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Patriot Front

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For the Argentinian party, see Patriot Front (Argentina).

Patriot Front
FormationAugust 2017; 7 years ago (August 2017)
FounderThomas Rousseau[1]
Type
Purpose
  • Promotion of White Nationalism and Fascism in the United States
  • Uniting like-minded right wing individuals under one banner
  • Expansion of Patriot Front
Location
Affiliations
Websitepatriotfront.us[2]
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Patriot Front is an American white supremacist, neo-fascist, and American nationalist group[4][5][6] which utilizes imagery of patriotism, liberty, and other widely accepted traditional American values to promote its ideology.[7] Part of the broader alt-right movement, the group split off from Vanguard America in 2017 in the aftermath of the Unite the Right rally.[1][8][9][10]

History and beliefs

The Patriot Front is led by Thomas Ryan Rousseau. Rousseau was a teenager in Fort Worth, Texas, at the time he founded the group. Rousseau had taken control of Vanguard's web server and Discord channel several weeks prior to the Unite the Right rally, which Rousseau had participated in as the leader of Vanguard America's contingent. Following the bad press arising from the rally, Rousseau left Vanguard. He used the group's domain name to form the Patriot Front as an ostensibly new group, and recruit rally participants, although most of the Patriot Front's members were former Vanguard members initially.[1] Rousseau has repeatedly been arrested for posting flyers and stickers which promote the group.[11][12]

As with Vanguard America, Patriot Front supports a version of White-centered morality compatible with the morals of fascists across America, along with a desire for closed borders, and a incline towards personal responsibility and personal fitness, albeit, with the guiding hand of a strong government present in the peoples daily lives.[1][13]

The group uses a combination of patriotic and historic imagery, such as a fasces which is surrounded by thirteen stars, and attention-grabbing techniques such as setting off smoke bombs during demonstrations and protests and chanting slogans, such as "Reclaim America", "Life, Liberty, Victory", "Victory or death" and "Strong Borders, Strong Nations".[14]

The group's members comprise eight regional networks, and its recruitment is primarily done online. While the group focuses on distributing propaganda and condemning violence, experts on white supremacy point out that the core beliefs of the group undoubtedly promote violence.[15]

Patriot Front has boasted numerous times as to having chapters in every state, excluding Hawaii "She calls Patriot Front arguably the leading white supremacist group in the country, with 42 chapters including here in Pennsylvania and New Jersey." Cassie Miller of the Sothern Poverty Law Center stated.[16] Patriot Front even has members in Alaska who have placed stickers and stencil graffiti, according to their Telegram.

Patriot Front mainly operates in Texas, Pennsylvania, Washington, North Carolina and the New England States, according to a map released by the SPLC.[17] Coordination is carried out by "Network Directors."

Activities

Patriot Front's activities, such as distributing propaganda[18][19][20] organizing demonstrations,[3] or "doing miscellaneous acts of public service",[21] have been seen in at least 25 states.[3][1][7][18][22] Members have also been known to hand out flyers at Trump rallies[23] and leave them in Barnes & Noble bookstore books.[24]

In 2017, the organization planned to attend an alt-right "March Against Communism" in Charlotte, North Carolina, on December 28 alongside members of Anti-Communist Action (the main organizers of the event), Richard B. Spencer, Billy Roper of The Shield Wall Network and Augustus Sol Invictus but the march was cancelled due to "security concerns".[25]

2018

On July 10, 2018, a local anti-racist coalition in Tacoma, Washington, "Tacoma Against Nazis", erected a billboard reading "There are NAZIS in our neighborhood". On July 19, Patriot Front members "climbed up the structure at Pacific Avenue and South 72nd Street and pasted over 'Nazis' with 'Illegal Aliens.'"[26]

On Saturday, July 28, 2018, Patriot Front members attacked and partially tore down an Occupy ICE SATX encampment outside an immigrant detention facility in San Antonio.[27]

2019

On January 21, 2019, Patriot Front flyers were found on home driveways in Edmonds, Washington, sparking a small demonstration of around 50 citizens and a statement by the mayor which condemned the flyers and their message of intolerance and exclusion.[28]

On February 13, 2019, Patriot Front flyers were spotted in Boston, Massachusetts, in the Eastern section of the city. The flyers said "Keep America American", "Better Dead Than Red", and "Will Your Speech Be Hate Speech?" The flyers were denounced by Marty Walsh, the mayor of Boston. Two days later on February 15, three Patriot Front members were arrested for putting up the flyers and one of the men slapped a police officer's hand when the officer was reaching for his identification via wallet. One was found to have a spring-loaded 5-inch knife and another was found to have a wood-handled trowel and brass knuckles. A lawyer for one of the men stated that this was an incident of "youthful stupidity" and he also stated that the three men met while playing Xbox and other video games. The three men later appeared in court.[29][30][31][32][33]

In March 2019, a man was charged in connection with posting Patriot Front posters in Vienna, Virginia.[34]

In July 2019, Downtown Indiana, Pennsylvania, was littered with stickers from the group. Police are investigating the matter and considering charges for a hate crime.[35]

In November 2019, areas in Massachusetts had stickers posted on telephone poles, including Middleboro, Bridgewater and West Bridgewater.[36]

2020

On Saturday, February 8, 2020, at around 4:00 pm, approximately 100 members of the Patriot Front held a march in Washington DC along the National Mall from the Lincoln Memorial to the US Capitol grounds, and then headed north ending at a Walmart located near Washington Union Station at 1st and H Streets NW. Those marching all wore similar clothing - khakis, matching dark blue jackets with flag patches on the left sleeve, with hats, full white face masks, and dark sunglasses - and all carried various modified versions of the American flag with the Patriot Front logo of a fasces in a circle of 13 stars replacing the normal 50 stars and differing numbers of red and white stripes, The marchers shouted "Reclaim America!" and "Life, liberty, victory!" and were trailed and surrounded by a phalanx of MPD police officers on bicycle and foot, ostensibly to prevent interaction with local citizens, some of whom shouted at and taunted the marchers calling them "Neo-Nazis" and "Do not let these people into DC!" as they passed by.[37][38]

In August 2020, three men were arrested after placing stickers on signs on the Parker County Courthouse lawn in Weatherford, Texas, according to arrest warrants. One of those arrested was Rousseau, the leader of Patriot Front. They were charged with criminal mischief, jailed on a $500 bond and released. Previously at the courthouse, protesters had demanded the removal of a Confederate statue, while counter-protesters defended the statue.[39]

2021

On January 29, 2021, a group of men wearing similar clothing—khaki pants, matching blue jackets with patches, and white face masks—was seen marching from the National Mall toward the Capitol carrying flags with Patriot Front symbolism on them.[40]

As of March 1, 2021, Patriot Front stickers continue to appear on places on the University of Mary Washington Campus.[41]

On June 4, 2021, a mural of George Floyd was vandalized in Olney, Philadelphia with Patriot Front logos and insignia.[42] This evoked widespread outrage throughout Olney. “Aside from making us angry and pissed off, to be quite frank it has done nothing but further strengthen our resolve,” City Councilmember Cherelle Parker said in regards to the vandalism.[43]

On June 24, less than a week after their unveiling, two statues of George Floyd, one in Brooklyn, New York and one in Newark, New Jersey, were found scrawled with black spray paint and graffitied with references to group.[44][45][46][47]

On June 28, at around 1:30 am, a "Say Their Names" mural depicting Breonna Taylor, David McAtee, and George Floyd in Louisville, Kentucky was vandalized.[48] The mural was scrawled over with light blue paint and the words "Patriot Front" were spray painted onto the mural in numerous places. "I've seen other murals around town being defaced. I know it was a matter of time before it was going to happen." Said Braylyn Resko Stewart, one of the three artists of the mural. As of June 28, Stewart is currently using GoFundMe to raise money to help restore the mural.[49]

On the night of July 3, about 150 to 250 members arrived in rental moving trucks and began a march through several blocks of Philadelphia, on route to the City Hall and Independence Hall, reportedly shouting "Reclaim America!" Police said local residents "engaged members of the group verbally" and there were several physical confrontations. According to police, the group left in their trucks after using one or more smoke bombs to mask their withdrawal.[50] According to NBC Philadelphia, Patriot Front did manage to march in front of the Philadelphia City Hall, marching through Market Street. Philadelphia police claim Patriot Front shouted "the election was stolen" as they marched.[51][52]

In the weekend prior to August 9th, Patriot Front put up stickers in Germantown, Columbia County, New York. At least six stickers were reported.[53]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Patriot Front". Anti-Defamation League. Archived from the original on December 23, 2017. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  2. ^ Henry, Chris (November 4, 2018). "Nazi symbol seen on Olympic College campus protected as free speech". Kitsap Sun. Archived from the original on December 14, 2018. Retrieved December 14, 2018. Patriot Front's current website is patriotfront.us.
  3. ^ a b c Murray, Elizabeth (February 12, 2018). "'White supremacist' group not welcome in Burlington, mayor says". Burlington Free Press. USA Today. Archived from the original on December 14, 2018. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  4. ^ "Vanguard America (Patriot Front, American Vanguard) - Extremist Watch". extremistwatch.org. Archived from the original on December 24, 2017. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  5. ^ "Patriot Front". Southern Poverty Law Center. Archived from the original on December 22, 2018. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  6. ^ "Patriot Front". Anti-Defamation League. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  7. ^ a b Mistich, Dave (April 19, 2018). "Seeing Through the Rhetoric of the Alt-Right: Spotting White Supremacist Propaganda in W.Va". WV Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on April 19, 2018. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  8. ^ "Meet 'Patriot Front': Neo-Nazi network aims to blur lines with militiamen, the alt-right". Southern Poverty Law Center. Archived from the original on December 23, 2017. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  9. ^ Roman, Gabriel San (December 13, 2017). "New Fascist Group Appeared at Laguna Beach Anti-Immigrant Rally". OC Weekly. Archived from the original on December 24, 2017. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  10. ^ "White Nationalist Group Targets Bellevue, Gig Harbor". Bellevue, WA Patch. November 20, 2017. Archived from the original on December 24, 2017. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  11. ^ Johnson, Kaley; Ranker, Luke (October 31, 2018). "Alt-right leader cited for hate speech posters in Fort Worth, police say". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Archived from the original on September 25, 2020. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  12. ^ Johnson, Kaley (August 4, 2020). "Leader of white nationalist hate group, 2 others arrested in Weatherford". Archived from the original on August 5, 2020. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  13. ^ Mulvey, Christopher. "Gym Fascism". Society for Cultural Anthropology. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  14. ^ Sauers, Camille (July 30, 2018). just as BLM did. "Texas Neo-Nazi Group Attacks San Antonio's Occupy ICE Encampment". San Antonio Current. Archived from the original on August 29, 2018. Retrieved December 21, 2018. {{cite news}}: Check |url= value (help)
  15. ^ Schaeffer, Carol. "They Are Racist; Some of Them Have Guns. Inside the White Supremacist Group Hiding in Plain Sight". ProPublica. Archived from the original on July 6, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  16. ^ Pradelli, Chad (July 9, 2021). "After march on Independence Mall, many are asking: What is Patriot Front?". 6abc Philadelphia. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  17. ^ "Flyering Remains a Recruitment Tool for Hate Groups". Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  18. ^ a b Wiater, Natalia (December 11, 2018). "Xenophobic posters discovered near East Quad". The Justice. Waltham, MA. Archived from the original on December 13, 2018.
  19. ^ Green, Chris (April 2, 2018). "Questionable immigration flyers spread in Boone County". The Gazette.
  20. ^ Johnson, Kaley (October 5, 2018). "Anti-immigration banner hung from Fort Worth bridge, hate group posts fliers in city". Star Telegram. Archived from the original on October 6, 2018. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  21. ^ "Patriot Front". Southern Poverty Law Center. December 21, 2018. Archived from the original on December 22, 2018.
  22. ^
  23. ^ Cooper, Emily; Schenke, Rana (October 27, 2018). "Attendees hand out Patriot Front flyers at Trump Rally". Daily Egyptian. Southern Illinois University. Archived from the original on October 28, 2018.
  24. ^ Bawab, Nashwa (November 21, 2018). "Another White Supremacist Flyer Found in North Texas". Dallas Observer. Archived from the original on November 21, 2018.
  25. ^ "Neo-Nazis and white nationalists are recruiting Trump supporters who are mad at Colin Kaepernick". Newsweek. October 12, 2017. Archived from the original on December 23, 2017. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  26. ^ Sailor, Craig (July 22, 2018). "Anti-Nazi billboard gets reworked by vandal to read with anti-immigrant message". The News Tribune. Archived from the original on July 22, 2018.
  27. ^ Contreras, Brian (July 30, 2018). "Group with fascist ties takes credit for attack on anti-ICE protest camp". mysanantonio.com. Archived from the original on November 8, 2019. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  28. ^ MyEdmondsNews (January 8, 2019). "Edmonds neighbors take stand against Patriot Front flyers". My Edmonds News. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  29. ^ "Boston couple takes action after anti-immigrant signs are plastered all over neighborhood". WHDH. February 15, 2019. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  30. ^ Haynes, Crystal] (February 15, 2019). "Residents remove anti-immigrant posters put up in Boston". Boston 25 News.
  31. ^ "Arrests made in connection with racist flyers placed in neighborhood". WCVB/ABC News. February 16, 2019. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  32. ^ Horman, Nate (February 19, 2019). "Three suspects arraigned on charges of weapons possession and assaulting an officer: BPD".
  33. ^ Tempera, Jacqueline (February 19, 2019). "Attorney for one of the men accused of posting propaganda for white nationalist group Patriot Front around East Boston says it was just 'youthful stupidity'".
  34. ^ "Herndon man charged in connection with posting white supremacist posters in Vienna". WUSA TV, channel 9. Washington, D.C. March 25, 2019. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  35. ^ Widdowson, Josh. "Indiana Borough Police Investigating Posting of Hate Stickers in Downtown Business District". WCCS. Homer City, Pennsylvania. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  36. ^ Corpuz, Mina (November 13, 2019). "Stickers linked to white nationalist group found in Middleboro". The Enterprise. Archived from the original on November 28, 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2019 – via southcoasttoday.com.
  37. ^ "Masked white nationalists march in Washington with police escort". Reuters. February 8, 2020. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  38. ^ "White Nationalist march in DC near Union Station on Saturday". WUSA TV, channel 9. Washington, D.C. February 8, 2020. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  39. ^ "Leader of White Nationalisf Hate Group, 2 Others Arrested in Texas". Forth Worth Star-Telegram. August 3, 2020.
  40. ^ Williams, Elliot C. "White Supremacist Group Patriot Front Seen Marching Through D.C. Friday Morning". dcist. Archived from the original on January 29, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  41. ^ Kirby, Jess; Johnson, Josephine (October 12, 2020). "UMW students discover white supremacist stickers Oct. 9". The Blue and Gray Press. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  42. ^ Solis, George (June 4, 2021). "Mural of George Floyd in Philadelphia defaced with hate group logos". WPVI-TV.
  43. ^ "George Floyd Mural In Philadelphia Vandalized With White Nationalist Graffiti". June 4, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  44. ^ Kenney, Tanasia (June 24, 2021). "Vandals deface George Floyd statue with black paint and graffiti, NYPD says". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  45. ^ Watkins, Ali (June 24, 2021). "George Floyd Statue in Brooklyn Is Defaced With Hate Group's Symbol". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  46. ^ "'Larger than life' George Floyd statue unveiled in N.J.'s largest city (PHOTOS)". June 17, 2021.
  47. ^ Sheldon, Chris (June 24, 2021). "George Floyd statue in Newark vandalized with graffiti, police say". nj.com.
  48. ^ Team, WLKY Digital (June 29, 2021). "Video shows vandal spraying paint on mural of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd in Louisville". WLKY. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  49. ^ Tobin, Ben. "'Say Their Names' mural depicting Breonna Taylor, George Floyd vandalized in Louisville". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  50. ^ Hendrickson, Beccah (July 5, 2021). "White supremacist group marches through Philadelphia before Fourth of July celebrations". ABC 6 Action News WPVI-TV.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  51. ^ "Tensions Flare as White Supremacists March in Front of Philly City Hall". NBC10 Philadelphia. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  52. ^ "White Supremacists Marched at City Hall in Philadelphia". NBC10 Philadelphia. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  53. ^ Media, Natasha VaughnColumbia-Greene. "More Patriot Front stickers found". HudsonValley360. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
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