Organized Hate – Part 9 The Racist Militia Movement The Racist Militia Movement Often adhere to the principles of racial supremacy and embrace antigovernment, antireggyulatory beliefs Aryan Nations, World Church of the Creator Patriot /Militia movement Tax Protesters Sovereign Citizen Movement Militia Movement What is a “militia”? There are several references to militia in the US Constitution 2nd Amendment “A well regulated militia, being necessary for the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” Article II. Section 2 “The militia is a voluntary force not associated or under the control of the States except when called out” Hamilton, Federalist Papers under No. 69 1 Militia Movement (cont.) US Code, Title 10 – Armed Forces, Subtitle A – General Military Law, Part I – Organization and General Military Powers, Chapt. 13 – The Militia Sec. 311. Militia: composition and classes (a) The militia of the United States consists of all able -bodied males at least 17 years of age and, except as provided in section 313 of title 32, under 45 years of age who are, or who have made a declaration on intention to become, citizens of the United States who are members of the National Guard. (b) The classes of the militia are – (1) the organized militia, which consists of the National Guard and the Naval Militia; and (2) the unorganized militia, which consists of members of the militia who are not members of the National Guard or Naval Militia Militia Movement (cont.) Right–wing paramilitary organizations have a long history in the US Klan Pre-WWII fascist groups Anticommunist groups during the Cold War Modern militia groups began their rise to prominence in the 70s and 80s Ideology tends to be: Anti-government and conspiracy-oriented in nature Prominent focus on firearms Some have white supremacist beliefs Militia Movement (cont.) Several factors led to the popularity of the militia movement Ruby Ridge, ID - 1992 Waco, TX - 1993 Rise of political conservatism and religious fundamentalism Brady Bill – 1993 Assault Weapons Ban - 1994 2 Militia Movement (cont.) Fascinated with conspiracies Federal government deliberately murdered people at Ruby Ridge and Waco Imminent gun confiscation The fear of a “New World Order”, under the guise of the United Nations, whose goal is the creation of a one-world socialist government The “vast Jewish conspiracy” fit well into the militia movement Militia Movement (cont.) Engage in paramilitary training Weappgons training Patrolling/ambushes Guerrilla operations/sabotage Often organized and equipped along the lines of US military units Militia Movement (cont.) The militia movement grew rapidly throughout 1994 Alleged links between militia groups and the 1995 OK Cit y bom bing resu lte d in publicity for the militia movement and drew the scrutiny of law enforcement The attention caused some groups to disband and others to splinter, but also led to an increase in numbers and activity 3 Militia Movement (cont.) By 1996 , nearly every state had at least one militia group; most states had several Increased scrutiny by law enforcement resulted in numerous arrests, usually on illegal weapons, explosives, and conspiracy charges Militia Movement Plots/Arrests April 1996: Several members of the Georgia Republic Militia are arrested for possessing bombs July 1996: 12 members of the Arizona Viper Militia are arrested for conspiring to blow up federal and sta te bu ildings July 1996: Members of the Washington State Militia are arrested for possessing bombs/explosives October 1996: Members of the West Virginia Mountaineer Militia are arrested for conspiring to blow up an FBI fingerprint records facility Militia Movement – The Decline These arrests had a negative impact on the movement Other events in 1996 and 1997 also weakened the movement Tri-State Militia collapse Montana Freemen standoff with the FBI in March 1996 Militia groups failed to come to their aid Republic of Texas standoff in April 1997 Militia groups again failed to come to their aid 4 Militia Movement – The Decline (cont.) Lack of response on the part of the militia movement caused a number of radicals to splinter away and start their own organizations Attempts at establishing militia umbrella organizations were usually short-lived Militia Movement – Arrests Continued 1998: Five members of the North American Militia are arrested and convicted of building pipe bombs and plotting to assassinate government officials Leaders Brad Metcalf and Randy Graham receive 40- and 50-year sentences respectively 4 July 1997: Bradley Glover and a friend are arrested for plotting to attack a Fort Hood, where they believe that New World Order troops were being trained Eventually a total of seven people are arrested in the plot Militia Movement – Status The number of militia groups declined after 1996, as did their activity The failure of a Y2K crisis also contributed to their decline But, in many areas of the country, the militia movement has remained strong, or nearly as strong as it was during its height Strongest in the Midwest – MI, OH, IN, IL, KY Most active group in the country recently has been the KY State Militia 5 Militias in New England 2010 NH: NH Patriot Militia US Constitution Rangers ME: Maine Constitutional Militia Sovereign Citizen Movement Origins: Circa 1970; fully formed by early 1980s Ideology: Anti-government, some white supremacist views Outreach: Vigilante courts , seminars , shortwave radio, the Internet, “schools of common law” Tactics: “Paper Terrorism”, including frivolous lawsuits/liens, fictitious financial instruments, fictitious automobile-related documents, and misuse of genuine documents such as IRS forms; various frauds and schemes Sovereign Citizen Movement (cont.) A loosely organized collection of groups and individuals Members often refer to themselves as: Sovereign citizens Constitutionalists Freemen Preamble citizens Common law citizens Non-foreign/non-resident aliens 6 Sovereign Citizen Movement (cont.) Believe that virtually all existing government in the US is illegitimate Seek to restore an idealized, minimalist government that never actually existed In order to do this, sovereign citizens wage war against the government and other forms of authority via “paper terrorism” harassment and intimidation Occasionally resort to violence Sovereign Citizen Movement – Posse Comitatus Originated in California and Oregon around 1969/1970 Grew out of right-wing tax-protest movement Name means “power [or force] of the county” in Latin Members believed that the county was the true seat of government Sovereign Citizen Movement – Posse Comitatus (cont.) Did not deny the legal existence of the federal and state governments; rather claimed that the county level was the highest authority of government as it was closest to the people Believed that there had been a “subtle subversion” of the Constitution by various arms and levels of the government, especially the judiciary Believed that there was a “criminal conspiracy to obstruct justice, disenfranchise citizens and liquidate the Constitutional Republic of the United States” 7 Sovereign Citizen Movement – Posse Comitatus (cont.) Goal of the Posse was to reverse this “subversion” and restore the Republic through: 1) Unilateral actions by the people (i.e., the Posse) 2) Actions byyy(gy the county sheriff (recognized by the Posse as the only constitutional law enforcement officer) Most important role of the county sheriff was to protect the people from the unlawful acts of government officials like judges and government agents Should a sheriff refuse to carry out such duties, “the people” had the right to hang him Sovereign Citizen Movement – Posse Comitatus (cont.) The Posse reached its peak in the early 1980s Farm crisis in the Midwest provided many new recruits Posse ideology had developed into an elaborate theory invo lv ing the concep t o f an or ig ina l u top ian government based upon “common law” Believed that the original government had been subverted and replaced with a tyrannical government and that Americans had been tricked into believing that it was legitimate Sovereign Citizen Movement – Posse Comitatus (cont.) Although originally anti-government in philosophy, many leaders of Posse groups were racists and Christian Identity adherents By the early 1980s, Posse members and sympathizers had become involved in a number of shooting, standoffs, fraud schemes, and other criminal activities 8 Sovereign Citizen Movement – Posse Comitatus (cont.) 1983: Gordon Kahl - ND Posse leader, CI adherent, and activist in the “township movement” Opened fire on US Marshals when they attempted to arrest him for violating his parole; killing two and wounding three others Tracked to an AK farmhouse four months later Died in a shootout in which a sheriff was also killed Sovereign Citizen Movement – Paper Terrorism “Common Law Courts” Used as a forum for grievances against the government and issued threats to public officials Filing of frivolous lawsuits and liens against public officials, law enforcement officers, and citizens Intimidated targets and clogged up the “illegitimate courts” Became such a problem that many states were forced to pass new laws to make filing them illegal Sovereign Citizen Movement – Paper Terrorism (cont.) Fictitious financial instruments Phony money orders, sight drafts, and comptroller’s warrants Believe that paper