There are multiple instances in Little Brother where the DHS intervenes with use of force to break up gatherings of Xnetters. They use force to install fear in the Xnetters, and the break up using items such as tear gas is consequence for the actions taken by the Xnetters. Doctorow tells us that the gathering was nothing more than a gathering where bands were playing, and it the people in the crowd were only young adults trying to have some fun while showing the disagreement of the DHS crackdown. Under the definitions of terrorism by Waldron, they might consider the use of tear gas as a punishment for not obeying their original demands as an act of terrorism. However I believe that Hardin would disagree under the idea that some form of a structured government that can help prevent terrorism is necessary, and that the DHS was just preventing further ideas of terrorism. Doctorow would most likely fall somewhere in between the two sides, but leaning more towards the idea that the DHS were not committing an act of terror. However tells us that what the DHS did was out of place, and that the stepped over their boundary of power.