REACTIONARY FORCES LINK UP IN MILITIAS

The currents that coalesced into the militia movement arose from three principal sources, the openly racist, anti-semitic Christian Identity movement, the conspiratorialist, paranoid Christian Patriot movement, which incorporates a tacitly white supremacist ideology of "Constitutionalism", and the theocratic, repressive anti-gay and anti- woman Christian Reconstructionist and Christian Right forces. To these fascist elements were added a more mass base drawn from "wise use" anti-environmental forces and Second Amendment groups opposed to gun control. Shortly after the Ruby Ridge stand-off between the FBI and white supremacist Randy Weaver, a meeting convened in Estes Park Colorado by Christian Identity "pastor" Pete Peters drew more than 150 participants, mostly from the racist right. At this gathering, Christian Reconstructionist Larry Pratt proposed the formation of militias as a direct action armed formation to defend gun rights, based on the model of armed Christian evangelical forces that had fought insurgencies in the Philippines and Guatemala. Pratt enjoyed solid connections and credentials with the mainstream Reagan right, and heads up both Gun Owners of America (to the right of the NRA) and English First (an anti- immigrant group to the right of US English). His militia proposal carried the day, and shortly thereafter, in the wake of the Clinton election, the Brady Bill and the Waco tragedy, the militias took off as a national phenomenon.

CHRISTIAN IDENTITY

This racist theology preaches that whites are the true Israel, America is their promised land; that non-whites are "pre-Adamic, sub-human, and that Jews are the spawn of Satan.

ARYAN NATIONS

Headquartered in an Idaho para-military compound this racist group has spread nation-wide as the militia movement has grown. More than 30 militias now use a surveillance system promoted by the Aryan Nations to spy on their "enemies."

SCRIPTURES FOR AMERICA

Pete Peters' "Bible Study" group hosts annual retreats for leader of the racist Christian Identity movement, and was a recruiting ground for the bloody "Order conspiracy, along with the Aryan Nations.

JUBILEE

The leading Christian Identity group in California has brought together Louis Beam of the KKK and Aryan Nations, neo-nazi Joe Fields, State Senator Don Rogers and Christian Reconstructionist John Quade to promote "state sovereignty."

THE ORDER

A white supremacy underground that robbed banks and Brinks' trucks, distributing the loot to public racist leaders. They killed Jewish radio host Alan Berg .

KU KLUX KLAN

The oldest racist political group in the world has gained a new lease on life with the adoption of its slogans by mainstream politicians. On the offensive again in the midwest and southeast.

CHRISTIAN PATRIOTS

This movement often overlaps with Christian Identity. Christian Patriot Defense League founder Jack Mohr is a close ally of Pete Peters. These tax protesters also call themselves Constitutionalist and provide a big base of support for the militias.

POLICE AGAINST THE NEW WORLD ORDER

This group, initiated by an ex-Phoenix cop, promotes the racist and anti- semitic views of Eustace Mullins, and seeks to recruit active duty law enforcement officers to support the militia movement.

S.P.I.K.E.

"Specially Prepared Individuals for Key Events" is Bo Gritz's attempt to provide Green Beret training and national para-military organization into "A-teams" for the Christian patriots.

STATE CITIZENSHIP SOVEREIGNTY

They believe that the only true citizens are those whose citizenship predates the 14th amendment (essentially, white male property owners). The militias have popularized this view through support for the Organic Constitution (original articles plus the Bill of Rights only).

CHRISTIAN RIGHT

Ranging from Pat Robertson's Christian Coalition, which is committed to whatever cosmetic changes are necessary to play in the big leagues of the political mainstream, through other big national organizations like Focus on the Family, to Operation rescue, to "fringe" groups involved in gay bashings and clinic violence, this movement has provided a conduit for anti-semitic and clerical fascist views into the dominant political agenda. Many local, smaller groups, particularly devoted to anti-gay and anti-abortion causes, have developed close ties with militias and with racist groups.

FREE MILITIA OF WISCONSIN

Led by Matt Trewhella, this state militia is one that got organized principally as an anti-abortion force. Militia forces in Wisconsin have also been in the forefront of opposition to native sovereignty and treaty rights.

U.S. TAXPAYERS PARTY

Promoting a third party convention in San Diego after the Republicans meet there, this pro-militia group is virulently anti-abortion. Used the CA ballot line of the racist American Independent Party initiated by George Wallace.

GUN OWNERS OF AMERICA

Pratt's group is a national fund-raising organization and lobby to the right of the NRA. A supporter and originator of the militias, GOA provided funds to help elect several pro-militia Congress-members in 1994.

ENGLISH FIRST

Another of Pratt's operations, again to the right even of US English, has ties to some of the most reactionary forces in the anti-immigrant movement and to the former World Anti-Communist League, an amalgam of Hitler collaborators, neo-nazis, Asian dictatorships and Latin American death squads. It considers bilingual education a threat to national security.

CHRISTIAN RE-CONSTRUCTIONISTS

A movement, founded by R.J. Rushdoony, which preaches that America must be reconstituted as a theocratic state under Biblical law. A chief theoretician, John Quade, is a practitioner of state citizenship and has appeared at Christian Identity gatherings along with open white supremacists.

OPERATION RESCUE

A training ground for anti-abortion fanatics, the group has associated itself closely with the US Taxpayers Party. Leader Randall Terry would be a possible USTP nominee. RESCUE AMERICA More openly supportive of violence than OR. The Pensacola leader, John Burt, is a former Klansman who has been closely linked to clinic bombers and murderers.

KEY INDIVIDUALS:

John Trochmann

This leader of the Militia of Montana and his family have connections to the Aryan Nations.

Pete Peters

Principal "theologian" of Christian Identity helped finance Bo Gritz autobiography and initiate the national militia movement.

"Bo" Gritz

Ex-Green Beret, one-time running mate for David Duke and former Populist Party presidential candidate is conducting para-military training at 10 locations around the country.

Larry Pratt

Former adviser to the Reagan and Bush administrations on Latin America, Pratt is a bridge between the old right, the Christian reconstructionist, and racist, neo-nazi forces. His book, "Armed People Victorious" details the use of reactionary militias in Guatemala and the Philippines to enhance the repressive reach of the army and the state.

Ron Arnold

Like Pratt, he has many irons in the fire. A leader of both the anti-gun control movement and the anti-environmental wise use movement, he has served as a bridge to the Reagan right, the pro-militia forces and even the Moonies.

Joe Fields

A neo-nazi now active in the militia movement in southern CA, Fields has been associated with Tom Metzger, David Duke, Richard Barrett and Willis Carto. He was once a swastika-wearing member of the nazi party and has run as the AIP candidate in two recent L.A. elections.

Gen. John Singlaub

This Iran-Contra figure, head of the former World Anti-Communist League, supplied weapons and training to Philippine counter-subversives in a model for Pratt's militia proposal.

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