On June 11, 2022, 31 members of the white supremacist, fascist Patriot Front were arrested in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho for "conspiracy to riot" at a LGBTQ+ pride event.[1]Among the arrested members were leader Thomas Rousseau, Graham Whitsom, "shields section" leader Devin Center, and trainer Kieran Morris.[2]
Reactions to the arrests varied greatly among neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and antigovernment extremists online, with some calling for violence against police and media, while others voiced support for Patriot Front. A smaller contingent of antigovernment extremists labeled Patriot Front as "feds," which has been a long-standing accusation levelled at the group by others who perceive their ideology and tactics as too optics-focused.
The following report details reactions to the arrest of the Patriot Front members in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho on Telegram, MeWe, and Gab in the days following the arrests.
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Neo-Nazis And White Supremacists Reject Peaceful Protests, Call For Violence Response To Arrests
Several neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups and individuals called for followers to reject peaceful measures and attack their perceived enemies, including members of the press, law enforcement, and politicians.
On June 13, 2022, a neo-Nazi posted two screenshots of media reports about the arrests on Telegram, saying a major media outlet is controlled by Jews and biased against Patriot Front. He then said he would support anyone who violently attacked individuals involved with the media outlet.
Neo-Nazis, White Supremacists, And Antigovernment Extremists Support Patriot Front, Oppose Law Enforcement
Extremist groups and individuals expressed support for Patriot Front and referred to law enforcement as "the enemy," suggesting methods to confound law enforcement efforts in the future. Some antigovernment militia members called for followers to associate law enforcement with gun control, noting police will be the ones to enforce hypothetical future gun control programs.
In the MeWe page of an antigovernment organization, a user called law enforcement "the enemy," stating that the same officers will soon be confiscating members' guns, and view "free individuals" as enemies.
YOU MUST BE SUBSCRIBED TO THE MEMRI DOMESTIC TERRORISM THREAT MONITOR (DTTM) TO READ THE FULL REPORT. GOVERNMENT AND MEDIA CAN REQUEST A COPY BY WRITING TO DTTMSUBS@MEMRI.ORG WITH THE REPORT TITLE IN THE SUBJECT LINE. PLEASE INCLUDE FULL ORGANIZATIONAL DETAILS AND AN OFFICIAL EMAIL ADDRESS IN YOUR REQUEST. NOTE: WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE A COPY ONLY TO MEMBERS OF GOVERNMENT, LAW ENFORCEMENT, MEDIA, AND ACADEMIA, AND TO SUBSCRIBERS; IF YOU DO NOT MEET THESE CRITERIA PLEASE DO NOT REQUEST.
[1] Cnn.com/2022/06/13/us/idaho-patriot-front-arrests-pride-what-we-know/index.html, June 13, 2022.
[2] Idahonews.com/news/local/gallery-mugshots-of-31-people-arrested-at-coeur-dalene-pride-event?photo=1, June 13, 2022; For more on Patriot Front members, see MEMRI DTTM's report: "Patriot Front Leaks Bely Claims Of Patriotism And Show An Image-Focused White Supremacist Paramilitary Group Littered With Neo-Nazi Members," March 1, 2022.
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