Most of the men arrested had logos on their hats “according to the Patriot Front team” and some had other clothing related to the White supremacist group, White said. See what we know about the Patriot Front – and what makes it different from other teams:
How did the Patriot Front start?
The Patriot Front “is a white nationalist hate group formed after the deadly ‘Unite the Right’ rally in Charlottesville, Virginia,” the Southern Poverty Law Center said. “The organization split from Vanguard America (VA), a neo-Nazi group that took part in the chaotic demonstration,” the SPLC said.
What do the members of the Patriot Front think?
“The Patriot Front is a white supremacist group whose members claim that their ancestors conquered America and bequeathed it to them and no one else,” the ADL said. “The Patriot Front justifies the ideology of hatred and intolerance under the pretext of preserving the national and cultural origins of its members’ European ancestors.” The group’s manifesto claims that those in America who are not of European descent are not really Americans. “An African may have lived, worked, or even been an American citizen for centuries, but he is not an American. He is, as he prefers to be called, an African in America,” the Patriot Front website reported. “The same rule applies to others who do not belong to the founding stock of our people or do not share the common unconscious that pervades our wider culture and European diaspora.”
Who is the leader of the Patriot Front?
Growing up on the outskirts of Dallas, Rousseau founded the Patriot Front as a teenager, according to the SPLC. “He has since sparked a ‘bath bill.’ “Under Rousseau’s direct leadership, the Texas section of the Patriot Front is most active – relying mainly on leaflets, banner throws and occasional demonstrations. , anonymously. “ Following the arrests in Idaho on Saturday, CNN contacted the Patriot Front and individuals believed to be linked to Rousseau, but received no immediate response.
What are the goals of the Patriot Front?
“I think when you look at the previous actions of the Patriotic Front, they are varied,” former FBI Deputy Assistant Director Peter Strzok told CNN on Monday. “A lot of what they do is designed for image – to create propaganda that they can use to spread their message to recruit more followers,” Strzok said. “Well, in the past, what we’ve seen from a lot of their activities (it’s) is not so much intent on engaging in violence as participating in protests. Sure, hate speech, for sure, but this is much more of a group designed for the image and for the creation of a public spectacle “. But Strzok said there was always a key question with such groups: “Is there an activation point where their intention is to move from mere protest to violence?” He said it was unclear what might have happened at the Pride parade in Idaho. “The real question in my mind is their intention of what they were going to do that day,” Strzok said.
How is the Patriot Front different from other white nationalist or white supremacist groups?
Patriot Front members are “relatively new,” Strzok said. “A central tactic on the Patriot Front is ‘lightning demonstrations’ – privately planned and unannounced events that allow groups to promote their beliefs while reducing the risk of personal exposure, negative media coverage, arrests and reactions,” he said. the ADL. “These flash demonstrations are mainly orchestrated for a quick photo and video opportunity that is then converted to online content.” And the Patriot Front “has refused to participate in large rallies with other hate groups, preferring instead to work with small, local funds that allow the Patriot Front to remain in the spotlight while controlling their message and presentation.” reported the SPLC. Strzok said he was concerned that the country might be in a new phase of extremism. “I think there are definitely a lot of personal grievances out there all over America. And what really concerns me right now is that you see a lot of people – both political leaders and some in the media – who are tacitly encouraging not violence, but “Certainly these extremist beliefs,” said the former FBI official. “Whether it is a replacement theory that plays much of white nationalist propaganda, or politicians who use images of violence, I think it is an encouraging or acceptable behavior from which we have strayed in the past,” Strzok said. “So I’m worried that people who have a tendency to violence … may be driven to violence.” Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported that CNN had contacted the legal representative of Thomas Ryan Rousseau. It is not clear whether he still has legal representation. CNN’s Chuck Johnston and Andy Rose contributed to this report.
