Resources
Introduction
The recent rise of far-right militia groups in the United States is a complex matter with a tangled and messy history that defies easy definition. The application of labels to describe this phenomenon is often disputed, both within and outside of these groups. Experts use labels like “far-right militia” and “far-right paramilitaries” to describe their ideology. However, these groups are organized (sometimes intentionally) in a way to defy these labels and easy understanding. The problem of understanding these groups is compounded by their trolling culture. This resource is intended to spread light and counter common confusion surrounding these groups. This resource focuses in particular on the activities of local groups and their interest in the Grange organization in Langley, WA, but this document should be useful in other contexts by those dealing with far-right militia groups across the United States.
For purposes of this resource, we use the label “far-right militia” to describe the groups on the far right that we are trying to better understand. We acknowledge that this is an imperfect label, both in terms of describing the groups we are seeking to examine and in describing what these groups have in common.
Some of the materials cited below exist behind pay firewalls. We regret the inconvenience this might cause.
Material On Far-Right Militia Activity on Whidbey Island
Far-Right Militia Groups and the Langley Grange
Mike Carter, “Far-right group stakes claim at Whidbey Island Grange, stoking angry debate and exposing political divides,” The Seattle Times, 12/13/2020
David Neiwart, “Three Percent takeover of Whidbey Island Grange shows how proto-facist forces creep into mainstream,” Daily Kos, 12/14/2020
Vicki Robin, “Q Arrives in Our Town,” vickirobin.com, 12/23/2020
Tom Gwin, “Tolerance and civil discourse central to Grange culture,” Seattle Times, 12/24/2020 (op-ed)
October 2020 “Freedom to Worship Protest”
Hosted by Washington 3% in Freeland, WA, and featuring Joey Gibson and Matt Marshall.
Kaity Kline, “How Armed Militia Groups Are Preparing for After the Election,” NPR 1A 10/28/2020 (broadcast piece runs to about the 10:30 point of this broadcast and contains material recorded at Freedom to Worship Protest)
Letter from Whidbey Island Faith Leaders (PDF) in Reaction to October 2020 “Freedom to Worship Protest”
February 2019 “Enforce the 2nd Amendment: Island County” Meeting
Hosted by Patriot Prayer and Washington 3% in Greenbank, WA.
Laura Guido, “Gun-rights group planning Whidbey gathering,” Whidbey News-Times, 1/29/2019
Whidbey Island Residents, “Wherever Patriot Prayer group goes, hate follows,” Whidbey News-Times, 2/1/2019 (Letter to the Editor)
Other Presence of Far-Right Militia Groups on Whidbey Island
Mike Carter, “4 men with neo-Nazi ties indicted for hate crimes, false statements over 2018 Lynnwood bar,” Seattle Times, 12/18/2020
KVI Staff, “John Carlson Show, Dec. 15 -- 7am hour,” KVI AM 570, 12/15/2020 (Conservative talk-radio interview with Eric Rohde, Whidbey Island 3% leader, following “Freedom to Worship” event)
Eric Lacitis, “‘Bucolic’ Whidbey Island surprised at skinhead headlines — and recent Lynnwood assault,” Seattle Times, 12/31/2018 (Article on annual December “pilgrimage” of neo-Nazis to Whidbey Island to commemorate death of Robert Jay Mathews—a visitation that has sometimes turned violent)
Jessie Stensland, “Neo-Nazis accused in hate crime attended vigil on Whidbey,” South Whidbey Record, 12/14/18
Tim Klass, “Death Of The Order: A Look Back At Whidbey Island Siege -- Raid 10 Years Ago Led To The Splintering Of White Supremacist Groups,” The Seattle Times, 12/11/1994
Robert Jay Matthews Wikipedia article
Far-Right Militia Interest in Grange Groups
Samantha Swindler, “As sovereign citizens take the mic at Hillsboro Grange, community leaders sound an alarm,” Oregon Live, 12/07/2018 (article on takeover of Hillsboro Grange by right-wing anti government group)
General Materials on Far-Right Militias and Hate Groups
Principal Groups Tracking and Opposing Far-Right Militia Groups
[NOTE: inclusion of a group in this list does not necessarily indicate our endorsement of this group or its entire program.]
Western States Center: https://www.westernstatescenter.org/
Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC): https://www.splcenter.org/
Anti-Defamation League (ADL): https://www.adl.org/
Hate Crimes and Far-Right Militia Groups Violence
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Threat Assessment, October 2020 (The report notes that white supremacist terrorists pose the largest domestic terror threat in the United States.)
2019 FBI Hate Crime Statistics (Reported hate crimes across America rose in 2019, and hate crime murders more than doubled from 2018.)
SPLC, “FBI Reports an Increase in Hate Crimes in 2019: Hate-Based Murders More Than Doubled,” 11/16/2020
ADL, “RELEASE: Washington Hate Crimes at Highest Level Ever -- 3rd Highest in the Country, 2nd Per Capita,” ADL Pacific Northwest, 11/16/2020
ADL, “Behind The American Guard: Harcore White Supremacists,” 3/30/2017
Materials on Particular Far-Right Militia Movements
The Anti-Government Movement
SPLC, “Antigovernment Movement” (The SPLC places the 3% movement in this category.)
The Militia Movement
ADL, “The Militia Movement 2020”
Brookings Institute Panel, “The US election and right-wing militias,” 11/10/20
Materials on Particular Far-Right Militia Groups
Washington 3% and its Leader, Matt Marshall
NOTE: The 3% movement is probably the most visible far-right militia group on Whidbey Island.
ADL, “Three Percenters”
Heath Druzin, “Far Right Groups Loom as A Threat to Election Day. And Beyond,” Ideastream, 10/30/2020
Michael Goldberg, “Far-right group threatens to occupy the Capital,” Washington State Wire, 12/21/2020
Megan Farmer & Casey Martin, “Three Percenters call Matt Shea “a hero” at Seattle rally,” KUOW, 1/5/2020
Patriot Prayer and its Leader, Joey Gibson
NOTE: Joey Gibson from Patriot Prayer has appeared in a number of far-right militia group events on Whidbey Island, and appears to be a close compatriot of Washington 3% leader Matt Marshall.
Hatewatch Staff, “What We Know About Patriot Prayer,” Southern Poverty Law Center, 8/31/2020
ADL, “Patriot Prayer, Proud Boys Organizing Potentially Combustible Portland Event,” 8/2/2018
Other Groups Connected to the 3% and Patriot Prayer
Boogaloo Bois. Matt Marshall encouraged his followers to attend a 4/19/2020 anti-government rally in Olympia wearing Hawaiian shirts, “a nod to the extremist reference to the “Big Luau,” a future civil war imagined by some on the far-right and otherwise referred to as the “boogaloo.” This could also be a favorable nod towards the “Boogaloo Bois,” a violent far-right militia group.
ADL, “Extremists Involved in Nationwide Protests Against Coronavirus Restrictions,” 4/20/2020
ADL, “The Boogaloo: Extremists’ New Slang Term for A Coming Civil War,” 11/26/2019
Oath Keepers. Matt Marshall co-organized a 4/19/20 anti-government rally in Olympia along with the Oath Keepers. The rally was a protest against measures implemented to protect public health from the COVID-19 pandemic.
ADL, “Oath Keepers”
Proud Boys. Patriot Prayer and the Proud Boys frequently organize events together.
ADL, “Proud Boys”
ADL, “Patriot Prayer, Proud Boys Organizing Potentially Combustible Portland Event,” 8/2/2018
Claire Withycombe and Virginia Barreda, “Protestors clash with police, smash glass doors, disrupt lawmakers on ‘unnerving’ day at Oregon State Capitol in Salem,” USA Today, 12/21/2020