personnel’s social media for ‘extremist and concerning behavior’ – using private company to circumvent the First Amendment.” Daily Mail. May 18, 2021. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9591775/Pentagon-trawl-military-personnels-social-media-extremist-activity.html?ito=email_share_article-top
  4. Garrison, Bishop. “Racism is an Existential Threat.” Inkstick. August 20, 2019. https://inkstickmedia.com/racism-is-an-existential-threat/.
  5. Austin, Lloyd. “Memorandum for Senior Pentagon Leadership. – Immediate Actions to Counter Extremism in the Department and the Establishment of the Counter Extremism Working Group.” U.S. Government Memorandum. April 9, 2021. https://media.defense.gov/2021/Apr/09/2002617921/-1/-1/1/MEMORANDUM-IMMEDIATE-ACTIONS-TO-COUNTER-EXTREMISM-IN-THE-DEPARTMENT-AND-THE-ESTABLISHMENT-OF-THE-COUNTERING-EXTREMISM-WORKING-GROUP.PDF.
  6. Austin, Lloyd. “Memorandum for Senior Pentagon Leadership. – Immediate Actions to Counter Extremism in the Department and the Establishment of the Counter Extremism Working Group.” U.S. Government Memorandum. April 9, 2021. https://media.defense.gov/2021/Apr/09/2002617921/-1/-1/1/MEMORANDUM-IMMEDIATE-ACTIONS-TO-COUNTER-EXTREMISM-IN-THE-DEPARTMENT-AND-THE-ESTABLISHMENT-OF-THE-COUNTERING-EXTREMISM-WORKING-GROUP.PDF.
  7. Secretary of Defense Austin Announces Actions to Counter Extremism in the Military and Establishment of the Counter Extremism Working Group. Press Release. U.S. Department of Defense. April 9, 2021. https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Releases/Release/Article/2567545/secretary-of-defense-austin-announces-immediate-actions-to-counter-extremism-in/.
  8. Austin, Lloyd. “Memorandum for Senior Pentagon Leadership. – Immediate Actions to Counter Extremism in the Department and the Establishment of the Counter Extremism Working Group.” U.S. Government Memorandum. April 9, 2021. https://media.defense.gov/2021/Apr/09/2002617921/-1/-1/1/MEMORANDUM-IMMEDIATE-ACTIONS-TO-COUNTER-EXTREMISM-IN-THE-DEPARTMENT-AND-THE-ESTABLISHMENT-OF-THE-COUNTERING-EXTREMISM-WORKING-GROUP.PDF.
  9. Secretary of Defense Austin Announces Actions to Counter Extremism in the Military and Establishment of the Counter Extremism Working Group. Press Release. U.S. Department of Defense. April 9, 2021. https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Releases/Release/Article/2567545/secretary-of-defense-austin-announces-immediate-actions-to-counter-extremism-in/.
  10. Gramone, Jim. “Austin Orders Immediate Changes to Combat Extremism in Military.” DOD News. April 9, 2021. https://www.defense.gov/Explore/News/Article/Article/2567179/austin-orders-immediate-changes-to-combat-extremism-in-military/.
  11. “Pete Hegseth: Meet Bishop Garrison, the Pentagon’s ‘newly minted MAGA purge man’. Fox News. Transcript from FOX News Primetime Broadcast. May 6, 2021. https://www.foxnews.com/media/pete-hegseth-meet-bishop-garrison-the-pentagons-newly-minted-maga-purge-man.
  12. Crane, Emily. “Purge at the Pentagon: Outrage as Defense Secretary’s woke race advisor plans trawl of military personnel’s social media for ‘extremist and concerning behavior’ – using private company to circumvent the First Amendment.” Daily Mail. May 18, 2021. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9591775/Pentagon-trawl-military-personnels-social-media-extremist-activity.html?ito=email_share_article-top
  13. Crane, Emily. “Purge at the Pentagon: Outrage as Defense Secretary’s woke race advisor plans trawl of military personnel’s social media for ‘extremist and concerning behavior’ – using private company to circumvent the First Amendment.” Daily Mail. May 18, 2021. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9591775/Pentagon-trawl-military-personnels-social-media-extremist-activity.html?ito=email_share_article-top
  14. Crane, Emily. “Purge at the Pentagon: Outrage as Defense Secretary’s woke race advisor plans trawl of military personnel’s social media for ‘extremist and concerning behavior’ – using private company to circumvent the First Amendment.” Daily Mail. May 18, 2021. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9591775/Pentagon-trawl-military-personnels-social-media-extremist-activity.html?ito=email_share_article-top
  15. “Reclaiming History: Bishop Garrison on Racism, Recruitment, and Representation in the Military.” Eurasia Group Foundation. None of the Above Podcast. Interview. September 1, 2020. https://egfound.org/2020/09/reclaiming-history-bishop-garrison-on-racism-recruitment-and-representation-in-the-military/.
  16. “Reclaiming History: Bishop Garrison on Racism, Recruitment, and Representation in the Military.” Eurasia Group Foundation. None of the Above Podcast. Interview. September 1, 2020. https://egfound.org/2020/09/reclaiming-history-bishop-garrison-on-racism-recruitment-and-representation-in-the-military/.
  17. Garrison, Bishop J. “A call to my fellow Dems – how to understand a Trump voter’s ‘opportunity’.” The Hill. December 12, 2016. https://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/presidential-campaign/310007-a-call-to-my-fellow-dems-how-to-understand-a-trump.
  18. “Bishop Garrison.” Bishop Garrison LinkedIn Profile. Accessed June 6, 2021. https://www.linkedin.com/in/bishopgarrison/.
  19. “Bishop Garrison.” Bishop Garrison LinkedIn Profile. Accessed June 6, 2021. https://www.linkedin.com/in/bishopgarrison/.
  20. “Bishop Garrison.” Bishop Garrison LinkedIn Profile. Accessed June 6, 2021. https://www.linkedin.com/in/bishopgarrison/.
  21. “Bishop Garrison.” National Security Institute. Accessed January 31, 2024. Available at: https://nationalsecurity.gmu.edu/fellows/bishop-garrison/
  22. Austin, Lloyd. “Memorandum for Senior Pentagon Leadership. – Immediate Actions to Counter Extremism in the Department and the Establishment of the Counter Extremism Working Group.” U.S. Government Memorandum. April 9, 2021. https://media.defense.gov/2021/Apr/09/2002617921/-1/-1/1/MEMORANDUM-IMMEDIATE-ACTIONS-TO-COUNTER-EXTREMISM-IN-THE-DEPARTMENT-AND-THE-ESTABLISHMENT-OF-THE-COUNTERING-EXTREMISM-WORKING-GROUP.PDF.
  23. Austin, Lloyd. “Memorandum for Senior Pentagon Leadership. – Immediate Actions to Counter Extremism in the Department and the Establishment of the Counter Extremism Working Group.” U.S. Government Memorandum. April 9, 2021. https://media.defense.gov/2021/Apr/09/2002617921/-1/-1/1/MEMORANDUM-IMMEDIATE-ACTIONS-TO-COUNTER-EXTREMISM-IN-THE-DEPARTMENT-AND-THE-ESTABLISHMENT-OF-THE-COUNTERING-EXTREMISM-WORKING-GROUP.PDF.
  24. Austin, Lloyd. “Memorandum for Senior Pentagon Leadership. – Immediate Actions to Counter Extremism in the Department and the Establishment of the Counter Extremism Working Group.” U.S. Government Memorandum. April 9, 2021. https://media.defense.gov/2021/Apr/09/2002617921/-1/-1/1/MEMORANDUM-IMMEDIATE-ACTIONS-TO-COUNTER-EXTREMISM-IN-THE-DEPARTMENT-AND-THE-ESTABLISHMENT-OF-THE-COUNTERING-EXTREMISM-WORKING-GROUP.PDF.
  25. Secretary of Defense Austin Announces Actions to Counter Extremism in the Military and Establishment of the Counter Extremism Working Group. Press Release. U.S. Department of Defense. April 9, 2021. https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Releases/Release/Article/2567545/secretary-of-defense-austin-announces-immediate-actions-to-counter-extremism-in/.
  26. Gramone, Jim. “Austin Orders Immediate Changes to Combat Extremism in Military.” DOD News. April 9, 2021. https://www.defense.gov/Explore/News/Article/Article/2567179/austin-orders-immediate-changes-to-combat-extremism-in-military/.
  27. “Reclaiming History: Bishop Garrison on Racism, Recruitment, and Representation in the Military.” Eurasia Group Foundation. None of the Above Podcast. Interview. September 1, 2020. https://egfound.org/2020/09/reclaiming-history-bishop-garrison-on-racism-recruitment-and-representation-in-the-military/.
  28. “Reclaiming History: Bishop Garrison on Racism, Recruitment, and Representation in the Military.” Eurasia Group Foundation. None of the Above Podcast. Interview. September 1, 2020. https://egfound.org/2020/09/reclaiming-history-bishop-garrison-on-racism-recruitment-and-representation-in-the-military/.
  29. Garrison, Bishop. “Racism is an Existential Threat.” Inkstick. August 20, 2019. https://inkstickmedia.com/racism-is-an-existential-threat/.
  30. “Pete Hegseth: Meet Bishop Garrison, the Pentagon’s ‘newly minted MAGA purge man’. Fox News. Transcript from FOX News Primetime Broadcast. May 6, 2021. https://www.foxnews.com/media/pete-hegseth-meet-bishop-garrison-the-pentagons-newly-minted-maga-purge-man.
  31. Crane, Emily. “Purge at the Pentagon: Outrage as Defense Secretary’s woke race advisor plans trawl of military personnel’s social media for ‘extremist and concerning behavior’ – using private company to circumvent the First Amendment.” Daily Mail. May 18, 2021. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9591775/Pentagon-trawl-military-personnels-social-media-extremist-activity.html?ito=email_share_article-top
  32. Crane, Emily. “Purge at the Pentagon: Outrage as Defense Secretary’s woke race advisor plans trawl of military personnel’s social media for ‘extremist and concerning behavior’ – using private company to circumvent the First Amendment.” Daily Mail. May 18, 2021. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9591775/Pentagon-trawl-military-personnels-social-media-extremist-activity.html?ito=email_share_article-top
  33. Garrison, Bishop. “Racism is an Existential Threat.” Inkstick. August 20, 2019. https://inkstickmedia.com/racism-is-an-existential-threat/.
  34. “A Blueprint for Ending White Supremacist Violence.” Center for American Progress. April 21, 2021. https://www.americanprogress.org/events/2021/04/15/498078/blueprint-ending-white-supremacist-violence/.
  35. “A Blueprint for Ending White Supremacist Violence.” Center for American Progress. April 21, 2021. https://www.americanprogress.org/events/2021/04/15/498078/blueprint-ending-white-supremacist-violence/.
  36. Crane, Emily. “Purge at the Pentagon: Outrage as Defense Secretary’s woke race advisor plans trawl of military personnel’s social media for ‘extremist and concerning behavior’ – using private company to circumvent the First Amendment.” Daily Mail. May 18, 2021. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9591775/Pentagon-trawl-military-personnels-social-media-extremist-activity.html?ito=email_share_article-top
  37. “Episode 3: Reclaiming History. Bishop Garrison on Racism, Recruitment, and Representation in the Military.” None of the Above Podcast, A Podcast of the Eurasia Group Foundation. September 1, 2020. https://www.noneoftheabovepodcast.org/episodes/s2e3.
  38. “Bishop Garrison discusses how racial injustice is a concern for national security.” American Council on Germany. American Council on Germany Facebook Page. Accessed June 7, 2021.  https://pt-pt.facebook.com/acgusa/videos/bishop-garrison-discusses-how-racial-injustice-is-a-concern-for-national-securit/3219674161388277/.
  39. Garrison, Bishop and Wolfshal, Jon. “An Appeal to the National Security Community to Fight Racial Injustice.” Foreign Policy. June 2, 2020. https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/06/02/race-relations-police-violence-national-security-community/.
  40. Garrison, Bishop and Wolfshal, Jon. “An Appeal to the National Security Community to Fight Racial Injustice.” Foreign Policy. June 2, 2020. https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/06/02/race-relations-police-violence-national-security-community/.
  41. The, Cheryl. “Chinese officials suggest the US should handle its own human rights problems and not meddle in China’s affairs.” Business Insider. March 18, 2021. https://www.businessinsider.com/china-us-should-handle-own-human-rights-problems-2021-3.
  42. Garrison, Bishop. “Let’s Resolve to Add More Women of Color in National Security.” Inkstick. January 2, 2018. https://inkstickmedia.com/racism-is-an-existential-threat/.
  43. Garrison, Bishop. “The President’s Constitutional Responsibility to Confront Climate Change and Invest in Renewable Energy for National Security.” UC Hasting Constitutional Law Quarterly. April 2018. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/591ccf16db29d6afe8606726/t/5adcbc121ae6cfbd0c695dc2/1524415507011/Vol+45%2C+Issue+4_Garrison.pdf.
  44. Garrison, Bishop. “The American D(ACA)Dream.” Inkstick. September 25, 2017. https://inkstickmedia.com/the-american-dacaream/.
  45. Garrison, Bishop. “The Modern Day Dark Age.” Instick. July 26, 2018. https://inkstickmedia.com/the-modern-day-dark-age/.
  46. “Bishop Garrison.” Bishop Garrison LinkedIn Profile. Accessed June 6, 2021. https://www.linkedin.com/in/bishopgarrison/.
  47. “Reclaiming History: Bishop Garrison on Racism, Recruitment, and Representation in the Military.” Eurasia Group Foundation. None of the Above Podcast. Interview. September 1, 2020. https://egfound.org/2020/09/reclaiming-history-bishop-garrison-on-racism-recruitment-and-representation-in-the-military/.
  48. Garrison, BJ. “Time to Take the Lead” Virginia and the Gun Show Loophole.” Huffpost. March 12, 2013. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/time-take-the-lead_b_2448622.
  49. “Individual Contributions.” Bishop Garrison search results. Federal Election Committee website. Accessed June 6, 2021. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=bishop%20garrison.
  50. “Bishop Garrison.” Bishop Garrison LinkedIn Profile. Accessed June 6, 2021. https://www.linkedin.com/in/bishopgarrison/.
  51. “Bishop Garrison.” Bishop Garrison LinkedIn Profile. Accessed June 6, 2021. https://www.linkedin.com/in/bishopgarrison/.
  52. “Bishop Garrison.” Bishop Garrison LinkedIn Profile. Accessed June 6, 2021. https://www.linkedin.com/in/bishopgarrison/.
  53. “Bishop Garrison.” National Security Institute at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School. Accessed June 6, 2021. https://nationalsecurity.gmu.edu/fellows/bishop-garrison/.
  54. “Bishop Garrison.” Bishop Garrison LinkedIn Profile. Accessed June 6, 2021. https://www.linkedin.com/in/bishopgarrison/.
  55. “H.R. 1 For the People Act News Conference.” CSPAN Video. https://www.c-span.org/video/?456804-1/lawmakers-advocates-voting-rights-campaign-finance-legislation.
  56. “H.R. 1 For the People Act News Conference.” CSPAN Video. https://www.c-span.org/video/?456804-1/lawmakers-advocates-voting-rights-campaign-finance-legislation.
  57. “Bishop Garrison, Jr.” William and Mary Law School. Class of 2010. Accessed June 6, 2021.  https://law.wm.edu/admissions/intheirownwords/bishop-garrison.php.
  58. “Bishop Garrison.” Bishop Garrison LinkedIn Profile. Accessed June 6, 2021. https://www.linkedin.com/in/bishopgarrison/.
  59. “Bishop Garrison.” National Security Institute at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School. Accessed June 6, 2021. https://nationalsecurity.gmu.edu/fellows/bishop-garrison/.

Connected Organizations

  1. Biden Administration – Department of Defense (Government Agency)
    Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Defense
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