Small But Vocal Array of Right Wing Extremists Appearing at Protests

June 10, 2020

Some vocal extremists are showing up at the ongoing protests over the murder of George Floyd and police brutality. The extremists, who subscribe to a range of right wing ideologies, do not appear to be following any overarching plan or strategy, and are turning up at protests of all sizes, nationwide.

Some who share the protesters’ opposition to law enforcement and government are joining the demonstrations. Others, carrying weapons, are acting as self-appointed security forces, vowing to protect businesses and residents from protesters.

White supremacists, meanwhile, have attempted to antagonize protesters by distributing racist propaganda, holding inflammatory signs, or yelling insults from passing vehicles. Still others have shown up to “monitor” or report on protests.

A handful of extremists have been arrested for a range of crimes including inciting a riot, aggravated assault and weapon charges.

The Center on Extremism is tracking extremists’ appearances at the protests.

June 21

• Asheville, NC: A former Klansman counter-protested a BLM event while armed with an assault rifle.

June 20

• Lake City, FL: Several members of the League of the South, a white supremacist group, distributed literature and heckled speakers at a BLM protest at Olustee Park.
• Lisbon, OH: Members of the Columbiana County Unorganized Militia attended a Blacks Live Matter protest to "prevent looting." (Link)

 

June 19

• Vancouver, WA: Approximately 12 people, including Patriot Prayer leader Joey Gibson, counter-protested an event commemorating Juneteenth and honoring George Floyd. (Link)
•  Sevierville, TN: Several members of the Tennessee chapter of the Nationalist Social Club, a white supremacist group, counter-protested a BLM event at the Sevier County Courthouse.
• Morristown, TN: Several members of the Tennessee chapter of the Nationalist Social Club, a white supremacist group, protested a Juneteenth Celebration at Cherokee Park.

June 15

• Albuquerque, NM: Armed members of the New Mexico Civil Guard attended a protest, nominally as "peacekeepers." Several members of the group were detained after someone shot a protestor. The group has denied that the shooter was a member of the group, and members have not been charged with any offenses. (Link)

June 13

• Tucson, AZ: Several neo-Nazis counter protested a Black Lives Matter event in Tucson. They shouted, “White lives matter,” “White power,” “Fuck you, Black Lives Matter” and “Fuck you, race traitors.”

June 7

• Queen Creek, AZ: White supremacist Nick Fuentes, and several other groypers, attended a protest. One groyper mocked the “I can't breathe” refrain by holding a sign that read, “I can’t read.”
• Spokane, WA: Members of the 63rd Light Foot Militia reportedly attended a protest with the intention of protecting local businesses.
• Lakeside, VA: Klansman Harry H. Rogers of Hanover, Virginia, was charged with attempted malicious wounding, destruction of property, and assault and battery after allegedly driving into a group of protesters. Rogers attended “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville and once identified himself as the state leader for the Rebel Brigade Knights, a Virginia-based Klan group.

June 6

• Fallon, NV: Three men, two wearing Klan-like hoods, appeared briefly at a protest.
• Lake Orion, MI: One protester held a sign that read, “Boogaloo Stands With You.”
• Kingston, TN: Approximately, eight members and associates of the white supremacist Legion of St. Ambrose held a flash demonstration at the Roane County Courthouse while holding signs that read, “white safety matters” and “black crime matters.”
• Lewiston, ID: Two people attended a protest wearing Hawaiian shirts, which are sometimes worn by boogaloo adherents (as a reference to the “Big Luau”). One also wore a boogaloo bandana around his face.
• Oakdale, CA: Members of the California State Militia reportedly attended a protest to “protect” local businesses.
• Fort Plain, NY: A brief altercation occurred between protesters and several individuals wearing pro-Klan and Confederate attire who arrived and reportedly began to distribute Klan propaganda as protesters were leaving Haslett Park.

June 5

• Brooking, SD: According to police, Patriot Front, a white supremacist group, distributed propaganda and allegedly spread misinformation ahead of a protest.
• Nashville, TN: Two white supremacists demonstrated at monuments they claimed had been defaced by BLM and Antifa while carrying a banner that read, “Make America White Again 14/88.”
• Brooksville, FL: As a protest was ending, David Howell, who has a swastika tattoo, allegedly started an altercation and pulled a machete from his pants. Howell is a member of Unforgiven, a large white supremacist prison gang based in the Florida prison system. Another person attended the rally holding a Confederate flag.
• Knoxville, TN: Several members and associates of the Legions of St. Ambrose drove past a protest shouting offensive slurs at pedestrians and protesters.

June 4

• Elgin, TX: Oath Keepers and their allies guarded Keen Tactical gun store.
• Coeur d’Alene, ID: Armed men in Hawaiian shirts joined a protest in front of city hall.

June 3

• Apple Valley, CA: A group of approximately 60 Oath Keepers counter-protested a Black Lives Matter protest carrying American flags and signs that read, “All Lives Matter.”
• Stillwater, OK: Christopher Autrey, a self-identified Three Percenter, attended a protest armed with a rifle and dressed in tactical gear to prevent protesters from looting local businesses.
• Los Angeles, CA: A group of people in Hawaiian print attended a protest.
• Milwaukee, WI: Men carrying guns and carrying a black-and-white flag with an igloo and palm tree claimed to be present to provide security for protesters.
• Phoenix, AZ: Jennifer Harrison, the founder and leader of the AZ Patriots said she used “bear spray” on a protestor during a confrontation after Harrison shouted “Black guns matter” and “pants up, don’t loot.”
• Clovis, NM: An armed group calling themselves the New Mexico Civil Guard for Curry County attended a protest to protect people and private property. O’Rion Petty, the captain of the group, supports the boogaloo.

June 2

• Oak Ridge, TN: Members of the Tennessee chapter of the Nationalist Social Club, a neo-Nazi crew, counter protested a Black Lives Matter event holding signs that read “black crimes matter” and “white safety matters.”
• Colfax, CA: A man threw white supremacist propaganda at a group of protesters.
• Thousand Oaks, CA: An individual with the numbers 14 and 88 tattooed on his legs attended a protest and attempted to engage the crowd in debate.
• Sandpoint, ID: Armed Three Percenters and Oath Keepers counter protested a student rally against police violence.
• Columbus, OH: Antisemitic white supremacist Brian Andrew Grossman shared videos on BitChute in which he attended and “reported” on BLM protests in Columbus.
• Bentonville, AR: Men wearing Hawaiian shirts attended a protest.
• Coeur d’Alene, ID: Dozens of armed vigilantes stood in the streets to protect businesses from an alleged antifa threat that never materialized. Among them were individuals who wore Three Percent and Fallen Saints insignias. 
• Redding, CA: Members of the North State Militia attended a protest to protect businesses.
• Bismarck, ND: An apparent neo-Nazi drove past a protest while flying a neo-Nazi flag from their car’s sunroof.

June 1

• Albuquerque, NM: Approximately nine armed members of the New Mexico Civil Guard, a militia, showed up to a Black Lives Matter protest and claimed that they were there to protect people and businesses from protesters.
• Chattanooga, TN: Police arrested Trevan Young, who liked and shared boogaloo content on Facebook, after he brought an AR-15 rifle to a protest.
• Boston, MA: Revolt Through Tradition, a white supremacist group, distributed propaganda during protests.
• Worchester, MA: The Nationalist Social Club (aka NSC or 131 Crew), a small neo-Nazi group, claimed to have distributed propaganda ahead of a BLM protest.
• Coeur d’Alene, ID: Self-identified boogaloo bois attended a protest to protect protestors and private property.
• Charlotte, NC: A man wearing a boogaloo patch was photographed attending a protest.
• Seattle, WA: A man wearing a Hawaiian shirt was photographed attending a protest.

May 31

• Salisbury, NC: Two men were arrested after they reportedly fired weapons near two groups of protestors. One of the men, Jeffrey Alan Long, is reportedly a member of a neo-Confederate biker group and has social media ties to neo-Confederate hate.
• Athens-Clarke, GA: A small group of men toting assault rifles, some of whom were wearing Hawaiian shirts, attended a protest.
• Hot Springs, AK: Members of the Hiwaymen, a neo-Confederate three percent hybrid group, were present at protests and claimed via Facebook to be there to monitor the events.
• Minneapolis, MN: A boogalooer is filmed at a protest.
• Kansas City, MO: Boogaloo flag was visible in crowd of protestors.

May 30

• Brooklyn, NY: Self-described “Boogaloo Boy” Paul Miller posted Instagram video of himself “reporting” during a protest.
• Tampa Bay, FL: Nick Fuentes, who runs the American First podcast, and another man, chanted “Groyper” during an ABC news report covering Tampa protests.
• Salt Lake City, UT: Brandon McCormick was arrested and charged with two felony weapons counts and one count of aggravated assault after allegedly brandishing a knife then aiming a bow and arrow at peaceful protestors. In the past, McCormick has shared far right and racist posts on social media.
• Salt Lake City, UT: A 2News camera captured an image of a protestor who had 88 on his sleeve at a protest.
• Raleigh, NC: Individuals wearing Three Percent shirts were photographed outside the Wake County Courthouse.
• Richmond, VA: A small armed group of individuals dressed in militia-style garb joined a protest, one individual said they were there to help protesters “We are here to help you guys. We need to come together as one.”
• Dallas, TX: “Boogalo [sic] for Floyd ACAB” sign held by individual wearing Hawaiian shirt.
• San Antonio, TX: Hawaiian shirt-clad boogaloo boys attended a protest to show support for the cause but also to protect local monuments.
• Norfolk, VA: Two individuals who held signs that read “no justice no peace” and Justice 4 George” also held a boogaloo flag.
• Las Vegas, NV: On June 3, three men who self-identified as members of the boogaloo movement, Andrew Lynam, William Loomis, and Stephen Parshall, were arrested and charged with conspiracy to cause destruction and possession of an unregistered destructive device (Molotov cocktails) at a May 30 protest.
• Louisville, KY: Armed men wearing Hawaiian shirts attended a protest.
• Portland, OR: According to his Facebook, Proud Boy Carl “Flip” Todd attended a protest with other unidentified friends.
• Columbia, SC: Kevin Ackley was arrested and charged with inciting a riot and aggravated breach of peace after he allegedly threw a water bottle at law enforcement officers during a protest. According to the Richland County Sheriff’s Department Ackley wore clothing associated with the Boogaloo movement including a hat that read “Boojahideens for Liberty.”
• Fargo, ND: Peter Teeft, a former member of the neo-Nazi National Socialist Movement, posted a YouTube videoed himself attending a protest holding a sign that read “cops kill more whites.”

May 29

• Denver, CO: An apparent neo-Nazi was photographed giving a Hitler Salute and allegedly shouted “Heil Hitler” from a vehicle after threatening peaceful protesters near 16th Street mall.
• Denver, CO: Boogalooer Chevy Lee McGee had his firearms seized by law enforcement after he showed up with them to participated in a protest.
• Boston, MA: The Nationalist Social Club distributed the promotional stickers during protests.
• Knoxville, TN: NSC members hung a sign that read “JOGGER” (a derogatory white supremacist reference to Ahmaud Arbery) on the Alex Haley statue in Knoxville and claimed on social media to have done so “amid BLM riots nearby.”
• Minneapolis, MN: An armed man, who arrived in a truck bearing a Three Percent logo, attended a protest. The same man and truck were spotted at a protest on June 2.
• Dallas, TX: An armed white supremacist, who goes by the moniker “WarHippie,” was photographed at a protest.
• Fort Wayne, IN: Boogalooer Aaron Stanage was arrested while attending a protest.

May 26

• Minneapolis, MN: A man holding a Boogaloo flag was photographed at a protest.