+ SECTION A, PAGE 6 toledoblade.com FROM PAGE 1 THE BLADE: TOLEDO, t SUNDAY, APRIL 4, 2010 HUTAREE Militia MEMBERS Continued from Page 1 IN CUSTODY These nine mulled over the Hutaree people were ar- arrests with hot dogs in rested in raids hand in downtown Hillsdale at the end of recently. March. David Brian David Brian Joshua Tina Mae Jacob Michael Kristopher Joshua John Thomas “It was a little surprising, Stone, Sr. Stone, Jr. Stone Stone Ward David Meeks T. Sickles Clough Piatek yeah,” the senior Mr. Lam- berson said of the arrests. “I knew the militias were around, but you just don’t hear about them. You just know they’re out there.” A federal indictment against the Hutaree said its members believed an elitist group led by the Antichrist was attempting to establish a one-world government or “New World Order,” and that all law enforcement offi cials were part of the conspiracy and needed to be killed. Indicted were David Brian Stone, Sr., 45, his wife, Tina Mae Stone, 44, his son, Joshua Matthew Stone, 21, all of Clayton, and his other son, David Brian Stone, Jr., 19, of Adrian; Joshua John Clough, 28, of Blissfi eld; THE BLADE THE BLADE Michael David Meeks, 40, of During the militia activity of the 1990s, militia leader Mark Koern- The Rev. Rick Strawcutter, broadcasting inside an Adrian church in Manchester, Mich.; Thomas ke, or ‘Mark from ,’ made a name for himself with a short- 1999, often aired talks by conservative speakers and espoused his William Piatek, 46, of Whit- wave radio show he broadcast from area fast-food chains. own views on gun control and government failings. ing, Ind.; Kristopher T. Sickles, 27, of Sandusky, and existed to plant people with On the rise guns are a big part of that Jacob J. Ward, 33, of Huron, mind-controlling computer so it has this sort of history,” OHIO AND GROUPS Ohio. Now, a decade later, it chips. Mr. Chermak said. In addi- The Southern Poverty Law Center counted 127 militia Yet despite widespread in- appears extreme right-wing Mr. Koernke became a tion, Michigan’s economic groups nationwide in 2009, up from 42 in 2008. Here credulity over the Hutaree’s national spokesman for groups are on the rise again problems and high unem- are some of those groups in Ohio and Michigan. alleged maniacal schemes, militia causes, addressing in Michigan. According ployment rate, and also its rumblings of anti-govern- crowds of thousands at ral- to the Montgomery, Ala.- vast rural expanses that OHIO ment extremism are hardly lies where he blamed the based Southern Poverty Law can be used for militia-type Constitutional Militia of Clark County Clark County new in these parts of rural Center, Michigan has more government for the nation’s activity, might be another Northeastern Ohio Defense Force 3BN Lisbon Michigan. problems. Some of those so-called “Patriot” groups reason, the professor ex- During the 1990s, Lenaw- rallies took place at parks in than any other state in the plained. Northwestern Ohio Defense Force 4BN Kenton ee and the surrounding Lenawee County. nation, except Texas. Patriot “All are potential vari- Ohio Defense Force State Headquarters Zanesville counties became a hotbed groups tend to champion The militia leader’s star ables,” Mr. Chermak said. Ohio Militia Statewide for militia activity, con- began to lose its shimmer extreme, anti-government Amy Cooter, a graduate spiracy theories, and anti- in 1994 when a follower doctrines and conspiracy student at the University Southeastern Ohio Defense Force Belmont County government rallies, fl amed shot and killed one of his theories, although they of Michigan who has been 3rd Platoon by the vitriol of right-wing bodyguards after forcing the don’t necessarily advocate studying militia groups in Southwestern Ohio Defense Force 5BN Lebanon underground radio person- or engage in violence, the 25-year-old to dig his own the state for the past two Unorganized Militia of Champaign County St. Paris alities. The rise came amid grave. center says. years, said she is still trying increased fears over gun During the 1990s in Of these groups, 32 are to fi gure out why Michigan, control following the elec- Lenawee County, the Rev. militia organizations, with and southeast Michigan in MICHIGAN tion of Democratic Presi- Rick Strawcutter battled 27 located in southeast or particular, has such an ac- Delta 5 Mobile Light Infantry Militia Eaton County dent Bill Clinton, and anger the FCC over a pirate radio mideast Michigan, includ- tive paramilitary culture. East-Central Volunteer Militia of Michigan Lapeer County about the government raids ing the Hutaree. station he ran out of the She believes some of it Hutaree Militia Southern Michigan at , Idaho, and Church of Our Lord Jesus Many experts are unsure may have to do with the Waco, Texas. Christ in Adrian. Mr. Straw- why this area of Michigan accessibility of rural areas Jackson County Volunteers Jackson County Out of Washtenaw cutter broadcast talks by appears to have such a large for city dwellers interested Lenawee County Free and Adrian County, militia leader Mark conservative speakers and militia following. But Steve in shooting and survivalist Independent Militia Koernke, or “Mark from Chermak, a professor at his own opinions on gun techniques, and Michigan’s Michigan Militia Redford Michigan,” made a name for control and government Michigan State University harsh climate which may himself with a short-wave failings. Federal marshals who studies domestic ex- breed a certain hardiness Michigan Militia Corps Wolverines South Central radio show he broadcast closed the station in 2001 tremism, says theorists have among some of its people. 8th Division from area fast-food restau- come up with a variety of for operating without a But Ms. Cooter cautioned Michigan Arenac County Macomb County rants. His talks claimed that explanations. license. Mr. Strawcutter that the number of par- Patriot Bay County Midland County road signs had secret tags to also sold videotapes by Mr. “Some people would ar- ticipants in militia groups guide U.N. forces in a com- Koernke and other para- gue it’s part of the hunting may not be as large as fi rst Alliance Cheboygan County Oakland County ing invasion, and that a plot military groups. and outdoor culture, and appears. Clinton County Oceana County “Those groups are over- Crawford County Presque Isle County lapped to a large extent. A Genesee County Saginaw County lot of smaller groups come Gladwin County St. Clair County THE JOY OF OPENING DAY! to trainings with the larger Gratiot County Sanilac County ones,” said Ms. Cooter. “It’s Jackson County Shiawassee County hard to put a number on it, but I’d say regular militia Lapeer County Tuscola County members wouldn’t exceed Northern Michigan Backyard Northern Michigan 300 or so” statewide. Protection Militia Ms. Cooter said the militia she’s studied are mostly law- Southeast Michigan Livingston County Washtenaw County abiding and do not advo- Volunteer Militia Macomb County Wayne County cate violence. She said she Oakland County had become aware of the West Michigan Volunteer Militia Muskegon County Hutaree group during her research, and immediately realized they were different SOURCE: The Southern Poverty Law Center THE BLADE from the other groups. “It was pretty clear that stop reporting the Hutaree that become violent can they didn’t have a whole lot as a Michigan militia group. become quite violent,” Mr. in common with the other They are a cult,” Lee Mira- Chermak said. “When you groups in Michigan,” Ms. cle, the group’s coordinator get the right mix of two or Presented Cooter said. She explained said. “To have the belief that three people … that’s when all law enforcement are bad there’s real potential for by that the Hutaree’s radical in- terpretation of Christianity guys … that’s a horrible phi- danger.” and its focus on religion was losophy to embrace.” Mr. Chermak said he is highly unusual for a militia Mr. Miracle said his group conducting a study into group. is mainly concerned with what factors lead a group KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE the right to bear arms for to become dangerous. He Seeking distance self-defense, advocating for believes there may be a link Win a Family Pack of Tickets to the smaller government and between a potential for vio- Indeed, various militia fewer taxes, upholding the lence and belief in radical Mud Hens Opening Day Bash representatives in the area constitution to the letter, conspiracy theories, such have been vocal in dis- and learning methods for as those espoused by the April 8, 2010 tancing themselves from survival in the case of a di- Hutaree. He said the major- the Hutaree. One of them, saster. He insisted his group ity of the militia members Every game during the Mud Hens Opening Weekend is special. the Southeast Michigan wants to help support law he’s interviewed are dismis- Volunteer Militia, posted a And you could be there for FREE. enforcement, not attack it. sive of these theories. message on its Web site fol- But while many militia However, Booth Gunter, lowing last weekend’s arrest groups may not pose a se- a spokesman for the South- 5 Winners Receive a Family 4-Pack for the Opening Day Bash. of nine Hutaree members, Includes an All-You-Can-Eat Buffet. curity threat, Mr. Chermak ern Poverty Law Center, said stating that it had no af- said it’s important to watch belief in radical conspiracy Buffet: 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. fi liation with the group. One for potential problems and theories is more widespread First Pitch: 5:30 p.m. leader, Michael Lackomar, unhinged individuals who now than during the militia said he refused a call for could strike out on their surge of the 1990s, and that 2 Winners Receive 4 Tickets to the Friday Game, April 9. help from a fugitive Hutaree own or infl uence others. could be a precursor to vio- member, and instead con- Game Time: 5:30 p.m. “The majority of groups lence for some people. He tacted the police. are nonviolent, but the ones 2 Winners Receive 4 Tickets to the Saturday Game, April 10. “I wish the media would See MILITIA, Page 7 Game Time: 6 p.m. 2 Winners Receive 4 Tickets to the Sunday Game, April 11. Game Time: 2 p.m. SPRINGSAVINGS Just Fill Out the Entry Below. Mail It or Drop It Off to: Mud Hens Opening Day Bash Contest, Mud Hens Offi ce, Fifth Third Field, 406 Washington Street, Toledo, OH 43604 On Select Garage Doors Or enter online at www.mudhens.com

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