Armed Militias, Right Wing Populism, & Scapegoating By Chip Berlet Political Research Associates April 24, 1995 The armed militias are the militant wing of a diverse right wing populist social movement composed of independent groups in many states unified around the idea that the government is increasingly tyrannical. The core organizing issues are anti-government: gun control, taxes, Constitutional liberties, and federal regulations. Many militia members also believe that a secret elite conspiracy is controlling the government, the economy, the culture, or all three. Many of the militia movement's themes are rooted in historic white supremacist state's rights arguments and classic antisemitic conspiracy theories, even though many militia members seem unaware of that fact. The leadership of the armed militia movement promotes ideas that would deny basic rights and create second class citizenship for people with whom they disagree. The armed militia movement wants to short-circuit the democratic process by forcing people to accept their ideas by using bullets instead of ballots. Militia organizers are manipulating people's real fears and grievances by directing their anger at the following scapegoats: - Federal officials and law enforcement officers. - Minority groups and Jewish institutions. - Abortion providers and pro-choice supporters. - Environmentalists and conservation activists. - Gay and lesbian rights organizers. - People of color, immigrants, and welfare recipients. Behind the militias is a history in this country of anti-democratic right-wing paramilitary groups that want to create a private army bent on accomplishing a series of authoritarian or theocratic goals that include rejecting federal laws and regulations, treating people of color as second-class citizens, stopping abortion by force, putting homosexuals to death, and targeting Jews by claiming they are conspiring for evil purposes. It is important to remember that one of the most famous militia movements in the U.S. is the Ku Klux Klan that arose as a militia during the turmoil of Reconstruction. In recent months a series of overlapping right wing social movements with militant factions appeared to be coalescing into the militias to create a potential for violent confrontation against the targeted scapegoats. These sectors include: - Militant right wing gun rights advocates, anti-tax protesters, survivalists, far right libertarians, and persons promoting a variety of pseudo-legal theories. - Pre-existing elements of racist, antisemitic, or neo-Nazi movements such as the Posse Comitatus, Christian Identity, or Christian Patriots. - Advocates of "sovereign" citizenship, "Freeman" status, and other arguments rooted in a distorted analyses of the 14th and 15th Amendments; including those persons who argue a different or second-class form of citizenship is granted to African-Americans through these Amendments. - The confrontational wing of the anti-abortion movement. - Apocalyptic millenialists including zealous Christians who believe we are in the period of the "End Times" and facing the Mark of the Beast which could be hidden in supermarket bar codes, proposed paper currency designs, or implantable computer microchips. - The dominion theology sector of the Christian evangelical hard right with its most doctrinaire branch, the Christian Reconstructionists. - The most militant wing of the anti-environmentalist Wise Use movement. - The most militant wing of the county movement, state sovereignty movement, states rights movement, and 10th Amendment movement. Militias Emerge From Patriot Movement The armed militias are the zealous offshoot of the larger and more diffuse Patriot movement. A number of historic right-wing conspiracy theories are common in the Patriot movement. Like the armed militias, the Patriot movement's core principles of unity are right-wing or libertarian anti-government themes: anti-tax, anti-regulation, and against gun control. The Patriot movement is bracketed on the moderate side by the John Birch Society and the conspiratorial segment of Pat Robertson's audience, and on the more militant side by the Liberty Lobby and groups promoting themes historically associated with white supremacy and anti-Jewish bigotry. There are perhaps five million persons who are influenced by the Patriot movement, compared to the ten to forty thousand persons involved in the armed militia movement. The armed militia movement has been growing rapidly, relying on a network of fast electronic media such as computer networks, Fax networks, and radio broadcasting; it is arguably the first U.S. social movement to be organized primarily through non-traditional electronic media such as the Internet. There is an undercurrent of resentment across the Patriot movement against what are seen as the unfair advantages the government gives to people of color and women through programs such as affirmative action. While much of the Patriot movement represents a slightly different and much larger sector of the population than the traditional far-right white supremacist movement, this underlying prejudice is significant. In many ways the Patriot movement is a temper tantrum by a subculture within U.S. society that is part of a backlash against the social liberation movements of the 1960's. It is also true that persons affiliated with far-right groups such as the Christian Patriots movement and the Posse Comitatus are attempting to steer the broader Patriot movement and armed militia movement toward bigotry; and that many of the conspiracy theories rampant within the Patriots movement have been kept alive for the most part in far-right and frequently bigoted circles. The Posse Comitatus is a right-wing militia movement that spread throughout the farm belt during the rural economic crisis in the late 1970's but has since dwindled in size. Scapegoating conspiracy theories of the right have a greater audience than many believe. They are spread for instance by Pat Robertson in his books and on his TV program, The 700 Club. They are also spread by the John Birch Society, the Liberty Lobby, on the computer Internet, on radio and TV talk shows, on short-wave radio, and in hundreds of small books, pamphlets, and flyers available through the mail. The basic premise of this worldview is that a secret conspiracy of wealthy elites controls the US. Variations on these themes include theories of a secular humanist conspiracy of liberals to take God out of society, One World Global Government theories, and many others including overtly bigoted theories concerning Jews. Symptoms of the corrosive nature of this alleged conspiracy are seen variously as high taxes, restrictions on guns, federal regulations, abortion, homosexuality, the feminist movement, sex education, Outcomes Based Education, and the environmental movement, among many others. One widespread idea is that a conspiracy of Freemasons controls the economy through the manipulation of paper money. This is based on conspiracy theories that originated in the late 1700's and flourished in the 1800's. Persons who embrace this theory often point to Masonic symbols on the dollar bill as evidence of the conspiracy. The roots of the Freemason conspiracy theory are discussed by Richard Hofstadter in his book, The Paranoid Style in American Politics. The central division among those who believe in right wing scapegoating conspiracy theories is whether or not Jewish bankers are behind the conspiracy. Some experts such as Walter Laqueur in his book Black Hundred: The Rise of the Extreme Right in Russia, trace all these theories back to the anti-Jewish tract, The Protocols of the Elders of Zion. A good short summary of the Illuminati/Freemason conspiracy can also be found in Blood in the Face by James Ridgeway. Frank P. Mintz, in his book The Liberty Lobby and the American Right: Race Conspiracy, and Culture, argues that there is now a clear division - with the ultra-conservative John Birch Society spreading theories that do not center on Jews, and the quasi-Nazi Liberty Lobby, with its newspaper the Spotlight, circulating theories that do center on Jews and Jewish institutions. The theories of fascist Lyndon LaRouche are an example of conspiracy theories linking Freemasons to Jewish institutions. Even when conspiracy theories do not center on Jews or people of color, they create an environment where racism and antisemitism flourish. Author Sara Diamond in her book Spiritual Warfare: The Politics of the Christian Right discusses the role of the secular humanist conspiracy theory within the Religious Right. It is the secular humanist conspiracy theory that is central to many of the groups involved in religious right organizing in Massachusetts, such as the Christian Coalition, Focus on the Family, Eagle Forum, and Concerned Women for America. The secular humanist conspiracy theory is a variation of the Freemason conspiracy theory, and is spread by elements in the Protestant Christian Reconstructionist and Dominion Theology branches of the Christian Right. Christian Reconstructionism has influenced the militant wing of the anti-abortion movement, a development discussed by Fred Clarkson of Planned Parenthood's Public Policy Institute in a two-part article in The Public Eye newsletter, published last year by Political Research Associates. In some cases these conspiracy theories are adopted by persons who believe we are in the Biblical "End Times" described in prophesies in the book of Revelations. Another element of these theories is that the country is composed of two types of persons: parasites and producers. The parasites are at the top and the bottom, with the producers being the hard-working average citizen in the middle. This is the theory of right-wing populism. The parasites at the top are seen as lazy and corrupt government officials in league with wealthy elites who control banking and the currency. The parasites at the bottom are the lazy and shiftless who do not deserve the assistance they receive from society. In the current political scene this dichotomy between parasites and producers takes on elements of racism because the people at the bottom who are seen as parasites are usually viewed as people of color, primarily Black and Hispanic, even though most persons who receive government assistance are White. Paranoid conspiracy theories have emerged in times of economic and social crisis throughout U.S. history, often accompanying the rise of right-wing populist movements. Some analysts dismiss these movements as "paranoid," "extremist," "lunatic," or "radical;" but a more current social science view is that these right-wing populist movements, even when accompanied with bizarre conspiracy theories, reflect real deep divisions and grievances in the society that remain unresolved. This unresolved anger and anxiety leads some persons to begin scapegoating the problems of the society on named groups or sectors in the society. Most of the persons who join these right-wing scapegoating movements are acting not out of some personal pathology, but as an act of desperation; grasping at straws to defend their economic and social status - in essence protecting hearth and home and their way of life against the furious winds of economic and social change. These are persons who feel that no one is listening. While their anger and fear is frequently based on objective conditions (such as the falling buying power of the average wage earner, or dislocation caused by global corporate restructuring), the solutions offered by rightist demagogues point to targets that scapegoated groups of individuals as the cause of the problems. Ultimately, some people persuaded by these scapegoating arguments conclude that the swiftest solution is to eliminate the scapegoat. The tolerance of scapegoating, demagoguery, and conspiracy theories throughout the political system is troubling. That some persons who choose to act violently against the named scapegoats are also suffering from some form of emotional distress or mental illness does not negate the fact that they were groomed by a social movement that picked the appropriate scapegoat on which anger is to be vented. Violence in the form of physical assaults, shootings, and bombings are not the only result. In recent years there has been a disturbing number of threats and attacks against not only federal officials, but abortion providers, environmental activists, gays and lesbians, Jews, Arabs, Muslims, and even feminists. The scapegoating of welfare mothers and immigrants of color could also lead to similar acts of intimidation and injury. The pattern of violence against environmental activists has been chronicled in David Helvarg's War Against the Greens, published by the Sierra Club. Examples of scapegoating conspiracism can be seen in the postings on the computer Internet in conferences such as , , , and . Recently a separate newsgroup for militias has been established, . "Conspiracy Nation" by Brian Francis Redman, and "The People's Spellbreaker" by John DiNardo have become regular electronic newsletter features. Other notable message posters are Linda Thompson and Glenda Stocks. Sources frequently cited as having "proof" of the conspiracy include the "Spotlight" newspaper from Liberty Lobby, the "New American" from the John Birch Society, and "Executive Intelligence Review" and "The New Federalist" from the Lyndon LaRouche movement. Key individuals promoting scapegoating conspiracism from both the left and right include Mark Koernke, Sherman Skolnick, David Emory, John Judge, Ace Hayes, and Dan Brandt. A catalog of esoteric conspiracy material is offered online by A-Albionic. More overtly bigoted against Jews are the scapegoating diatribes of the Holocaust Revisionists posted in . Undocumented conspiracy theories are broadcast daily on AM, FM, and shortwave radio programs that span the globe. Major purveyors are Chuck Harder, Tom Valentine, William Cooper, Linda Thompson, Jack McLamb (who replaced Tom Donohue), and Bo Gritz. World Wide Christian Radio broadcasts many conspiratorial programs on short-wave bands. Under the umbrella of the patriots movement, groups who oppose the New World Order conspiracy held a meeting in November, 1994 at a Burlington, MA High School a few miles away from Boston and Brookline. Speakers included Birch Society stalwart Samuel L. Blumenfeld, Sandra Martinez of Concerned Women for America, and leading anti-abortion organizer Dr. Mildred Jefferson, who tied groups such as NOW and Planned Parenthood to a conspiracy of secular humanists tracing back to the 1800's. Both the Birch Society and CWA are active in the anti-abortion movement. Jefferson describes herself as a founder and former officer of the National Right to Life Committee and a Board member of Massachusetts Citizens for Life. While Dr. Jefferson spoke, attendees browsed three tables of literature brought by Den's Gun Shop in Lakeville MA. One book offered instruction in the use of the Ruger .22 rifle, Other books contain diagrams on how to build bombs and incendiary devices. One title was "Improvised Weapons of the American Underground." You could even purchase the book Hunter by neo-Nazi William Pierce of the National Alliance. Hunter is a book about parasitic Jews destroying America and the need for armed civilians to carry out political assassinations to preserve the white race. His previous book, The Turner Diaries, was the Bible of the racist terror underground such as The Order in the 1980's, and still is favored by the neo-Nazi fringe of the militias. Leaflets from the National Alliance attacking the New World Order and "minority parasites" have been appearing in Cambridge, Somerville, and other Boston-area communities. One speaker, Ed Brown, runs the Constitutional Defense Militia of New Hampshire. Brown passed out brochures offering "Firearms Training, Combat Leadership, Close Combat, and Intelligence Measures." Several months ago Planned Parenthood held a press conference in New York where it released information on another Patriots meeting, this one in Wisconsin, where anti-abortion activists and armed militia proponents shared the podium. A key figure in training armed civilian militias was the featured afternoon speaker at the Burlington meeting. Robert K. Spear is the author of "Living Under the New World Order" and "Surviving Global Slavery." According to Spear, we are living in the "End Times" predicted in the book of Revelations. True Christians will be asked to make sacrifices to defend their faith and prepare the way for the return of Christ. Spear's plan is the formation of armed Christian communities. The idea that we are in the End Times is growing in right-wing Christian evangelical circles. While predominantly a Protestant phenomenon, there are small groups of orthodox and charismatic Catholics that also are embracing End Times theology, and they often point to the book of Revelations. Spear cited Revelations 13, the prophesy that in the End Times, Christians will be asked to accept the Satanic "Mark of the Beast" and reject Christ. These views are hardly marginal on the Christian Right. Pat Robertson, a leading figure in the Religious Right whose Christian Coalition is credited in helping elect many new Republican Senators and Congresspersons, is featured locally on a daily broadcast of the TV program the "700 Club" where he has been emphasizing End Times themes. Just after Christmas the "700 Club" carried a feature on new dollar bill designs being discussed to combat counterfeiting. The newscaster then cited Revelations 13 and suggested that if the Treasury Department put new codes on paper money it might be the Mark of the Beast. In recent years the most militant anti-abortion groups such as Operation Rescue have been influenced by the theology of Christian Reconstructionism or dominion theology which argue that true Christians must physically confront secular and sinful society and return it to God. Though predominantly composed of right-wing Protestants, a similar movement among doctrinaire Catholics has emerged. A handwritten statement released by anti-abortion activist John C. Salvi, III, accused in the clinic shootings in Brookline, MA, contains references to a Freemason conspiracy against Catholics. The courts will have to decide if Salvi is competent to stand trial, but his statement is based on well-defined right-wing theories that scapegoat secret elites. Reuters and CBS News have reported that while in Florida, Salvi discussed his interest in the armed militia movement, a movement where discussion of the apocryphal Freemason conspiracy is widespread. The photographs of fetuses distributed by Salvi come from Human Life International, a right-wing Catholic anti-abortion group with a chapter in Massachusetts. HLI promotes a highly orthodox vision of Catholicism that is critical of liberal Catholics around the issues of abortion, sex education, homosexuality, and feminism. HLI publishes and distributes books with titles such as "Sex Education: The Final Plague," "The Feminist Takeover," "Ungodly Rage: The Hidden Face of Catholic Feminism," and "New World Order: The Ancient Plan of Secret Societies." The latter book attacks the Freemasons as part of conspiracy to control the country through the manipulation of the economy and paper money. The book is also sold by other right-wing groups that circulate conspiracy theories, including some that promote the armed militia movement. Pat Robertson's book The New World Order also contains mentions of conspiracy theories similar to those of the John Birch Society, and his cites to the Freemason and Illuminati conspiracies include references drawn from historic antisemitic sources. A major problem posed by right-wing populist movements that embrace scapegoating is that they make serious dialog within the democratic process difficult or impossible. Instead of engaging in a political struggle based on debate, compromise, and informed consent, persons who believe in evil conspiracies want to expose and neutralize the bad actors, not sit at the same table and negotiate. Also highly problematic is the attempt by government officials to use the incident of terrorism in Oklahoma City to justify a range of right wing legislative initiatives allowing greater law enforcement powers to use surveillance and infiltration of non-criminal dissent in an effort to stop terrorism. A series of Congressional hearings, lawsuits, and media reports in the 1970's demonstrated there was no evidence that widespread infiltration and surveillance of dissident groups had a significant effect on stopping criminal activity or terrorism, but did have a significant effect in abridging civil liberties and chilling free speech. (Copyright 1995, Political Research Associates. Electronic & print distribution encouraged. Revision 5. Adapted from a previous report centered on clinic violence and patriot movement rhetoric.) Chip Berlet is an analyst at Political Research Associates. He is co-author, with Matthew N. Lyons, of the forthcoming book "Too Close For Comfort: Right Wing Populism, Scapegoating, and the Fascist Potential in U.S. Politics" to be published next Spring by South End Press. Political Research Associates 678 Massachusetts Avenue, Suite 702 Cambridge, MA 02139 USA