United States: the growing threat of far-right militias
Rally organized by the extreme right-wing Michigan United for Liberty to demand the reopening of businesses, on the steps of the Michigan Capitol in Lansing, April 3, 2020. JEFF KOWALSKY / AFP
Text by: RFI Follow
5 mins
Thirteen people linked to a violent far-right militia have been charged with allegedly conspiring to kidnap the governor of Michigan.
This group, the Wolverine Watchmen, had already made themselves known by investing, armed, the Michigan State Capitol, to protest against the containment measures.
A case which signals the growing importance of armed groups of the extreme right.
According to the federal police, they represent the main terrorist threat under the mandate of Donald Trump.
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Most of the 13 men arrested this Thursday, October 8 in Michigan adhere to the ideology of the "
Boogaloo
".
Several of them were members of a local group called "
Wolverine Watchmen
".
The Boogaloo movement brings together neo-Nazis as well as far-right anarchists.
His goal: to overthrow the government through civil war.
Its supporters can be recognized by the Hawaiian shirts they wear over military attire.
Several Wolverine members took part in protests against the restrictions in Michigan by Governor Gretchen Whitmer, claiming it violated their rights.
They regularly trained in the handling of weapons "
to prepare the" boogaloo ", in reference to a violent insurrection against the government or a politically motivated civil war
", according to the Michigan justice system.
For Gretchen Whitmer, the final responsibility lies with the White House.
The governor of Michigan accused President
Donald Trump
of "
legitimizing
" the actions of those she calls "
terrorists inside
."
Hate clusters
"
The militias are an old tradition in the United States,"
recalls Nicole Morgan, professor emeritus at the Royal Military College of Canada and specialist in ideologies of hatred, at the microphone of
Marie Normand
, of the international service of RFI.
There is no dominant group, these groups are not organized.
They are sporadic.
But the specialist underlines their common point: “
they carry weapons.
Civilians have more weapons than the military.
There is an unorganized civilian army in the United States, which can do a lot of harm.
These groups are called "hate clusters", which are poised to ignite.
And the one who gives the permission is Trump.
It does what is called in English "gas lightning"
,
that is to say it lights fires.
"
Why have these extreme right-wing groups taken on increasing importance?
“
The Internet played an extraordinary role,
continues Nicole Morgan,
because these small fires which were separated, they can go to seek reinforcements and memberships.
The Internet is an extremely powerful weapon to convey this message of hatred and give it a kind of structure.
"
Supremacists, neo-Nazis or anti-government
When Donald Trump came to power, these armed groups, with right-wing ideologies and various motivations, came out of anonymity by participating in the far-right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2017, in the protests against the measures. containment to fight against the coronavirus last spring, or during protests against police brutality since this summer.
The best known - Three Percenters, Oath Keepers, Proud Boys, Boogaloos Bois or Patriot Prayer - have in common the defense of the right to own a gun and hostility to government, authority or leftist ideas.
Some are advocates of white supremacy and have ties to neo-Nazi movements, or view law enforcement as agents of an authoritarian government, others are planning a national revolution or racial war.
They sometimes
subscribe
to the theses of the far-right
conspiracy
movement
QAnon
, which claims that Donald Trump is waging a secret war against a global liberal sect made up of satanist pedophiles.
►
To listen: “America, Trump years” by journalists Gilles Paris and Jérome Cartillier
Threat on polling stations on November 3
These small groups pose a potential threat to the November 3 ballot.
Donald Trump, who regularly denounces the risks of massive fraud orchestrated by the Democrats, called on his supporters to go to the polling stations to “
protect
” the ballots.
"
I call on my supporters to go into the office and watch carefully because this is what will happen,
" said the Republican president during the debate with his Democratic opponent Joe Biden in late September.
He then also caused an uproar by calling on the Proud Boys to “
stand by
” instead of condemning them.
"
We are ready,
" replied Joe Biggs, one of the leaders of this group used to brawls with leftist militants.
►
To read: Headlines: fear of a contested election is gaining ground in the United States
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